GIS Project Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the Critical Path Method (CPM) identify in a GIS project schedule?
- The highest-cost data layers
- The longest sequence of dependent tasks determining minimum project duration (Correct answer)
- The servers with the most processing load
- The riskiest spatial analysis workflows
Correct answer: The longest sequence of dependent tasks determining minimum project duration
CPM identifies the longest chain of dependent activities, which sets the earliest possible project completion date.
Question 2: In Earned Value Management (EVM), if a GIS project's CPI is 0.85, what does this indicate?
- The project is 15% ahead of schedule
- The project is spending $1.00 for every $0.85 of work completed (over budget) (Correct answer)
- The project has completed 85% of its deliverables
- The project is under budget by 15%
Correct answer: The project is spending $1.00 for every $0.85 of work completed (over budget)
A CPI below 1.0 means the project is over budget — costing more than planned for the work accomplished.
Question 3: A GIS project manager uses a RACI matrix. What does the 'A' in RACI stand for?
- Analyzed
- Accountable (Correct answer)
- Authorized
- Assigned
Correct answer: Accountable
In a RACI chart, 'Accountable' identifies the person ultimately answerable for the task's completion and quality.
Question 4: Which procurement document is used to invite vendors to propose solutions for a GIS enterprise platform implementation?
- Statement of Work (SOW)
- Request for Proposal (RFP) (Correct answer)
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
- Service Level Agreement (SLA)
Correct answer: Request for Proposal (RFP)
An RFP invites vendors to submit detailed proposals including approach, timeline, and cost for delivering a GIS solution.
Question 5: During GIS project closure, what is the primary purpose of conducting a lessons-learned session?
- To reassign team members to new projects immediately
- To document successes and failures for improving future GIS projects (Correct answer)
- To finalize the geodatabase schema
- To archive all raw satellite imagery
Correct answer: To document successes and failures for improving future GIS projects
Lessons-learned sessions capture process improvements, pitfalls, and best practices to enhance future project performance.
Question 6: A GIS project has a Budget at Completion (BAC) of $200,000 and has completed 60% of work while spending $130,000. What is the Cost Variance (CV)?
- -$10,000 (Correct answer)
- +$10,000
- -$30,000
- +$30,000
Correct answer: -$10,000
EV = 60% × $200,000 = $120,000; CV = EV – AC = $120,000 – $130,000 = -$10,000, indicating cost overrun.
Question 7: What is the role of an Issue Log in GIS project management?
- Tracks projection system errors in spatial data
- Records and monitors problems that need resolution during the project (Correct answer)
- Logs user login attempts to the GIS server
- Stores metadata for all geospatial datasets
Correct answer: Records and monitors problems that need resolution during the project
An Issue Log documents problems, assigns owners, and tracks resolution status to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
GIS Project Management 3
What does the Critical Path Method (CPM) identify in a GIS project schedule?