Instructions:

  1. Students are required to work independently on the exam.
  2. Answers should describe your understanding of the course materials including application of PMI framework and its 5 process groups and 10 knowledge areas.
  3. Reference materials, excluding the PM-BOK and materials provided by the instructor during the course, must be cited with a footnote to a bibliography at the end of each question.
  4. Please complete your answers using this document template. Diagrams or other attachments (if required) should be referenced herein and submitted along with this document.
  5. Completed exams should be returned by email to the instructor.

Section 1 – Short answers: (17 x 3 = 51 marks)

In your own words, please answer the following questions as they apply to project management and the course materials. (Please limit each answer to between 50 and 100 words).

  1. What are the advantages of following PMI’s framework for project management (e.g. 5 process groups and 10 knowledge areas) when initiating/planning and executing a project?

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  1. What influence might a Hierarchical organization have on a project – e.g. what constraints and support can a project manager expect when running a project in this type of organization, or what challenges might a project manager face?

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  1. What is the role of the project sponsor during project initiation/planning and execution?

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  1. What is the project charter used for?

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  1. What is the difference between a work breakdown structure and an activity list; how are they related?

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  1. What is contingency? What types contingencies are there and why is contingency added to a project plan?

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  1. What is the difference between a project issue and a project risk?

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  1. What is the purpose of raising a change request?

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  1. The Acme Fireworks project was in the execution phase. How should off-plan activities be integrated into the management plan (e.g. what knowledge areas are going to be directly affected?)

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  1. What does the project’s critical path refer to and what advantages are there to shortening this path? What techniques can be used to shorten the Critical Path?

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  1. What does a RAM (Responsibilities Assignment Matrix) describe?

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  1. Why is resource leveling important and how is it integrated with project time management?

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  1. What is the purpose of calculating Earned Value (e.g. why is it helpful to the project manager)?

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  1. What are the components of a project quality plan? How is the quality plan implemented during project execution?

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  1. As part of project communications, describe the purpose of the project status report and regular meetings between the PM and the project sponsor?

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  1. Risk planning activities result in the development of the project risk register. How are the project schedule and project budget impacted by risk planning?

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  1. How can project managers use Ishikawa (also known as fishbone or cause and effect) diagrams during project planning and project execution?

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(See Section 2 on next page)

Section 2 – Application:

In your own words, answer any TWO of the following questions: (2 x 25 marks) (guideline: approximately 500-1000 words). Students are strongly encouraged to contribute their own ideas vs. repeating facts found in text books and on the internet.

  1. Describe the objectives of Integration Management (one of the 10 knowledge areas) and Integration Management activities typically implemented during project execution.

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OR

  1. Developing a project schedule involves several inputs. Please describe these inputs and how a project manager plans and controls them to maintain the project schedule through the entire project (project time management). Please identify how planning related to PMI’s other knowledge areas can impact the project schedule (e.g. how resource management decisions may influence time management outputs).

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OR

  1. Project execution involves many important PM activities that ensure the team is focused on completing the project’s deliverables (Human Resource Management). Describe how you would manage, motivate, and control/discipline your team to ensure optimal team performance during project execution.

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OR

  1. Acme Fireworks: What information should have John/Kathy provided to Brian in the bi-weekly status meetings (e.g. status reports, issues, and change requests)? How would this information have enabled the team to control the product during project execution?

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Confidential when completed.Page 1