Software Project Management MCQs

Q1. What is the primary goal of Software Project Management?

A) Writing code efficiently B) Delivering software on time, within budget, and meeting requirements C) Only managing the development team D) None of the above

Correct Answer: B) Delivering software on time, within budget, and meeting requirements

Explanation:
The primary goal of software project management is the successful completion of the project by delivering quality software that meets requirements, within the allocated budget and timeframe. It involves coordinating all aspects of the project, not just coding or team management.

Q2. Which of the following is NOT a key component of Project Management?

A) Scope Management B) Time Management C) Debugging Code D) Risk Management

Correct Answer: C) Debugging Code

Explanation:
Debugging code is a development activity, not a project management component. The key components of project management include scope, time, cost, quality, risk, and resource management among others.

Q3. The role of a Project Manager includes:

A) Defining project scope B) Allocating resources C) Risk assessment D) All of the above

Correct Answer: D) All of the above

Explanation:
A Project Manager's responsibilities are comprehensive, including defining project scope, allocating and managing resources, assessing and mitigating risks, coordinating teams, and ensuring project objectives are met.

Q4. Which of these is a common project management methodology?

A) Agile B) Waterfall C) Scrum D) All of the above

Correct Answer: D) All of the above

Explanation:
All are established project management methodologies. Waterfall is a traditional linear approach, Agile is an iterative methodology, and Scrum is a specific Agile framework for managing product development.

Q5. What is the purpose of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

A) To divide the project into smaller, manageable tasks B) To estimate the total project cost C) To assign roles to team members D) To write test cases

Correct Answer: A) To divide the project into smaller, manageable tasks

Explanation:
A WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of the project into smaller, more manageable components (tasks, deliverables). It helps in organizing and defining the total scope of the project, though it can also support cost estimation and resource allocation.

Q6. Which technique is used for project scheduling?

A) Gantt Chart B) PERT Chart C) Critical Path Method (CPM) D) All of the above

Correct Answer: D) All of the above

Explanation:
All these techniques are used for project scheduling. Gantt charts provide visual timelines, PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique) analyzes task relationships, and CPM identifies the longest path of tasks that determines project duration.

Q7. The Critical Path in a project schedule is:

A) The shortest path to complete the project B) The longest path that determines the project duration C) The path with the most resources D) None of the above

Correct Answer: B) The longest path that determines the project duration

Explanation:
The Critical Path is the sequence of dependent tasks that has the longest duration in the project. Any delay in these tasks will directly impact the project's completion date, making them "critical" to monitor.

Q8. Which of the following is NOT a project tracking technique?

A) Earned Value Management (EVM) B) Burn-down Charts C) Code Review D) Milestone Tracking

Correct Answer: C) Code Review

Explanation:
Code Review is a quality assurance practice, not a project tracking technique. EVM measures project performance, Burn-down charts track remaining work in Agile projects, and Milestone Tracking monitors key project events.

Q9. Which of the following is a cost estimation technique?

A) Function Point Analysis B) COCOMO Model C) Expert Judgment D) All of the above

Correct Answer: D) All of the above

Explanation:
All are valid cost estimation techniques. Function Point Analysis measures functionality, COCOMO is an algorithmic model based on LOC, and Expert Judgment relies on experience. Good estimation often combines multiple techniques.

Q10. COCOMO stands for:

A) Constructive Cost Model B) Code Complexity Model C) Cost Control Model D) None of the above

Correct Answer: A) Constructive Cost Model

Explanation:
COCOMO (Constructive Cost Model) is a regression model developed by Barry Boehm for estimating software development effort and cost based on project size (in LOC) and other cost drivers.

Q11. Which cost estimation model is based on lines of code (LOC)?

A) COCOMO B) Function Point Analysis C) Delphi Technique D) PERT Estimation

Correct Answer: A) COCOMO

Explanation:
COCOMO uses Lines of Code as its primary input metric, along with cost drivers. Function Point Analysis uses functional requirements, Delphi is expert-based, and PERT is for time estimation.

Q12. Function Point Analysis measures software size based on:

A) Number of functions in the code B) User-visible functionality (inputs, outputs, interfaces) C) Lines of code D) Number of test cases

Correct Answer: B) User-visible functionality

Explanation:
Function Point Analysis counts user-visible functionality including inputs, outputs, inquiries, internal files, and external interfaces. It's language-independent and focuses on what the system does from the user's perspective rather than implementation details.

Q13. Which factor does NOT affect software project cost estimation?

A) Team experience B) Project complexity C) Programming language used D) Office location of the company

Correct Answer: D) Office location of the company

Explanation:
While office location might affect salaries, it's not a direct factor in standard cost estimation models. Estimation models consider factors like team capability (experience), product complexity, required reliability, programming language (affects productivity), but not physical location.

Q14. What does "Earned Value Management (EVM)" measure?

A) Project performance in terms of cost and schedule B) Number of bugs found C) Team productivity in coding D) None of the above

Correct Answer: A) Project performance in terms of cost and schedule

Explanation:
EVM integrates scope, schedule, and cost to provide objective measurements of project performance. Key metrics include Planned Value (PV), Earned Value (EV), and Actual Cost (AC), which help calculate variances and performance indices.

Q15. Which estimation technique involves multiple experts anonymously providing estimates?

A) Delphi Technique B) Analogous Estimation C) Bottom-Up Estimation D) Parametric Estimation

Correct Answer: A) Delphi Technique

Explanation:
The Delphi Technique involves multiple experts providing estimates anonymously, followed by moderated discussion and iterative refinement until consensus is reached. This avoids bias from dominant personalities and combines diverse expertise.

Q16. A project's "Schedule Variance (SV)" is calculated as:

A) EV – PV B) EV – AC C) PV – AC D) None of the above

Correct Answer: A) EV – PV

Explanation:
Schedule Variance (SV) = Earned Value (EV) - Planned Value (PV). Positive SV indicates ahead of schedule, negative means behind. Cost Variance (CV) is EV - AC (Actual Cost). These are key EVM metrics for tracking project health.

Q17. Which of the following is a risk management technique?

A) Risk Identification B) Risk Mitigation Planning C) Risk Monitoring D) All of the above

Correct Answer: D) All of the above

Explanation:
Risk management is a comprehensive process including identification (finding potential risks), mitigation planning (developing response strategies), and monitoring (tracking identified risks and identifying new ones throughout the project).

Q18. The main purpose of a "Milestone" in project planning is:

A) To mark a significant event or phase completion B) To track daily progress C) To estimate costs D) To assign tasks

Correct Answer: A) To mark a significant event or phase completion

Explanation:
Milestones are zero-duration markers that indicate important points in the project timeline, such as completion of major deliverables, phase gates, or key decision points. They help track progress but don't represent work themselves.

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