Section 6
Project Human Resource Management
Project Human Resource Management comprises which four processes?
ANSWER
- Plan Human Resource Management
- Acquire Project Team
- Develop Project Team
- Manage Project Team
[Planning and Executing]
2 QUESTION
What are two key items in managing and leading the project team?
ANSWER
- Influencing the team
- Professional and ethical behavior
[Planning and Executing]
One way to resolve conflict is through collaboration. Why?
ANSWER
It incorporates multiple viewpoints and insight from different perspectives, requires a cooperative attitude and open dialogue, and typically leads to consensus and commitment. It may be called problem solve.
[Executing]
4 QUESTION
Describe the difference between a role and a responsibility.
ANSWER
A role is a defined function to be performed.
A responsibility is an assignment that can be delegated and that the assigned person then has a duty to perform the assignment.
[Planning]
From the project manager’s perspective, give four disadvantages of the functional organization.
ANSWER
- No formal authority over project resources
- Reliance on the informal power structure and his or her own interpersonal skills to obtain resource commitments from functional managers
- Little, if any, control over the budget
- The project manager works on the project part time
[Planning]
6 QUESTION
What are the five enterprise environmental factors that are inputs in the plan human resource management process?
ANSWER
- Organizational culture and structure
- Existing human resources
- Geographic dispersion of team members
- Personnel administration policies
- Marketplace conditions
[Planning]
Name four sources of conflict in projects.
ANSWER
- Scarce resources
- Scheduling
- Priorities
- Personal work styles
[Executing]
8 QUESTION
Describe the purpose of ground rules. Who is responsible for enforcing them once they are established?
ANSWER
To establish clear expectations regarding acceptable team member behavior. They can decrease misunderstandings and increase productivity.
The project team is responsible for enforcing them.
[Executing]
What is McGregor’s Theory X? What is management’s role in this approach?
ANSWER
The traditional approach to managing workers: Workers are seen as inherently self-centered, lazy, and lacking in ambition; a top-down view of how people should be managed.
Managers organize the elements of the productive enterprise in the interest of economic ends.
[Planning]
10 QUESTION
What are two useful templates in the plan human resource management process?
ANSWER
- Project organization charts
- Position descriptions
[Planning]
Who is responsible for conducting formal or informal assessments of the project team’s performance?
ANSWER
Project management team.
[Planning and Executing]
12 QUESTION
What is the difference between a responsibility assignment matrix and a staffing management plan?
ANSWER
A responsibility assignment matrix graphically depicts which work packages or activities are completed by which project team member. A staffing management plan describes when and how human resource requirements will be met.
[Planning]
Provide seven ways expert judgment can be used in developing the human resource management plan.
ANSWER
- List preliminary requirements for required skills
- Assess roles needed for the project
- Determine the preliminary effort level and number of resources needed to meet objectives
- Determine reporting relationships
- Provide guidelines on leadtime for staffing
- Identify risks associated with staff acquisition, retention, and release plans
- Identify and recommend programs for compliance with any applicable government and union contracts
[Planning]
14 QUESTION
What are four indicators of a team’s effectiveness?
ANSWER
- Individual skills improvement so team members can perform assignments more effectively
- Improvements in competencies that raise overall team performance
- Reduced staff turnover rate
- Increased team cohesiveness
[Executing]
In what stage of team development do the members of the project team begin to trust each other?
ANSWER
Norming.
[Executing]
16 QUESTION
Does the matrix form of project organization facilitate or complicate project team development? Why?
ANSWER
It complicates project team development.
Because team members are accountable to both a functional manager and a project manager.
[Planning]
What is the purpose of a resource breakdown structure (RBS)?
ANSWER
To break down the project by resource categories and types of resources.
It is used in resource leveling to develop resource-limited schedules, and to identify and analyze project human resource assignments.
[Planning]
18 QUESTION
Why is it important to consider cultural differences when determining recognition and rewards?
ANSWER
The project manager would not want to give team-based awards in a culture that values individual achievement. This would be contrary to cultural traditions.
[Executing]
How would you describe forcing as a means of managing conflict?
ANSWER
Exerting one’s view at the potential expense of another party, which establishes a win-lose situation.
[Executing]
20 QUESTION
What does this table represent?
ANSWER
A RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consult, Inform) chart; a type of responsibility assignment matrix (RAM).
[Planning]
What is McGregor’s Theory Y? What is management’s role in this approach?
ANSWER
Workers are not by nature resistant to organizational needs; they are willing and eager to accept responsibilities and are concerned with self-growth and self-fulfillment.
Managers should try to create an environment where workers can achieve their own goals while directing efforts toward organizational objectives.
[Planning]
22 QUESTION
Name three major forms of project organizational structure.
ANSWER
- Functional
- Matrix
- Projectized
[Planning]
What does this figure represent?
ANSWER
A resource histogram.
[Planning]
24 QUESTION
When should the project expeditor form of organization be used?
ANSWER
When a project’s cost and importance are relatively low.
[Planning]
What are three components of the human resource plan?
ANSWER
- Roles and responsibilities
- Project organization charts
- Staffing management plan
[Planning]
26 QUESTION
What area of project management becomes increasingly important when managing a virtual team?
ANSWER
Communications planning.
[Planning]
What is the expectancy theory?
ANSWER
It holds that people tend to be highly productive and motivated if they believe their efforts will lead to successful results, and they will be rewarded for their success.
[Planning]
28 QUESTION
How does the project manager’s authority differ in various organizational structures?
ANSWER
Organizational Structure |
Project Manager Authority |
|---|---|
Functional |
Little or no authority |
Weak matrix |
Limited authority |
Balanced matrix |
Low to moderate authority |
Strong matrix |
Moderate to high authority |
Projectized |
High to almost total authority |
[Planning]
Which of the five methods of resolving conflict is recommended? Why?
ANSWER
Problem solve or confrontation.
Because both parties can be fully satisfied if they work together to find a solution that satisfies both their needs.
[Executing]
30 QUESTION
In which two forms of project organization will an administrative staff generally be assigned to support a fulltime project manager?
ANSWER
- Strong matrix
- Projectized
[Planning]
What are the five types of power available to the project manager?
ANSWER
- Legitimate
- Coercive
- Reward
- Expert
- Referent
[Executing]
32 QUESTION
What is withdrawal or avoiding? What is its advantage and disadvantage in managing conflict?
ANSWER
Retreating from actual or potential disagreements and conflict situations.
Advantage: It cools the situation temporarily.
Disadvantage: It is a delaying tactic that fails to resolve the conflict.
[Executing]
Why is the type of organizational structure important in project management?
ANSWER
The structure of the performing organization often constrains the availability of, or terms under which, resources become available to the project.
The type of organizational structure also dictates the power and authority the project manager has to make decisions.
[Planning]
34 QUESTION
Give three examples of hygiene factors in Herzberg’s theory of motivation. How do they affect motivation?
ANSWER
- Pay
- Attitude of supervisor
- Working conditions
Poor hygiene factors may destroy motivation, but improving hygiene factors are not likely to increase motivation.
[Planning]
How do the project coordinator and project expeditor organizational structures differ?
ANSWER
The project coordinator reports to a higher-level manager than the project expeditor.
[Planning]
36 QUESTION
What type of organizational structure is represented in this figure?
ANSWER
Functional organization.
[Planning]
Which type(s) of power should a project manager use? Avoid?
ANSWER
Use reward and expert power; avoid using coercive power.
[Executing]
38 QUESTION
Describe one of the primary concerns of the project manager in a projectized organization.
ANSWER
Ensuring that project team members are properly placed after the project is complete.
[Planning]
What are the four factors that influence the selection of the conflict resolution method?
ANSWER
- Relative importance and intensity of the conflict
- Time pressure to resolve the conflict
- Position taken by the people involved
- Motivation to resolve the conflict for a long-term or short-term basis
[Executing]
40 QUESTION
Describe the difference between a weak matrix and a strong matrix.
ANSWER
Weak matrices are similar to functional organizations (balance of power is tipped toward the functional manager). Strong matrices are similar to projectized organizations (balance of power is tipped toward the project manager).
[Planning]
Name the two outputs of the develop project team process.
ANSWER
- Team performance assessments
- Enterprise environmental factors updates
[Executing]
42 QUESTION
What is a projectized organization?
ANSWER
One in which a separate organization is established for each project. Personnel are assigned to particular projects on a full-time basis.
[Planning]
What is smoothing or accommodating? What are its advantage and disadvantage in resolving conflict?
ANSWER
Deemphasizing the opponents’ differences and emphasizing their commonalities over the issues in question.
Advantage: It keeps the atmosphere friendly.
Disadvantage: It avoids solving the root causes of conflict.
[Executing]
44 QUESTION
What type of organizational structure is represented in this figure?
ANSWER
Strong matrix organization.
[Planning]
What are the seven items in the staffing management plan?
ANSWER
- Staff acquisition
- Resource calendars
- Staff release plan
- Training needs
- Recognition and rewards
- Compliance
- Safety
[Planning]
46 QUESTION
When is the project team directory prepared?
ANSWER
As an output of the acquire project team process.
[Executing]
What is compromising or reconciling? What are its advantage and disadvantage in resolving conflicts?
ANSWER
Bargaining and searching for solutions that attempt to bring some degree of satisfaction to the conflicting parties.
Advantage: Each party gets some degree of satisfaction.
Disadvantage: Neither party wins.
[Executing]
48 QUESTION
List six advantages for using a virtual team.
ANSWER
- Form teams of people who live in different geographic areas
- Include people with specialized skills who may live anywhere in the world
- Add people who work from home
- Ability to add people who work different shifts
- Include people who may have disabilities that prohibit them from traveling
- Launch projects in the face of tight travel budgets
[Executing]
What are the three examples of negotiation in the acquire project team process?
ANSWER
With functional managers so the project receives competent staff as required, and team members are able, willing, and authorized to work on the project until their responsibilities are completed
With other teams in the organization to acquire scarce or specialized resources
With external organizations for appropriate scarce, specialized, qualified, certified, or other specified human resources
[Executing]
50 QUESTION
List seven interpersonal skills that a project manager should have or develop that are particularly important to team development.
ANSWER
- Communications skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Conflict resolution
- Negotiation
- Influence
- Team building
- Facilitation
[Executing]
What is the definition of a virtual team?
ANSWER
A group of people with shared goals and objectives who fulfill their roles with little or no time spent meeting face to face.
[Executing]
52 QUESTION
What are definitions for authority and competency? Where are they described?
ANSWER
Authority is the right to apply project resources, make decisions, sign approvals, accept deliverables, and carry out the work of the project.
Competency is the skill and ability required to complete assigned activities within project constraints.
They are included in the project’s human resource management plan.
[Planning]
What are five stages of project team development?
ANSWER
- Forming
- Storming
- Norming
- Performing
- Adjourning
[Executing]
54 QUESTION
How can project team performance be improved?
ANSWER
By conducting formal or informal assessments of performance to pinpoint and resolve issues, manage conflict, and generally enhance team interaction.
[Executing]
In what circumstances are team members usually preassigned to a project?
ANSWER
If the project is the result of a competitive proposal and specific team members were identified in it, if the project depends on the expertise of particular people, or if some assignments are defined in the project charter.
[Executing]
56 QUESTION
What are eight examples of selection criteria that can be used to acquire team members?
ANSWER
- Availability
- Cost
- Experience
- Ability
- Knowledge
- Skills
- Attitude
- International factors
[Executing]
When is training most appropriate? What are six examples of training methods?
ANSWER
Training is used to enhance the competencies of project team members
Examples are:
- Classroom
- Online
- Computer based
- On the job from another project team member
- Mentoring
- Coaching
[Executing]
58 QUESTION
What are six examples of organizational process assets as an input to manage project team?
ANSWER
- Certificates of appreciation
- Newsletters
- Web sites
- Bonus structures
- Corporate apparel
- Other organizational prerequisites
[Executing]
What are seven guidelines for effective decision making?
ANSWER
- Focus on the goals to be served
- Follow a decision-making process
- Study environmental factors
- Analyze available information
- Develop personal qualities of the team members
- Stimulate team creativity
- Manage risk
[Executing]
60 QUESTION
Who has the primary responsibility for managing the dual reporting relationship between the team member and his or her functional manager and project manager?
ANSWER
The project manager.
[Executing]