List the stages of a project life cycle
Initiation
Planning
Implementation
Monitoring
Reporting
Evaluation
What should a project brief contain?
Project goals
Deliverables
Timeline
Budget
Success criteria
Creating a project brief is a, what?
An iterative process
What acronym is used for project goals?
S.M.A.R.T
What does S.M.A.R.T stand for?
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely
What questions do you need to ask yourself for the initiation phase of a project?
Why - purpose and goals
What - scope of project
Who - key stakeholders
Give an example of an agile management technique
Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA)
What steps need to be established in the planning phase of a project?
- Detailing the scope and budget
- Setting team responsibilities
- Deadlines and milestones
Give an example of a tool used to plan projects
Gantt chart
What happens during the implementation phase of a project?
Project team does the work to produce the deliverables
Project starts
Give examples of problems that can occur in the implementation phase
New worker joins
More urgent project starts
Customer pulls out of agreement
Define minutes
Descriptions of what happens in a meeting
Give examples of project monitoring
- Tracking project schedule
- Monitoring budget
- Regular meetings
- Identifying roadblocks
What considerations need to be made during the reporting stage of the project life cycle?
- Accurate and transparent reporting
- Tools should be kept up to date
- Project manager reports progress to stakeholders at milestones
What happens during the evaluation stage of the project life cycle?
Identification of successes and failures against the success criteria
Where can constraints appear from?
The customer
Available resources & time
Costings
Available staffing/skills
Benefits
Give examples of customer constraints
Client may have high eco standards
Client may be in different regions with different legislation
Why do some projects require a business case to be made?
To demonstrate the value of the project to the business
What should R&D consider when developing a product design?
Risks associated with design, prototyping and manufacture
Why is compromising on quality a risk factor in a project?
It requires careful assessment to seek alternative solutions
What happens if a project lasts too long?
Losses, contract penalties, extra staffing
How can risks be reduced?
By having contingency plans in place
Why is clear documentation very important in a project?
Risk of miscommunication or design errors
Why is reputation an important factor in a project?
The project shouldn’t damage or devalue the brand
