PMP Question Series: Human Resource Management

(1) What does resource histogram show that a responsibility assignment matrix does not show?
-> Time

(2) A project manager must publish a project schedule. Activities, start/end times, and resources are identified. What should the project manager do NEXT?
-> confirm the availability of the resources

(3) A PM is trying to settle a dispute between two team members. One says the systems should be integrated before testing, and the other maintains that each system should be tested before integration. The sponsor is demanding that the integration happens on time. What is the best statement the PM can make to resolve the issue?
-> Let's do limited testing before integration, and finish testing after integration

(4) The project is a mess. Everyone has been on edge due to pressure to complete on time. However, the tension has grown to the point where team meetings have become shouting matches. The sponsor has asked to attend the meeting. What is the best thing to do?
-> create new ground rules for the meetings and introduce them to the team

(5) During the first half of the project, five team members left for other projects without replacement. other team members expressed uncertainty about the work. In this scenario, it is best if you create a ?? for the second half of the project?
-> staff management plan


What is in human resource plan?
(1) resource histogram
(2) project organization chart (OBS, RBS)
(3) role and responsibility
(4) staff management plan (staff acquisition, staff training, staff release, resource calendar, recognition and rewards, compliance and safety)

What is team-building activity:
party, create WBS, celebration, training, trips

Problem solving method:
(1) define the root problem
(2) analyze the problem
(3) identify the solution
(4) pick a solution & implement the solution
(5) confirm the solution solved the problem

6 theories on human resouce management:
(1) expectancy theory
(2) motivation theory
(3) Maslow's hierarchy of needs (5)
(4) McGregor's (theory X and theory Y)
(5) McClelland theory of needs (achievement, affiliation , power)
(6) Herzberg (hiegiene factor and motivation factor)

Difference between team performance assessment (develop project team process) and project performance appraisal (individual assessment in manage project team process)

source of conflict
(1) schedule
(2) project priorities
(3) resource
(4) technical opinions
(5) administrative procedures
(6) cost
(7) personality

Question:
An email is forwarded to you that involves conflict between two team members. which conflict resolution techniques would you use?
(a) compromise (b) confronting (x)
NOTE: confronting means problem solving, the best way to resolve a conflict

(11) You just found out that a major subcontractor for your project consistently delivers item late. You decide to postpone dealing with the issue until you have more time. What conflict resolution method are you using?

(a) ignore (2) smoothing (3) withdrawal (x)
NOTE: ignore is not a conflict resolution method

The following are some conflict resolution methods:
confronting, compromising, collaborating, forcing, smoothing, withdrawal

(12) During the course of your project, you notice that most of the changes occurring on the project come from the research department. What should you do?

(a) ask the research department to assign one person to be your liaison
(b) talk to the research department to understand the reasons for the changes(x)
--> the best solution is to confronting

(13) For the last three month, a customer has been from two to four days late with her approvals on deliverables. After analyzing the situation, the PM decides withdrawal is the best conflict resolution technique to use, which of the following reflects withdrawal?

(a) Inform the customer that late approvals are not a problem, but ask her to get them in on time in the future (smoothing)
(b) meet with the customer to determine a new date for approvals (problem solving)
(c) postpone a decision (x)
(d) call the customer and demand that you receive the approvals today (forcing)

(14) which motivationl theory espouses the idea that all workers fit into one of two groups?
Herzberg
McGregor (x) theory x and y

(15) Team members are arguing about the location of specification limits on a control chart. The discussion is becoming heated when the PM walks in and says, "it seems that the real problem here is that we do not have enough information about the customer's specification. let's ..." this is an example of
(a) asserting the PM's authority
(b) problem solving (x)
(c) compromising
(d) withdrawal

--> this is about conflict resolution techniques. Problem solving and compromising are considered to be the two best techniques, in that order

(16) the sponsor has asked you to require that each piece of the project scope be planned, estimated, and scheduled. The sponsor also wants to authorize each piece of the PM plan after the documentation is assembled. what is the most approriate response to these requests?

--> tell the sponsor that the chance for authorization will come after the piece of the project management plan are compiled

(17) what should a new PM look to determine the resource requirements?

a) project schedule
b) resource bar chart
c) resource leveling chart
d) activity list (x)
NOTE: a0 is apparently wrong, b) and c) make use of already determined resource requirements. the resource requirement is based on the needs of the project and those needs are in the activity list

(18) A project team member has completed his work on the project. which of the following must the project manager do?
a) check to make sure he is happy with his performance
b) invite him to the project closure party
c) update the employee's records with the new skills acquired

(19) A resource assigned to the project contacts you, trying to get off the team to work on other important project. what is the best thing to do?
a) keep him if he is a valuable resource
b) talk to the functional manager about releasing him from the team(x)

(20) What is not an input of develop human resource plan?
a) historical information
b) activity resource requirements
c) project organizational charts (x)

(21) One of your key resource started to miss deadlines and work quality is beginning to suffer as well. This person participated in project planning, in fine-tuning the earned value estimating, developing the reward systems for the project. you are confident that this person is well aware of the work deadlines and required quality specification. what action should you take?

a) discuss the issue with the employee at the next team meeting and try to determine the factors impacting performance
b) escalate the situation to the employee's functional manager and ask for assistance (x)

(22) The PM is in the process of staffing the project. Mary always works overtime. Whitney works very hard. Laurie meets the project requirements. Jess is very enthusiastic about the project and will work overtime if necessary. Who is the most appropriate resource?

-> laurie

(6) You are planning a project. The functional managers will not commit any particular people to your project, because it will not begin for a few months. All the following methods could be used to handle this situation except:

a) use the results of the delphi technique for the number of hours
b) use the average probability of successful completion multiplied by the number of resources needed each day.
NOTE: you can not determine the average probability

(7) A project manager is performing an audit on a deliverable when she hears that the team member who did the work is complaining to everyone that he is being picked on by having his activity audited. You know this is not true. What lesson learned could you take to future projects?

a) Tell all the team members at the beginning of the project that their deliverables will be audited
b) Set an audit policy in the scope management plan (x)
NOTE: not all deliverable will be audited

(8) A reward system needs to be set up for the project. You can not simply talk with the team about the importance of getting things done

(9) The project manager has performed schedule network analysis, compressed the schedule, and completed a Monte Carlo analysis. What time managment activity should be done next?
a) create milestone list
b) update resource requirements
NOTE: a) is done in define activities

(10) The PM is looking at the project's resource needs and lessons learned from past project. This information causes the project manager to be concerned about the ability to acquiring enough resources for the project in six months. which of the following would be the least effective preventive action?

a) make sure functional manager have a copy of the resource histogram
b) determine metrics to use as an early warning sign that resources will not be available

(11) The functional manager refused to supply resources for the project. Which of the following is the most probable reason for the lack of support from the functional manager?

a) wbs did not include all resources needed on the project
b) the project does not have project charter and the functional manager was not involved in approving the project management plan"