E2 Project and Relationship Management Questions and Answers

Identify THREE advantages of a matrix organisation structure for the execution of significant business projects:

F Company is an international fast food company and is committed to the rational model for strategy.

A senior team has carried out a comprehensive study of the environment in which it currently operates, its resources, distinctive competences and a corporate appraisal. The mission and objectives have been set in accord with stakeholder directives, which are based on twin objectives to grow profits by 5% year on year and become one of the top 100 global brands.

The team has generated a short-list of different strategic initiatives which it believes may deliver the primary objectives required by the stakeholders. Each initiative has been examined separately on its merits in terms of feasibility, suitablity and acceptablity. As many factors as possible have been taken into account such as market analysis, economic growth and competitors.

In terms of the rational model, select the actions that the company has now carried out:

The Board of organisation Y has authorised an upgrade to its computerised finance system.

The Finance Director, X, has been tasked with managing this project.  X has been requested to consult with stakeholders, in order that a Project Initiation Document (PID) may be produced.

What are the TWO main uses of a PID?

Because of the severity of actions of the employer an employee takes the decision to resign. This could be classed as which of the following?

Barney (1991) identified four criteria necessary for a resource to be classed as unique and thus give competitive advantage. One of these is that it shouldn't be substitutable and another is that it should be rare.

Which TWO of the options below make up the list of four?

Objectives generally possess characteristics which set them apart from mission statements. Which THREE of the following apply?

A company is currently at the stage of organising the data which is captured within the big data process. What will they need to do next in order to complete all stages?

Select ALL that apply.

During the early part of the twenty first century, B enjoyed considerable success by providing a large selection of popular movies to rent on DVD, from convenient high street retail stores. Unfortunately, B was slow to adapt to the switch from "bricks" (i.e. stores) to "clicks" (i.e. internet-based services) and  was rapidly overtaken by D and other internet-based movie services.

This is an example of a firm that enjoyed considerable success in the past, responds too slowly to changes in the external environment and perseveres for too long with the strategy that once served it very well.

Which of the following best defines this practice?

Conflict has heightened between the departments of a textile manufacturer, following a recent decision by the manager of the cloth inspection department to a tightening up of the inspection standards. She insists that the quality of output has to improve if the organisation is to remain competitive.

This has resulted in some staff being idle more frequently and the sight of this idle time has frustrated the management and other employees in the weaving department, due to the direct link between time and bonus payments.

Using the Thomas-Kilman Conflict Mode Instrument, which of the following would be the most appropriate method of resolving the conflict in this situation?

Harvey Maylor defined four stages in the life cycle of a project. This became known as the 4D model.

Match the correct stage to each activity.

In the UK there is a principles based approach to corporate governance. Which THREE of the following statements are part of this approach?

Leading and developing a high performing team that has only recently come together is a challenge requiring leaders to prioritise different issues and adopt different styles and tactics at different stages of team development.

At one point the leader will need to:-

   • confirm personal roles and responsibilities,

   • plan the workload and agree working practices,

   • ensure all sources of conflict have been resolved, and

   • motivate team members to deliver their full potential.

With respect to the Tuckman model of team development, which is the stage where these leadership actions are most appropriate?

Which of the following statements does NOT help characterise Quinn's notion of logical incrementalism?

"The ability to exert influence and make someone act according to your own preferences" is the definition of which of the following?

Which TWO of the following is the Business Strategy of an organisation mainly concerned with?

The PRINCE2 project management methodology has consistent principles governing roles, plans, processes and risks. Which TWO of the following statements are correct?

A mission statement describes the organisation's basic function in society. Which of the following is NOT an element of a mission statement?

After undertaking competitive analysis, a company has assembled the information and is now in a position to benchmark its performance against that of its competitor. A manager has been asked to carry out strategic benchmarking, but he is unsure of what information he should use.

Which TWO of the options below could be used to undertake Strategic Benchmarking?

Bob is the Finance Director of a manufacturing business selling luggage sucn as suitcases. He decides to undertake a business process re-engineering of the credit control function in order to achieve dramatic

improvements.

What wouldn't be classed as the main improvements bob expects to deliver?

Select ALL that apply.

 Which of the following does NOT describe the theory of the transformational super-leader?

DD is in charge of a group of twelve people involved in complex work. The group work together amicably and DD's leadership is valued. DD is supported by KK, who often deals with the group on behalf of DD.

Recently KK resigned for family reasons, along with another member of the group who became despondent with change and DD has now recruited new members to the group.

DD has found the group dynamics have changed and various members complain about what they are expected to do.

Which of the following is the least appropriate approach that DD should adopt to ensure the group reverts back to its former cohesiveness?

China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam are high context cultures. 

In business relationships in high context cultures, which THREE of the following are typical?

An organisation facing difficult business conditions as a result of strong competition is aware of the need to improve its performance in bringing new products to market.

The director is aware of conflicting problems the organisation faces in its approach to new product development between the marketing department and the research and development department.

Which term best describes this type of conflict?

Third party consultants, Member rotation, Confrontation, and Super-ordinate goals are examples of which of the following?

Identify the benefit of using PRINCE2:

J has been appointed project manager for a multimillion dollar upgrade to factory computer systems for his international organisation.

The organisation has decided to adopt the PRINCE2 project management methodology, of which J has knowledge from a previous post, but this was some time ago and his knowledge may need updating.

In order to achieve maximum success, J realises he will need to ensure that problems encountered at each phase of the project are used to inform later stages of the project.

Advise J at which stage of the project lessons learned should be recognised and applied to later stages, in order to prevent recurrence during the project:

A low cost airline is operating three flights a day between two industrial cities in neighbouring countries. The cities are 300 km apart and the terrain between the two countries is mostly flat grasslands. The two cities are also linked by motorways and a railway line.

At first the airline enjoyed first mover advantage and generated healthy profits for three years. But more recently, the airline is experiencing intense competitive pressures, reduced passenger numbers and lower returns. The airline directors are using Porter's Five Forces framework to analyse the nature and severity of the various competitive forces being experienced.

In the context of this model which of the following forces would be considered as a threat of a substitute product or service?

Max is a quiet member of staff who likes to receive all the details before making decisions in the workplace.

He is very satisfied with the way he works currently and is reluctant to change the way he works when you suggest implementing a new system to deal with enquiries. These changes form a major part of his work allocation.

Which would be the most appropriate methods to deal with any resistance to change you may experience from Max?

Select ALL that apply.