Introduction to project management/IPM101/Stakeholders/Quiz

The questions which follow provide a basic knowledge test of selected concepts covered in this learning pathway: Stakeholder management.

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.

True - false questions

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false:

• Specific people or groups who have a stake in the outcome of the project are stakeholders
  • True
    • Correct.
  • False
    • No, stakeholders are people or groups who have an interest or concern in the outcome of the project.
• A project can have internal and external stakeholders
  • True
    • Correct.
  • False
    • No, this is true.
• Stakeholders are always positively affected by a project
  • True
    • No, sometimes they are negatively affected by a project e.g. the bridge project where closure of the bridges for upgrading significantly affected traffic which used the bridges.
  • False
    • Correct.
• The project sponsor is generally an executive in the organisation with the authority to assign resources and enforce decisions regarding the project
  • True
    • Well done, correct.
  • False
    • No, the project sponsor generally is an executive with the authority to assign resources and enforce decisions.
• Identifying important stakeholders or their department’s function is not critical in the early stages of a project
  • True
    • No, it is critical to identify important stakeholders or their department’s function in the early stages of the project.
  • False
    • Correct.

Multiple choice questions

• What difficulties may you, as project manager, encounter in dealing with project team members (Select all that apply - there are three correct answers.):
  • Because project team members are ‘borrowed’ and they don’t report to you, their priorities may be elsewhere
    • Correct.
  • They may be juggling many projects as well as their full-time job and have difficulty meeting deadlines
    • Correct.
  • Personality conflicts may arise
    • Correct, these may be caused by differences in social style or values or they may be the result of some bad experience when people worked together in the past.
  • They may prioritise the project over their other work
    • Incorrect. This is an issue for their line manager, not you as project manager.
• It’s the project manager’s responsibility to understand stakeholder conflicts and try to resolve them. A good rule is that when in doubt, stakeholder conflicts should always be resolved in favour of:
  • The customer.
    • Correct.
  • Management.
    • No, try again.
  • The project team.
    • No, try again.
  • Your manager
    • No, try again.
• Which of these are stakeholders of a project? (Select all that apply - there are three correct answers.):
  • The customer, subcontractors, and suppliers
    • Correct.
  • The project manager, project team members, and managers from other departments in the organization
    • Correct.
  • External customers
    • Correct.
  • An executive in the organisation
    • Incorrect. This is usually the project sponsor
• If you need to keep top management informed about your project which of these suggestions will be of help? (Select all that apply - there are three correct answers.):
  • Ask top management associated with your project for their information reporting needs and frequency
    • Correct.
  • Develop in-depth plans and major milestones that must be approved by top management during the planning and design phases of the project
    • Correct.
  • Develop a status reporting methodology to be distributed on a scheduled basis
    • Correct.
  • Keep them informed of project risks and potential impacts only when it is critical
    • Incorrect. Top management should be informed of risks and impacts at all times.