Lesson 4 - Project Staffing and Management

During project staffing, the primary role of senior management is in the selection of the:

• Project manager

• Assistant project managers

• Functional team

• Executives do not get involved in staffing.

During project staffing, the primary role of line management is:

• Approving the selection of the project manager

• Approving the selection of assistant project managers

• Assigning functional resources based upon who is available

• Assigning functional resources based upon availability and the skill set needed

A project manager is far more likely to succeed if it is obvious to everyone that:

• The project manager has a command of technology.

• The project manager is a higher pay grade than everyone else on the team.

• The project manager is over 45 years of age.

• Executive management has officially appointed the project manager.

Most people believe that the best way to train someone in project management is through:

• On-the-job training

• University seminars

• Graduate degrees in project management

• Professional seminars and meeting

In staffing negotiations with the line manager, you identify a work package that requires a skill set of a grade 7 worker. The line manager informs you that he will assign a grade 6 and a grade 8 worker. You should:

• A. Refuse to accept the grade 6 because you are not responsible for training

• B. Ask for two different people

• C. Ask the sponsor to interfere

• D. Be happy! You have two workers

You priced out a project at 1,000 hours assuming a grade 7 employee would be assigned. The line manager assigns a grade 9 employee. This will result in a significant cost overrun. The project manager should:

• A. Reschedule the start date of the project based upon the availability of a grade 7

• B. Ask the sponsor for a higher priority for your project

• C. Reduce the scope of the project

• D. See if the grade 9 can do the job in less time

As a project begins to wind down, the project manager should:

• A. Release all nonessential personnel so that they can be assigned to other projects

• B. Wait until the project is officially completed before releasing anyone

• C. Wait until the line manager officially requests that the people be released

• D. Talk to other project managers to see who wants your people

In what situation would you NOT perform the Close project or phase process?

• When a project is terminated.

• When a project phase is complete.

• When the customer validates the interim deliverables

• When a project is complete.

During a team meeting, a team member asks about the measurements that will be used on the project to be judge performance. The team member feels that some of the measures related to activities assigned to him are not valid measurements. The project is BEST considered in what part of the project management process?

• Closing

• Monitoring and controlling

• Executing

• Initiating