Project Management Concept 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document formally authorizes the existence of a project and grants the project manager authority to apply resources?
- Project Management Plan
- Project Charter (Correct answer)
- Scope Statement
- Business Case
Correct answer: Project Charter
The Project Charter formally authorizes the project and gives the project manager authority to use organizational resources.
Question 2: A project is best described as which of the following?
- An ongoing set of repetitive business operations
- A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result (Correct answer)
- A permanent organizational structure for delivering services
- A department's annual operating budget plan
Correct answer: A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result
By PMI definition, a project is temporary and produces a unique outcome, distinguishing it from ongoing operations.
Question 3: What is the primary difference between a project and a program?
- Projects have budgets; programs do not
- A program is a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not available from managing them individually (Correct answer)
- Programs are shorter in duration than projects
- Projects involve more stakeholders than programs
Correct answer: A program is a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not available from managing them individually
A program consists of related projects coordinated together to achieve strategic benefits beyond what individual projects could deliver.
Question 4: Which concept refers to the progressive detailing of a project's scope as more information becomes available?
- Scope creep
- Rolling wave planning (Correct answer)
- Decomposition
- Change control
Correct answer: Rolling wave planning
Rolling wave planning is the technique of elaborating project details progressively as information becomes clearer over time.
Question 5: The triple constraint in project management traditionally refers to which three competing demands?
- Cost, Risk, and Quality
- Scope, Schedule, and Cost (Correct answer)
- Time, Resources, and Communication
- Budget, Procurement, and Stakeholders
Correct answer: Scope, Schedule, and Cost
Scope, Schedule, and Cost form the classic triple constraint, where changing one typically impacts the others.
Question 6: What term describes the point in a project where a decision is made to continue, redirect, or stop the project?
- Milestone
- Phase gate (Correct answer)
- Kickoff meeting
- Baseline review
Correct answer: Phase gate
A phase gate (also called a kill point or stage gate) is a scheduled review at the end of a phase where continuation decisions are made.
Question 7: In project management, 'lessons learned' are best captured during which phase?
- Initiating only
- Planning only
- Throughout the project and especially during closing (Correct answer)
- Executing only
Correct answer: Throughout the project and especially during closing
Lessons learned should be documented throughout the project lifecycle and are formally compiled and archived during the closing phase.
Project Management Concept 2
Which document formally authorizes the existence of a project and grants the project manager authority to apply resources?