Course 1- Foundation of Project Management qUIZ aNSWERS

by
Contents hide
1 Week 3: The Project Management Life Cycle and Methodologies
2 The Project Management Life Cycle and Methodologies INTRODUCTION
3 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: UNDERSTANDING THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE
4 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANALYZING THE DIFFERENT PROJECT PHASES
5 Google Project Management: Professional Certificate WEEKLY CHALLENGE 3
6 The Project Management Life Cycle and Methodologies CONCLUSION
Spread the love

Week 3: The Project Management Life Cycle and Methodologies

The Project Management Life Cycle and Methodologies INTRODUCTION

One of the best courses for individuals interested in understanding the phases of a project life cycle and the various tasks in each one is the Coursera Google Project Management: Professional Certificate. It introduces students to different methodologies such as Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.

Understand the methodology to be best used based on the peculiarities of each particular project. In addition, the course emphasizes that each stage must be completed in order to ensure good consummation of the project cycle. This leaves one equipped with the skills of managing any type of project from outset to completion.

Upon completion of all these four courses, you will attain the Coursera Certificate under Google’s Project Management: Professional Certificate program. This certification is awarded through one of the largest online learning platforms, Coursera, and is recognized among top employers. It also validates your knowledge pertaining to the life cycle of project management and its methodologies, thus boosting your confidence in planning, managing, and assessing the success of projects.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the need and importance of knowing and following the project life cycle.
  • Explain and outline phases of projects along with related tasks in each phase.
  • Contrasting different project management methodologies and how to view them in which is the best application for it.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: UNDERSTANDING THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE

1. What are some potential consequences of rushing through the initiation phase of a project? Select all that apply.

  • Impact to the timeline (CORRECT)
  • Impact to the budget (CORRECT)
  • Impact to quality (CORRECT)
  • Impact to previous projects

The front-loading of requirement capturing by project team members will definitely influence the schedule pertaining to the project at a later stage.

A project manager would encounter several hurdles in managing the budget of a certain project, without spending adequate time in clarifying the project goals and getting stakeholders’ requirements during the initiation phase.

Therefore, in the initiation phase, it is important for the project manager to have an absolutely detailed definition of the project goals and also begin gathering what it will take from team members for those goals to be accomplished. Not considering this could affect the overall quality of the project.

2. Imagine that a project manager has just begun working on a project for a trucking logistics company.

The customer wants to see a proposal as soon as possible, but it is taking the project manager longer than expected because he needs more input from stakeholders and the project team. What should the project manager do to turn the project into a success?

  • Immediately provide the customer the most recent comparable cost and timeline estimate for the work.
  • Ask the customer for more time to consult with stakeholders and the project team to deliver an accurate cost and timeline proposal. (CORRECT)
  • Research the cost and timeline for similar projects at other trucking logistics companies and share that information with the customer.
  • Tell the customer he will need four to six weeks to formulate a proposal.

Correct: Taking the time to obtain input from all stakeholder audiences and the project team is vital to preparing an accurate proposal.

3. What are the main phases of the project life cycle? Select all that apply.

  • Initiate the project (CORRECT)
  • Make a plan (CORRECT)
  • Define project roles
  • Execute and complete tasks (CORRECT)
  • Close the project (CORRECT)

It is a very important phase in which a project manager determines the project deliverables according to the objectives of the project, estimates the budget, resources, and the people required for the completion of the project, and identifies other miscellaneous items requiring punctual attention while trying to complete the project.

The project manager’s road map in the planning phase is a plan for achieving the project goals. Such a plan includes the budget, task analysis, communication strategy for such roles and responsibilities of the team, a scheduled timeline, and contingency funds for unforeseen issues.

If the project team executes the plan, the project manager monitors its progress, encourages the team, and also handles any obstacles to ensure that each task is completed within the set timeframe and is of high quality.

In the closing phase, the team celebrates what it has achieved and evaluates the project’s performance; it is also an opportunity to share with stakeholders and other interested parties what the project has been able to accomplish.

4. What are three benefits of closing a project?

  • Share the team’s accomplishments with people outside the team (CORRECT)
  • Evaluate what worked and what didn’t work (CORRECT)
  • Remove any obstacles that come up
  • Celebrate the team’s success (CORRECT)

Before the closing, the project manager informs all stakeholders who had interest in the accomplishments of the project regarding the results.

It allows the project manager to reflect on what went well and what didn’t, and thus learn how to plan better for future projects.

Project closure gives the team an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of the team and give attention to them.

5. Exploring the phases of the project life cycle

  • Identify the correct order of the project life cycle.
  • Initiate the project, execute and complete tasks, make a plan, close the project
  • Make a plan, initiate the project, execute and complete tasks, close the project
  • Initiate the project, make a plan, execute and complete tasks, close the project (CORRECT)

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANALYZING THE DIFFERENT PROJECT PHASES

1. What is the project manager’s primary job in phase three (execute and complete tasks) of the project life cycle?

  • Step in to complete tasks when the team falls behind
  • Build out the project schedule to properly manage resources, budget, and timeline
  • Monitor the project team as they complete tasks and break down any barriers (CORRECT)
  • Document lessons the team learned during the project

Correct: Understanding the roles of each member of the team, the end products of the team’s work, as well as the timelines and manner of completing the work, must be understood by the project manager; this understanding enables him or her to manage the team in its tasks.

2. Phase two of the project life cycle (make a plan) includes which two of the following tasks?

  • Identify milestones and tasks (CORRECT)
  • Break down any barriers that would slow or stop the team from completing tasks
  • Determine the purpose and mission of the project
  • Set the project schedule (CORRECT)

Producing a project plan as a whole, with a detailed consideration of milestones and task or deliverable specifications, is what a project manager will have done by the end of the planning phase.

In the planning phase, the project manager creates the project schedule to take into account effective resource management, budget, materials, and a timetable overall.

3. During which phase of the project life cycle does a project manager hand off all remaining deliverables?

  • Initiate the project
  • Make a plan
  • Execute and complete tasks
  • Close the project (CORRECT)

Correct: In the concluding phase, the project manager submits deliverables to stakeholders and obtains their final approval or sign-off.

4. Imagine a project manager oversees their company’s transition to a new financial management system. They determine that the project goal is to make the financial portal easier for employees to use. They also identify key stakeholders and outline project objectives. During which phase of the project life cycle do these activities take place?

  • Execute and complete tasks
  • Close the project
  • Initiate the project (CORRECT)
  • Make a plan

Correct: During the launch phase, he explains the client’s or customer’s goals, identifies key stakeholders, and sets measurable targets for the team to achieve.

5. What does a project manager do in the project initiation phase of the project life cycle? Select all that apply.

  • Get project approval (CORRECT)
  • Determine resources, people, and project details (CORRECT)
  • Close the project                                                                                                          
  • Define project goals (CORRECT)

Project approval has to be obtained by the project managers, who develop a proposal that contains the goals of the projects and the necessary resources, as well as the people and details required for the project. This is an exercise of the initiation phase.

During this phase, responsible persons will gather and organize all possible data about the project, which encompasses defining the aims of the project and determining resources, people, and project details. Here, they will also seek project approval.

In defining project goals, which is part of the initiation phase of projects, project managers provide clarity, identify needed resources, people, and details of the project, and engage stakeholders to obtain project approval.

6. Which of the following activities are part of the “execute and complete tasks” project phase? Select all that apply.

  • Communicate with the project team (CORRECT)
  • Confirm the acceptance of project outcomes
  • Make adjustments to the project (CORRECT)
  • Manage project progress (CORRECT)

Over-communicate while making sure your message will flow through a meeting, or from email to memo to any other kind of correspondence about the project moving from one point to another. During this phase, project managers also ensure that project-level progress remains on track while enacting any necessary modifications.

Making necessary adjustments to a project-schedule, budget, and resource allocation-pm has to manage progress. It has to maintain communication between the team and other stakeholders.

Project managers utilize their resources to keep the project moving along. They watch over the actions of their teams, ensuring that everyone knows what is expected of them and how and when major assignments are to be completed. Accountability and adjustments are made by project managers during this phase with team members as well as stakeholders.

7. What is a project management methodology?

  • A tangible outcome from the project
  • An activity that needs to be accomplished within a set period of time by the project manager, team, or stakeholders
  • A set of guiding principles and processes for owning a project through its life cycle (CORRECT)

Correct: A project management methodology is defined as a framework which lays down rules and procedures to be followed through the physical installation or lifecycle of the project. Such an approach could be linear with different tasks, having to be accomplished before shifting to the next one. Alternatively, this could also be iterative where tasks overlap or are repeated several times or cycles, thereby providing greater flexibility and adaptability throughout the duration of the project.

8. When would a project manager want to use the Waterfall approach? Select all that apply.

  • When the phases of the project are clearly defined (CORRECT)
  • When project changes are expensive to implement once it’s started (CORRECT)
  • When project phases overlap and tasks are completed in iterations
  • When there are tasks to complete before another can begin (CORRECT)

The waterfall way is following an ordered step: well-defined expectations, resources and goals that will be changed. This approach is really useful when the project phases are …

Waterfall adopts a linear approach with an ordered collection of steps, which have clearly specified and unlikely to change expectations, resources, and goals. Very suitable when changes in projects are so costly after going on to the project.

Waterfall uses a linear way following a sequence of ordered steps, each linked to specific expectations, resources, and goals that are not expected to change. This method works when you have some tasks that must be finished before others can start.

9. In which DMAIC step do project managers begin to identify gaps and issues?

  • Define
  • Measure
  • Analyze (CORRECT)
  • Improve
  • Control

Correct: The Analyze step in DMAIC is the one in which project managers assess data and process to find the gaps and issues in order to identify root causes for the problems they pose to the companies. This step provides insight into where the company must improve.

Google Project Management: Professional Certificate WEEKLY CHALLENGE 3

1. What are the phases of the project life cycle?

  • Make a plan, initiate the project, communicate progress, close the project
  • Initiate the project, make a plan, communicate progress, close the project
  • Initiate the project, make a plan, measure and analyze tasks, close the project
  • Initiate the project, make a plan, execute and complete tasks, close the project (CORRECT)

2. Why is it important to initiate a project (phase one) before making a plan (phase two)?

  • Because executing and completing tasks is crucial to understanding scope, cost, and timeline
  • Because creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities is crucial to understanding scope, cost, and timeline
  • Because understanding scope, cost, and timeline is crucial to creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities (CORRECT)

3. What is the term for a set of guiding principles and processes for owning a project through its life cycle?

  • Life cycle methodology
  • Waterfall methodology
  • Project life cycle
  • Project management methodology (CORRECT)

4. Which answer best describes the Waterfall project management methodology?

  • Created in the eighties, the Waterfall methodology refers to the sequential ordering of phases, including defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling.
  • Created in the eighties, the Waterfall methodology refers to being able to move quickly and easily through a project by combining and eliminating tasks.
  • Created in the nineties, the Waterfall methodology refers to being able to move quickly and easily through a project by working on many tasks at once.
  • Created in the seventies, the Waterfall methodology refers to the sequential ordering of phases, including initiating, planning, executing, and closing. (CORRECT)

5. As a project manager, your team is launching a new product. Each step to launch the product includes clearly defined tasks. A task won’t begin until another task ends. Also, once the project starts, any changes to the product will be expensive. Which project management methodology is best for this project?

  • Lean Six Sigma methodology
  • Waterfall methodology (CORRECT)
  • Agile methodology
  • Scrum methodology

6. As a project manager, your team is improving one of your client’s current sales conversion processes. This is a complex project with many steps. It’s also high-risk. One missed step could cost your client significant potential revenue. Which project management methodology is best for this project?

  • Waterfall methodology
  • Sequential methodology
  • Lean Six Sigma methodology (CORRECT)
  • Linear methodology

7. Which of the following are project manager responsibilities during the planning phase? Select all that apply.

  • Create a budget (CORRECT)
  • Set the schedule (CORRECT)
  • Establish the team (CORRECT)
  • Get project approval

8. Which of the following are project manager responsibilities during the execution phase? Select all that apply.

  • Make adjustments to the schedule, budget, and resources
  • Handle communication for the team (CORRECT)
  • Manage the project’s progress (CORRECT)
  • Do the majority of the work

9. Which of the following are project manager responsibilities during the closing phase? Select all that apply.

  • Complete the project proposal
  • Confirm acceptance of the project outcome (CORRECT)
  • Reflect on lessons learned (CORRECT)
  • Ensure all tasks are complete (CORRECT)

10. In which project phase does it help to ask questions such as: “Who are the stakeholders?”, “What skills and resources will the project require?”, and “What are the client’s or customer’s goals?”

  • Make a plan
  • Close the project
  • Initiate the project (CORRECT)
  • Execute the project

11. Which project management approach is an Agile framework that delivers products through an iterative process?

  • Six Sigma
  • Waterfall
  • Lean (CORRECT)
  • Scrum

12. Choose the best definition for a project management methodology.

  • A project management methodology is a set of guiding tasks and measurements for owning a project through its life cycle.
  • A project management methodology is a set of guiding ethical values for operating a project through its life cycle.
  • A project management methodology is a set of guiding principles and processes for owning a project through its life cycle. (CORRECT)
  • A project management methodology is a set of guiding laws and measures for owning a project through its life cycle.

13. What is the main advantage of the Agile approach over the Waterfall methodology?

  • Agile allows the project manager to make centralized decisions and assign tasks.
  • Agile has clearly defined expectations and helps teams avoid expensive changes to a project once it has started.
  • Agile focuses on reducing waste within an operation.
  • Agile takes a flexible approach, letting teams make adjustments as they go. (CORRECT)

14. Which project management approach uses the 5S quality tool and implements a Kanban scheduling system to manage production?

  • Scrum
  • Waterfall
  • Lean (CORRECT)
  • Agile

15. In which project plan phase does the project manager celebrate successes and release the team to support other projects within the company?

  • Initiate the project
  • Make a plan
  • Execute the project
  • Close the project (CORRECT)

16. Why should project managers always initiate a project (phase one) before making a plan (phase two)?

  • Because creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities is crucial to understanding scope, cost, and timeline
  • Because determining scope, cost, and timeline is crucial to creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities (CORRECT)
  • Because executing and completing tasks successfully is crucial to creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities
  • Because establishing your team is crucial to have in place before understanding scope, cost, and timeline

17. You manage a team that is building a new application. The client has a set of features they want in the app, but they do not have a specific design in mind. What is the best project management methodology to use for this project?

  • Waterfall methodology
  • Agile methodology (CORRECT)
  • Improving methodology
  • Lean Six Sigma methodology

18. A project manager monitors the current process of a project closely. They want to avoid the project reverting to previous inefficient ways. What phase of the Lean Six Sigma methodology involves these activities?

  • Improve
  • Define
  • Control (CORRECT)
  • Analyze

19. Which of the following are project manager responsibilities during the initiation phase? Select all that apply.

  • Set the schedule
  • Define project goals (CORRECT)
  • Get project approval (CORRECT)
  • Determine resources needed (CORRECT)

20. After a team meeting, the project manager realizes there might be a delay in delivery due to an unexpected obstacle. They reach out to the clients to explain the situation. At what stage of the project would this event take place?

  • Closing
  • Planning
  • Execution (CORRECT)
  • Initiation

21. Which project methodology involves reducing variations by ensuring that quality processes are followed every time?

 
  • Six Sigma (CORRECT)
  • Scrum
  • Waterfall
  • Agile

22. A project manager evaluates how the project went and celebrates the team’s hard work. What phase of the project life cycle are they implementing?

  • Execute and complete tasks
  • Improve and control
  • Close the project (CORRECT)
  • Initiate the project

23. Which project management methodology describes the ability to move quickly and easily through a project by working on many tasks at once?

  • Lean Six Sigma Methodology
  • Agile methodology (CORRECT)
  • Waterfall methodology
  • DMAIC methodology

24. What phase in the Lean Six Sigma methodology involves identifying gaps and issues from the data collected through surveys and reports?

  • Control
  • Impact
  • Analyze (CORRECT)
  • Measure

25. A project manager defines the project goals and identifies a budget. What phase of the project life cycle are they implementing?

  • Improve and control
  • Execute and complete tasks
  • Close the project
  • Initiate the project (CORRECT)

26. As a project manager, you documented the deliverables for a project and showcased the project’s value to leadership. The project has been approved. What is the next phase of the project lifecycle?

  • Close the project
  • Plan the project (CORRECT)
  • Execute the project
  • Initiate the project

27. What project management methodology requires the team to complete the previous phase before the next phase starts?

  • Iterative methodology
  • Linear methodology (CORRECT)
  • Agile methodology
  • Flexible methodology

28. As a project manager, you need to plan the catering for the week-long company retreat. The budget is very tight and catering is precise. What is the best project management methodology to use?

  • Define methodology
  • Lean Six Sigma Methodology
  • Waterfall methodology (CORRECT)
  • Agile methodology

29. What is the main advantage of the Waterfall methodology over the Agile approach?

  • Waterfall has clearly defined expectations and helps teams avoid expensive changes to a project once it has started. (CORRECT)
  • Waterfall takes a flexible approach, letting teams make adjustments as they go.
  • Waterfall allows for easy reorganization of tasks as the project progresses.
  • Waterfall focuses on reducing waste within an operation.

30. What phase in the Lean Six Sigma methodology focuses on collecting data to look at the current process and locate exactly where the problems are?

  • Analyze
  • Define
  • Control
  • Measure (CORRECT)

31. A project manager has identified the major milestones of the project and what tasks make up each milestone. What project phase have they just completed?

  • Initiate the project
  • Close the project
  • Make a plan (CORRECT)
  • Execute the project

32. What project management methodology would work best for building a house?

  • Iterative methodology
  • Linear methodology (CORRECT)
  • Agile methodology
  • Flexible methodology

33. A project manager starts a project to build a new website. The team will launch the new homepage first and then update the remaining pages. What project management methodology should the project manager use?

  • Waterfall methodology
  • Agile methodology (CORRECT)
  • Lean Six Sigma Methodology
  • Analyze methodology

34. As a project manager, you start a project with concrete timelines and strict deliverables. What project management methodology should you use?

  • Control methodology
  • Scrum methodology
  • Agile methodology
  • Waterfall methodology (CORRECT)

35. A project manager sets the schedule for the project and establishes team roles. In what phase of the project do these activities occur?

  • Updating
  • Closing
  • Planning (CORRECT)
  • Initiating

36. In which project phase does the project manager break down barriers for teammates and address weaknesses in task processes?

  • Make a plan
  • Initiate the project
  • Execute the project (CORRECT)
  • Close the project

37. A project manager creates a timeline and defines all tasks that the team needs to complete. What phase of the project life cycle are they implementing?

  • Execute and complete tasks
  • Initiate the project
  • Making a plan (CORRECT)
  • Close the project

38. Your team has completed the tasks required and delivered the product on time to the client. What is the next phase of the project lifecycle?

  • Execute the project
  • Initiate the project
  • Close the project (CORRECT)
  • Plan the project

39. What project management methodology allows some of the phases and tasks to overlap?

  • Agile methodology (CORRECT)
  • Ordered methodology
  • Linear methodology
  • Process methodology

40. Which answer best describes the Agile project management methodology?

  • Created in the eighties, the Agile methodology refers to being able to move quickly and easily through a project by combining and eliminating tasks.
  • Created in the nineties, the Agile methodology refers to being able to move quickly and easily through a project by working on many tasks at once. (CORRECT)
  • Created in the eighties, the Agile methodology refers to the sequential ordering of phases, including defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling.
  • Created in the seventies, the Agile methodology refers to the sequential ordering of phases, including initiating, planning, executing, and closing.

41. What is the main advantage of the Waterfall methodology over the Agile approach?

  • Waterfall has clearly defined expectations and helps teams avoid expensive changes to a project once it has started. (CORRECT)
  • Waterfall allows for easy reorganization of tasks as the project progresses.
  • Waterfall takes a flexible approach, letting teams make adjustments as they go.
  • Waterfall focuses on reducing waste within an operation.

42. The Lean Six Sigma approach includes which of the following phases?

  • Connect, control, impact, apply, analyze
  • Measure, define, apply, improve, control
  • Impact, measure, define, control, analyze
  • Define, measure, analyze, improve, control (CORRECT)

43. When closing a project, in what meeting does the team reflect on what went well and didn’t go well in the project?

  • Stakeholder acceptance
  • Retrospective (CORRECT)
  • Positives and negatives
  • Agile perspective

44. As a project manager, you have gotten approval from your leadership team and planned the project from start to finish. What is the next step in the project phase?

  • Execute the project (CORRECT)
  • Make a plan
  • Close the project
  • Initiate the project

45. As a project manager, your team is creating a product that will require flexibility—changes are likely to occur. Also, tasks will overlap or happen at the same time as other tasks. Which project management methodology is the best for your project?

  • Iterative methodology (CORRECT)
  • Circular methodology
  • Linear methodology
  • Waterfall methodology

46. While planning the project, a project manager considers possible delays, budget changes, and legal issues. What are they trying to reduce by considering these things?

  • Resources
  • Deliverables
  • Risks (CORRECT)
  • Plans

47. A project manager has documented what went well in the completed project and reflects on ways to improve in the future. What project phase have they just completed?

  • Execute the project
  • Close the project (CORRECT)
  • Make a plan
  • Initiate the project

48. Which project management approach uses the 5S quality tool, the DMAIC process, and Kanban boards?

  • Waterfall
  • Agile
  • Scrum
  • Lean Six Sigma (CORRECT)

49. What phase of the project management life cycle involves keeping the team motivated and ensuring they complete tasks on time?

  • Initiate the project
  • Execute the project (CORRECT)
  • Close the project
  • Plan the project

50. Which project management methodology is organized in sequential phases (including initiating, planning, executing, and closing)?

  • Waterfall methodology (CORRECT)
  • Lean Six Sigma methodology
  • Agile methodology
  • DMAIC methodology

51. Which of the following are phases of the project life cycle? Select all that apply.

  • Close the project (CORRECT)
  • Execute and complete tasks (CORRECT)
  • Improve and control
  • Initiate the project (CORRECT)

52. As a project manager, your team is creating a product that will require flexibility—changes are likely to occur. Also, tasks will overlap or happen at the same time as other tasks. Which project management methodology is the best for your project?

  • Iterative methodology (CORRECT)
  • Waterfall methodology
  • Circular methodology
  • Linear methodology

53. What is the main advantage of the Waterfall methodology over the Agile approach?

  • Waterfall allows for easy reorganization of tasks as the project progresses.
  • Waterfall takes a flexible approach, letting teams make adjustments as they go.
  • Waterfall focuses on reducing waste within an operation.
  • Waterfall has clearly defined expectations and helps teams avoid expensive changes to a project once it has started. (CORRECT)

54. Which project management approach includes the following phases: define, measure, analyze, improve, control.

  • Linear methodology
  • Waterfall methodology
  • Lean Six Sigma methodology (CORRECT)
  • Agile methodology

55. Why should project managers always make a plan (phase two) before executing and completing tasks (phase three)?

  • Because executing and completing tasks is crucial to understanding scope, cost, and timeline
  • Because creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities is crucial to executing and completing tasks (CORRECT)
  • Because creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities is crucial to developing the project charter
  • Because executing and completing tasks is crucial to creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities

56. Which project management tool involves sticky notes or note cards to represent the team’s tasks with categories like “To do”, “In progress”, and “Done”?

  • Lean
  • Kanban (CORRECT)
  • Waterfall
  • Agile

The Project Management Life Cycle and Methodologies CONCLUSION

The final conclusion is that project life cycles have different phases. Each of them is important in the delivery of a successful project. The four main phases-initiation, planning, execution and closure-are characterized by their own activities and objectives, and all phases must be completed to have a successful project.

To select a methodology for managing your project, identify and consider a number of methodologies available, then select the appropriate one relative to the specific requirements of your project. If it’s project management expertise, Coursera has it all for you on how to become a project manager.

Leave a Comment