unit 4 - project management methods

Question 1

What are 4 common Project Management methods that are considered “Best practices” ?

Answer 1

1. PERT - Project Evaluation and Review technique
2. CPM -
3. CCPM - Critical chain project management
4. PRINCE2 - Projects in Controlled Environments

Question 2

What is PERT?

Answer 2

Project evaluation and review technique (PERT)

• developed in the 1950s to support the U.S. Navy’s Polaris missile project.
• Used to estimate activity duration times.

Question 3

What is CPM?

Answer 3

developed for the DuPont Corporation to help with projects in their manufacturing plants.

• CPM is used for estimating project activity durations
• assumes that the estimates do not vary, and time can be reliably estimated.

Question 4

What is CCPM?

Answer 4

• focuses on managing the uncertainties of a project.
• CCPM assumes that resources available to complete the project are in limited supply and it
• specifically plans to ensure resource availability.

Question 5

What is PRINCE2?

Answer 5

• a highly structured project management
  method that focuses on the specification of the outputs rather than the coordination of activities.
• Includes very specific processes and terminology to ensure that all project participants
  understand the work.
• Received wide acceptance in the European Union and other regions of the world.

Question 6

What is “Waterfall”, in relation to Project management methods?

Answer 6

• A traditional practice that found its best use in software and
  hardware development.

The project work moves downward like water falling over a ledge

This process flows logically and in a linear fashion, but if any problems

are found, returning the work back to the previous step is very
expensive

Question 7

What are 3 core concepts that make up a “Traditional” Project Management Method?

Answer 7

1. The Path from the project beginning to the project end is linear
2. Sequential steps are followed
3. Steps are followed chronologically and there is virtually no overlap.

Question 8

List 6 characteristics that describe a project where a “Traditional” project management method would best suit.

Answer 8

1. The project has a Well-Defined project outcome.
2. a low-complexity project
3. The project scope is unlikely to change
4. Risks are low and identifiable
5. The project uses known/stable technologies
6. The project is not resource-constrained.

Question 9

What are the 5 steps of the Project Management Process, in sequential order?

Answer 9

1. Initiating
2. Planning
3. Executing
4. Monitoring and controlling
5. Closing

Question 10

What steps of the Project management process can repeat over and over until the project is scrapped, or succeeds?

Answer 10

Executing
Monitoring/controlling

Question 11

What are the 4 phases of the project life cycle?

Answer 11

1. Define
2. Planning
3. Executing
4. Closing

Question 12

List 7 processes that are completed during the “Initiating” Phase.

Answer 12

1. Documenting the business need for the project and what problem
   the project will solve
2. Defining the project
3. Evaluating project proposals
4. Completing project selection
5. Identifying major stakeholders
6. (IMPORTANT) Creating the project charter

Question 13

List 9 processes that are completed during the “Planning” Phase.

Answer 13

1. Documenting all customer requirements and deliverables
2. Estimating resource needs
3. (IMPORTANT) Finalizing the Project Scope
4. (IMPORTANT) Finalizing the Project Budget
5. (IMPORTANT) Finalizing the Project Schedule
6. (IMPORTANT) Creating the Work Breakdown Structure
7. Creating the Network Diagram
8. Creating the activity list
9. (IMPORTANT) Writing the plan for specific areas (quality, communications, human resources,
   procurement, change management, scope management, cost management,
   schedule management, risk management, etc.)

Question 14

List 8 Processes that are completed during the “Executing” Phase.

Answer 14

1. Acquiring project team members
2. Training and coaching team members
3. Communicating with stakeholders
4. Managing stakeholders
5. (IMPORTANT) Implementing the project plan (completing the work of the
   project)
6. Documenting change requests
7. Assessing team member performance
8. Recognizing and rewarding performance

Question 15

List 11 Processes that are completed during the “Monitoring and Controlling” Phase.

Answer 15

1. Keeping the project activities in sync (integration control)
2. Verifying that the deliverables meet the required scope
3. Documenting any requested changes to scope
4. Monitoring the schedule
5. Monitoring the budget
6. Assessing project quality
7. Resolving issues about scope or activities or interpersonal issues
8. Reporting project performance
9. Monitoring project risks
10. Monitoring vendor/provider performance
11. Determining when replanning is needed

Question 16

List 8 Processes that are completed during the “Closing” Phase.

Answer 16

1. Paying all outstanding vendor invoices
2. Reconciling all vendor accounts
3. Returning excess materials and supplies
4. Returning all project assets to the sponsoring organization
5. Writing the lessons learned
6. Completing all project documentation
7. Delivering the completed project to the customer
8. Receiving sign-off from the customer
9. Archiving all project documents

Question 17

What 4 core concepts make up an “Agile” Project management method?

Answer 17

1. Framework
2. Developed for projects in which the end product is not clearly
   defined in advance
3. Iterative approach
4. The project team works closely with the customer to deliver
   projects in usable chunks

Question 18

What are Agile Iterations?

Question 19

What is SCRUM?

Answer 19

The most popular Agile Method

A specific method that provides a process for identifying the work, who will do the work, how it will be done, and when it should be completed by.

• Scrum tasks are completed in “Sprints” with specific lengths of time assigned, iterative development.

Question 20

What 6 core concepts make up an “Extreme” Project management method?

Answer 20

1. High stakes – failure is not an option
2. Deadlines are short
3. Innovation is paramount
4. Success is to be measured in bottom-line results
5. Bureaucracy can’t be tolerated
6. Quality of life is important

Question 21

When would you use “Extreme” Project management methods?

Answer 21

When the project addresses issues of extraordinary uncertainty or complexity, planning is not
as important.