Chapter 3

1.Briefly describe what happens in each of the five project management process groups (in
itiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing). What types of
activit ies are done before initiating a project?

Descriptions of what happens in each of the five process groups are listed below:

• Initiating includes actions to commit to begin or end projects and project phases. So
me deliverables include defining the business need for the project, getting a project
sponsor, and selecting a project manager.
• Planning includes creating workable plans for the entire project. Every knowledge ar
ea requires development of some plans.
• Executing involves coordinating everyone and everything to carry out the project
pla ns. Deliverables include the products of the project or phase.
• Monitoring and controlling ensures the project objectives are met. Deliverables incl
ude monitoring and measuring progress and taking corrective action.
• Closing involves bringing the project to an orderly end. Deliverables include organiz
ational process assets updates and closed procurements. Before initiating a project,
organizations often determine high-
level scope, time, and cost constraints for a project, identify the project sponsor, sel ect
the project manager, and develop a business case for the project, to name a few.

2.Approximately how much time do good project managers spend on each process group a
nd why.

Andy Crowe’s research found that alpha project managers spend about 2% of their time
initi ating, 21% planning, 69% executing, 5% monitoring and controlling, and 3% closing
projects. The most time should be spent on executing, followed by planning.

3.Why do organizations need to tailor project management concepts, such as those found
i n the PMBOK® Guide to create their own methodologies?

Organizations have different ways of doing things, so they often develop their own
methodo logies.

4.What are some of the key outputs of each process group?

See the tables for each process group. Examples might include a charter, a project manage
ment plan, deliverables, performance reports, and closed procurements.

5.What are some of the typical challenges project teams face during each of the five proce
ss groups?

Answers will vary. Suggestions might include setting priorities during initiating, getting stake
holder inputs during planning, meeting schedule deadlines during execution, collecting timel
y data during monitoring and controlling, and defining good procedures during project closin
g.
Assignment Name: Schwalbe, Information Technology Project Management 6e, Chapter 3

Project management ________ progress from initiation activities to planning activities, executing activities, monitoring and controlling activities, and closing activities.
a. methodologies

b. knowledge areas
1

c. process groups

d. life cycles

Which project management process group includes devising and maintaining a workable scheme to ensure that the project address the organization's needs?
a. planning

b. closing
2

c. monitoring and controlling

d. executing

Examples of the ________ project management process group include acquiring and developing the project team, performing quality assurance, distributing
information, managing stakeholder expectations, and conducting procurements.
a. executing

b. closing
3

c. planning

d. initiating

________ processes take place during each phase of a project. Therefore, you cannot equate process groups with project phases.
a. Planning

b. Initiating
4

c. Executing

d. Closing

A common ________ process is performance reporting, where project stakeholders can identify any necessary changes that may be required to keep the project on
track.
a. executing

b. monitoring and controlling

5

c. closing

d. planning

6 Archiving project files, documenting lessons learned, and receiving formal acceptance of the delivered work as part of the phase or project are all activities often
involved in which project management process group?
a. executing
 b. planning

c. monitoring and controlling

d. closing

The level of activity and length of each process group varies for every project. Normally, the ________ processes require the most resources and time, followed by the
planning processes.
a. monitoring and controlling

b. planning
7

c. closing

d. executing

The ________ processes are usually the shortest and require the least amount of resources and time.
a. initiating and planning

b. executing and closing

8

c. monitoring and controlling

d. initiating and closing

Research suggests that companies working to implement best practices should spend at least ________ percent of project time in initiating and planning.
a. 30

b. 20
9

c. 50

d. 40

If changes to the project objectives or plans are required, ________ processes ensure that these changes are made efficiently and effectively to meet stakeholder
needs and expectations.
a. monitoring and controlling

b. planning
10

c. executing

d. initiating

The majority of project management processes occur as part of the ________ process group.
a. closing

b. monitoring and controlling

11

c. initiating

d. planning
 A ________ describes how things should be done, and different organizations often have different ways of doing things.
a. life cycle

b. methodology
12

c. Rational Unified Process (RUP)

d. PMBOK Guide

Which of the following is an iterative software development process that focuses on team productivity and delivers software best practices to all team members?
a. Scrum

b. Rational Unified Process (RUP)

13
c. agile software development

d. extreme programming (XP)

An organization may initiate information technology projects for several reasons, but the most important reason is to ________.
a. gain customer loyalty

b. improve product quality

14
c. increase profits

d. support business objectives

A business case often includes which of the following?

a. critical assumptions and constraints

b. schedule estimates
15
c. preliminary project requirements

d. all of these choices

Which of the following is an output of project initiation?

a. defined task resources

b. project charter
16

c. finalized Gantt chart

d. work breakdown structure

17 Which of the following is a common output of the planning process?

a. Creating the project management plan.

b. Assigning the project manager.

c. Identifying key stakeholders.

d. Creating the procurement management plan.

 Which of the following is a common output of the closing process?
a. change requests

b. a lessons-learned report
18

c. a cost estimate

d. quality control updates

The ________ process involves gaining stakeholder and customer acceptance of the final products and services and bringing the project, or project phase, to an
orderly end.
a. monitoring and controlling

b. planning
19

c. closing

d. executing

Which of the following is an output of the monitoring and controlling processes?

a. change requests

b. qualified sellers list

20
c. the stakeholders register

d. the project charter