Project Human Resource Management

Quiz 1 (10 Questions)

Q1. On his first project assignment as the project manager, the project manager
encounters disagreements among highly technical team members. How would the project
manager BEST deal with the conflict?

A) He should listen to the differences of opinions, determine what is the best choice
and implement that choice.
B) He should postpone further discussions, meet with each individual, and determine
the best approach.
C) He should listen to the differences of opinions, encourage logical discussions, and
facilitate an agreement.
D) He should help the team focus on agreeable aspects of their opinions and build
unity by using relaxation techniques and common focus team building.

Q2. Giving a team member a corner office is different than giving him health benefits
because a corner office is a(n):

A) Perquisite
B) Fringe benefit
C) use of the expectancy theory.
D) example of formal power.

Q3. Team members are arguing about the location of specification limits on a control
chart. The discussion is becoming heated when the project manager walks in and says,
"It seems that the real problem here is that we do not have enough information about the
customer's specifications. Let's" This is an example of:

A) asserting the project manager's authority

B) problem solving
C) compromising.
D) withdrawal.

Q4. During project planning in a matrix organization, the project manager determines
that additional human resources are needed. From whom would he request these
resources?

A) Project manager
B) Functional manager
C) Team
 D) Project sponsor

Q5. You have a firm fixed price contract with a clause stating that all changes in the
scope of work must be written. One of your team members verbally instructed the seller
to add a change that resulted in a 100% task overrun. Under this situation, what conflict
management strategy should you use (as the project manager) with the team member?

A) Punishment
B) Problem solving
C) Negotiating
D) Withdrawal

Q6. While creating the agenda for a status meeting with the team, a project manager
receives input from one team member that an item should be added. Another team
member says the team is not ready to resolve the item during the meeting. After much
discussion, the project manager decides to put the item on the agenda as an initial
discussion item only. Which conflict resolution technique is the project manager using?

A) Compromise
B) Smoothing
C) Forcing
D) Withdrawal

Q7. A project has several teams. Team C has missed several deadlines in the past. This
has caused team D to have to crash the critical path several times. As the project leader
for team D, you should meet with the:

A) manager of team D.
B) project manager alone.
C) project manager and management.
D) project manager and the team C leader.

Q8. A project manager must publish a project schedule. Activities, start/end times and
resources are identified. What should the project manager do next?

A) Distribute the project schedule according to the communications plan

B) Confirm the availability of the resources
C) Refine the project plan to reflect more accurate costing information
D) Publish a Gantt chart illustrating the timeline
Q9. What leadership style should you employ during the first two weeks of project
planning?

A) Coaching
B) Directing
C) Supporting
D) Facilitating

Q10. The project team is working on an important and complex project that requires a lot
of coordination. Under these circumstances, the BEST strategy is to:

A) have a war room.

B) hire a contractor.
C) hold more meetings to get the word out.
D) gain extra assistance from management.
 Project Human Resource Management
Quiz 2 (20 Questions)

Q11. The engineering resource group, a matrixed organization of which a project

manager's project team is a part, has a policy of no bonus for project work. The project
manager's current project has an aggressive timeline and a difficult technical obstacle to
overcome. A new product offering is dependent on this project's success in the current
timeline. The project manager has heard grumbling from his team about the fact that they
cannot be rewarded for their effort. What is the FIRST thing the project manager should
do?

A) The project manager should evaluate if other team members from

another department can help with the project.
B) The project manager should talk to management about changing the
bonus policy or allow this project to have its own bonus system to
reduce risk on his project.
C) The project manager should negotiate a less aggressive schedule from
the client.
D) The project manager should talk with the team about the importance of
getting this done on time and explain the company policy.

Q12. You are a project manager leading a cross-functional project team in a weak matrix
environment. None of your project team members report to you functionally and you do
not have the ability to directly reward their performance. The project is difficult,
involving tight date constraints and challenging quality standards. Which of the
following types of project management power will likely be the MOST effective in this
circumstance?

A) Referent
B) Expert
C) Penalty
D) Formal

Q13. Your best programmer is an independent contractor. Recently, you learned that she
is working on a project in the evening for one of your competitors. Your BEST course of
action is to:

A) replace her.
B) get her to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
C) inform her that you do not allow your contractors to work with your
competition, and ask her to choose.
D) limit her access to sensitive data.
Q14. What is the MOST correct statement about conflict?

A) The primary source of conflict is personalities.

B) Conflict can be beneficial.
C) Conflict is best resolved by smoothing.
D) The best way to prevent conflict in the procurement process is to make
sure the project manager is not involved with negotiations.

Q15. A project manager is meeting with a team member and says, "I know you want to
become involved in meetings with the customer. Because of your performance on the
project so far, I have rearranged things so you can become involved with the customer."
This is an example of:

A) team alignment.
B) reward power.
C) team building.
D) constraints.

Q16. While resource planning for your project, you visited the functional manager of
engineering many times but she refused to supply resources for the project. First, the
excuse was that her department was too busy. The next time, the department was
undergoing a reorganization. This is causing your project to slip the schedule. The lack
of which of the following is the MOST probable reason for her lack of support?

A) Project plan
B) Project charter
C) Resource assignment matrix
D) WBS

Q17. You work in a matrix organization when a team member comes to you to admit he
is having trouble with his task. Although not yet in serious trouble, the team member
admits he is uncertain of how to perform part of the work on the task. He suggests a
training class available next week. Where should the cost of the training come from?

A) Switch to a trained resource to avoid the cost

B) The human resource department budget
C) The team member's functional department budget
D) The project budget
Q18. A new project manager has just been assigned a project that is in progress. The
project is two weeks behind schedule. The team members are about to be distributed to
another project based on original time estimates provided by the functional manager.
What is the FIRST step the project manager should take?

A) She should first revise the Gantt chart with new timelines.
B) She should initially contact the steering committee and begin with a new
team.
C) She should first show sympathy with the current team and delay decision
making for another week.
D) She should check the project plan for contingencies concerning resources
and talk to the functional manager.

Q19. At the end of a two-year project, the key stakeholders agree that the project has met
all its goals and objectives outlined in the project charter and further defined in the scope
and statement of work. The project is within budget and has finished on time. The
management of one of the functional areas is quite upset because over half of his staff
quit during the project citing long hours and lack of management support. What is the
MOST correct statement about this project?

A) The project was within budget and time and achieved its objectives.
Upper management is responsible for providing adequate resources, and
the project manager successfully managed the project with available
resources.
B) The project should be measured against how successfully it met its charter.
This was not done during this project.
C) The project manager did not obtain adequate resources and did not set a
realistic deadline based on resources available.
D) The functional manager is responsible for his staff and obtaining adequate
resources to meet the schedule once it has been set. The project and
project manager achieved all of its goals set forth in the charter.

Q20. A team member is not performing well on the project because she is inexperienced
in system development work. There is no one else available who is better qualified to do
the work. What is the BEST solution for the project manager?

A) Consult with the functional manager to determine project completion

incentives for the team member
B) Obtain a new resource more skilled in development work
C) Arrange for the team member to get training
D) Allocate some of the project schedule reserve
Additional Questions

Q21. The "halo effect" refers to the tendency to:

1. promote from within.

2. hire the best
3. move people into project management because they are good in their
technical field.
4. move people into project management because they have had project
management training.

Q22. Which of the following is the highest point of Maslow's hierarchy?

1. Self-fulfillment
2. Respect
3. Affection
4. Stability

Q23. In which motivation theory do hygiene factors play a part?

1. Herzberg's
2. McGregor's
3. Theory Y
4. Maslow's hierarchy

Q24. Which motivational theory says that working conditions, salary and relationships at
work do not improve motivation?

1. Maslow
2. Deming
3. McGregor
4. Herzberg

Q25. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, self-actualization means self-fulfillment, growth

and:

1. affection.
2. learning.
3. security.
4. stability.
Q26. Which motivational theory uses the concept of theory Y?

1. Maslow
2. Deming
3. McGregor
4. Herzberg