Module 3: The project management life cycle and methodologies
Test your knowledge: Understanding the project life cycle
Practice Quiz
1. What are some potential consequences of rushing through the initiation phase of a project? Select all that apply.
- Impact to the budget
- Impact to quality
- Impact to previous projects
- Impact to the timeline
Explanation:
Rushing through the initiation phase can lead to incomplete planning, misalignment of objectives, and unaddressed risks. These oversights may cause:
- Budget overruns due to unexpected expenses.
- Quality issues from inadequate requirements or missed details.
- Timeline delays as unforeseen obstacles arise.
“Impact to previous projects” is not a typical consequence of rushing initiation for a current 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.
- Tell the customer he will need four to six weeks to formulate a proposal.
- Ask the customer for more time to consult with stakeholders and the project team to deliver an accurate cost and timeline proposal.
- Research the cost and timeline for similar projects at other trucking logistics companies and share that information with the customer.
Explanation:
Providing accurate and well-researched estimates ensures the project starts on a strong foundation.
- Immediately providing comparable estimates may result in inaccuracies.
- Requesting four to six weeks is rigid and may frustrate the customer.
- Using information from other projects might not align with the unique needs of this project.
3. What are the main phases of the project life cycle? Select all that apply.
- Initiate the project
- Make a plan
- Define project roles
- Execute and complete tasks
- Close the project
Explanation:
The project life cycle includes the following phases:
- Initiate the project: Define objectives, scope, and key stakeholders.
- Make a plan: Outline tasks, timelines, and resource allocation.
- Execute and complete tasks: Implement the plan and monitor progress.
- Close the project: Finalize deliverables and evaluate outcomes.
“Define project roles” is part of planning, not a distinct phase.
4. What are three benefits of closing a project? Select all that apply
- Evaluate what worked and what didn’t work
- Celebrate the team’s success
- Share the team’s accomplishments with people outside the team
- Remove any obstacles that come up
Explanation:
Closing a project offers several benefits, including:
- Learning from the project through retrospectives to improve future efforts.
- Celebrating successes to boost team morale and recognize contributions.
- Sharing accomplishments to demonstrate value to stakeholders.
“Remove any obstacles” is a benefit of earlier phases, like execution.
Test your knowledge: Analyzing the different project phases
Practice Quiz
5. What is the project manager’s primary job in phase three (execute and complete tasks) of the project life cycle?
- Monitor the project team as they complete tasks and break down any barriers
- Step in to complete tasks when the team falls behind
- Document lessons the team learned during the project
- Build out the project schedule to properly manage resources, budget, and timeline
Explanation:
In the execution phase, the project manager’s primary role is to oversee the team, ensure tasks are being completed as planned, and address any challenges or obstacles that may hinder progress.
- Stepping in to complete tasks is not the project manager’s primary responsibility.
- Documenting lessons learned occurs during the closing phase.
- Building the project schedule is part of the planning phase.
6. Phase two of the project life cycle (make a plan) includes which two of the following tasks?
- Identify milestones and tasks
- Determine the purpose and mission of the project
- Set the project schedule
- Break down any barriers that would slow or stop the team from completing tasks
Explanation:
In the planning phase, the project manager focuses on:
- Identifying milestones and tasks to create a roadmap for the project.
- Setting the project schedule to manage timelines and resource allocation effectively.
Determining the purpose and mission happens during the initiation phase.
Breaking down barriers is an activity for the execution phase.
7. During which phase of the project life cycle does a project manager hand off all remaining deliverables?
- Initiate the project
- Close the project
- Make a plan
- Execute and complete tasks
Explanation:
The closing phase involves finalizing the project by:
- Handing off deliverables.
- Documenting lessons learned.
- Evaluating the project outcomes.
This ensures the project is formally concluded and resources are freed for other activities.
8. 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?
- Initiate the project
- Make a plan
- Execute and complete tasks
- Close the project
Explanation:
The initiation phase includes defining the project’s purpose, identifying key stakeholders, and setting high-level objectives to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
- Activities like creating detailed plans and schedules occur during the planning phase.
Module 3 Challenge
Graded Quiz
9. Suppose that as a project manager, you provide detailed plans and frequent project updates to both the team and stakeholders. What project management value does this represent?
- Optimism
- Delegation
- Effective communication
- Prioritization
10. As a project manager, you create plans, timelines, schedules, and other forms of documentation to track project completion. Which project management responsibility does this represent?
- Managing the budget
- Removing unforeseen barriers
- Managing tasks
- Planning and organizing
11. As a project manager on a product team, your stakeholders ask you to help the marketing team come up with a strategy to attract customers. What project management responsibility does this represent?
- Collaborate with other teams at the organization.
- Help teammates adopt the right workflows and project management styles.
- Hold all team members accountable for their assigned tasks.
- Ensure that issues and risks are tracked and visible.
12. What can a project manager do to recognize individuals’ efforts on a team?
- Ensure team members have the correct skill sets for each project function.
- Set up effective tools so the team can easily work together.
- Learn what makes team members feel supported and provide positive feedback.
- Define key items and encourage team members to ask questions.
13. You’re a project manager on a team that is improving a product. How can you make sure the project stays on schedule?
- Track daily product improvement tasks of team members in a spreadsheet.
- Have a meeting with stakeholders to make them aware of product concerns.
- Limit communication with stakeholders to avoid input until product launch.
- Provide data and feedback about how customers interact with the product.
14. A project manager forgets to assess how national holidays and team member vacations will affect the project’s completion date. Now, because of team member time off, the project delivery will be two weeks late. What flexible planning strategy could the project manager have used to avoid the delay?
- Enable decision-making
- Escalate to stakeholders
- Assessing external constraints
- Use collaboration tools
15. Suppose that unless a teammate receives additional resources, they are going to complete an activity past a deadline. You know that the stakeholders are reluctant to provide additional resources. Which interpersonal skill can you use to strike a middle ground between both the teammate’s and stakeholders’ needs?
- Positive attitude
- Conflict mediation
- Understanding motivations
- Negotiation
16. As a project manager impacting an organization, you want to effectively manage the project. Which of the following would a project manager do to effectively manage the project? Select all that apply.
- Frequently communicate the larger project goal to the team.
- Check in with the team as little as possible to increase productivity.
- Change the project end goal to meet the needs of project tasks.
- Understand the impact of each process within the project.
17. Fill in the blank: In project management, a _____ is a person or an organization that defines the project requirements. They also may set important guidelines, such as the budget and deadlines.
- vendor
- customers
- competitor
- teammate
18. Which of the following are examples of how a project manager empowers their team? Select all that apply.
- Asks team members to get approval before communicating directly with stakeholders
- Delegates project responsibilities
- Uses team members’ input in project planning and execution
- Allows team members to make some decisions for the project
19. As a project manager you are transparent, which means being up front with plans and ideas and making information readily available. What project management value does this represent?
- Effective communication
- Optimism
- Delegation
- Prioritization
20. As a project manager, you choose the best project management methodology for your team and ensure they adhere to it throughout the project. What project management responsibility does this represent?
- Hold all team members accountable for their assigned tasks.
- Ensure that issues and risks are tracked and visible.
- Help teammates adopt the right workflows and project management styles.
- Collaborate with other teams at the organization.
21. What is an example of measuring progress for a cross-functional team?
- Defining key items and encouraging team members to ask questions.
- Learning what makes team members feel supported and giving positive feedback.
- Asking team members if they anticipate being finished on time and, if not, how you can help them succeed.
- Setting up effective tools so the team can easily work together.
22. You’re a project manager on a team that is improving a product. How can you enable your teammates to make decisions?
- Keep the task schedule vague and allow flexibility on deadlines.
- Require teammates to include stakeholders during brainstorming sessions.
- Provide data and feedback about how customers interact with the product.
- Limit communication with stakeholders to avoid their input until product launch.
23. As a project manager impacting an organization, you want to build a great team. Which of the following would a project manager do to build a great team? Select all that apply.
- Address the team’s needs whenever it’s most convenient for the project manager’s schedule.
- Take the time to understand each team member’s motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Allow the team members to have input and ask questions.
- Understand the customer’s requirements to better shape the skills needed for the team.
24. Which of the following are examples of internal customers? Select all that apply.
- Suppliers
- Team members
- Management
- Organizational departments
25. As a project manager, you take the time to share the lessons that you, as a project manager, have learned. In doing this, you are utilizing interpersonal skills to fulfill what responsibility?
- Controlling change
- Communicating status and concerns
- Teaching and mentoring
- Planning and organizing
26. To be an effective project manager, what important actions/steps should you take?
- Limit communication between team members so they can complete their work
- Gain mastery over every detail of a project at all times
- Ensure team members understand the team’s objectives and their individual tasks
- Confirm team members handle the documentation and organization necessary to finish the project
27. When budgeting a project, what is the responsibility of a project manager?
- Creating a schedule so team members know when their task should be complete
- Controlling costs to ensure more money isn’t spent than what key stakeholders approved
- Setting a period of time for a team member to complete an activity
- Using a productivity tool to share information across the team
28. How can a project manager better communicate goals and clarify those goals for a cross-functional team?
- Learn what makes team members feel supported and provide positive feedback.
- Be direct and concise, avoiding extraneous details and explanations.
- Ensure team members have the correct skill sets for each project task.
- Record meeting notes and document how much work the team has completed.
29. After several years as a project manager, you’ve learned that project plans often face unexpected changes, even with careful upfront planning. When this happens, you are able to adjust while helping your team stay calm. Which core project manager skill set are you demonstrating with these behaviors?
- Strong organizational skills
- Enabling decision-making
- Communicating and escalating
- Flexibility
30. A project manager's ability to guide teammates to complete their assigned work without acting as their direct managers is called _____.
- conflict mediation
- influencing without authority
- understanding motivations
- adjusting interpersonal dynamics
31. As a project manager impacting an organization, you want to break down barriers to help your team succeed. Which of the following would a project manager do to break down barriers?
- Make sure you clearly understand customer expectations.
- Advocate for additional resources for your team.
- Communicate the impacts of each process within the project to the team.
- Understand each team member’s motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.
32. As a project manager, how can you protect the team from changes to the project? Select all that apply.
- Clearly identify any project changes.
- Limit communication outside the team once the project begins.
- Let the stakeholders know how changes impact the budget and schedule.
- Document initial expectations of the project.
33. Jamar just landed his first project management job with a construction company. Which of the following is necessary for Jamar to be an effective construction project manager?
- Jamar must have a college degree in management.
- Jamar must have a lot of experience in construction.
- Jamar must help the engineers and construction workers communicate with one another to ensure that they are all on the same page.
- Jamar must have a college degree in engineering.
34. As a project manager on a product team, which of the following activities would be the best way to ensure that issues and risks are tracked and visible? Select all that apply.
- Establish “escalation paths.”
- Collaborate with other teams at the organization.
- Give teammates ownership over specific pieces of the project and manage the tasks, not the person.
- Choose the best project management methodology for your team and ensure they adhere to it throughout the project.
35. As a project manager, you learn that the stakeholders are changing the nature of the project and the team’s deliverables will change as a result. You aren’t sure how this will affect the team’s tasks. How will you handle this ambiguity and deliver the news to the team?
- Tell them you’re upset with the changes and you didn’t make the decision
- Tell them the vague updates from stakeholders so they know all the information that you do
- Tell them there’s nothing you can do because the stakeholders fund the project
- Tell them you care about the challenges they are facing and are there to support them
36. A key team member on the project you are managing decides to quit because they cannot come into the office every day. You offer to let them work from home three days a week, if they will stay on. Which interpersonal skill are you using?
- Positive attitude
- Negotiation
- Conflict mediation
- Understanding motivations
37. As a project manager, you ensure that everyone working on the project understands their task goal as well as the big picture goal for the finished product. This adds value to your project in which way?
- Breaking down barriers
- Fostering relationships
- Managing the project
- Focusing on the customer
38. As a project manager, you maintain an open door policy to build trust within your team and among stakeholders. In doing this, you are utilizing interpersonal skills to fulfill what responsibility?
- Communicating status and concerns
- Budgeting and controlling costs
- Controlling change
- Teaching and mentoring
39. Suppose that as a project manager, you assign tasks to the team members who can best complete them. What project management value does this represent?
- Delegation
- Prioritization
- Optimism
- Effective communication
40. As a project manager, you keep track of project activities so that you can demonstrate progress to your stakeholders. Which project management responsibility does this represent?
- Removing unforeseen barriers
- Managing tasks
- Utilizing productivity tools
- Managing the budget
41. As a project manager on a product team, which of the following responsibilities are part of your role within the team? Select all that apply.
- Hold all team members accountable for their assigned tasks.
- Directly manage each team member working on the project.
- Ensure that issues and risks are tracked and visible.
- Collaborate with other teams at the organization.
42. As a project manager, one of your team members suddenly must leave your project to deal with a family emergency. To stay on schedule, you pull another team member off of a task that is not time-sensitive and assign him to the urgent task that your departing team member was working on. Which flexible planning strategy did you use to deal with this unexpected circumstance?
- Enabling decision-making
- Assessing external constraints
- Planning for risks and challenges
- Calculating “float” in your schedule.
43. Why is it important for a project manager to build relationships with customers?
- Because customers make money for the business
- So that the other team members don’t have to talk to customers
- Because a satisfied customer will attract more customers
- Because customers define the project requirements
44. Yui is a project manager working for a clothing company developing a new line of winter sleepwear. Which of the following is necessary for Yui to manage this project effectively?
- Yui must know every single detail about the project at all times.
- Yui must ensure team members understand their objectives and have what they need to be successful in their tasks.
- Yui must directly manage her team members while they do their tasks.
- Yui must be able to do the things that each of her team members can do.
45. As a project manager, you're an expert at determining which tasks are most critical to the success of a project and helping team members identify and break down large tasks into smaller steps. What project management value does this represent?
- Delegation
- Prioritization
- Effective communication
- Optimism
46. You’re a project manager on a team that is improving a product. You employ a variety of helpful tools and templates, along with your familiarity of popular project management styles, to help you document the project throughout its lifecycle. Which core project manager skill set are you demonstrating with these behaviors?
- Communicating and escalating
- Enabling decision-making
- Flexibility
- Strong organizational skills
47. Which of the following are examples of external customers? Select all that apply.
- Communicating and escalating
- Enabling decision-making
- Flexibility
- Strong organizational skills
48. Which of the following is necessary to be an effective project manager?
- You must trust team members on the technical aspects of a project.
- You must know all of the technical details of a project before starting.
- You must have a college degree in management.
- You must have been in the project’s industry for at least two years.
49. As a project manager, you are careful to recognize team members’ particular strengths and match them to tasks they are most capable of completing. What project management value does this represent?
- Delegation
- Optimism
- Effective communication
- Prioritization
50. As a project manager, you use productivity tools and develop processes to improve information sharing across the team. Which project management responsibility does this represent?
- Managing tasks
- Managing the budget
- Planning and organizing
- Removing unforeseen barriers
51. Suppose you are trying to figure out how a team member prefers to receive positive recognition. Which interpersonal skill can you use to make this determination?
- Work ethic
- Understanding motivations
- Conflict mediation
- Negotiation
52. As a project manager impacting an organization, you want to build a great team. Which of the following would a project manager do to build a great team? Select all that apply.
- Ensure the team knows that each individual is valued, trusted, and appreciated.
- Bring on people with the right skills.
- Address the team’s needs whenever it’s most convenient for the project manager’s schedule.
- Communicate the impacts of each process within the project to the team.
53. As a project manager building a relationship with your customer, which of the following questions will help you focus on the customer? Select all that apply.
- How did you hear of our organization?
- Have you participated in any other projects with our organization?
- What prompted you to ask for help at this time?
- What is your hope for the outcome of this project?
54. What is an example of measuring progress for a cross-functional team?
- Setting up effective tools so the team can easily work together
- Recording milestones and documenting when tasks are completed
- Learning what makes team members feel supported and giving positive feedback
- Defining key items and encouraging team members to ask questions
55. As a project manager impacting an organization, you want to build a great team. Which of the following would a project manager do to build a great team? Select all that apply.
- Take the time to understand each team member’s motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Understand the customer’s requirements to better shape the skills needed for the team.
- Allow the team members to have input and ask questions.
- Address the team’s needs whenever it’s most convenient for the project manager’s schedule.
56. Which of the following is true of an effective project manager in an organization?
- Have had a previous role in the organization sponsoring the project
- Have personally met the project’s stakeholders
- Must know all of the specific details of the project
Have the necessary skills, knowledge, tools, and techniques for the project
57. As a project manager, you establish “escalation paths.” These allow you to quickly communicate task hindrances, also called roadblocks, to the right people. When escalating a roadblock, you document it and make sure everyone that needs to know is aware of the challenge. What project management responsibility does this represent?
- Hold all team members accountable for their assigned tasks.
- Ensure that issues and risks are tracked and visible.
- Collaborate with other teams at the organization.
- Help teammates adopt the right workflows and project management styles.
58. An effective manager of cross-functional teams must have which of the following abilities? Select all that apply.
- The ability to set up effective tools so the team can easily work together
- The ability to ensure that each member of the team understands their role and how they support each other
- The ability to identify skill sets needed to accomplish project tasks and T-shaped professionals with those skills
- The ability to teach new skills to a T-shaped professional.
59. As a project manager impacting an organization, you want to break down barriers to help your team succeed. Which of the following would a project manager do to break down barriers?
- Encourage stakeholders to provide feedback on new product features.
- Keep the project within the budget approved by leadership.
- Write clear goals for the project in the project’s documentation.
- Provide support for the team as they try new approaches to find solutions.
60. 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?
- Improve and control
- Execute and complete tasks
- Initiate the project
- Close the project
Explanation:
The closing phase involves wrapping up the project, reflecting on lessons learned, and celebrating the team’s efforts.
61. Why should project managers always initiate a project (phase one) before making a plan (phase two)?
- Because determining scope, cost, and timeline is crucial to creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities
- Because creating a budget, setting a schedule, and determining roles and responsibilities is crucial to understanding scope, cost, and timeline
- 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
Explanation:
The initiation phase helps establish the foundation for the project, including scope, cost, and timeline, which are critical for effective planning.
62. 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?
- Waterfall methodology
- Iterative methodology
- Circular methodology
- Linear methodology
Explanation:
Iterative methodologies like Agile allow flexibility and accommodate overlapping or simultaneous tasks, ideal for projects that evolve.
63. Which project management methodology is organized in sequential phases (including initiating, planning, executing, and closing)?
- Agile methodology
- Lean Six Sigma methodology
- DMAIC methodology
- Waterfall methodology
Explanation:
The Waterfall methodology follows a structured, sequential process, moving from one phase to the next without overlapping.
64. What is the main advantage of the Waterfall methodology over the Agile approach?
- Waterfall focuses on reducing waste within an operation.
- Waterfall allows for easy reorganization of tasks as the project progresses.
- Waterfall has clearly defined expectations and helps teams avoid expensive changes to a project once it has started.
- Waterfall takes a flexible approach, letting teams make adjustments as they go.
Explanation:
Waterfall’s structured approach minimizes uncertainty by providing well-defined expectations, reducing the likelihood of costly changes.
65. The Lean Six Sigma approach includes which of the following phases?
- Connect, control, impact, apply, analyze
- Define, measure, analyze, improve, control
- Measure, define, apply, improve, control
- Impact, measure, define, control, analyze
Explanation:
This is the DMAIC framework used in Lean Six Sigma to improve processes systematically.
66. Fill in the blank: Before moving into the planning phase, a project manager needs to receive _____ from the decision maker(s).
- project approval
- a project schedule
- resources
- budgetary funds
Explanation:
Approval ensures that stakeholders agree on the project’s purpose and scope before detailed planning begins.
67. Which of the following are project manager responsibilities during the closing phase? Select all that apply.
- Reflect on lessons learned
- Complete the project proposal
- Ensure all tasks are complete
- Confirm acceptance of the project outcome
Explanation:
These actions ensure the project is formally concluded and any insights can be used for future projects.
68. 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?
- Close the project
- Make a plan
- Initiate the project
- Execute the project
Explanation:
Defining milestones and associated tasks is a key activity of the planning phase.
69. Which project methodology involves reducing variations by ensuring that quality processes are followed every time?
- Waterfall
- Scrum
- Agile
- Six Sigma
Explanation:
Six Sigma focuses on minimizing variations and adhering to consistent quality standards in processes.