Flash cards- 9. Human resources management

Below are flash card simulation questions on the chapter Human resources management.
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1. What are constraints while planning human resources?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)
Answer:

Constraints while planning human resources: 
 Organization structure
 Collective bargaining agreements

 Economic conditions

2. What is Resource breakdown structure – RBS. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

It shows responsibilities by resources. For e.g. work package 1.1 is responsibility of R&D team etc, and within that activity 1.1.1 is responsibility of Architects, 1.1.2 is responsibility of developers and 1.1.3 activity is responsibility of testers etc

3. What is Responsibility Assignment Matrix?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Illustrates connections between – work packages/ activities/ team members. Looks like below:

RAM	Teammate1	Teammate2	Teammate3
Activity 1.1 (for work package 2.3)	P		S
Activity 1.1 (for work package 2.3)	S	P

P=primary, S=Secondary

4.What is RACI chart?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

RACI – Responsible, Accountable, Consult and Inform matrix

Unlike RAM which simply shows primary/secondary responsible person, RACI chart ensures clear division of roles rather than primary/secondary etc. It looks like below:

RACI	Teammate1	Teammate2	Teammate3	Teammate4
Activity 1.1 (for work package 2.3)	R	I	A	C
Activity 1.1 (for work package 2.3)	RA	C		I

R=Responsible, A=Accountable, C= Consult I= Inform

5. What is Text oriented chart. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Information such as responsibilities, authority, competencies, and qualifications. Also called position descriptions and role-responsibility-authority forms. For example is Job description is written as text rather than as chart

6. What is Resource histogram? . (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

It's the chart can include a horizontal line that represents the maximum number of hours available from a particular resource. Bars that extend beyond the maximum available hours identify the need for a resource optimization strategy such as adding more resources or modifying the schedule.

7. What is Pre-assignment, with respect to acquiring team. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Names already known (e.g. PM) i.e. some team members selected in advance.

8. What are virtual teams? (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Virtual team = team members working in different geographic locations.

Disadvantages related to virtual teams: misunderstandings, isolation, difficulties in sharing knowledge, cost of appropriate technology.

Communication planning becomes increasingly important in a virtual team environment.

9. What is Co-location  with respect to acquiring team. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Same physical location for team members– for peak team performance – may be temporary – may be at ‘War room’

Also called tight matrix (tight matrix has nothing to do with matrix organizations)

10. What is Multi criteria decision analysis with respect to acquiring team. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Criteria developed, weighted and used to rate or score potential team members. Examples of criteria: availability of team member, cost, experience level, ability, knowledge, skills, attitude, international factors like location

11. What is meaning of 'ground rule'. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Ground rules = Rules for acceptable behavior by team members

12. What are 5 steps in Tuckman ladder model of team performance?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Forming

Storming

Norming

Performing

Adjourning

13. What are different Types of power PM can have?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Legitimate power (formal), Referent (association), Reward power(award, bonus), punishment (withold bonus, award), Expert

14. What are 3 reasons for conflict as per PMBOK?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

scarce resources

Scheduling prioritization

Personal work style

15. What are main Sources of conflict (priority wise). (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

scarce resources, 

scheduling prioritization, 

personal work style,

cost disagreements,

Technical opinions

16. What is the difference between team performance assessment vs project performance appraisal. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

team performance assessment	project performance appraisal
team performance assessment evaluates team’s effectiveness as whole	project performance appraisal deals with how each member is performing on the project
Output of a process	Tool and technique of another process

17.What are different Conflict Resolution Techniques?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Withdraw, smoothen, compromise, Force, collaborative.

Best method among these is collaborative method.

Withdrawal/Avoid = postponing issue- to solve later or by other

Smooth/Accommodate = conceding the position for harmony

Compromise/Reconcile = some degree of satisfaction to all

Force/Direct = Win-lose approach

Collaborate/Problem Solve= examine alternatives, give and take, open dialogue. Win-win approach (called confrontation with problem as per old pmbok).

18. What are 5 needs as per Maslow's theory of needs?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Basic needs , 

safety/ security, 

social needs, 

self-esteem, 

self actualization

19. What is McGregors theory X and Y?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Theory X manager = micromanages team (always bad manager)      Theory Y manager = fully trusts team (always good manager)

20. What is Ouchi's theory Z?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Better than McGregors theory X and Y managements. Ensures workers participation in management.

Lifetime employment.

Based on book: How american business can meet japanese challenge

21. What McCllends achievement theory says?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Achievement, 

power, 

affiliation.

These 3 are needed to keep employee motivated

22. What is Herzberg's hygiene and motivation theory. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Hygene factor doesn’t motivate but absence of it demotivates. What motivates is work itself.

23. What are List of hygiene factors and motivation factors as per Herzberg's hygiene and motivation theory.. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Hygene factors: Working conditions, salary, security, personal life.

List of motivators: work, challenge, recognition

24. What does Vroom's expectancy theory says?. (To see the answer, pls highlight text by selecting it with mouse cursor)

Answer:

Give people expectation of reward.Reward should be achievable.