04 Planning the Project

Question 1

2 main components of project planning?

Answer 1

1) Sets out policies for project delivery

2) Estimates and defines what/how/when/who for each task

Question 2

What is scope management?

Answer 2

Process whereby outputs, outcomes and benefits are identified, defined and controlled.

Question 3

Note

Answer 3

Identification and definition of the scope must describe what the project will include and what it will not include, i.e. what is in and what is out of scope. Without a clearly defined scope statement that is understood and agreed by the project stakeholders, it is very unlikely that a realistic schedule and/or budget will be created

Question 4

Which document defines the high-level scope, and which elaborates further on this?

Answer 4

Business case defines high-level, PMP (project management plan) expands further on this

Question 5

What are PBS and WBS? What are they used to do?

Answer 5

PBS: Product breakdown structure

WBS: Work breakdown structure

Used to define and refine the project scope!

Question 6

What does a PBS focus on?

Answer 6

On the deliverables a project will create (lowest level being a deliverable)

Question 7

What does a WBS focus on?

Answer 7

Still a deliverable oriented illustration of the project, but also may include the work required to CREATE the deliverables (typically lowest level of a WBS is a Work Package) (see and understand 4.3 diagram)

Question 8

See

Answer 8

Benefits of using a PBS/WBS 4.3

Question 9

What is the scope baseline and its use?

Answer 9

Agreed scope with the project sponsor, is used to control requests for change and is tf useful to help prevent ‘scope-creep’ (also helps to determine budget)

Question 10

What is a CBS used for?

Answer 10

Cost breakdown structure: used to ensure that costs are hierarchically attributed to a specific work package; helps the finance department to monitor and control costs (see 4.4)

Question 11

3 main components of project budget?

Answer 11

Base cost
Contingency reserve (money set aside to mitigate identified risks)
Management reserve (covers cost of unexpected events)

Question 12

What does planning determine?

Answer 12

What is to be delivered, cost of delivery, when it will be done by, how it will be delivered and who will carry it out

Question 13

2 levels of planning?

Answer 13

Policy and delivery

Question 14

What are policy plans (strategies) and examples?

Answer 14

A series of plans to show each aspect of the work will be managed

eg. risk management plan/benefits realisation plan

Question 15

What is planning at the delivery level?

Answer 15

Planning to answer questions such as:

• Why
• What
• How
• How much
• Who
• When
• Where