Chapter 2 - Program Management

Question 1

SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool and acronym. It stands for ______ _______ _______ _____

Answer 1

Strengths, Weaknesses, Objectives, Threats

Question 2

Documents that describe, instruct, and direct work results are called ________

Answer 2

Specifications

Question 3

Long Term planning is ______, Short Term Planning is _____

Answer 3

Strategic, Tactical

Question 4

Maintenance operations schedule to take place in advance of failure of other problems is called_____

Answer 4

Preventative Maintenance

Question 5

Maintenance operations that take place after a problem has occured is called ________

Answer 5

Reactive Maintenance

Question 6

The planned period between line clearance operations is _______

Answer 6

Maintenance intervals (cycles)

Question 7

Type of preventative maintenance performed continuously or at intervals, using field data to diagnose and monitor a condition or system. This has gained favor among utilities

Answer 7

Predictive Maintenance

Question 8

Programs that target trees that are growing significantly faster than most of the other trees on a scheduled pruning cycle, enabling a longer interval for slower growing trees

Answer 8

Mid-Cycle Pruning

Question 9

Utility pruning should be performed at intervals that _______ the need for reactive responses, but not so frequently, that the _______ exceeds the ______

Answer 9

minimize, cost, benefits

Question 10

Predictive strategy designed to target trees as close as possible before they interfere with facilities is called ______-___-_____, and is a modification of hotspotting.

Answer 10

Just-in-time Management

Question 11

Describe hotspotting

Answer 11

Process by which limited tree work is scheduled on a specific area of the network where shorts or outages are occurring

Question 12

Circuit work vs Grid Work

Answer 12

Circuit work: completing all necessary line clearance on a feeder or circuit basis
Grid work: Distribution cycle work performed within a specific geographic boundary

Question 13

A Project Management triple constraint triangle consists of _______, _______, and _______

Answer 13

time, cost, and scope

Question 14

A prioritized outline of job components that must be completed for a successful project outcome is called ________ _____ _______

Answer 14

work breakdown structure

Question 15

Define Critical Path

Answer 15

The longest period of time a series of tasks requires from project beginning to end

Question 16

Relationships that dictate when tasks in the work breakdown structure begin and end are called ________

Answer 16

Dependencies

Question 17

Mandatory Dependency

Answer 17

a dependency in the work breakdown structure in which one task cannot begin until another activity has ended

Question 18

_______ ________ are developed by managers to meet specific objectives

Answer 18

Discretionary dependencies

Question 19

______ _______ is a relationship between a task under the direction of the Project Management team and an action outside their control

Answer 19

External Dependency.

Question 20

_______ _________ are scheduling tools that provide a visual means of tracking a project, representing the desired starting date for every task involved in a project and the estimated length of time each will take

Answer 20

Gantt Charts

Question 21

______ ___________ are horizontal bar charts plotted along a timeline. They typically list activities or tasks associated with a project along the Y-axis and time along the X-axis

Answer 21

Gantt Charts

Question 22

Computerized work management systems integrate multiple layers of data into a _____ _____ _____ (___) platform and are databases embedded with maps

Answer 22

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Question 23

_____ is a management plan for meeting an organization’s goals and objectives

Answer 23

Budget

Question 24

Define Cost Centers

Answer 24

limited expenditures and do not generate income

Question 25

Define Profit Centers

Answer 25

sources of revenue, such as products, services, region, etc

Question 26

True or False: Vegetation Management departments are Cost Centers

Answer 26

True

Question 27

_____ _____ change according to the level of activity during a set period of time, while _____ _____ do not.

Answer 27

Variable costs, Fixed costs

Question 28

____ _____ are "stuck" in the short term and do not decline when sales fall

Answer 28

Fixed costs

Question 29

____ ____ can be clearly attributed to a single organizational unit, service, or product, while ____ ____ cannot be readily associated with a specific project demand

Answer 29

``` Direct Costs (example: labor) Indirect Costs (example: travel) ```

Question 30

____ ____ are monetary outlays for relatively large sums of money invested over multiple years. They are usually established separate from operating budgets

Answer 30

Capital Budgets

Question 31

Capital Expenditures

Answer 31

used to purchase fixed assets, which are durable items, such as Line Construction.

Question 32

____ _____ _____ _____ finance day to day activities including salaries, rent, etc.

Answer 32

Operating and Maintenance budgets

Question 33

Three Requirements of Operating Budgets

Answer 33

1. ) Addresssing financial needs, resources, and plans 2. ) Describing components of program costs, equipment, facilities, and personnel requirements 3. ) Identifying the costs of achieving program goals and sources of revenut

Question 34

____ ____ _____ allocates funds by itemizing categories and accounts. Adjustments can be made readily, but creates difficulty to evaluate spend on different programs

Answer 34

Line Item Budgeting

Question 35

_____ ______ stresses the goals and objectives of the budgeted program, and often involves mission statemetns and performance measures

Answer 35

Performance Budgeting

Question 36

In _____ ______, line items are organized into programs rather than accounts. This focuses on outcomes, rather than inputs and it does not concentrate on the purpose and benefits of each program

Answer 36

Program Budgeting

Question 37

_____-____ _____ is a variation of program budgeting that is more results than financially driven.

Answer 37

Zero-based budgeting

Question 38

In _____ _______, executives set a budget that allows managers to plan the work in the context of company goals and policies. It is the most common budgeting type among Vegetation Management programs. Allows for most autonomy and greatest responsibility

Answer 38

Entrepreneurial Budgeting (also called expenditure-control, target-based, or envelope budgeting)

Question 39

______ for a higher price is better prices is a better sales strategy than ___ _____

Answer 39

Marketing, Low Bidding

Question 40

Describe Simple Cash Accounting

Answer 40

financial transactions are booked when they are paid. More straightforward but leaves a delay from the time transactions occur to when they are recorded. Leave opportunity to create false impression a project is on budget when it is not

Question 41

Describe Accrual Accounting

Answer 41

financial transactions are booked when they occur. More widely accepted, but is complicated and involves projects based on estimated and assumptions, which can create problems if they prove to be inaccurate

Question 42

____ is a promise of performance to approved vendors by a contractor that should be made in precise terms. It can be rejected or set to expire

Answer 42

Offer

Question 43

____ occurs when the contracting body agrees to purchase the product or service at a bidder's price

Answer 43

Acceptance

Question 44

_____ involves the price bargained and offered by the contractor.

Answer 44

Consideration

Question 45

______ is the purpose of the contract.

Answer 45

Legal and Possible Objective

Question 46

____ ____ _____ is a requirement for both parties to have the legal capacity to enter into a contract.

Answer 46

Competent Parties Stipulation

Question 47

Three common contract types for Utility Vegetation Management

Answer 47

Time and Material Unit Price Lump Sum (Fixed Price) Less Common is: Performance based

Question 48

_____ ___ ______ _____ are a method of providing a service in which all costs are passed onto the contracting agency, usually on an hourly basis. Best value for contractors; low risk for contractors & high risk for utility. Provide the most flexibility

Answer 48

Time and Material Contracts

Question 49

______ ____ _____ are results oriented method of providing a service that focuses on the outputs, quality, or outcomes including the achievement of specific, measurable performance standards and requirements. They include both monetary and non-monetary incentives and disincentives.Risk is shared between contractors and utility

Answer 49

Performance Based Contracts | -are modified T&M agreements to promote productivity and strategy

Question 50

_____ ____ ____ are a method of providing a service/product where an agreed upon amount is paid for each designated amount/unit/work completed. Utility is billed for each unit worked.Contractor risk is high. Gaining in popularity.

Answer 50

Unit Based Contracts

Question 51

___ ___ ____ is a strategy where vendors submit a single price for a set amount of work. Awarded on the basis of the price of an entire job with pay based on work. High risk for contractor. Key to success id detailed project specifications

Answer 51

Lump Sum (Fixed Price) Contracts

Question 52

In regards to Fleet Management, the best way to control costs is

Answer 52

to replace vehicles and equipment before they are worn out.

Question 53

____ _____ managers consider an individual's qualities, like intelligence, moral character, and other talents to be inherited and are difficult to change

Answer 53

Fixed Mindset

Question 54

____ ____ managers consider individual qualities to be subject to improvement through hard work and practice, regardless of innate abilities

Answer 54

Growth Mindset

Question 55

Four domains of Emotional Intelligence

Answer 55

Self Awareness Self Management Social Awareness Relationship Management

Question 56

Key points in Goal Setting

Answer 56

Goals should be based on strengths, not weaknesses Employees should have central role in setting own goals Plans should be flexible and enable preparation for future Plans must be realistic with manageable steps Plans should accommodate individuals learning style

Question 57

_____ _____ ____ is a contractual target against which a contractor is evaluated

Answer 57

Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

Question 58

A ____ _____ is an organization of employees that collectively negotiates wages, benefits, working conditions, and other matters

Answer 58

Labor Union. A group of workers is a bargaining unit

Question 59

Weingarten Rights

Answer 59

a union may request representation before at any time during an interview that will lead to discipline

Question 60

Communication between vegetation managers, contractors, supervisors, and workers should be both _____ and _____

Answer 60

written, verbal

Question 61

Long-term planning is ______, while short term planning is _____

Answer 61

strategic, tactical

Question 62

________ are documents that describe, instruct and direct work results

Answer 62

Specifications

Question 63

Research has shown trees are more likely to cause outages on _____ phase lines than on ____ phase lines

Answer 63

3ph, 1ph

Question 64

A results based strategy designed to target trees as close as possible to the time they interfere with facilities is known as ____-__-____ management

Answer 64

Just in time management

Question 65

A ____ ____ structure is a prioritized outline of job components that must be completed for a successful project outcome

Answer 65

Work Breakdown

Question 66

For most utilities, vegetation management departments are considered ____ ______ that do not generate income

Answer 66

cost centers

Question 67

Purchases of equipment or line construction are considered ____ expenses, whereas supply purchases or salaries are considered ____ expenses

Answer 67

Capital, Operating

Question 68

T&M contracts, which are based on hourly rates for labor and equipment, are generally ____ risk for contractors and ____ risk for utilities

Answer 68

Low, High

Question 69

____ ____ contracts are gaining popularity because the responsibility for productivity, work planning, and scheduling rests with the contractor

Answer 69

Unit Price

Question 70

Depreciation can be either ____- ____, in which costs are spread out over the lifetime of an item, or ______, in which the amount of depreciation taken is higher immediately after the purchase of an item

Answer 70

Straight Line, accelerated

Question 71

All of the following are approaches to work planning, except: 1. ) cycle-based 2. ) results-based 3. ) objective-based 4. ) crisis management

Answer 71

4.) crisis management

Question 72

Reactive maintenance can cost ____ as much as the cost of routine maintenance

Answer 72

five times

Question 73

In regards to personnel management, what is the most common reason people leave jobs?

Answer 73

treatment from supervisors