Software Project Management Overview

Question 1

Why do software projects fail?

Answer 1

• Unrealistic or unarticulated project goals
• Innacurate estimates of needed resources
• Badly defined system requirements
• Poor reporting of the project’s status
• Unmanaged risks
• Poor communication
• Use of immature technology
• Inability to handle the project’s complexity
• Sloppy development practives
• Stakeholder politics
• Comemrcial pressures

Question 2

What is a Task?

Answer 2

A generic term for work that is not included in the work breakdown structure but potentially could be a further decomposition of work by individuals responsible for that work. Also the lowest level of effor ton a project.

Question 3

What is an Activity?

Answer 3

An element of work performed during the course of a project. An activity normally has an expected duration, an expected cost, and expected resource requirements. Activities can be subdivided into tasks.

Question 4

What is a Phase?

Answer 4

A group of activities/tasks, producing a significant deliverable work product.

Question 5

What is a Project?

Answer 5

A unique, goal-oriented, time-bound, and constrained undertaking.

Question 6

What is a Program?

Answer 6

A large collection of relate projects.

Question 7

What is a System?

Answer 7

An organized element acting as a whole.

Question 8

What are the 5 functions of SPM?

Answer 8

1. Planning - Establish future course of action
2. Organizing - Structure efforts
3. Staffing - Acquire, develop and retain staff resources.
4. Directing - Energize, motivate and gude staff.
5. Controlling - Activities to determine whether progress is being made.