File: ch11; Chapter 11: Project Control

Concept Check Questions (based on “Practice Quizzes”)

[By nature, all questions are coded as Difficulty: Easy and AACSB: Reflective Thinking]

Learning Objective 11.1 Recognize the fundamental purposes of control.

1. The project manager’s primary function includes managing human resources and:
a. Project Management software.
b. Guarding physical and financial assets of the company.
c. Charting and graphing project task completion.
d. Following orders from top management.

Ans: b
Response: Refer to Section 11.1
Bloom’s: Knowledge

2. Project Management control of physical assets includes:

a. Scheduling of maintenance and repair of project equipment.
b. Scheduling of maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of project equipment.
c. Planning, scheduling, and graphing of project tasks & equipment.
d. PMs do not control physical assets, they schedule work.

Ans: b
Response: Refer to Section 11.1
Bloom’s: Knowledge

Learning Objective 11.2 Compare and contrast the three types of control processes.

3. The three types of project control processes are:

a. Not well-understood.
b. Are easily understood because they have stayed the same for many years.
c. Cybernetic, go/no-go, and postcontrol.
d. Easily understood by all levels in the project team.

Ans: c
Response: Refer to Section 11.2
Bloom’s: Knowledge

4. Cybernetic control is reported to be the most common type of control system, and consists of:
a. Upper management weekly approvals.
b. An automatic adjustment of processes when deviations are detected.
c. Automated reports to top management when the project goes out of control.
d. Cybernetic loops of feedback to the PM.

Ans: b
Response: Refer to Section 11.2
Bloom’s: Knowledge
5. Cybernetic control systems are:
a. Very difficult to implement.
b. Relatively expensive and difficult to use.
c. Positive feedback loops.
d. Negative feedback loops.

Ans: d
Response: Refer to Section 11.2
Bloom’s: Knowledge

6. The most common type of control systems in Project Management are:

a. Cybernetic
b. Go-No Go
c. Post-Controls
d. Pre- and Post-Controls

Ans: b
Response: Refer to Section 11.2
Bloom’s: Knowledge

Learning Objective 11.3 Demonstrate how to design a control system.

7. Project control systems are very valuable to successful projects, and the typical cost of the
control systems is in the range of _________ percent of total project cost.
a. 1 – 5%
b. 5 to 10%
c. 10 to 15%
d. 15-20%

Ans: a
Response: Refer to Section11.3
Bloom’s: Knowledge

8. To be effective, control systems should be:

a. Complex and require special training for operators.
b. Simple and easy to use.
c. Comprehensive and therefore, expensive.
d. Able to shut down the project automatically when they fail.

Ans: b
Response: Refer to section 11.3
Bloom’s: Knowledge

Learning Objective 11.4 Recognize scope creep and the steps needed to control it.

9. The most common reason for scope creep is:

a. Errors and omissions in the original project design.
b. Client’s unrealistic expectations for the design.
c. Engineering’s natural tendency to be perfectionists.
d. Natural tendency of the client and project team to try to improve the original plan.
Ans: d
Response: Refer to Section 11.4
Bloom’s: Knowledge

10. When a client wants to increase the scope or functionality of a project, what should the
project design engineer reply?
a. Of course it’s OK. The client is always right.
b. Upper management will decide.
c. OK and it will not cost you any more.
d. We can probably do that for you, and I can prepare a new schedule and cost analysis
to fit your new plan/goals.

Ans: d
Response: Refer to Section 11.4
Bloom’s: Comprehension

Learning Objective 11.5 Explain how to attain balance in a control system.

11. Control systems commonly become out of balance because of:

a. Putting too much weight on easy-to-measure factors.
b. Overemphasizing the seriousness of cost overruns.
c. Too many project managers.
d. Too few workers.

Ans: a
Response: Refer to Section 11.5
Bloom’s: Knowledge

12. Control of creative activities is:

a. Usually verystrict to avoid cost overruns.
b. Essential for success of R & D efforts.
c. Difficult because too much control tends to inhibit creative activities
d. At the discretion of thePM.

Ans: c
Response: Refer to Section 11.5
Bloom’s: Knowledge