Quiz 3 - Working as Project Manager Flashcards
You know that leadership and project management not the same thing, but they are connected. Leader and managers rely on communications within a project to help motivate, manage, and ensure that the project is moving forward towards its objectives. Communication includes an activity where the receiver restates what the sender has said to clarify the message and to give the sender to offer clarity if needed. What is this communication component called? Active listening Sender-receiver model Communications planning Leader listening
A is correct. Active listening is the participatory component of a conversation that confirms what was said and allows the sender to offer clarity, if needed. B is incorrect, the Sender-Receiver Model is a model of how communication moves between two people. C is wrong because communications planning is a project management process plan for who needs what information, when the information is needed, and in what modality. D, Leader Listening, is not a valid project management term so this choice is incorrect.
You are the project manager for your organization and you’re working with a new client to start a project at the client’s site. You and the client are negotiating the price, schedule, and other concerns for a contract for the new project. In the negotiating, You and the client should be negotiating for what result?
Best price for the contracted work
Fair agreement for both the client and the vendor
Most profit for the contracted work
Risk distribution between the two parties
B is correct. The purpose of negotiations is to reach a fair agreement for all parties involved. A, and C are incorrect, this Is not the best answer as it Is not concerned with the other party in the contract. D, risk distribution, is not a valid choice as the fair agreement among the parties would address the risk distribution.
You are the project manager of the Systems Upgrade Project for your organization. As a project manager, you want to influence the organization and the project team for the better. What two key aspects are most helpful in influencing your organization as a project manager?
Management and leadership
Communication skills and a positive attitude
Experience and knowledge
Experience and willingness to learn
The two key aspects that are most helpful in influencing an organization are communication skills and a positive attitude. A and C are incorrect, they are values for a project manager, but aren’t the most helpful aspects of influence. D is also incorrect, because experience and a willingness to learn are good attributes, but are intrinsic for a good project manager, but are not an external influence on the organization.
Beth is a new project manager for her company and she’s working with her project team to develop the project management plan. Beth knows that she must rely on several different skills to make her first project successful. Of the following management skills, which will a project manager use most? Leading Communicating Influencing the organization Negotiating
Communication is the key general management skill a project manager will use the most. A, C, and D represents necessary values for a project manager, but communication accounts for the majority of a project manager’s time.
Teresa is the project manager for her department. Teresa has been working with her manager to examine her skills and her career. Teresa’s manager believes that Teresa should take more training in a project management information system would make her a better project manager in her organization. Teresa agrees, though she feels that she doesn’t know much about the project management information system her department uses. In the five steps of competence where is Teresa with this realization? Unconsciously competent Consciously competent Consciously incompetent Unconsciously incompetent
C is correct. Teresa is consciously incompetent as she is aware that she needs more training to be competent in a new skill. A is incorrect as unconsciously competent happens when Teresa can do the skill without even thinking about it. B is incorrect as being consciously competent happen when Teresa learns and practices the skill to gain competence. D describe the state when Teresa can do the skill without even thinking about it.
As a CAPM candidate you should be familiar with the PMI Talent Triangle. You’ll be earning Professional Development Units to maintain your CAPM certification status once you’ve cleared the exam. Of the following choices, which answer is not part of the PMI Talent Triangle? Leadership Technical project management Continuing education Strategic and business management
Of all the choices presented, answer C is correct. Continuing education is not part of the PMI Talent Triangle. A, B, and D are incorrect because leadership, technical project management, and strategic and business management are the three components of the PMI Talent Triangle.
While management is about getting things done, leadership is said to be about motivating people. You know that leadership is a desirable trait for a project manager and is heavily referenced throughout the PMBOK Guide. Which one of the following characteristics is not an attribute of leadership? Fiscal responsibility Respect for others Problem-solving ability Desire to learn and improve
A is correct. This is an example of a management skill. Fiscal responsibility is also a desirable trait for project managers, but it’s a management skill rather than a leadership skill. B, C, and D are incorrect choices as leadership includes respect for others, problem-solving abilities, and a desire to learn and improve.
You are the project manager for your organization. Your current project has over 100 stakeholders. Some the stakeholders have competing objectives and are trying to leverage your project to meet their personal objectives. Influencing your organization requires which of the following?
An understanding of the organizational budget
Research and documentation of proven business cases
An understanding of formal and informal organizational systems
Positional power
C is correct. To influence an organization (to get things done), a project manager must understand the explicit and implied organizational system within an organization. A is incorrect, since the project manager may not even have access to an organizational budget. B is incorrect because a proven business case may not map to every scenario when influencing an organization. D is incorrect because positional power may relate only to a small portion of an organization, not to multiple facets of influence
Mark is new project manager in his company. Before joining this company, Mark worked as a project manager for over 20 years in a IT service provider. Mark has a deep understanding of electronics, software development, and data warehouse technology and is considered an expert in his field. His current project team, however, is pushing back on recommendations from Mark and challenging his knowledge on the project. Since Mark is new, the project team reasons, he likely doesn’t understand how things work in the organization. What type of power does Mark have in this scenario? Expert Positional Situational Informational
B is correct. Mark has positional power in this scenario as he’s new to the organization and the team doesn’t recognize his expertise in the technology. Position power is also known as formal, authoritative, and legitimate power. A is incorrect as expert means the team would recognize his expertise in the technology and respect his decisions. C is incorrect; situational power emerges because the project manager has power because of certain situations in the organization. D is incorrect because informational power means the individual has control of the data gathering and distribution of information.
What type of power does a project manager have when the team admires the project manager because they’ve worked with her before the current project or they know of her reputation as a project manager? Situational Referent Personal Expert
Of all the choices presented, B is the best answer. The project manager is respected or admired because of past experiences with the project manager. This is about the project manager’s credibility in the organization. A is incorrect because situational means the project manager has power because of certain situations in the organization. C is incorrect—the project manager is liked because of their personality rather than their experiences with the project team in the past. D is incorrect as expert power means the has deep skills and experience in a discipline.
Holly is the project manager for her company and her team likes working for her. Holly has a good attitude, is easy to work with, and a good planner. The project team views Holly as a member of management who can give them a good review and possibly affect a bonus payment for each project team member if the project is completed on time. What type of power does this project manager have? Punitive Situational Reward Guilt-based
C is correct, the project team believes Holly can reward them for their good work. A is incorrect, Punitive means the team thinks the project manager can punish them. B is incorrect Situational is when the project manager has power based on unique situations within the organization. D is incorrect, Guilt-based power is when the team feels guilty if they don’t complete their project work according to plan.
There are several different tactics and leadership styles you can adapt in a project. Which one of the following is the best description of being a servant leader?
The leader emphasizes the goals of the project and rewards and disincentives for the project team
The leaders puts others first and focuses on the needs of the people he serves
The leader takes a hands off approach to the project
The leader inspired and motivates the project team to achieve the project goals
B is correct the leader puts others first and focuses on the needs of the people he serves. Servant leaders provide opportunity for growth, education, autonomy within the project, and the well-being of others. The primary focus of servant leadership is service to others. A is incorrect because this answer describes transactional leadership. C is incorrect because this answer describes a laissez-faire leadership approach. D is also incorrect because this answer describes the transformational leadership style
You are the project manager for your department. As a project manager, you will have to use some positional power to keep the project moving forward. You’ll also need to develop leadership skills to align, motivate, and inspire people. Of the following choices, which one is most likely associated with management skills? Focus on the next project achievements Build relationships Support the project team Challenge status quo
A is correct, Management focuses on the next project achievements. B, C, and D are incorrect, leaders do build relationships, leaders do support the project team, and Leaders do challenge the status quo.
You are the project manager for your organization. In your current project, you’re coaching Mary on the project management knowledge areas. Mary is having questions about project integration management at the process level. Which one of the following is the best example of project integration management at the process level?
Poor quality management planning will likely affect the quality of the project deliverable
A robust communications management plan is dependent on the number of stakeholders involved in the project
Larger projects require more detail than smaller projects
Planning is an iterative activity that will happen throughout the project
A is correct, of all the choices presented this answer is the best example of project integration management. Project integration management at the process level means that what you do in one process can have a direct effect on other processes. Poor quality management planning will likely affect the quality of the deliverables is a true statement linked to project integration management. B, C, and D are incorrect, this is an incorrect example of project integration management at the process level.
You are the project manager of a project. The project team is experiencing some trouble with a new material that the project will utilize. You gather the team to lead an active problem-solving session. Which one of the following is the best definition of active problem solving?
Define the problem and the desired solution
Discern the cause and the effect of the problem
Document the problem and its characteristics to see the whole effect
Test the materials to identify the solution
A is correct, active problem solving begins with problem definition. Problem definition is the ability to discern between the cause and effect of the problem. Root-cause analysis looks beyond the immediate symptoms to the cause of the symptoms—which then affords opportunities for solutions. B, C, and D are incorrect as this approaches doesn’t first define the effect and the causes which is crucial to active problem solving.
