Module 3: Working effectively with stakeholders

Test your knowledge: Evaluating stakeholders

Practice Quiz

1. Imagine you are a project manager for a healthcare company. When building a team for a new research project, you create a power grid to help you figure out which stakeholders to prioritize. Which box in the grid represents the stakeholders who are the key players on your team?

Box C (low influence, low interest)

Box A (high influence, low interest)
Box B (high influence, high interest)

Box D (low influence, high interest)

Explanation:
In the stakeholder power-interest grid, stakeholders with high power and high interest (Box B) are the key players. These individuals have significant influence over the project and a vested interest in its success, making them critical to prioritize for collaboration and decision-making.

2. What is the correct order of tasks in a stakeholder analysis?

Determine each stakeholder’s level of interest and influence, list all the stakeholders the project impacts, and find ways to involve them.

List all the stakeholders the project impacts, determine their level of interest and influence, and find ways to involve them.
Find ways to involve each stakeholder, list all the stakeholders the project impacts, and determine their level of interest and influence.
List all the stakeholders the project impacts, find ways to involve them, and determine their level of interest and influence.

Explanation:
The correct order involves first identifying all stakeholders impacted by the project. Next, determine their levels of interest and influence to understand their potential impact. Finally, find effective ways to involve them based on their relevance to the project’s success.

3. What does stakeholder analysis enable project managers to do? Select all that apply.

Avoid potential risks down the road
Select more impactful projects

Accurately predict project outcomes
Build necessary partnerships

Explanation:
Stakeholder analysis allows project managers to anticipate risks, build effective partnerships, and engage the right individuals at the right time. It reduces surprises, ensures collaboration, and aligns stakeholders’ expectations with project goals. However, it doesn’t guarantee accurate outcome predictions or selection of more impactful projects.

4. What is it called when a project manager involves stakeholders in decision-making to reach a broader consensus?

Stakeholder identification
Stakeholder buy-in
Stakeholder analysis

Stakeholder mapping

Explanation:
Stakeholder buy-in refers to actively involving stakeholders in decision-making processes. This helps build trust, ensures broader consensus, and fosters a sense of ownership in the project’s outcomes, increasing the likelihood of its success.

Module 3 Challenge

Graded Assignment

5. Which of the following responsibilities does project management include?

Apply technical expertise to execute the project’s day-to-day tasks

Oversee the scope, schedule, budget, and quality of a project
Sign off on budget and resources
Ensure that the business meets its overall objective

6. Which three of the following responsibilities can belong to the project sponsor?

Ensure that the project delivers the agreed upon value to the business.
Play a key leadership role throughout the project.
Plan and organize the project.

Fund the project.

7. Which stakeholders benefit directly (not indirectly) from a project’s success? Select all that apply.

Secondary stakeholders
Key players

Primary stakeholders
Minor players

Explanation:
Primary stakeholders and key players are the groups that benefit directly from the project’s outcomes. These stakeholders typically include customers, employees, or anyone whose objectives align with the project goals. Secondary stakeholders or minor players experience indirect benefits.

8. Who uses technical and interpersonal skills to carry out day-to-day project tasks?

Project team members
Project manager.
Secondary stakeholders

Project sponsor

Explanation:
Project team members use their technical and interpersonal skills to perform the day-to-day tasks needed to complete the project. They are directly responsible for delivering work products within the scope of their roles.

9. Which term refers to identifying stakeholders and grouping them by interest and influence?

Stakeholder monitoring

Stakeholder analysis
Stakeholder buy-in
Steering committee meeting

10. How does stakeholder analysis benefit a project? Select all that apply.

Builds partnerships necessary for project success
Helps the project team avoid surprises
Gets the right people involved at the right time

Lowers project costs

11. Which of the following statements are true of RACI charts? Select all that apply.

Assess each stakeholder’s ability to participate and build necessary partnerships
Define project roles and responsibilities to ensure efficiency

Determine which stakeholders are responsible for which tasks
Record the level of risk stakeholders bring to the project

12. Which three of the following situations can lead to role confusion on a project?

When only one person is designated as accountable

When ownership of decisions is unclear
When workloads are unbalanced
When team members perform overlapping work

13. As a project manager, you make considerations when building a team. You decide how many people need to be on the team, what expertise each member will need to complete their tasks, and if they have a personal incentive to work on the project. What else should you consider when building a team?

Team member availability
Team member communication preferences
Degree of stakeholder engagement

Whether the project has a strong business case

14. As a project manager, you’re prioritizing stakeholders with a power grid. One stakeholder has low power and high interest. What level of engagement should the team have with the stakeholder?

Monitor
Meet their needs

Manage closely
Show consideration

15. Who has the role of interacting with stakeholders throughout a project?

Product vendor

Project manager
Project sponsor
Product lead

Explanation:
The project manager is responsible for ongoing communication and interaction with stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. This includes understanding their needs, keeping them informed, and ensuring their concerns are addressed to support project success.

16. What is a responsibility of the project sponsor?

To conduct meetings with the team members and assign tasks
To ensure the successful completion of a project

To complete the daily tasks of the project
To create the project charters and RACI charts

17. What is one of the main ways primary and secondary stakeholders can help in the planning stages of a project?

To complete and execute tasks

To define project goals and outcomes
To create charts and visuals for the team
To conduct a stakeholder analysis for the project

18. What group often provides the technical skills required for a project?

Project team members
Project manager.
Primary stakeholders

Secondary stakeholders

19. Fill in the blank: Stakeholder analysis is the process of identifying stakeholders and grouping them by _____.

interest and influence
seniority and experience

availability and participation
talents and skills

20. As a project manager, you complete a stakeholder analysis and make a list of all the stakeholders. What is often the next step?

Determine the level of interest and influence for each stakeholder

Schedule a meeting with all stakeholders
Make a budget to determine how much each stakeholder should invest
Assign tasks to each stakeholder

Explanation:
After identifying stakeholders, the next step is to evaluate their level of interest and influence. This helps project managers prioritize stakeholders and determine appropriate engagement strategies.

21. Which of the following is true of someone who is accountable in a RACI chart?

Ensures the work gets completed
Learns about tasks when they are complete

Carries out the work to complete the tasks
Gives feedback according to their subject matter expertise

22. As a project manager creating a team, what is an important step that enables team members to complete tasks?

Ensure each team member has the necessary skills to complete the tasks

Ensure all team members are able to effectively communicate with stakeholders
Ensure all team members have an interest in the project
Ensure all team members are friendly and nice

23. As a project manager, you’re prioritizing stakeholders with a power grid. One stakeholder has high power and low interest. What level of engagement should the team have with the stakeholder?

Manage closely
Meet their needs
Show consideration

Monitor

Explanation:
Stakeholders with low power and low interest should be monitored to ensure they remain informed at a minimal level. This avoids unnecessary effort while still addressing any concerns if they arise.

24. Which of the following is a title given to the director responsible for the successful outcome of a project?

The project sponsor

The project manager
The team member
The client

Explanation:
The project sponsor is the individual who ensures the project delivers the agreed-upon value. They provide strategic direction, secure resources, and support the project to align with business objectives.

25. Which responsibilities belong to project team members?

Use technical expertise and interpersonal skills to complete day-to-day tasks
Report project findings and progress to the project sponsor

Make sure the project fulfills its objective and supports the overall business strategy
Oversee the scope, schedule, budget, and quality of a project

26. What does the acronym RACI stand for?

Responsible, Appeased, Consulted, Interested

Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed
Responsible, Accountable, Considered, Informed
Responsible, Accountable, Considered, Interested

Explanation:
RACI is a tool that defines roles and responsibilities within a project:

Responsible: Executes the tasks.
Accountable: Oversees and ensures the tasks are completed.

Consulted: Provides input or advice.
Informed: Needs updates on progress.

27. As a project manager, you have a team member who is a subject matter expert and will answer questions as needed during the execution of the project. What role will this person be assigned in a RACI chart?

Consulted

Informed
Responsible
Accountable

28. As a project manager, you make considerations when building a team. You decide how many people should be on the team, if they have the time to work on the project, and if they have a personal incentive to work on the project. What else should you consider when building a team?

Necessary skills for the project
Likelihood of project success
Team member communication preferences

Degree of stakeholder engagement

29. As a project manager, you are prioritizing stakeholders with a power grid. One stakeholder has low power and low interest. What level of engagement should the team have with the stakeholder?

Monitor
Manage closely

Meet their needs
Show consideration

30. Who is responsible for the team's overall success and the project as a whole?

Project manager

Project sponsor
Primary stakeholder
Product lead

31. Which of the following people are likely to be primary stakeholders in a project? Select all that apply.

The project sponsor
The project team
Business competitors

The project client

32. Which of the following activities are steps in a stakeholder analysis? Select all that apply.

Assess each stakeholder’s reputation and level of experience
List the stakeholders impacted by the project

Assess each stakeholder’s level of interest and influence
Determine which stakeholders should be excluded from the project

33. What is the main benefit of making a RACI chart?

Illustrates all of the potential risks and opportunities for success

Assess each stakeholder’s ability to participate and build necessary partnerships
Determines which stakeholders should fill which roles during a project
Helps set SMART goals

34. In what two ways do RACI charts help project managers communicate effectively with stakeholders?

Eliminate confusion and overlapping work at the task level
Reveal which stakeholders have the greatest interest in the project
Reduce the number of people who need to communicate

Map out each person’s roles and responsibilities

35. You are creating a new team to complete a project. In order to choose the right people, what is the first task to complete?

Make a list of the roles required to complete the tasks
Make a list of people who are interested in the project

Make a list of stakeholders and their priorities
Make a list of all team members in the company

36. Who is responsible for overseeing the scope, schedule, budget, and quality of a project?

Primary stakeholders

Project manager
Product lead
Project sponsor

37. As a project manager, you are defining the goals and outcomes for a project. Who should help you with this?

Minor players
Stakeholders
Team members
Project vendors

38. What role does the project manager assign to those executing project tasks?

Project sponsors
Project managers
Secondary stakeholders
Project team members

39. What type of chart is a visual representation of all stakeholders in a project?

Project task chart
Project budget summary
RACI chart
Stakeholder analysis chart

40. What is the first step in a stakeholder analysis?

Determine each stakeholder’s level of interest
List the stakeholders impacted by the project
Assess each stakeholder’s ability to participate and find ways to involve them
Determine each stakeholder’s level of influence

41. In a RACI chart, how many people should be designated as accountable?

Two
Four
Three
One

42. As a project manager, you make considerations when building a team. You decide how many people should be on the team, if they have the time to work on the project, and what expertise each team member needs for their tasks. What else should you consider when building a team?

Degree of project sponsor engagement
Likelihood of project success
Team member motivation
Whether the project has a strong business case

43. A stakeholder needs additional time to make a decision on a project. What communication steps can a project manager make to help the stakeholder make their decision? Select all that apply.

Over-communicate early on
Start the work before the stakeholder makes a decision and confirm the decision later
Hold frequent meetings with the stakeholder
Send daily updates in progress emails

44. Does the project sponsor fund the project?

Yes. The project sponsor plays a vital leadership role, which always includes funding the project.
No. The project sponsor plays a vital leadership role but does not fund the project.
Sometimes. The project sponsor plays a vital leadership role, which sometimes includes funding the project.

45. When conducting a stakeholder analysis, what does interest measure?

How many meetings the stakeholder participates in
How much money the stakeholder has invested in the project
How much the project outcome will affect the stakeholder
How much the stakeholder’s actions affect project outcome

46. As a project manager, you create a chart to assign roles and responsibilities for the team. What type of chart are you creating?

RACI chart
Stakeholder analysis chart
Team analysis chart
SBI chart

47. As a project manager, you make a list of tasks required to complete a project. You decide on the number of team members required to complete the tasks. What is the next step to decide in building the team?

Gauge the interest of each team member
Provide sponsorship for the team members
Assign roles for each team member
Determine the business value of the project

Explanation:
After determining the required number of team members, the next logical step is to assign roles to each member. This clarifies responsibilities and ensures tasks align with the team’s skills and capabilities.

48. As a project manager, you’re prioritizing stakeholders with a power grid. You have a stakeholder you will need to manage closely. Where will you place this person in the power grid?

High interest, low influence
High interest, high influence
Low interest, high influence
Low interest, low influence

49. Who are likely to be secondary stakeholders on a project?

Project contractors
Project managers
Team members
Project sponsors

50. What is the purpose of a stakeholder analysis?

Determine which stakeholders to exclude from a project
Talk to stakeholders and learn about their interests
Meet with stakeholders to make major project decisions
Identify stakeholders and determine their involvement in a project

51. What does a power grid represent when conducting a stakeholder analysis?

A power grid determines the stakeholders’ roles based on their position on the grid
A power grid visualizes how many tasks each stakeholder can complete
A power grid determines out accomplishments of each stakeholder
A power grid visualizes each stakeholder’s interest and influence in the project

52. How often should communication happen with project sponsors?

Throughout the closing phase of the project
Only at the execution of a project
Only at the beginning and end of a project
Throughout all phases of the project

53. As a project manager, you have made a list of stakeholders and determined their interest and influence in a project. What is often the next step in a stakeholder analysis?

Determine each stakeholder’s level of influence
Schedule a meeting with stakeholders to introduce the team
Assess each stakeholder’s ability to participate and find ways to involve them
Complete a budget analysis for the project

54. As a project manager creating a team, what is an important step that enables team members to complete tasks?

Ensure each team member has the necessary skills to complete the tasks
Ensure all team members are able to effectively communicate with stakeholders
Ensure all team members have an interest in the project
Ensure all team members are friendly and nice

55. Which of the following responsibilities typically belong to the project manager? Select all that apply.

Control change and monitor project quality
Sign off on the budget
Develop the project management plan
Direct project work and report on progress to stakeholders

56. As a project manager, you are defining the goals and outcomes for a project. Who should help you with this?

Minor players
Team members
Project vendors
Stakeholders

57. When conducting a stakeholder analysis, what does influence measure?

How many tasks the stakeholder is able to assign
How many meetings the stakeholder participates in
How much interest the stakeholder has in the project
How much the stakeholder’s actions affect the project outcome

Explanation:
Influence measures how much the stakeholder’s actions or decisions can impact the project’s success. This could include their ability to allocate resources, resolve conflicts, or make critical decisions.

58. As a project manager, you assign someone as responsible on a RACI chart. What do you expect them to do on the project?

Ensure the work gets completed
Learn about tasks when they are complete
Give feedback according to their subject matter expertise
Carry out the work to complete the tasks

Explanation:
In a RACI chart, the individual assigned as “responsible” is tasked with carrying out the work and ensuring the completion of assigned tasks. This is their primary role in the project.