MS Examination
CS 591 area - “Software Project Management”
A list of possible questions/problems
Chapter 1 “Introduction to Project Management”
1.1. Essay type questions:
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Essay type question
Briefly describe at least three of the key differences found in
project management for IT versus other industries.
Name seven top competencies of a project manager.
What is the triple constraint of project management and how
is it used to evaluate the success of a project?
Name and describe the six basic functions that project
managers must perform well to run successful projects.
Draw a chart and describe functional organizational structure
Draw a chart and describe project-based organizational
structure
Draw a chart and describe matrix organizational structure
Reference
Page 9 + a slide in PPT
presentation
PPT slide
Pages 14-15 (figure 1-4)
Page 18
Pages 20-21 (figure 1-6)
Pages 21-22 (figure 1-7)
Pages 23-24 (figure 1-8)
Chapter 2 “A Systems View and Systems Methodology”
2.1 Essay Questions:
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1
2
Essay type question
Briefly describe nine (9) characteristics of any system.
Draw a chart and describe Generic Iterative Life Cycle with
Six Phases
Page reference
A slide in PPT presentation
Page 37
(figure 2-2)
Chapter 3 “The Project Management Framework”
3.1 Essay Questions:
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1
2
Essay type question
What is PMBOK?
Name and briefly describe the five project management
process groups of PMI's PMBOK.
What is PMBOK?
Name and briefly describe the nine knowledge areas of PMI's
PMBOK.
Page reference
Pages 58-59
(figure 3-1)
Page 61-63
(figure 3-1 and table 3-1)
Chapter 4 “Project Initiation”
4.1 Essay Questions:
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1
2
3
4
Essay type question
What is SWOT?
Describe each category of SWOT.
What is NPV?
Use a simple (2 projects, 3 years long each) example and
describe step-by-step (mechanics of) calculations of NPV.
What is ROI?
Use a simple (2 projects, 3 years long each) example and
describe step-by-step (mechanics of) calculations of ROI.
What is WSM?
Use a simple (3-4 financial indicators for 2-3 projects)
example and describe step-by-step (mechanics of)
calculations in WSM.
Page reference
Page 92 + PPT slides
Pages 96-97 + PPT slides
Pages 98-99 + PPT slides
Pages 100-101 and page 116
(figure 4-1 and figure 4-7);
PPT slides;
in-classroom example
4.2 “Hands-on Exercise” Questions (NO computer or MS Excel application allowed)
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1
2
3
Essay type question
Manually (without a computer and Excel application)
calculate NPV for given input data for a simple example.
Manually (without a computer and Excel application)
calculate ROI for given input data for a simple example.
Manually (without a computer and Excel application)
calculate the outcomes of WSM method for given input data
for a simple example (3-4 financial indicators for 2-3
projects).
Which project do you recommend for a completion first based
on highest total score?
Page reference
Homework 4, assignment 2A.
Tables on pages 96-97.
Homework 4, assignment 2A.
Tables on pages 98-99.
Homework 4, assignment 3E.
Tables on pages 100, 101, 116.
In-classroom example.
Chapter 5 “Project Scope and Human Resource Planning”
5.1 Essay Questions:
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1
2
3
Essay type question
What is Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)? Describe four
different approaches to build WBS and 3-4 possible forms to
represent WBS
Draw a chart and explain Role and Responsibilities Matrix
(RRM).
Draw a chart and explain Project Organizational Chart (POC).
Page reference
Pages 135-137 + PPT slides
Pages 147-148.
(figure 5-4 + PPT slides)
Page 148 (figure 5-5 + PPT
slides)
Chapter 6 “Project Time and Cost Planning”
6.1 Essay Questions:
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1
2
3
Essay type question
Briefly explain Precedence Diagramming Method (PDM).
Provide a simple example.
Briefly explain Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM) or
Activity-on-Arrow Network Diagram. Provide a simple
example.
Briefly explain Critical Path Method (CPM) and how is it
used?
Page reference
Pages 166-167 (figure 6-1 and 62) + PPT slides
Pages 167-169 (figure 6-3 and 68) + PPT slides
Page 186-187 (figure 6-10) +
PPT slides
6.2 “Hands-on Exercise” Questions (NO computer or MS Excel application
allowed)
#
1
Essay type question
Manually (without a computer and Excel application)
calculate values of
- early-start (ES),
- early-finished (EF),
- late-start (LS),
- late-finish (LF),
- slack time (ST)
for given input data for an example with about 10-12 tasks.
Page reference
PPT slides.
Homework 6 – Part 1.
Exercise on page 204.
Identify CP (critical path) using CPM.
Chapter 7 “Project Quality and Communication Planning”
7.1. Essay Questions:
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1
Essay type question
Briefly explain Balanced Score Card (BSC) method.
2
3
Name ISO 9126 six key groups of Software Quality Factors.
Draw a chart to describe the McCall’s Triangle of Quality and
name its eleven Software Quality Factors.
Briefly explain Six Sigma for Total Software Quality
Management.
What is DMAIC in Six Sigma?
4
Page reference
Pages 102-103 (figure 4-2).
Pages 220-221+ PPT slides
PPT slides
PPT slides
Pages 221-222.
PPT slides