Chapter 2

1. What does it mean to take a systems view of a project? How does taking a
systems view of a project apply to project management?

Taking a systems view means looking at the big picture of how a particular project fits into the
rest of the organization. It is important for project managers to understand the broader
organizational environment to ensure their projects meet organizational needs.

2. Explain the four frames of organizations. How can they help project managers
understand the organizational context for their projects?

The four frames of organizations are summarized below:

• Structural: deal with how the organization is structures and focus on roles
and responsibilities. It’s important to understand these roles and responsibilities when
dealing with project stakeholders, especially in procuring resources.
• Human resources: focuses on meeting the needs of the organization and
its people. Project managers must understand various human resources policies
and procedures.
• Political: addresses organizational and personal politics. Many project
managers fail because they do not understand the political environment.
• Symbolic: focuses on symbols and meanings. It’s important to understand
an organization’s culture, dress code, work ethic, and so on in managing projects.

3. Briefly explain the differences between functional, matrix, and project

organizations. Describe how each structure affects the management of the project.

Functional organizations have managers or vice presidents in specialties such as

engineering, manufacturing, information technology, and so on. Their staffs have
specialized skills in their respective disciplines. Project organizations have project managers
instead of functional managers reporting to the CEO. Matrix organizations represent the
middle ground between functional and project structures. Personnel often report to both a
functional manager and one or more project managers. Project managers have the most
authority in project organizational structures followed by matrix, and then functional.

4. Describe how organizational culture is related to project management. What type of

culture promotes a strong project environment?

Organizational culture is a set of shared assumptions, values, and behaviors that characterize
the functioning of an organization. This culture can definitely impact project management. For
example, if an organization values project management and follows the guidelines for
applying it, it will be much easier to practice good project management. Project work is most
successful in an organizational culture where employees identify more with the organization,
where work activities emphasize groups, and where there is strong unit integration, high risk
tolerance, performance-based rewards, high conflict tolerance, an open-systems focus, and a
balanced focus on people, control, and means-orientation.

5. Discuss the importance of top management commitment and the development

of standards for successful project management. Provide examples to illustrate
the importance of these items based on your experience on any type of project.

Top management commitment is the number one factor associated with the success of
information technology projects, so it’s very important to get and maintain this support. Top
management can help project managers get adequate resources, approve unique project
needs, get cooperation from other parts of the organization, and provide support as a mentor
and coach to project managers. Examples will vary.
6. What are the phases in a traditional project life cycle? How does a project life cycle
differ from a product life cycle? Why does a project manager need to understand both?

A traditional project life cycle is a collection of project phases¾concept, development,

implementation, and close-out. These phases do not vary by project. Product life cycles vary
tremendously based on the nature of the project. For example, the Systems Development Life
Cycle (SDLC) could follow the waterfall model, spiral model, incremental release model,
prototyping model, or RAD model. Using the general phases of the SDLC (information
systems planning, analysis, design, implementation, and support) there could be a project to
develop a strategic information systems plan; another project to complete a systems analysis
for a new system; another project to create a detailed database design; another to install new
hardware or software; and another to provide new user training.

7. What makes IT projects different from other types of projects? How should project
managers adjust to these differences?

IT projects are different from other types of projects because they can be very diverse in
terms of size and complexity, they often include team members with very diverse
backgrounds and skills, and he technologies involved are also very diverse. Project managers
should adjust to these differences by paying careful attention to the goals of the project and
the needs of various stakeholders.

8. Define globalization, outsourcing, virtual teams, and agile project management,

and describe how these trends are changing IT project management.

Globalization has created a “flat” world where everyone is connected and the “playing field” is
level for many more participants. Outsourcing is when an organization acquires goods and/or
sources from an outside source. Agile project management is a method for managing projects
when requirements are unclear or change quickly. Virtual teams occur when a group of
individuals who work across time and space using communication technologies. Each of
these trends has affected the way in which project work is done and how projects need to be
managed. It is very rare for a project team to sit in the same work area and work at the same
time. Management and coordination is much more complicated.
Assignment Name: Schwalbe, Information Technology Project Management 6e, Chapter 2

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. ________
describes this holistic view of carrying out projects within the context of the organization.
a. systems thinking

b. systems analysis
1

c. systems philosophy

d. systems management

________ addresses the business, technological, and organizational issues associated with creating, maintaining, and making a change to a system.
a. Systems analysis

b. Systems philosophy
2

c. Systems management

d. Systems thinking

Which of the following best describes a problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of the system, dividing it into its components, and then identifying
and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints, and needs?
a. systems management

b. systems philosophy
3

c. systems thinking

d. systems analysis

Which of the following is an overall model for thinking about things as systems?
a. systems management

b. systems analysis
4

c. systems philosophy

d. systems thinking

The idea of addressing the three spheres of systems management - business, ________, and technology - can have a huge impact on selecting and managing projects
successfully.
a. cost

b. scope
5

c. organization

d. quality

6 Which organizational frame is very rational and focuses on coordination and control?

a. political frame
 b. symbolic frame

c. human resources frame

d. structural frame

The ________ frame recognizes that there are often mismatches between the needs of the organization and the needs of individuals and groups and works to resolve
any potential problems.
a. symbolic

b. political
7

c. structural

d. human resources

What is most important about any event in an organization is not what actually happened, but what it means. This philosophy describes the ________ frame.
a. structural

b. human resources
8

c. political

d. symbolic

A ________ organizational structure is the hierarchy most people think of when picturing an organizational chart.
a. functional

b. matrix
9

c. political

d. project

An organization that uses a ________ organizational structure earns revenue primarily from performing projects for other groups under contract. These companies
often hire people specifically to work on particular projects.
a. political

b. project
10

c. matrix

d. functional

Project managers in ________ organizational structures have staff from various functional areas working on their projects.
a. matrix

b. project
11

c. functional

d. political
 In organizational culture, the degree to which the organization monitors and responds to changes in the external environment describes a ________.
a. risk tolerance approach

b. open-systems focus
12

c. conflict tolerance approach

d. means-ends orientation

Some projects have a senior manager called a ________ who acts as a key proponent for a project.
a. champion

b. project manager
13
c. sponsor

d. stakeholder

A ________ is a collection of project phases.

a. predictive life cycle

b. systems development life cycle

14
c. project life cycle

d. product life cycle

In the ________ life cycle phase, the project team creates a definitive or very accurate cost estimate, delivers the required work, and provides performance reports to
stakeholders.
a. concept

b. implementation
15

c. development

d. close-out

In a ________ life cycle, the project team spends a large portion of the project effort attempting to clarify the requirements of the entire system and then producing a
design.
a. predictive

b. product
16

c. systems development

d. project

17 Important attributes of the ________ life cycle model are that the projects are mission driven and component based, using time-based cycles to meet target dates.

a. Adaptive Software Development (ASD)

b. predictive

c. agile software development

 d. systems development

The waterfall, spiral, incremental build, prototype, and Rapid Application Development (RAD) models are examples of a ________ life cycle model.
a. Adaptive Software development (ASD)

b. Scrum
18
c. predictive

d. agile software development

Known as phase exits or kill points, ________ are very important for keeping projects on track and determining if they should be continued, redirected, or terminated.
a. management reviews

b. sponsor evaluations
19

c. feasibility evaluations

d. stakeholder reviews

Which of the following is a Web-based conferencing tool that a multinational organization can use to record demos that can be stored in the organization's wiki?
a. WebEx

b. TRAC
20

c. Skype

d. XPlanner