Cards 30-39

Question 1

What are predictive life cycles?

Answer 1

Changes to scope are tightly controlled

Question 2

What are iterative life cycles?

Answer 2

Phases are repeated through iterations, detailed scope is created for each iteration.

Question 3

What are incremental life cycles?

Answer 3

Get deliverables in every increment.

For example: make a very basic software, then we add a little bit to it, then another bit.

Question 4

What are adaptive life cycles?

Answer 4

Adaptive life cycles can be iterative (progress through continuous refinement) or incremental.

Question 5

What are the different types of business documents?

Answer 5

• project business case
• project charter
• project management plan
• benefits management plan

Question 6

What are phase gates within the project?

Answer 6

At the end of a phase before I can move on to the next phase. A review would be tied to this phase gate. Compare actual performance to business document (why did I not hit KPIs). Make decisions: remain in the phase, continue to the next phase or kill project.

Question 7

What is a project business case?

Answer 7

A project business case is an economic feasibility study: can we afford the project

Question 8

What are the attributes of a project business case?

Answer 8

• Maintained throughout the project by the project sponsor (not project manager!)
• Defines the problem or opportunity that the project is going to solve or get
• Identifies stakeholders and scope on the high level
• How does the project fit with organizational strategies, goals and objectives
• Known risks
• Critical success factors (what would constitute success?)
• Decision criteria
• Business case can do an analysis of a situation

Question 9

What does a project benefits management plan describe?

Answer 9

A project benefits management plan describes how to maximize project benefits and how to sustain benefits

Question 10

What does a project benefits management plan include?

Answer 10

• Target benefits (tangible and intangible)
• Strategic alignment (align to business strategies)
• Timeframe (benefits by phase)
• Metrics (how to measure that benefits are realized)
• Assumptions (factors expected to be in place or to be in evidence)
• Risks (for realization of benefits)