MIS573-Chapter2

Question 1

_____ refers to a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization.

Answer 1

Organizational culture (Organizational culture is a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize the functioning of an organization. It often includes elements of the four frames.)

Question 2

According to the symbolic frame, the most important aspect of any event in an organization is not what actually happened, but what it means.

Answer 2

True (The symbolic frame focuses on symbols and meanings. In this frame, the most important aspect of any event in an organization is not what actually happened, but what it means.)

Question 3

An organization that uses a project organizational structure earns their revenue primarily from performing projects for other groups under contract.

Answer 3

True (A project organizational structure is hierarchical, but instead of functional managers or vice presidents reporting to the CEO, program managers report to the CEO. Their staffs have a variety of skills needed to complete the projects within their programs. An organization that uses this structure earns its revenue primarily from performing projects for other groups under contract.)

Question 4

An organization usually commits more money as a project continues, therefore a management review should occur after each phase to evaluate progress, potential success, and continued compatibility with organizational goals.

Answer 4

True (Because the organization usually commits more money as a project continues, a management review should occur after each phase to evaluate progress, potential success, and continued compatibility with organizational goals.)

Question 5

An organizational culture with strong unit integration makes the project manager’s job more difficult.

Answer 5

False (Most project managers strive for strong unit integration to deliver a successful product, service, or result. An organizational culture with strong unit integration makes the project manager’s job easier.)

Question 6

Grey’s Infotech sells customized hardware and software solutions for businesses. The salespeople for Grey’s have a strict dress code when meeting clients. They are required to wear dark business suits, in order to convey the company’s dedication to quality. The meaning conveyed to the clients’ through the salespeople’s clothing is part of the _____ frame of the organization.

Answer 6

symbolic (The symbolic frame focuses on symbols and meanings. In this frame, the most important aspect of any event in an organization is not what actually happened, but what it means. The symbolic frame also relates to the company’s culture. How do people dress? How many hours do they work? How do they run meetings?)

Question 7

In a _____ organizational structure, personnel often report to both a functional manager and one or more project managers.

Answer 7

matrix (A matrix organizational structure represents the middle ground between functional and project structures. Personnel often report both to a functional manager and one or more project managers.)

Question 8

In a _____organizational structure, program managers, rather than functional managers or vice presidents, report to the CEO. Their staffs have a variety of skills needed to complete all required tasks within their programs.

Answer 8

project (A project organizational structure also is hierarchical, but instead of functional managers or vice presidents reporting to the CEO, program managers report to the CEO.)

Question 9

In organizational culture, what does control refer to?

Answer 9

The degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee employee behavior (Control refers to the degree to which rules, policies, and direct supervision are used to oversee and control employee behavior.)

Question 10

In organizational culture, what does means-end orientation refer to?

Answer 10

The degree to which management focuses on outcomes rather than on techniques and processes used to achieve results (Means-ends orientation refers to the degree to which management focuses on outcomes rather than on techniques and processes used to achieve results.)

Question 11

In organizational culture, what does people focus refer to?

Answer 11

The degree to which management’s decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on employees within the organization (People focus refers to the degree to which management’s decisions take into account the effect of outcomes on people within the organization.)

Question 12

In Rizzati Corp, vice presidents in departments such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, and human resources report directly to the chief executive officer and undertake their tasks independently of each other. The staffs of these departments have specialized skills in their respective disciplines. Which type of organizational structure does Rizatti Corp have?

Answer 12

Functional (A functional organizational structure is the hierarchy most people think of when picturing an organizational chart. Functional managers or vice presidents in specialties such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, and human resources report to the chief executive officer (CEO).)

Question 13

In what type of organizational structure do project managers have the least amount of authority?

Answer 13

Functional (Project managers have the most authority in a pure project organizational structure and the least amount of authority in a pure functional organizational structure.)

Question 14

In which development life cycle do stakeholders define and approve the detailed scope before the start on an iteration?

Answer 14

Adaptive (In an adaptive life cycle: stakeholders define and approve the detailed scope before the start of an iteration, producing a useable product at the end of each iteration.)

Question 15

In which product life cycle the scope, schedule, and cost are determined early, and changes to scope are carefully managed?

Answer 15

Predictive (In the predictive life cycle the scope, schedule, and cost are determined early, and changes to scope are carefully managed. PMI also refers to predictive life cycles as waterfall.)

Question 16

In which systems development life cycle do model developers use a model to generate functional requirements and physical design specifications simultaneously?

Answer 16

Prototyping life cycle (The prototyping life cycle model is used for developing software prototypes to clarify user requirements for operational software. It requires heavy user involvement, and developers use a model to generate functional requirements and physical design specifications simultaneously. This approach is often used in systems that involve a great deal of user interface design, such as website projects.)

Question 17

It is much more expensive to make major changes to a project during the earlier phases.

Answer 17

False (In early phases of a project life cycle, resource needs are usually lowest and the level of uncertainty is highest. It is much more expensive to make major changes to a project during latter phases.)

Question 18

Leadership style has no impact on the success of virtual teams.

Answer 18

False (The project manager’s leadership style affects all teams, especially virtual ones.)

Question 19

Most colleges and universities have very strong functional organizations.

Answer 19

True (most colleges and universities have very strong functional organizations. Only faculty members in the business department teach business courses; faculty in the history department teach history; faculty in the art department teach art, and so on.)

Question 20

Most people believe that the underlying causes of many companies’ problems can be traced to its organizational structure.

Answer 20

False (Organizational culture is very powerful, and many people believe the underlying causes of many companies’ problems are not in the organizational structure or staff; they are in the culture.)

Question 21

Project managers and their teams must recognize the effects of any project on the interests and needs of the entire system or organization instead of focusing on the immediate concerns of the project.

Answer 21

True (Although it is easier to focus on the immediate and sometimes narrow concerns of a particular project, project managers and other staff must recognize the effects of any project on the interests and needs of the entire system or organization.)

Question 22

Project managers in matrix organizations have staff from various functional areas working on their projects.

Answer 22

True (Project managers in matrix organizations have staff from various functional areas working on their projects.)

Question 23

Project managers must have cooperation from people in other parts of the organization.

Answer 23

True (Project managers must have cooperation from people in other parts of the organization. If certain functional managers are not responding to project managers’ requests for necessary information, top management must step in to encourage the functional managers to cooperate.)

Question 24

Project managers must take adequate time to identify, understand, and manage relationships with all project stakeholders.

Answer 24

True (Because the purpose of project management is to meet project requirements and satisfy stakeholders, it is critical that project managers take adequate time to identify, understand, and manage relationships with all project stakeholders.)

Question 25

Project work is most successful in an organizational culture where activities are organized around individuals.

Answer 25

False (Project work is most successful in organizations in which work activities are organized around groups or teams, rather than individuals. An organizational culture that emphasizes group work is best for managing projects.)

Question 26

Projects must operate in a broad organizational environment, and project managers need to consider projects within the greater organizational context. Which approach describes the holistic view of carrying out projects within the context of the organization?

Answer 26

Systems thinking (To handle complex situations effectively, project managers need to take a holistic view of a project and understand how it relates to the larger organization. Systems thinking describes this holistic view of carrying out projects within the context of the organization.)

Question 27

Standards and guidelines to follow when performing project management must be devised by top management.

Answer 27

True (The content of a project management plan and instructions for providing status information might seem like common sense to senior managers, but many new IT project managers have never created plans or created a nontechnical status report. Top management must support the development of these standards and guidelines, and encourage or even enforce their use.)

Question 28

Systems analysis addresses the business, technological, and organizational issues associated with creating, maintaining, and modifying a system.

Answer 28

False (Systems management addresses the business, technological, and organizational issues associated with creating, maintaining, and modifying a system.)

Question 29

The _____ frame of an organization focuses on providing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people.

Answer 29

human resources (The human resources (HR) frame focuses on producing harmony between the needs of the organization and the needs of people. It recognizes that mismatches can occur between the needs of the organization and those of individuals and groups, and works to resolve any potential problems.)

Question 30

The _____ model uses an approach in which developers work with an evolving prototype, using tools such as computer-aided software engineering, joint requirements planning, and joint application design to facilitate rapid prototyping and code generation.

Answer 30

RAD life cycle (The RAD life cycle model uses an approach in which developers work with an evolving prototype. This life cycle model also requires heavy user involvement and helps produce systems quickly without sacrificing quality.)

Question 31

The best way to sustain a project is to withhold the required money, human resources, and visibility for the project.

Answer 31

False (The best way to kill a project is to withhold the required money, human resources, and visibility.)

Question 32

The last phase of the traditional project life cycle is the implementation phase.

Answer 32

False (The last phase of the traditional project life cycle is finishing the project. It focuses on ensuring that project requirements were met and that the project sponsor approves completion of the project.)

Question 33

The project organizational structure is the most efficient choice for most IT projects.

Answer 33

False (The project organizational structure is often inefficient for the company as a whole. Assigning staff full time to a project often creates underutilization and misallocation of staff resources.)

Question 34

The same organization can have different subcultures.

Answer 34

True (It is also important to note that the same organization can have different subcultures. The IT department may have a different organizational culture than the finance department, for example.)

Question 35

The symbolic perspective of an organization:

Answer 35

focuses on the meanings of the culture, language, traditions, and image of the organization. (The symbolic frame focuses on symbols and meanings. In this frame, the most important aspect of any event in an organization is not what actually happened, but what it means.)

Question 36

The team members of a virtual team are all of the same nationality.

Answer 36

False (A virtual team is a group of people who work together despite time and space boundaries using communication technologies. Team members might all work for the same company in the same country, or they might include employees as well as independent consultants, suppliers, or even volunteers providing their expertise from around the globe.)

Question 37

Using a systems approach is critical to successful project management.

Answer 37

True (Using a systems approach is critical to successful project management. If top management and project managers are to understand how projects relate to the whole organization, they must follow a systems philosophy.)

Question 38

When you separate business and organizational issues from project management planning, you do a better job of ensuring project success.

Answer 38

False (When you integrate business and organizational issues into project management planning and look at projects as a series of interrelated phases, you do a better job of ensuring project success.)

Question 39

Which approach to product development is currently used by many organizations so a predictive set of steps is used as an overall means to coordinate more detailed steps that are adaptively managed?

Answer 39

Hybrid (Many organizations today use a hybrid approach to product development where a predictive set of steps is used as an overall means to coordinate more detailed steps that are adaptively managed. Predictive and adaptive approaches are not a mutually exclusive choice.)

Question 40

Which characteristic is true of virtual teams?

Answer 40

It is important to select team members carefully. (It is important to select team members carefully and to form a team in which all roles are covered. All virtual team members must also understand their roles on the team.)

Question 41

Which characteristic of organizational culture refers to the degree to which departments within an organization are encouraged to coordinate with each other?

Answer 41

Unit integration (Unit integration refers to the degree to which units or departments within an organization are encouraged to coordinate with each other.)

Question 42

Which characteristic of organizational culture refers to the degree to which employees identify with the organization as a whole, rather than with their types of job or profession?

Answer 42

Member identity (Member identity refers to the degree to employees identify with the organization as a whole, rather than with their types of job or profession.)

Question 43

Which characteristic of organizational culture refers to the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment?

Answer 43

Open-systems focus (Open-systems focus refers to the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment)

Question 44

Which is a disadvantage for virtual teams compared to traditional teams?

Answer 44

Reduced opportunities for informal transfer of information (Virtual teams reduce the ability of team members to network and transfer information informally.)

Question 45

Which observation is true of the agile approach to software development?

Answer 45

In the agile method, requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration. (Agile today means using an approach where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration.)

Question 46

Which of the following best describes a kill point in the project life cycle?

Answer 46

A review of the status of a project at each phase of development to determine if it should be continued, redirected, or terminated (A management review should occur after each phase to evaluate progress, potential success, and continued compatibility with organizational goals. These management reviews, called phase exits, phase gate reviews, or kill points, are very important for keeping projects on track and determining if they should be continued, redirected, or terminated.)

Question 47

Which of the following is true of a matrix organizational structure?

Answer 47

In a strong matrix organizational structure, the project manager controls the project budget and has moderate to high authority. (In a strong matrix organizational structure, the project manager controls the project budget and has moderate to high authority.)

Question 48

Which of the following is true of the project life cycle?

Answer 48

In the early phases of a project life cycle, resource needs are usually lowest. (In the early phases of a project life cycle, resource needs are usually lowest and the level of uncertainty is highest.)

Question 49

Which perspective on organizations assumes that organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups?

Answer 49

Political frame (The political frame addresses organizational and personal politics. Politics in organizations take the form of competition among groups or individuals for power and leadership. The political frame assumes that organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest groups.)

Question 50

Which problem-solving approach requires defining the scope of a system, dividing it into its components, and then identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs?

Answer 50

Systems analysis (Systems analysis is a problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of the system, dividing it into components, and then identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs.)

Question 51

Which statement best describes outsourcing?

Answer 51

An organization’s acquisition of goods and services from an outside source (Outsourcing is an organization’s acquisition of goods and services from an outside source. The term offshoring is sometimes used to describe outsourcing from another country.)

Question 52

Which systems development life cycle model assumes that requirements will remain stable after they are defined?

Answer 52

Waterfall life cycle (The waterfall life cycle model has well-defined, linear stages of systems analysis, design, construction, testing, and support. This life cycle model assumes that requirements will remain stable after they are defined.)

Question 53

Which term refers to a product or service, such as a technical report, a training session, a piece of hardware, or a segment of software code, produced or provided as part of a project?

Answer 53

Deliverable (A deliverable is a product or service, such as a technical report, a training session, a piece of hardware, or a segment of software code, produced or provided as part of a project.)

Question 54

Project managers should lead projects in isolation in order to truly serve the needs of the organization.

Answer 54

False (Even though projects are temporary and intended to provide a unique product or service, you cannot run projects in isolation. If project managers lead projects in isolation, it is unlikely that they will ever truly serve the needs of the organization.)

Question 55

Internal stakeholders include groups affected by the project such as government officials or concerned citizens.

Answer 55

False (External project stakeholders include the project’s customers (if they are external to the organization), competitors, suppliers, and other external groups potentially involved in the project or affected by it, such as government officials or concerned citizens.)

Question 56

Which perspective of an organization focuses on different groups’ roles and responsibilities in order to meet the goals and policies set by top management?

Answer 56

Structural frame (The structural frame deals with how the organization is structured (usually depicted in an organizational chart) and focuses on different groups’ roles and responsibilities to meet the goals and policies set by top management. This frame is very rational and focuses on coordination and control.)

Question 57

Select an example of external stakeholders for an organization.

Answer 57

Competitors (External project stakeholders include the project’s customers (if they are external to the organization), competitors, suppliers, and other external groups potentially involved in the project or affected by it, such as government officials or concerned citizens.)

Question 58

The nature of hardware development projects is more diverse than software-oriented projects.

Answer 58

False (The nature of software development projects is even more diverse than hardware-oriented projects. A software development project might include creating a simple, stand-alone Microsoft Excel or Access application, or a sophisticated, global e-commerce system that uses state-of-the-art programming languages and runs on multiple platforms.)