File: ch10, Chapter 10: Monitoring and Information Systems

R V James Changes Jan 2006

Revised: Dwayne Whitten Sep 2008

Multiple Choice

1. ________ uses data supplied by monitoring to bring actual performance into

approximate congruence with planned performance.
a) Auditing
b) Controlling
c) Evaluation
d) Verifying

Ans: b
Response: Refer to chapter 10, introduction.
Level: easy

2. ________ is the process of making judgments about the quality and effectiveness of
project performance.
a) Planning
b) Controlling
c) Evaluation
d) Estimating

Ans: c
Response: Refer to chapter 10, introduction.
Level: easy

3. The project manager should seek to monitor ________.

a) Time, cost, and resources
b) Time, quality, performance, and customer satisfaction
c) Schedule and budget
d) Time, cost, and performance

Ans: d
Response: Refer to section 10.1.
Level: easy
4. In earned value analysis, if the cost variance is ($50,000), ________.
a) The cost overrun is favorable
b) The cost overrun is unfavorable
c) The cost avoidance is favorable
d) The cost avoidance is unfavorable

Ans: b
Response: Refer to section 10.3, the earned value chart and calculations.
Level: intermediate

5. EV / AC = ___________.
a) ETC
b) CPI
c) SPI
d) TPI

Ans: b
Response: Refer to section 10.3, the earned value chart and calculations.
Level: easy

6. Monitoring can also be used for

a) auditing
b) learning from past mistakes
c) keeping senior management informed
d) all of the above

Ans: d
Rsponse: Refer to introduction
Level: easy

7. The ________ describes what is being done, when, and the planned level of resource
usage for each task, work package, and work element in the project.
a) action plan
b) premeditated plan
c) risk management plan
d) standards

Ans: a
Rsponse: Refer to section 10.1
Level: easy
8. Most of the large amounts of data collected for projects come from all of the following
sources except
a) frequency counts
b) raw numbers
c) indicators
d) vendor archival data

Ans: d
Rsponse: Refer to section 10.
Level: intermediate

9. Based on the advice of the authors, project managers can deal with most any kind of
behavior except
a) too many work hours
b) dishonesty
c) too little effort
d) disgraceful employees

Ans: b
Rsponse: Refer to section 10.1
Level: easy

10. The formula for ETC is

a) EV/AC
b) (BAC-EV) / CPI
c) (BAC-AC) / CPI
d) (AC-EV) / CPI

Ans: b
Rsponse: Refer to section 10.3
Level: intermediate

Short Answer

11. For each factor to be measured during monitoring, it will be necessary to establish
performance criteria, ________, and data collection procedures.

Ans: standards.
Response: Refer to section 10.1, designing the monitoring system.
Level: intermediate
12. If SPI = 1.12, then the schedule variance is ________.

Ans: favorable.
Response: Refer to section 10.3, the earned value chart and calculations.
Level: easy

13. An indicator type of measure is used when some aspect of a system ________ cannot
be measured directly.

Ans: performance.
Response: Refer to section 10.1, how to collect data.
Level: intermediate

14. An internal audit is used to deal with issues of ________ related to monitoring a
system.

Ans: honesty.
Response: Refer to section 10.1, how to collect data.
Level: intermediate

15. If EV = $900, AC = $950, PV = $875; SV = $__________.

Ans: $25
Response: Refer to section 10.3, the earned value chart and calculations.
Level: easy

True/False

16. According to the authors, in the planning -- monitoring -- controlling cycle, the
directions of the flows indicate that information flows from the bottom to the top and that
authority flows from the top to the bottom.

Ans: True
Response: Refer to section 10.1.
Level: easy

17. The first step in setting up a monitoring system is to use whatever information is
available.

Ans: False
Response: Refer to section 10.1, designing the monitoring system. (first step is
identifying the key factors to be controlled)
Level: easy

18. The most common mistake made when monitoring data is to gather information that
is clearly related to project performance but has little or no probability of changing
significantly between collection periods.

Ans: True
Response: Refer to section 10.1, designing the monitoring system.
Level: intermediate

19. In monitoring systems, bias finding and correcting activities are worthwhile in all
situations.

Ans: False
Response: Refer to section 10.1, how to collect data.
Level: easy

20. The project control process should be viewed as an open loop system with revised
plans and schedules (if warranted) following corrective actions.

Ans: False
Response: Refer to section 10.1. It is a closed loop system.
Level: intermediate