Introduction to Project Management 41

Discussion Questions
1. Why is there a new or renewed interest in the field of project management?
2. What is a project, and what are its main attributes? How is a project different from what most
people do in their day-to-day jobs? What is the triple constraint? What other factors affect a
project?
3. What is project management? Briefly describe the project management framework,
providing examples of stakeholders, knowledge areas, tools and techniques, and project
success factors.
4. What is a program? What is a project portfolio? Discuss the relationship between projects,
programs, and portfolio management and the contributions that each makes to enterprise
success.
5. What is the role of the project manager? What are suggested skills for all project managers
and for IT project managers? Why is leadership so important for project managers? How is
the job market for IT project managers?
6. Briefly describe some key events in the history of project management. What role do
the Project Management Institute and other professional societies play in helping the
profession?
7. What functions can you perform with project management software? What are the main
differences between low-end, midrange, and high-end project management tools?
8. Discuss ethical decisions that project managers often face. Do you think a professional code
of ethics makes it easier to work in an ethical manner?

Quick Quiz
1. By 2027, employers will need over ____________ million individuals working in project
management–oriented roles.
a. 27
b. 47
c. 67
d. 87
2. Which of the following is not a potential advantage of using good project management?
a. Shorter development times
b. Higher worker morale
c. Lower cost of capital
d. Higher profit margins

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 42 Chapter 1

3. A ____________ is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service,

or result.
a. program
b. process
c. project
d. portfolio
4. Which of the following is not an attribute of a project?
a. Projects are unique.
b. Projects are developed using progressive elaboration.
c. Projects have a primary customer or sponsor.
d. Projects involve little uncertainty.
5. Which of the following is not part of the triple constraint of project management?
a. Meeting scope goals
b. Meeting time goals
c. Meeting communications goals
d. Meeting cost goals
6. ____________ is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project
activities to meet project requirements.
a. Project management
b. Program management
c. Project portfolio management
d. Requirements management
7. Project portfolio management addresses ____________ goals of an organization, while
project management addresses ____________ goals.
a. strategic, tactical
b. tactical, strategic
c. internal, external
d. external, internal
8. Several application development projects done for the same functional group might best be
managed as part of a ____________.
a. portfolio
b. program
c. investment
d. collaborative
9. Which of the following is not true?
a. Most American companies have a project management office.
b. You can earn an advanced degree in project management from hundreds of colleges
and universities.

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 Introduction to Project Management 43

c. Employers are looking for project management skills in new graduates.

d. PMI’s talent triangle includes leadership and information technology skills along with
project management.
10. What is the name of one of the popular certifications provided by the Project Management
Institute?
a. Certified Project Manager (CPM)
b. Project Management Professional (PMP®)
c. Project Management Expert (PME)
d. Project Management Mentor (PMM)

Quick Quiz Answers

1. d; 2. c; 3. c; 4. d; 5. c; 6. a; 7. a; 8. b; 9. d; 10. b

Exercises
1. Read at least two of the first five references cited in this chapter with statistics about
the importance of IT and project management. Create a short paper or presentation
summarizing which information is most interesting and intriguing to you and why.
2. Find someone who works as a project manager or someone who works on projects
involving IT, such as a worker in your school’s IT department or a project manager active
in a professional group, like PMI. Prepare several interview questions to learn more about
projects and project management, and then ask your questions in person, through e-mail,
over the phone, or using other technology. Write a summary of your findings.
3. Write a paper summarizing key information available on the PMI’s website (www.pmi.org).
Also read and summarize two recent reports from PMI, including “Pulse of the Profession®:
Success Rates Rise: Transforming the High Cost of Low Performance: (2017). Note:
Instructors can break this into two exercises by specifying the second report.
4. Find any example of a real project with a real project manager. Feel free to use projects in
the media (such as the Olympics, television shows, or movies) or a project from your work,
if applicable. Write a paper describing the project in terms of its scope, time, and cost goals.
Also describe other impacts on a project, such as quality, resources, and risks. Discuss
what went right and wrong on the project and the role of the project manager and sponsor.
Also describe whether the project was a success, and why. Include at least one reference
and cite it on the last page.
5. Watch a free online video on the history of project management created by Mark Kozak-Holland
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1uxCBx2-UQ). Summarize how the project
management knowledge areas can be applied to building the Giza Pyramid Project.
6. Research articles and tools on project portfolio management. Summarize the advantages of
performing project portfolio management as well as challenges.

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