Managing Projects

Question 1

What is your overarching objective role as a project manager?

Answer 1

1 - To manage the project team and dive forward the successful completion of the project and its objectives.
2 - Must also note scope of professional appointment.

Question 2

What project management processes and procedures did you adopt on your last project?

Answer 2

• Adopted clients processes / procedures as clients often impose them on their consultants and contractors.
• Technical procedures such as payment notices.
• Quality Procedures.
• ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems)

Question 3

How do you manage the performance of the team?

Answer 3

• Performance appraisals against Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).
• Monthly Reviews / Project Reviews.
• Constantly review the teams scope of services and monitor delivery.

Question 4

What is the difference between design development vs design error?

Answer 4

• Design error is where there is a fundamental change to the scope due to the design not working.
• Design development are minor tweaks or adjustments.

Question 5

What is ISO 9001?

Answer 5

• ISO9001 is a certified quality management system (QMS) for organisations who want to prove their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet the needs of their customers and other relevant stakeholders.

Question 6

What is a Project Execution Plan?

Answer 6

• The PEP describes who does what and how, defining the policies, procedures and priorities that will be adopted. It could be described as the methodology to deliver the project.

Question 7

What sort of information would be included within a PEP ?

Answer 7

• Project definition and a summary of the strategic brief or project brief.
• Project programme.
• Cost plan, cost management and accounting procedures.
• Contracting and procurement strategy.
• Role and responsibilities.
• Monitoring and reporting strategies.
• Potential consultants.
• Communications strategy.
• Technology strategy.
• Strategy to obtain planning permission.
• Health and Safety strategy.
• Sustainability strategy.
• Quality Assurance strategy.

Question 8

How often do you need to update the PEP?

Answer 8

• The PEP should be reviewed every month at a minimum.

- After there has been a significant change to the project, for example an increase to the budget.

Question 9

How do you manage change on a project ?

Answer 9

• Implement change management procedures.

Question 10

What is change management?

Answer 10

1 - Change management is a structured approach to moving an organisation from the current state to the desired future stare.

Question 11

Talk me through a change management, what are the stages?

Answer 11

1 - Asses 
2 - Prepare 
3 - Plan 
4 - Implement 
5 - Sustain

Question 12

Why do we need a robust change control procedure?

Answer 12

1 - Once this approval has been given, a change control procedure may be introduced to ensure that the approved information is not changed without the express permission of the client.

Question 13

What is a project audit?

Answer 13

• A project audit provides an opportunity to review project challenges, risks and processes and reflect on if it is still meeting core objectives. The audit could be carried out mid-term or at the end of a project with lessons learnt.

Question 14

How would you undertake a post project audit?

Answer 14

• A post project audit is undertake to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the project delivery process. To undertake a post project audit, it is important to seek the views of contractors, designers, suppliers and the client about how well the project was managed. This may include assessment of how well each of the delivery team performed against the key performance indicators such as;

1 - The quality of briefing documents 
2 - The effectiveness of communication 
3 - The performance of the entire project 
4 - Quality issues 
5 - Health and Safety Issues 
6 - Certification
7 - Variations
8 - Claims and Disputes 
9 - Collaboratives practices

Question 15

How did you identify stakeholders on the scheme?

Answer 15

• Sit down with the project team and identify how could be affected by the scheme. Create a stakeholder register which includes key contact details.

Question 16

How would you prioritise stakeholders?

Answer 16

1 - Use a power vs interest tool (high/low power & high/low interest).
2 - The High power. high interest stakeholders become key players. Agree suitable communication strategy with others.

Question 17

How do you identify stakeholders within a project?

Answer 17

• A stakeholder is anyone within interest or concern of something.
• Stakeholders can be identified during a series of meetings and via a stakeholder analysis.

Question 18

Can you give me some examples of types of Stakeholders?

Answer 18

1 - Funders 
2 - End users 
3 - Project Manager
4 - Architect and professional team 
5 - Contractor 
6 - Neighbours

Question 19

What is Value Engineering ?

Answer 19

• VE is a method used to eliminate any unnecessary costs and / or increase the value of a specification.
• The value is not necessarily related to cost, value could be increased efficiency, functionality, appearance, etc