Foundations of Project Management | Week 2
Course Name: Foundation of Project Management
Course Link: Foundations of Project Management
These are Foundations of Project Management Week 2 Answers Coursera
Week 2 Quiz
Reflection: Relevant project management roles and companies
Q1. In this module, we discussed how project managers can add value to teams and organizations. In this exercise, you will reflect on the responsibilities of a project manager. Are you ready?
Answer: I’m ready!
Q2. Start by creating a list of 5-10 local and remote businesses currently operating that you think would hire project managers.
Answer:
Some local and remote businesses that might hire project managers are:
Coinbase
Amazon
HubSpot
Robert Half International
IQVIA
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Q3. Consider the businesses on your list, and then add types of responsibilities you think project managers would have. Write a total of 2-3 sentences.
Answer:
The responsibilities of project managers can vary across different fields. Some key responsibilities include:
Planning and overseeing the project
Managing resources such as people, time, and budget
Leading and managing the execution
Managing relationships, collaboration, and communication
Monitoring and reporting project performance
Q4. Choose one of the businesses on your list, and provide an example of how you think a project manager can help that business. Write 1-2 sentences.
Answer:
Choose one business from your list and think about how a project manager could help. For example, a project manager at Coinbase could streamline the development process of new products.
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Test your knowledge: Learning more about project manager roles and responsibilities
Q1. Fill in the blank: ________ is how a project manager makes use of productivity tools and creates processes. The project manager may need to use certain tools and processes to do tasks like create a schedule and share information.
- Budgeting and controlling costs
- Removing unforeseen barriers
- Managing tasks
- Planning and organizing
Answer: Planning and organizing
Q2. Fill in the blank: ___________ is how a project manager keeps track of the team’s workload, ensures that things are getting done within a set period of time, and demonstrates progress to people outside the immediate team, like stakeholders.
- Planning and organizing
- Removing unforeseen barriers
- Budgeting and controlling costs
- Managing tasks
Answer: Managing tasks
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Q3. Fill in the blank: ________ is how a project manager oversees the financial components of a project and mitigates project issues and risks as they come up.
- Budgeting and controlling costs
- Removing unforeseen barriers
- Planning and organizing
- Managing tasks
Answer: Budgeting and controlling costs
Q4. Fill in the blank: A cross-functional project team is a team that has ________.
- diverse skill sets and works toward a common goal
- similar skill sets and works toward a common goal
- diverse skill sets and works toward individual goals
- similar skill sets and works toward individual goals
Answer: diverse skill sets and works toward a common goal
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Reflection: Identify the essential skills of a project manager
Q1. In this exercise, you’ll practice identifying core project management skills. Read the scenario below and try to identify the skills the project manager uses. Specifically, you can identify the skills discussed previously, and consider when the project manager:
- Enables decision-making
- Communicates and escalates
- Demonstrates flexibility
- Applies organizational skills
Are you ready?
Answer: I’m ready!
These are Foundations of Project Management Week 2 Answers Coursera
Q2. Scenario: Planning a Corporate Retreat
An event planning team of five is tasked with planning a corporate retreat for a business with 85 employees. This retreat involves hundreds of to-dos, a large budget, client-initiated changes, and important discussions with the client. The project manager knows there is a lot to do, and they are ready to lead the way.
Answer: I’ve read the scenario!
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Q3. How did the project manager enable decision-making in the project? Write 1–3 sentences.
Answer:
The project manager enabled decision-making by creating a spreadsheet to track tasks and team assignments, allowing each teammate a budget for expenses, and working closely with the client to implement changes in theme and dinner arrangements.
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Q4. How did the project manager communicate and escalate in the project? Write 1–3 sentences.
Answer:
The project manager communicated and escalated by sending status update emails twice per week to stakeholders, working closely with team members and the client through various communication channels (phone, email, chat, video), and having a video meeting with the client to finalize dinner arrangements.
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Q5. How did the project manager remain flexible in the project? Write 1–3 sentences.
Answer:
The project manager remained flexible by adapting to the client’s request to change the theme of the retreat, working with team members to implement these changes, and ensuring that all changes met the client’s expectations within the set deadlines.
These are Foundations of Project Management Week 2 Answers Coursera
Q6. How did the project manager use strong organizational skills in the project? Write 1–3 sentences.
Answer:
The project manager used strong organizational skills by creating a spreadsheet to track tasks and team assignments, managing a $100,000 budget for the project, and ensuring that all expenses were approved and within budget limits.
Test your knowledge: Acquiring the core skills of a successful project manager
Q1. Which of the following is true of project managers’ experience? Select all that apply.
- They need to know every single detail about the project at all times
- They need to be an expert in the project’s field
- They need to have a lot of technical knowledge about the project
- They need to have a lot of experience within the organization running the project
- They need to know how to manage a budget
- They need to be familiar with project management tools
Answer: They need to know how to manage a budget, They need to be familiar with project management tools
Q2. Which skill should a project manager use when dealing with change and ambiguity?
- Enabling decision-making
- Flexibility
- Escalating risks
- Effective organizational skills
Answer: Flexibility
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Q3. Using tools such as a digital calendar and a spreadsheet to track team tasks is evidence of what project management skill?
- Enabling decision-making
- Communicating and escalating
- Effective organizational skills
- Flexibility
Answer: Effective organizational skills
Q4. Which of the following flexible planning strategies can help a project manager during times of unpredictability? Select all that apply.
- Plan for risks and challenges.
- Rely on the knowledge of key stakeholders rather than trusting the expertise of team members.
- Calculate float in the schedule.
- Assess external constraints.
Answer: Plan for risks and challenges, Calculate float in the schedule, Assess external constraints.
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Reflection: Influence without authority
Q1. In this exercise, you will read a scenario and comment about how you would react to the situation. Then, you will list and describe skills that make a project manager successful. Start by considering the following scenario:
A co-worker is responsible for researching and providing you with a list of potential venues for a retirement party. For the last three weeks, they have been telling you they will complete the list by “the end of the week (EOW).” When you check in with them at the beginning of each of the weeks, they tell you they didn’t get around to completing it but that it will be done by the current week.
How might you influence this situation without authority? Write 2-3 sentences.
Answer:
To influence the situation without authority, I would first try to understand the reasons for the delays and offer help or resources if needed. I would also emphasize the importance of the task and the impact of delays on the project timeline. Lastly, I would suggest setting clear, achievable deadlines and following up regularly to ensure progress is made.
These are Foundations of Project Management Week 2 Answers Coursera
Q2. Write a list of the most valuable interpersonal skills required to be a successful project manager and describe how each skill contributes to a project manager’s success. Write and describe at least four skills.
Answer:
Some valuable interpersonal skills for a successful project manager include:
Communication: Effective communication ensures that team members understand their roles and responsibilities, project goals, and deadlines. It also helps in resolving conflicts and keeping stakeholders informed.
Leadership: Strong leadership skills help in motivating and guiding team members, making decisions, and ensuring the project stays on track. A project manager should inspire trust and confidence in the team.
Negotiation: Negotiation skills are essential for managing conflicts, resolving issues, and achieving win-win solutions. A project manager needs to negotiate with team members, stakeholders, and vendors to ensure project success.
Relationship building: Building strong relationships with team members, stakeholders, and other project stakeholders is crucial for project success. It helps in fostering collaboration, gaining support, and managing expectations.
Module 2 Challenge
Q1. 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?
- Optimism
- Delegation
- Effective communication
- Prioritization
Answer: Effective communication
Q2. As a project manager, you direct the activities your team needs to accomplish within a set period of time. You also control the team’s workload to ensure the activities are getting done on time. Which project management responsibility does this represent?
- Utilizing productivity tools
- Managing tasks
- Removing unforeseen barriers
- Managing the budget
Answer: Managing tasks
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Q3. 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.
- 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.
- Collaborate with other teams at the organization.
- Establish “escalation paths.”
Answer: Give teammates ownership over specific pieces of the project and manage the tasks, not the person, Establish “escalation paths.”
These are Foundations of Project Management Week 2 Answers Coursera
Q4. What is an example of measuring progress for a cross-functional team?
- Learning what makes team members feel supported and giving positive feedback
- Recording milestones and documenting when tasks are completed
- Setting up effective tools so the team can easily work together
- Defining key items and encouraging team members to ask questions
Answer: Recording milestones and documenting when tasks are completed
These are Foundations of Project Management Week 2 Answers Coursera
Q5. You’re a project manager on a team that is improving a product. How can you enable your teammates to make decisions?
- 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.
- Keep the task schedule vague and allow flexibility on deadlines.
Answer: Provide data and feedback about how customers interact with the product.
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Q6. 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
Answer: Tell them you care about the challenges they are facing and are there to support them
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Q7. 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.
- customer
- competitor
- vendor
- teammate
Answer: customer
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Q8. As a project manager, how can you protect the team from changes to the project? Select all that apply.
- Document initial expectations of the project.
- Limit communication outside the team once the project begins.
- Let the stakeholders know how changes impact the budget and schedule.
- Clearly identify any project changes.
Answer: Document initial expectations of the project, Let the stakeholders know how changes impact the budget and schedule, Clearly identify any project changes.
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Q9. 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 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.
- Jamar must have a college degree in management.
- Jamar must have a lot of experience in construction.
Answer: Jamar must help the engineers and construction workers communicate with one another to ensure that they are all on the same page.
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Q10. 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?
- Effective communication
- Delegation
- Optimism
- Prioritization
Answer: Delegation
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Q11. 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?
- Managing the budget
- Removing unforeseen barriers
- Utilizing productivity tools
- Managing tasks
Answer: Managing tasks
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Q12. As a project manager, you learn that a teammate will be out sick for at least a week. They will be unable to complete their tasks, potentially causing the project to go past its deadline. Which work reallocation strategy can keep the project on schedule?
- Review the out-sick teammate’s tasks to determine which tasks have “float” and figure out where the order of tasks can be changed or resources can be juggled.
- Have teammates work longer hours to get their tasks done and then do the out-sick teammate’s tasks
- Get leadership to approve overtime so the teammate can catch up on work when they return.
- Distribute all of the out-sick teammate’s tasks evenly among team members
Answer: Review the out-sick teammate’s tasks to determine which tasks have “float” and figure out where the order of tasks can be changed or resources can be juggled.
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Q13. 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.
- Bring on people with the right skills.
- Ensure the team knows that each individual is valued, trusted, and appreciated.
- Communicate the biggest obstacles the project team will face and the plan for how to solve each one.
- Address the team’s needs whenever it’s most convenient for the project manager’s schedule.
Answer: Bring on people with the right skills, Ensure the team knows that each individual is valued, trusted, and appreciated.
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Q14. 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.
- Have you participated in any other projects with our organization?
- How did you hear of our organization?
- What is your hope for the outcome of this project?
- What prompted you to ask for help at this time?
Answer: What is your hope for the outcome of this project?, What prompted you to ask for help at this time?
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Q15. Which of the following are examples of how a project manager empowers their team? Select all that apply.
- Delegates project responsibilities
- Asks team members to get approval before communicating directly with stakeholders
- Uses team members’ input in project planning and execution
- Allows team members to make some decisions for the project
Answer: Delegates project responsibilities, Uses team members’ input in project planning and execution, Allows team members to make some decisions for the project
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Q16. Which of the following is true of an effective project manager in an organization?
- Must know all of the specific details of the project
- Have the necessary skills, knowledge, tools, and techniques for the project
- Have had a previous role in the organization sponsoring the project
- Have personally met the project’s stakeholders
Answer: Have the necessary skills, knowledge, tools, and techniques for the project
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Q17. 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?
- Prioritization
- Delegation
- Effective communication
- Optimism
Answer: Effective communication
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Q18. 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
- Using a productivity tool to share information across the team
- Setting a period of time for a team member to complete an activity
- Controlling costs to ensure more money isn’t spent than what key stakeholders approved
Answer: Controlling costs to ensure more money isn’t spent than what key stakeholders approved
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Q19. 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.
- Help teammates adopt the right workflows and project management styles.
- Ensure that issues and risks are tracked and visible.
- Collaborate with other teams at the organization.
Answer: Ensure that issues and risks are tracked and visible.
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Q20. What is an example of measuring progress for a cross-functional team?
- Defining key items and encouraging team members to ask questions.
- Setting up effective tools so the team can easily work together.
- Asking team members if they anticipate being finished on time and, if not, how you can help them succeed.
- Learning what makes team members feel supported and giving positive feedback.
Answer: Asking team members if they anticipate being finished on time and, if not, how you can help them succeed.
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Q21. 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
Answer: Strong organizational skills
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Q22. 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.
- 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.
- Take the time to understand each team member’s motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.
Answer: Understand the customer’s requirements to better shape the skills needed for the team., Allow the team members to have input and ask questions., Take the time to understand each team member’s motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.
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Q23. 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?
- Budgeting and controlling costs
- Communicating status and concerns
- Controlling change
- Teaching and mentoring
Answer: Communicating status and concerns
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Q24. To be an effective project manager, what important actions/steps should you take?
- Ensure team members understand the team’s objectives and their individual tasks
- Limit communication between team members so they can complete their work
- Confirm team members handle the documentation and organization necessary to finish the project
- Gain mastery over every detail of a project at all times
Answer: Ensure team members understand the team’s objectives and their individual tasks
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