BSE Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management: Project Management Fundamentals 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A project manager is told to reduce the project schedule. They decide to perform certain tasks in parallel that were originally planned sequentially. This technique is called:
- Crashing
- Fast tracking (Correct answer)
- Resource leveling
- Scope reduction
Correct answer: Fast tracking
Fast tracking overlaps activities that were originally planned in sequence, reducing schedule duration but increasing risk.
Question 2: The stakeholder register is created during which process?
- Monitor Stakeholder Engagement
- Plan Stakeholder Engagement
- Identify Stakeholders (Correct answer)
- Manage Stakeholder Engagement
Correct answer: Identify Stakeholders
The stakeholder register is an output of the Identify Stakeholders process, which occurs during project initiation.
Question 3: What is the key difference between quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) in project management?
- QA is done at project close; QC is done at project start
- QA audits processes to prevent defects; QC inspects deliverables to find defects (Correct answer)
- QA focuses on cost; QC focuses on schedule
- QA and QC are identical in scope
Correct answer: QA audits processes to prevent defects; QC inspects deliverables to find defects
QA is a proactive process-oriented activity, while QC is a reactive product-inspection activity that identifies defects in outputs.
Question 4: An engineering project has a Budget at Completion (BAC) of $200,000 and a Cost Performance Index (CPI) of 0.80. What is the Estimate at Completion (EAC) using the CPI-based formula?
- $160,000
- $240,000
- $250,000 (Correct answer)
- $180,000
Correct answer: $250,000
EAC = BAC / CPI = $200,000 / 0.80 = $250,000, meaning the project is projected to cost $50,000 more than budgeted.
Question 5: In a project network diagram, a Finish-to-Start (FS) dependency with a lag of 5 days means:
- The successor can start 5 days before the predecessor finishes
- The successor can start 5 days after the predecessor finishes (Correct answer)
- Both activities must finish simultaneously
- The predecessor must wait 5 days before starting
Correct answer: The successor can start 5 days after the predecessor finishes
A FS dependency with a positive lag means the successor activity must wait the specified lag period after the predecessor finishes before it can begin.
Question 6: Which leadership style is most appropriate when managing highly experienced engineering specialists on a well-defined technical task?
- Telling (directing)
- Selling (coaching)
- Delegating (Correct answer)
- Participating
Correct answer: Delegating
Delegating is appropriate for high-competence, high-commitment team members who need minimal direction and can work autonomously.
Question 7: What is the main purpose of the project scope statement?
- To list all project team members and their roles
- To describe the project deliverables and the work required to create them (Correct answer)
- To outline the project's financial budget
- To define communication protocols between stakeholders
Correct answer: To describe the project deliverables and the work required to create them
The scope statement provides a detailed description of deliverables, project boundaries, assumptions, and constraints.
BSE Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management: Project Management Fundamentals 4
A project manager is told to reduce the project schedule.
They decide to perform certain tasks in parallel that were originally planned sequentially.
This technique is called: