Project Initiation & Planning Flashcards

A project manager is asked to begin work before a project charter is approved. What is the BEST course of action?

Answer: Request formal charter approval before committing resources

The project charter formally authorizes the project, and work should not begin without this authorization to ensure proper governance.

Which planning output defines the total scope of work required to complete the project?

Answer: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

The WBS decomposes the total scope of project work into manageable components, serving as the foundation for all other planning.

A stakeholder with HIGH power and LOW interest should be managed by:

Answer: Keeping satisfied with key information

Stakeholders with high power and low interest should be kept satisfied to prevent them from becoming obstacles.

What document describes how the project team will execute, monitor, control, and close the project?

Answer: Project management plan

The project management plan is the comprehensive document that integrates all subsidiary plans and baselines for project execution.

During initiation, a feasibility study concludes that the project is technically possible but ROI is uncertain. What should the project manager recommend?

Answer: Present findings to decision-makers for a go/no-go decision

Uncertain ROI is a business decision that must be escalated to senior stakeholders or sponsors, not resolved unilaterally by the PM.

Which element of a project scope statement describes what the project will NOT deliver?

Answer: Project exclusions

Project exclusions explicitly state what is out of scope, helping prevent misunderstandings and scope creep.

A project manager is creating a communications management plan. Which factor is MOST important to identify first?

Answer: Stakeholder information needs

Understanding what information stakeholders need drives all other communications planning decisions such as format, frequency, and channel.