Managing Projects - Level 1

Question 1

What is the role of a project manager?

How does a project manager differ from other roles (e.g. contractor or designer)?

Answer 1

The project manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and controlling the project to deliver agreed objectives within time, cost, and quality constraints, while managing risk, stakeholders, and governance.

Question 2

What are the key responsibilities of a project manager?

How does a project manager add value?

Answer 2

• Managing time, cost, quality, risk, and stakeholder engagement.
• By providing structure, managing risks, and supporting informed decision-making.

Question 3

How does a project manager manage stakeholders?

Answer 3

• clear communication and use of a stakeholder management plan.

Question 4

How does a project manager ensure project success?

Answer 4

• By maintaining control over programme, cost, risk, and communication.

Question 5

What are the key project constraints?

Answer 5

Time, cost, quality. Also scope, risk, and health and safety. These are interrelated, and changing one typically affects the others.

Question 6

How do you define successful project delivery?

Answer 6

Successful delivery meets the client’s objectives, is safe and compliant, represents value for money, and is delivered within agreed constraints.

Question 7

How does managing projects differ from managing programmes?

Answer 7

Managing a project focuses on delivering a defined output within set constraints. Programme management coordinates multiple related projects to deliver wider strategic outcomes.

Question 8

What is the RIBA Plan of Work 2020?

What are the key stages?

Answer 8

It is a structured framework that defines stages from strategic definition through to in use, helping coordinate design, procurement, and construction activities.

• RIBA 0-7

Question 9

What are the key activities and outputs at each RIBA stage?

Answer 9

Stage 0 – Strategic Definition: Business case, feasibility, project objectives

Stage 1 – Preparation & Brief: Project brief, initial risk register, project outcomes

Stage 2 – Concept Design: Concept drawings, outline specifications, cost plan

Stage 3 – Spatial Coordination: Coordinated design, planning submission, updated cost plan

Stage 4 – Technical Design: Technical drawings, specifications, tender information

Stage 5 – Manufacturing & Construction: Construction, inspections, quality control

Stage 6 – Handover: Practical completion, O&M manuals, training

Stage 7 – In Use: Post-occupancy evaluation, aftercare, performance review

Question 10

Why is the Plan of Work useful for project management?

Answer 10

It provides a common language for stakeholders, clarifies responsibilities, and supports structured decision-making and gateway approvals.

Question 11

How flexible is the RIBA Plan of Work in practice?

Answer 11

It is highly flexible. While it provides a common structure, stages can overlap, be adapted, or combined depending on procurement route, project complexity, and client requirements.

Question 12

How does the Plan of Work interface/align with procurement?

Answer 12

• Procurement strategy typically crystallises around Stages 2–3, with tender information developed at Stage 4.

-Different procurement routes align differently with the stages.

Question 13

What is a Project Initiation Document?

Answer 13

• Formally describes the scope, objectives and stakeholders.
• the foundation project planning and provides a reference point for decision making.
• includes:
• Project goals.
  -Scope of the project.
• Business case.
• Stakeholders.
• Project Controls.
• Reporting Frameworks.
• Project Summary.

Question 14

What is a Project Management Plan?

Answer 14

• Outlines the management framework and rules for governing the project.
• It covers the whole project journey.
• It is in a higher level of detail than a project execution plan.

Question 15

Why is the Project Management Plan are important?

Answer 15

• They provide a structured approach by confirming the management methods, change management, reporting and
  communication.
• In the event of a change in Project Management personnel, it would allow new team members to adopt the same rules and principles.

Question 16

What is a Project Execution Plan?

Answer 16

• A PEP sets out the methodology for delivering a project, it is more detailed than a project management plan.
• it is more focused on the execution and delivery phase.
• including more precise schedules dates and timelines, specific technical activities and resources, safety protocols.

Question 17

What is difference between a Project Execution Plan and
a Project Management Plan?

Answer 17

• PEPs are a more detailed operational roadmap that focuses on the delivery phase
• Whereas the PMP is a broader strategic framework that covers the whole project lifecycle.

Question 18

What would you expect a PMP to include?

Answer 18

• Governance structure
• roles and responsibilities
• programme
• risk management approach
• communication plan
• document control procedures
• quality management
• change control
• reporting arrangements.

Question 19

Who is responsible for developing and maintaining the PEP?

Answer 19

• The project lead contractor or designer completes it in detail, with contribution members of the project team, contractora and suppliers as it develops, it should be reviewed and updated throughout the project delivery
• As client PM, I produced a outline PEP which included PMP information and this is provided to the contractors or designers delivering the project.

Question 20

When should a PEP be reviewed or updated?

Answer 20

When there is a material change to scope, risk profile, programme, procurement strategy, or project objectives.

Question 21

How would a PEP differ for an international project?

Answer 21

• It would place greater emphasis on local regulations, procurement practices, cultural considerations, time zones, and risk allocation. It may require a more in depth PESTLE or SWOT analysis.

Question 22

What risks arise if a PEP is poorly defined?

Answer 22

• Confusion, poor coordination, delays, and ineffective governance.

Question 23

What is risk in a project context?

Answer 23

Risk is an uncertain event that, if it occurs, may affect project objectives positively or negatively.

Question 24

How do you distinguish between a risk and an issue?

Answer 24

• A risk is a future uncertainty;
• an issue is a risk that has already materialised and requires immediate management.

Question 25

What is a risk register? What information is included in a risk register?

Answer 25

- It is a live document that identifies, assesses, assigns ownership for, and tracks mitigation of project risks. - Risk description, likelihood, impact, mitigation measures, and ownership.

Question 26

How do you identify, assess, and manage project risks?

Answer 26

- Undertaking early workshops - review of constraints and assumptions - maintaining a live risk register - assessing likelihood and impact - assigning owners - regularly reviewing mitigation measures.

Question 27

Why is risk management a continuous process?

Answer 27

Because project risks evolve as design develops, surveys are undertaken, and external factors change.

Question 28

How do you prioritise risks?

Answer 28

- By assessing likelihood and impact and reviewing the scores.

Question 29

What is Building Information Modelling (BIM)?

Answer 29

BIM is a digital, collaborative process for creating and managing digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of assets across their lifecycle.

Question 30

How can BIM support project management across the lifecycle?

Answer 30

Building Information Modelling supports coordination, clash detection, information management, and lifecycle decision-making, reducing risk and improving outcomes.

Question 31

What are different levels or uses of BIM?

Answer 31

From 2D and 3D for coordination, clash detection to 6D to monitor cost management, asset data for operation and long-term maintenance with CAFM. -

Question 32

How does BIM support coordination? How does BIM reduce risk?

Answer 32

- By improving design coordination, identifying clashes early, reducing rework, and providing clearer information for construction and asset management. - You can see the issues before they are physically built, preventing cost and delay.

Question 33

What are limitations of BIM?

Answer 33

- It requires investment, training, and consistent data management.

Question 34

What additional considerations are there in international projects?

Answer 34

- Different legal systems, regulations, cultural factors, and supply chain access.

Question 35

How do legal and regulatory differences affect project management?

Answer 35

- They impact contracts, compliance, and risk allocation.

Question 36

How do cultural differences impact delivery?

Answer 36

- They affect communication, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement.

Question 37

How do you manage risk on international projects?

Answer 37

- By understanding local context, and engaging with local expertise and professionals.

Question 38

How do you ensure effective project governance?

Answer 38

- Through clear roles, structured reporting, and good understanding of the required approval processes.

Question 39

How do you monitor project performance? What tools can be used to manage projects?

Answer 39

- By tracking programme, cost, and risk against planned targets. - Programmes and software to review them, regular review of risk registers, reports and regular communication with project team and stakeholders.

Question 40

What is the difference between a risk register and an issue log?

Answer 40

A risk register tracks potential risks; an issue log tracks current problems.

Question 41

What is the most important role of a project manager?

Answer 41

To ensure the project meets the client’s objectives.