COSC 4321 Chapter 3

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COSC 4321 Chapter 3

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

All of the following are metrics of a successful project EXCEPT ____.

a.	on-time completion
b.	completion with the same personnel as were on the team at the outset
c.	completion within budget
d.	delivery of a quality product that satisfies users

A project manager’s scheduling function _____.

a.	involves guiding, supervising, and coordinating the project team’s workload
b.	includes monitoring the progress of the project, evaluating results, and taking corrective action when necessary to stay on target
c.	involves staffing, which includes selecting the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members
d.	includes identifying and arranging project tasks and estimating completion times and costs

Project scheduling involves all of the following EXCEPT ____.

a.	defining project constraints	c.	using Gantt charts
b.	staffing the project team	d.	assigning specific tasks to team members

The accompanying figure shows task ____, which simplify a complex task by combining several activities.

a.	groups	c.	aggregates
b.	clusters	d.	links

Many project managers find ____ charts more helpful for scheduling, monitoring, and controlling projects.

a.	Gantt	c.	index
b.	PERT/CPM	d.	task

A(n) ____ chart displays complex task patterns and relationships.

a.	Gantt	c.	PERT/CPM
b.	index	d.	task

A task is any work that requires the use of company resources including all of the following EXCEPT ____.

a.	controlling capital	c.	time
b.	people	d.	money

In addition to tasks, every project has ____, which are reference points used to monitor progress and manage the project.

a.	targets	c.	members
b.	milestones	d.	workloads

In a PERT/CPM chart, each task has all of the following EXCEPT a(n) ____.

a.	reference to successor tasks	c.	name
b.	ID	d.	duration

10.

When several tasks can start at the same time, each is called a(n) ____ task.

a.	synchronous	c.	baseline
b.	asynchronous	d.	concurrent

11.

When two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, the concurrent tasks are called ____ tasks.

a.	descendent	c.	children
b.	successor	d.	antecedent

12.

A ____ path includes all tasks that are vital to the project schedule.

a.	vital	c.	critical
b.	baseline	d.	foundational

13.

Project managers always must be aware of the ____ path, so they can monitor the vital tasks and keep the project on track.

a.	vital	c.	foundational
b.	baseline	d.	critical

14.

When maintaining schedules, if enough ____ and frequent checkpoints exist, problems will be detected rapidly.

a.	success indices	c.	milestones
b.	critical paths	d.	all of the above

15.

____ is open-source software that is supported by a large group of users and developers.

a.	Open Workbench	c.	Microsoft Project Professional
b.	Microsoft Project Standard	d.	Both b and c

16.

A _____ cannot be started until one or more other tasks are completed.

a.	dependent task	c.	predecessor task
b.	concurrent task	d.	all of the above

17.

A ____ is an event that could affect a project negatively.

a.	menace	c.	doubt
b.	threat	d.	risk

18.

A(n) ____ chart can be used to display the qualitative risk analysis matrix.

a.	pie	c.	bar
b.	XY	d.	line

19.

When an information system does not meet business requirements, causes might include ____.

a.	unidentified requirements	c.	imprecise targets
b.	inadequately defined scope	d.	all of the above

20.

All of the following are possible causes of cost overruns related to human resource factors EXCEPT ____.

a.	motivation issues	c.	inaccurate TCO forecast
b.	inadequate training	d.	turnover

21.

When a project manager first recognizes that a project is in trouble, the options available to her include ____.

a.	trimming the project requirements	c.	adding to the project resources
b.	delaying the project deadline	d.	all of the above

True/False
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

22.

Gantt charts are an ideal tool for controlling a complex project because they provide plenty of detailed information.

23.

If it will take one person 20 days to perform a particular task, it is true that two people could complete the same task in 10 days or that 10 people could perform the task in two days.

24.

In most systems analysis tasks, time and people are interchangeable.

25.

Using prior experience to make time and cost estimates works best for large projects.

26.

When tasks must be completed one after another, they are called concurrent tasks.

27.

Often, two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, which is called a successor task.

28.

When two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, each of the concurrent tasks is called a predecessor task.

29.

If any task along the critical path falls behind schedule, the entire project is delayed.

30.

Generally, systems analysts review the work of other systems analysts, and programmers review the work of other programmers, as a form of peer review, in structured walk-throughs.

31.

Tasks that are not on the critical path cannot be ignored.

32.

In Open Workbench, unlike in Microsoft Project, you create tasks and durations, indicate dependencies, and assign resources.

33.

Project planning is a dynamic task and involves constant change.

34.

If team members lack experience with certain aspects of the required technology, temporary help might be obtained from IT consultants or part-time staff.

Completion
Complete each statement.

35.

The ____________________ handles administrative responsibilities for a project development team and negotiates with users who might have conflicting requirements or want changes that would require additional time or expense.

36.

A(n) ____________________ is a recognizable reference point that can be used to monitor progress and manage a project.

37.

A(n) ____________________ represents the amount of work that one person can complete in one day.

38.

The ____________________ is the time that a task is scheduled to begin.

39.

The ____________________ is the time that a task is scheduled to be completed.

40.

Projects with general scope definitions are risky, because they tend to expand gradually, without specific authorization, in a process called ____________________.

41.

According to the concept called ____________________, adding manpower to a late software project only makes it later.

Matching

Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition.

a.	project management	f.	weight
b.	project coordinator	g.	bottom-up technique
c.	project leader	h.	dependent
d.	milestone	i.	concurrent
e.	constraint	j.	predecessor

42.

Usually a senior systems analyst or an IT department manager, if the project is large.

43.

A condition, restriction, or requirement that the system must satisfy.

44.

The process of planning, scheduling, monitoring, and reporting upon the development of an information system.

45.

Handles the administrative responsibilities for the development team.

46.

An importance value assigned to an estimate.

47.

The kind of tasks that must be completed one after another.

48.

A recognizable reference point that can be used to monitor progress and manage the project.

49.

Tasks that can start at the same time are this kind of task.

50.

The kind of task upon which other tasks depend.