OM Project Management Fundamentals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which conflict resolution technique is considered most effective in project management because it results in a win-win outcome?
- Smoothing
- Forcing
- Compromising
- Collaborating (Problem Solving) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Collaborating (Problem Solving)
Collaborating (problem solving) addresses the root cause and finds a solution acceptable to all parties, producing lasting resolution.
Question 2: A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) decomposes project deliverables into work packages. What rule defines when decomposition is sufficient?
- Each work package takes exactly one week
- Work packages can be reliably estimated and assigned (Correct answer)
- No more than six levels of decomposition exist
- Each package costs less than $10,000
Correct answer: Work packages can be reliably estimated and assigned
Decomposition is complete when work packages can be reliably estimated, scheduled, monitored, and assigned to a responsible party.
Question 3: A project manager is leading a cross-functional team where members still report to their functional managers. Which organizational structure does this describe?
- Projectized
- Functional
- Matrix (Correct answer)
- Composite
Correct answer: Matrix
In a matrix organization, team members report to both the project manager and their functional manager simultaneously.
Question 4: During quality planning, a project manager creates a diagram showing potential causes of a quality defect. Which tool is this?
- Pareto Chart
- Control Chart
- Ishikawa (Fishbone) Diagram (Correct answer)
- Run Chart
Correct answer: Ishikawa (Fishbone) Diagram
The Ishikawa (cause-and-effect or fishbone) diagram maps potential causes organized into categories to identify root causes of defects.
Question 5: Which communication model component represents interference that distorts the message between sender and receiver?
- Encoding
- Medium
- Noise (Correct answer)
- Feedback
Correct answer: Noise
Noise is any interference—physical, psychological, or semantic—that distorts or disrupts the communication between sender and receiver.
Question 6: A project sponsor requests a change that increases project scope after the project baseline has been approved. What process should the project manager initiate?
- Update the project charter
- Implement the change immediately
- Submit an Integrated Change Control request (Correct answer)
- Revise the WBS and proceed
Correct answer: Submit an Integrated Change Control request
All scope changes after baseline approval must go through Integrated Change Control to evaluate impact and obtain formal approval before implementation.
Question 7: In agile project management, what is the primary purpose of a Sprint Retrospective?
- To review deliverables with the customer
- To plan work for the next sprint
- To inspect the process and identify improvements for the team (Correct answer)
- To update the product backlog
Correct answer: To inspect the process and identify improvements for the team
The Sprint Retrospective focuses on the team's process, relationships, and tools to identify improvements for future sprints.
OM Project Management Fundamentals 3
Which conflict resolution technique is considered most effective in project management because it results in a win-win outcome?