The questions which follow provide a basic knowledge test of selected concepts covered in this learning pathway:
Project management in context.
The questions published at the end of each learning pathway are re-used for the knowledge test for learners interested in earning a digital badge or certificate of participation for the Role of the project manager (IPM101) micro-course. Please consult the Certify participation page for more information.
Indicate whether the following statements are true or false:
- A project manager is a subject or professional expert in the focus area of the project
- True
- No. a project manager is not necessarily a subject expert in the focus area of the project.
- False
- Project management began in the 20th century
- True
- No, the Pyramids and the Great Wall of China required project management millennia ago.
- False
- A project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result
- True
- False
- No, a project is temporary as it is not ongoing business; it has an end.
- Quality, Risk and Resources are referred to as the triple constraint
- True
- Incorrect. Although these are important Time, Cost and Scope are known as the triple constraint.
- False
- Correct. Time, Cost and Scope are known as the triple constraint.
Multiple choice questions
- Identify which of these are project attributes (Select all that apply - there are three correct answers.):
- A project is different from ongoing work or business operations
- Correct, a project is not part of normal business.
- A project brings about a product or service that hasn’t existed before
- Right, projects create a new product or service.
- A project’s goals drive the project
- Yes, the purpose of a project is to meet its goals.
- A project is part of ongoing work or business operations
- No, a project is not part of normal business.
- What are the characteristics of a project? (Select all that apply - there are two correct answers.):
- It has been done before
- Incorrect. If the activity has been done before it is not a project.
- It is time limited
- Correct. A project has an end.
- There is a way to determine when the project is completed
- Yes. At the end of the project a unique product or service is created.
- Stakeholder satisfaction cannot be determined
- Incorrect. The expectations of the stakeholders requirements are documented during the planning processes.
- Choose the correct project constraint descriptions (Select all that apply - there are two correct answers.):
- Cost always refers to the money spent on the project
- Almost correct. Cost refers to the approved budget for the project, for example, in some grant-funded projects under-spending on the approved budget may require unspent funding to be returned.
- Quality identifies the standards and criteria to which the project’s products must be delivered
- Risk is potential internal events that will have a negative impact on your project
- No, risk refers to external events that will impact negatively on the project.
- Time is the deadline to complete the project
- In multicultural/international projects project managers should (Select all that apply - there are two correct answers.):
- Appreciate the culture dimensions and try to learn relevant customs, courtesies, and business protocols
- Take into consideration these various cultural influences and how they may affect the project’s completion, schedule, scope, and cost
- Have past experience of working in the relevant culture
- No, although this may be an advantage, a project manager should be able to work in any culture so long as they are cognisant of the cultural nuances.
- Be able to speak all of the languages of the team members
- No. Although this may be an advantage, all members of the project team should speak a common language.
