CH-3 Managing the Information Systems Project – Modern Systems Analysis and Design : Exam Guide

Chapter 3 Managing the Information Systems Project 1) The project manager is responsible for initiating, planning, executing, and closing down the project. Answer: True 2) The focus of project management is to assure that systems development projects meet customer expectations and are delivered within budget and time constraints. Answer: True 3) A deliverable is an end product in a phase of the SDLC. Answer: True 4) A resource analysis plan determines if the proposed information system makes sense for the organization from an economic and operational standpoint. Answer: False 5) A systems development project may be undertaken to take advantage of business opportunities or to solve business problems. Answer: True 6) In order to determine the resources required for project completion, an organization should analyze the project's scope and determine the project's probability of successful completion. Answer: True 7) The most instrumental person to the successful completion of a project is the database analyst. Answer: False 8) Project planning is the first phase of the project management process in which activities are performed to assess the size, scope, and complexity of the project and to establish procedures to support later project activities. Answer: False 9) When a project manager is getting projects completed through the effective utilization of resources, he/she is performing a risk and change management activity. Answer: False 10) When a project manager works closely with customers to assure project deliverables meet expectations, he/she is performing a customer relations activity. Answer: True 11) Establishing a relationship with the customer is a project initiation activity. Answer: True 12) Establishing the project initiation plan involves organizing an initial core of project team members to assist in accomplishing the project initiation activities. Answer: False 13) Project initiation is the second phase of the project management process, which focuses on defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project. Answer: False 14) The focus of developing a communications plan activity is to collect and organize the tools that will be used while managing the project. Answer: False 15) The project workbook serves as a repository for all project correspondence, inputs, outputs, deliverables, procedures, and standards established by the project team. Answer: True 16) Project planning involves defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project. Answer: True 17) Task identification structure refers to the process of dividing a project into manageable tasks and logically ordering them to ensure a smooth evolution between tasks. Answer: False 18) Task sequence depends on which tasks produce deliverables needed in other tasks, when critical resources are available, the constraints placed on the project by the client, and the process outlined in the SDLC. Answer: True 19) A logic model is a graphical representation of a project that shows each task as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to its time for completion. Answer: False 20) Gantt charts typically show how tasks must be ordered and when an activity should begin and end. Answer: False 21) Creating a work breakdown structure requires that you decompose phases into activities and activities into specific tasks. Answer: True 22) Having a known method or technique is characteristic of a task. Answer: True 23) Project time estimates for task completion and overall system quality are significantly influenced by the assignment of people to tasks. Answer: True 24) During the development of a preliminary schedule activity, you specify how various deliverables are produced and tested by you and your project team. Answer: False 25) A Project Scope Statement is developed during the project execution phase. Answer: False 26) The Project Scope Statement provides a detailed estimate of the project's tasks and resource requirements. Answer: False 27) During project execution, plans created in prior phases are put into action. Answer: True 28) A network diagram depicts project tasks and their interrelationships. Answer: True 29) When executing the Baseline Project Plan, the project manager will initiate the execution of project activities, acquire and assign resources, orient and train new team members, keep the project on schedule, and assure the quality of project deliverables. Answer: True 30) A slipped completion date for an activity may initiate a change to the Baseline Project Plan. Answer: True 31) The meeting minutes project team communication method has a low formality rating. Answer: False 32) The hallway discussion project team communication method has a medium to high formality rating. Answer: False 33) The status report project team communication method is used to inform project team members. Answer: True 34) A project can terminate naturally or unnaturally. Answer: True 35) Within the context of the SDLC, project closedown occurs when the design phase is completed. Answer: False 36) Team members are assessed as part of the conducting postproject reviews activity. Answer: False 37) The focus of closing the customer contract activity is to ensure that all contractual terms of the project have been met. Answer: True 38) Projects are deemed a success or failure at project closedown. Answer: True 39) Gantt charts typically do not show how tasks must be ordered. Answer: True 40) When compared to network diagrams, Gantt charts are more useful for depicting the activities associated with large projects. Answer: False 41) Gantt charts visually show the time overlap of tasks whereas a network diagram does not show time overlap but does show which tasks could be done in parallel. Answer: True 42) The ability to easily make changes to a project is a very powerful feature of most project management environments. Answer: True 43) A work method is any person, group of people, piece of equipment, or material used in accomplishing an activity. Answer: False 44) Critical path scheduling is a scheduling technique in which order and duration of a sequence of task activities directly affect the completion date of a project. Answer: True 45) A major disadvantage of the network diagram is its inability to represent completion times and show interrelationships between activities. Answer: False 46) If an activity's optimistic time is 4 weeks, its realistic time is 6 weeks, and its pessimistic time is 8 weeks, then its estimated time would be 6 weeks. Answer: True 47) If an activity's optimistic time is 3 months, its realistic time is 5 months, and its pessimistic time is 10 months, then its estimated time would be 5.5 months. Answer: True 48) If an activity's optimistic time is 4 days, its realistic time is 10 days, and its pessimistic time is 25 days, then its estimated time would be 11.5 days. Answer: True 49) An activity on the critical path will have a slack time of 1. Answer: False 50) Microsoft Outlook is an example of project management software. Answer: False 51) In order to manage the project as a series of iterations, the project manager must subdivide the project into a set of components. Answer: True 52) Each separate system component is referred to as a horizontal slice of the system. Answer: False 53) One outcome of defining the overall system as a collection of components is the likelihood that the components constructed earlier in the project will require greater rework than those developed later in the project. Answer: True 54) Rework is not normally part of an OOAD project and one should be overly concerned when this happens. Answer: False 55) One characteristic of the OOAD approach is that it tackles hard problems first. Answer: True 56) Addressing hard problems first does not mitigate risk. Answer: False 57) With OOAD project management, during each iteration all systems development lifecycle activities are performed. Answer: True 58) In OOASD, it is better to make highly detailed plans for each iteration. Answer: False 59) When using OOASD, iterations are generally meant to be a variable length of time. Answer: False 60) Having more iterations with fewer components to be completed is better than having only a few iterations with many components needing to be completed. Answer: True 61) Experienced OOSAD project managers typically use from six to nine iterations when designing and constructing a system. Answer: True 62) In OOSAD, during inception the primary focus is analysis, during elaboration the primary focus is design, during construction the primary focus is making the system truly operational, and during transition the primary focus is on implementation. Answer: True 63) An individual with a diverse set of skills - management, leadership, technical, conflict management, and customer relationship - who is responsible for initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project best defines: A) systems analyst B) consultant C) project scheduler D) project manager Answer: D 64) A planned undertaking of related activities to reach an objective that has a beginning and an end best defines: A) task development B) activity plan C) project D) task schedule Answer: C 65) Which of the following are primary reasons for undertaking systems development projects? A) to take advantage of business opportunities B) to solve business problems C) to use state-of-the-art technology D) both A and B Answer: D 66) Arguably, the most instrumental person to the successful completion of any project is the: A) project manager B) chief information officer C) department manager D) staff consultant Answer: A 67) Which of the following are project management phases? A) closing down the project B) planning the project C) executing the project D) all of the above Answer: D 68) A controlled process of initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project best defines: A) systems development B) project management C) project development D) systems management Answer: B 69) The phase of the project management process in which activities are performed to assess the size, scope, and complexity of the project and to establish procedures to support later project activities best defines: A) project initiation B) scope development C) project planning D) project assessment Answer: A 70) Influencing the activities of others toward the attainment of a common goal through the use of intelligence, personality, and abilities refers to which of the following project manager activities? A) conflict management B) management C) leadership D) team management Answer: C 71) Managing conflict within a project team to assure that conflict is not too high or too low best defines which of the following project manager activities: A) conflict management B) leadership C) team management D) problem solving Answer: A 72) Identifying, assessing, and managing the risks and day-to-day changes that occur during a project best defines which of the following project manager activities: A) conflict management B) risk and change management C) team management D) problem solving Answer: B 73) Skills that include interpreting system requests and specifications, site preparation and user training, and contact point for customers best represent: A) customer relations B) conflict management C) leadership D) team management Answer: A 74) Skills that include defining and sequencing activities, communicating expectations, assigning resources to activities, and monitoring outcomes best represent: A) technical problem solving B) management C) leadership D) team management Answer: B 75) Which of the following project management activities is associated with project initiation? A) establishing a relationship with the customer B) describing project scope, alternatives, and feasibility C) estimating resources and creating a detailed resource plan D) identifying and assessing risks Answer: A 76) Defining the necessary activities required to organize the initiation team while they are working to define the scope of the project is the focus of which of the following activities? A) establishing the project initiation team B) establishing management procedures C) establishing the project initiation plan D) establishing the project management environment and project workbook Answer: C 77) An on-line or hard copy repository for all project correspondence, inputs, outputs, deliverables, procedures, and standards that is used for performing project audits, orientation of new team members, communication with management and customers, identifying future projects, and performing postproject reviews is called: A) a project workbook B) a schedule book C) a project planner D) project management software Answer: A 78) Which of the following is not a project planning activity? A) setting a Baseline Project Plan B) identifying and assessing risk C) determining project standards and procedures D) establishing management procedures Answer: D 79) Developing an understanding of the content and complexity of the project is the purpose of: A) describing the project scope, alternatives, and feasibility B) determining project standards and procedures C) developing a Statement Of Work D) setting a Baseline Project Plan Answer: A 80) The process of dividing the project into manageable tasks and logically ordering them to ensure a smooth evolution between tasks defines: A) task division B) work breakdown structure C) work structuring D) project division Answer: B 81) Which of the following is not a guideline for defining a task? A) A task should have well accepted predecessor and successor steps. B) A task should have a single and identifiable deliverable. C) A task should have a known method or technique. D) A task should always be completed by one person. Answer: D 82) A graphical representation of a project that shows each task as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to its time for completion defines: A) network diagram B) data diagram C) project chart D) Gantt chart Answer: D 83) Which of the following is a true statement regarding project time estimates? A) Project time estimates for task completion and overall system quality are significantly influenced by the assignment of people to tasks. B) Resource estimates should not be revised based upon the skills of the actual person assigned to a particular activity. C) Staff learning can be enhanced by assigning individuals to tasks that are "over their heads." D) Project time estimates are always on target. Answer: A 84) During which of the following activities do you use the information regarding tasks and resource availability to assign time estimates to each activity in the work breakdown structure? A) dividing the project into manageable tasks B) develop a preliminary schedule C) describing project scope, alternatives, and feasibility D) developing a Statement of Work Answer: B 85) A diagram that depicts project activities and their interrelationships is called a: A) network diagram B) data diagram C) data flow diagram D) Gantt chart Answer: A 86) Indicating when and how written and oral reports will be provided by the team, how team members will coordinate work, what messages will be sent to announce the project to interested parties, and what kinds of information will be shared with vendors and external contractors involved with the project describes: A) determining project standards and procedures B) developing a Statement of Work C) developing a communication plan D) setting a Baseline Project Plan Answer: C 87) Risks can arise from: A) the use of new technology B) resistance to change C) availability of critical resources D) all of the above Answer: D 88) The third phase of the project management process in which the plans created in the prior phases are put into action is: A) project planning B) project execution C) project initiation D) project closedown Answer: B 89) Which of the following occurs during project execution? A) monitoring project progress against the baseline plan B) conducting post-project reviews C) establishing the project initiation plan D) establishing the project workbook Answer: A 90) Changes to the Baseline Project Plan might be motivated by: A) a slipped completion date of an activity B) a bungled activity that must be redone C) the identification of a new activity that becomes evident later in the project D) all of the above Answer: D 91) The responsibility for keeping all team members informed of the project status best describes the: A) monitoring project progress against the Baseline Project Plan activity B) communicating the project status activity C) executing the baseline project plan activity D) project update activity Answer: B 92) Which of the following states correctly the formality and use of a project workbook? A) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated low to medium. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to inform and serve as a permanent record. B) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated high. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to resolve issues. C) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated high. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to inform and serve as a permanent record. D) In terms of formality, the project workbook would be rated low. In terms of use, the project workbook would be used to resolve issues. Answer: C 93) Which of the following states correctly the formality and use of hallway discussions? A) In terms of formality, hallway discussions would be rated medium. In terms of use, hallway discussions would be used to inform. B) In terms of formality, hallway discussions would be rated high. In terms of use, hallway discussions would be used to inform. C) In terms of formality, hallway discussions would be rated low. In terms of use, hallway discussions would be used to inform and resolve issues. D) In terms of formality, hallway discussions would be rated high. In terms of use, hallway discussions would serve as a permanent record. Answer: C 94) The final phase of the project management process that focuses on bringing a project to an end is called: A) project evaluation B) project closedown C) project initiation and planning D) project review Answer: B 95) Which of the following is not a project closedown phase? A) conducting post project reviews B) closing the customer contract C) closing down the project D) communicating the project status Answer: D 96) Ensuring that all contractual terms of the project have been met is done during: A) conducting postproject reviews B) closing the customer contract C) closing down the project D) communicating the project status Answer: B 97) Determining the strengths and weaknesses of project deliverables, the processes used to create them, and the project management process is done during: A) conducting postproject reviews B) closing the customer contract C) closing down the project D) communicating the project status Answer: A 98) When comparing a Gantt chart to a network diagram, which of the following is a true statement? A) Gantt shows the sequence dependencies between activities, whereas a network diagram shows the duration of activities. B) A network diagram shows the time overlap of activities, whereas Gantt does not show time overlap. C) Some forms of Gantt charts can show slack time available within an earliest start and latest finish duration, whereas a network diagram shows this by data within activity rectangles. D) Both A and B Answer: C 99) Any person, group of people, piece of equipment, or material used in accomplishing an activity is referred to as a(n): A) entity B) resource C) identifier D) agent Answer: B 100) A scheduling technique where the order and duration of the sequence of activities directly affect the completion date of a project refers to: A) sequencing strategy B) Gantt scheduling C) critical path scheduling D) activity scheduling Answer: C 101) Optimistic time is: A) the maximum period of time for an activity to be completed B) the minimum period of time for an activity to be completed C) the planner's "best guess" of the amount of time the activity actually will require for completion D) the maximum period of time for an entire project to be completed Answer: B 102) Pessimistic time is: A) the maximum period of time for an activity to be completed B) the minimum period of time for an activity to be completed C) the planner's "best guess" of the amount of time the activity actually will require for completion D) the maximum period of time for an entire project to be completed Answer: A 103) Realistic time is: A) the maximum period of time for an activity to be completed B) the minimum period of time for an activity to be completed C) the planner's "best guess" of the amount of time the activity actually will require for completion D) the maximum period of time for an entire project to be completed Answer: C 104) What would be the estimated time for completion if the time estimates for report design are as follows: optimistic = 3 weeks; pessimistic = 9 weeks; realistic = 6 weeks? A) 3 weeks B) 6 weeks C) 18 weeks D) 5 weeks Answer: B 105) What would be the estimated time for completion if time estimates for programming are as follows: optimistic = 4 weeks; pessimistic = 6 weeks; realistic = 5 weeks? A) 5 weeks B) 6 weeks C) 15 weeks D) 3 weeks Answer: A 106) What would be the estimated time for completion if time estimates for installation are as follows: optimistic = 1 week; pessimistic = 1 week; realistic = 1 week? A) 5 weeks B) 6 weeks C) 3 weeks D) 1 week Answer: D 107) Which of the following is true regarding Gantt chart construction? A) To construct the Gantt chart, a horizontal bar is drawn for each activity that reflects its sequence and duration. B) To show precedence relationships, arrows are used to connect actions. C) Arrows are used to reflect the sequence of activities. D) Squares are used to represent activities. Answer: A 108) A critical path is: A) a sequence of activities whose order and durations indirectly affect the completion date of a project B) a sequence of activities whose order and durations directly affect the completion date of a project C) a sequence of activities whose order must be performed in parallel D) a sequence of activities whose duration cannot last more than 40 percent of the time allotted to the project Answer: B 109) Which of the following is a true statement regarding network diagrams? A) The critical path of a network diagram is represented by the sequence of connected activities that produce the longest overall time period. B) All activities with a slack time equal to zero are on the critical path. C) Nodes not on the critical path can be delayed (for some amount of time) without delaying the final completion of the project. D) All of the above. Answer: D 110) The amount of time that an activity can be delayed without delaying the project refers to: A) noncritical time B) slack time C) down time D) delay time Answer: B 111) Slack time is equal to: A) the difference between an activity's latest and earliest expected completion time B) the latest expected completion time C) the difference between the start time and realistic time for each activity D) the sum of an activity's latest and earliest expected completion time Answer: A 112) Automated tools available to help you manage a development project are referred to as: A) diagram generators B) project management software C) systems development software D) none of the above Answer: B 113) In OOSAD, the project manager must: A) subdivide the whole system into a set of components B) use Java to design the system C) keep track of objects D) all of the above Answer: A 114) When a project manager divides a system into components in OOSAD, each component is called a(n): A) piece of the pie B) horizontal slice C) vertical slice D) node Answer: C 115) In OOSAD, one outcome of defining the overall system as a collection of components is: A) a good system B) the likelihood that components constructed earlier in the project will require greater rework C) the likelihood that components constructed later in the project will require greater rework D) the critical path will fail. Answer: B 116) A characteristic of the OOSAD approach is: A) that it is very difficult B) that it is very easy C) that it never works D) that it tackles hard problems first. Answer: D 117) In OOSAD, each project iteration has all of the following except: A) planning B) project closedown C) analysis D) implementation Answer: B 118) In OOSAD, iterations are normally: A) five weeks B) ten weeks C) eleven weeks D) two to eight weeks Answer: D 119) A ________ is a systems analyst with a diverse set of skills-management, leadership, technical, conflict management, and customer relationship-who is responsible for initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project. Answer: project manager 120) A ________ is a planned undertaking of related activities to reach an objective that has a beginning and an end. Answer: project 121) A ________ is an end product in a phase of the SDLC. Answer: deliverable 122) A ________ determines if the proposed information system makes sense for the organization from an economic and operational standpoint. Answer: feasibility study 123) ________ is a controlled process of initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project. Answer: Project management 124) ________, ________, ________, and ________ are the four phases of project management. Answer: Project initiation, project planning, project execution, project closedown 125) ________ is the first phase of the project management process in which activities are performed to assess the size, scope, and complexity of the project and to establish procedures to support later project activities. Answer: Project initiation 126) Influencing the activities of others toward the attainment of a common goal through the use of intelligence, personality, and abilities describes the ________ project manager activity. Answer: leadership 127) Getting projects completed through the effective utilization of resources describes the ________ project manager activity. Answer: management 128) Working closely with customers to assure project deliverables meet expectations describes the ________ project manager activity. Answer: customer relations 129) Designing and sequencing activities to attain project goals describes the ________ project manager activity. Answer: technical problem solving 130) Managing conflict within a project team to assure that conflict is not too high or too low describes the ________ project manager activity. Answer: conflict management 131) Managing the project team for effective team performance describes the ________ project manager activity. Answer: team management 132) A ________ is an online or hard-copy repository for all project correspondence, inputs, outputs, deliverables, procedures, and standards that is used for performing project audits, orienting new team members, communicating with management and customers, identifying future projects, and performing postproject reviews. Answer: project workbook 133) ________ is the second phase of the project management process, which focuses on defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project. Answer: Project planning 134) ________ is the process of dividing the project into manageable tasks and logically ordering them to ensure a smooth evolution between tasks. Answer: Work breakdown structure 135) A ________ is a graphical representation of a project that shows each task as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to its time for completion. Answer: Gantt chart 136) A ________ depicts project tasks and their interrelationships. Answer: network diagram 137) ________ is the third phase of the project management process in which the plans created in the prior phases are put into action. Answer: Project execution 138) ________ is the final phase of the project management process that focuses on ending the project. Answer: Project closedown 139) ________ are any person, group of people, piece of equipment, or material used in accomplishing an activity. Answer: Resources 140) ________ is a scheduling technique whose order and duration of a sequence of task activities directly affect the completion date of a project. Answer: Critical path scheduling 141) A ________ is the shortest time in which a project can be completed. Answer: critical path 142) ________ is a technique that uses optimistic, pessimistic, and realistic time estimates to calculate the expected time for a particular task. Answer: PERT 143) ________ is the amount of time that an activity can be delayed without delaying the project. Answer: Slack time 144) ________ is the shortest time which a project can be completed. Answer: Critical path 145) ________ is a tool that is available to help you manage a development project. Answer: Project management software 146) Referring to OOSAD, in order to manage the project as a series of iterations, the project manager must subdivide the overall system into a set of ________. Answer: Components 147) Another characteristic of the OOSAD approach is that it tackles the ________ first. Answer: hard problems 148) In OOSAD, during a single iteration, multiple ________ can be completed. Answer: components 149) Briefly define and compare Gantt charts and network diagrams. Answer: A network diagram is a graphical depiction of project task activities and their interrelationships. The distinguishing feature of network diagram is that the ordering of activities is shown by connecting an activity with its predecessor and successor activities. A Gantt chart is a graphical representation of a project that shows each task activity as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to its time for completion. The two charts have features that enable them to more easily demonstrate certain aspects of a project more so than the other chart. Gantt shows the duration of activities; a network diagram shows the sequence dependencies between activities. Gantt shows the time overlap of activities; a network diagram does not show time overlap but does show what activities could be done in parallel. Some forms of Gantt charts can show slack time available within an earliest start and latest finish duration; a network diagram shows this by data within activity rectangles. 150) Identify and briefly discuss the four phases involved in managing a project. Answer: The project management process occurs in four phases. Each phase requires that several activities be performed. The four phases include: initiating the project, planning the project, executing the project, and closing down the project. Each of the four phases is briefly highlighted below. The first phase, project initiation, includes activities that are performed to assess the size, scope, and complexity of the project and to establish procedures to support later project activities. The associated elements of project initiation are establishing the project initiation team, establishing a relationship with the customer, establishing the project initiation plan, establishing management procedures, and establishing the project management environment and project workbook. Project planning, the second phase, focuses on defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project. Varied and numerous types of tasks are performed during this phase. The elements of project planning include describing project scope, alternatives, and feasibility; dividing the project into manageable tasks; estimating resources and creating a resource plan; developing a preliminary schedule; developing a communication plan; determining project standards and procedures; identifying and assessing risk; creating a preliminary budget; developing a Statement of Work; and setting a Baseline Project Plan. Project execution, the third phase of the project management process, is the phase in which the plans created in the prior phases are put into action. The elements of project execution include executing the Baseline Project Plan, monitoring project progress against the baseline plan, managing changes to the Baseline Project Plan, maintaining the project workbook, and communicating the project status. The final phase of the project management process, project closedown, focuses on bringing a project to an end. Project closedown includes closing down the project, conducting postproject reviews, and closing the customer contract. 151) Identify the common activities and skills of a project manager. Answer: The project manager must be equipped with a diverse set of skills. These skills include leadership, management, customer relations, technical problem solving, conflict management, team management, and risk change management. Leadership skills involve influencing the activities of others toward the attainment of a common goal through the use of intelligence, personality, and abilities. Sample leadership skills include monitoring progress, serving as a liaison between management, users, and developers, and assigning activities. Management skills involve getting projects completed through the effective utilization of resources. Sample management skills include communicating expectations, assigning resources to activities, and monitoring outcomes. Customer relations skills involve working closely with customers to ensure project deliverables meet expectations. Examples of skills required are interpreting system requests and specifications, defining activities and their sequence, and making tradeoffs between alternative solutions. Technical problem solving involves designing and sequencing activities to attain project goals. Examples include interpreting system requests and specifications, defining activities and their sequence, and making tradeoffs between alternative solutions. Conflict management manages conflict within a project team to assure that conflict is not too high or too low. Sample skills required are problem solving, smoothing out personality differences, and compromising. Team management requires managing the project team for effective team performance. Sample skills required are peer evaluations, self management, and team building. Risk and change management requires identifying, assessing, and managing the risks and day-to-day changes that occur during a project. Sample skills required are environmental scanning, risk and opportunity identification and assessment, and forecasting. 152) Briefly explain the process of managing an information systems project. Answer: A project is a planned undertaking of a series of related activities to reach an objective that has a beginning and an end. Project management is a controlled process of initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project. The individual responsible for the project and project management is the project manager. The project manager is an individual with a diverse set of skills. Management, leadership, technical, conflict management, and customer relationship are necessary skills that the project manager should have. Also, the project manager is responsible for initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project. 153) Briefly discuss project management software. Answer: When developing a project, automated project management tools are available for use by the project manager. While a wide variety of project management tools are available, most include features such as the ability to define and order tasks, assign resources to tasks, and easily modify tasks and resources. The tools run on a range of platforms; the tools vary in the number of task activities supported, the complexity of relationships, system processing and storage requirements, and cost. 154) Define project initiation. Identify five project initiation activities. Answer: During project initiation, activities are performed to assess the size, scope, and complexity of the project and to establish procedures to support later project activities. The five project initiation activities are to establish a project team, a relationship with a customer, the project initiation plan, management procedures, and the project management environment and project workbook. 155) Define project planning. Identify ten project planning activities. Answer: During project planning, the project manager focuses on defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project. Project planning activities include describing the project scope, alternatives, and feasibility; dividing the project into manageable tasks; estimating resources and creating a resource plan; developing a preliminary schedule; developing a communication plan; determining project standards and procedures; identifying and assessing risk; creating a preliminary budget; developing a Statement of Work; and setting a Baseline Project Plan. 156) Construct a network diagram using the following data. For each activity, identify its early start time, late start time, early finish time, late finish time, and slack. Identify the critical path. Answer: 157) Construct a Gantt chart using the following data. Answer: 158) Construct a network diagram using the following data. For each activity, identify its early start time, late start time, early finish time, late finish time, and slack. Identify the critical path. (You may round your answers for the expected times.) Answer: 159) Describe Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design Answer: Object-Oriented Systems Analysis and Design defines the system as a set of components. The project manager creates vertical slices of the system. One approach used by OOSAD is to complete hard problems first. Iterations are used to manage the project. Within each iteration, each phase of the SDLC is completed. Iterations generally last two to eight weeks. Test Bank for Modern Systems Analysis and Design Jeffrey A. Hoffer, Joey George, Joseph S. Valacich, Joe Valacich, Jeffrey Slater 9780132991308, 9780134204925, 9780135172759, 9780136088219