Chapter 2 Flashcards
What are the two big “camps” of project management?
Predictive and Agile
Define Predictive pm approach?
traditional approach, where everything is predicted up front in the project. team and stakeholders work together to define the plan, resist any change to scope. (Construction)
Define Agile pm approach
flexible, changes are welcome. prioritize changes and requirements throughout the project as they happen (Software)
Define the hybrid approach
a mix of both predictive and agile, hard to define
what is the acronym WIP
work in progress
what does “Kanban” mean
japanese for visual sign
Acronym MVP
Minimum variable product
Define MVP
product is just enough to satisfy the customer, while offering customers opportunity to suggest improvements
what are the keys to successfully using the Lean process
-open communication
-defined processes
-transparency
What is the Lean process at its core?
-Constant improvements
-constant growth
-realize small improvements will result in increased business value
What is the goal of XP?
aims for quality software and a quality of life for the development team.
How does XP contribute to the quality of life for development team?
-fostering positive work environment
-reducing individual pressure and stress
-providing personal and professional growth
What is the acronym DA
Disciplined Agile
Define DA
-agile method that provides a flexible and pragmatic approach to software development
-tailored to fit the unique needs of team or organization
-combines agile and lean principles with other frameworks, like Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, to provide comprehensive approach to software development
Core principles of DA
-customer focus
-simplicity
-pragmatism
-continuous improvement
What does DA imphasize?
-importance of adopting a continuous improvement mindset, regularly assessing and improving process and practices
define enterprise environmental factors
factors and conditions that the pm must live with, they are outside of the pm control
what are the internal enterprise environmental factors?
-organizational culture, structure, governance
-geographic distribution of facilities and resources
-infrastructure (facilities, equipment, etc)
-resource availability
-employee capability
-IT software (scheduling software, network configuration, etc.)
What are the external enterprise environmental factors?
-marketplace conditions
-social and cultural influences (holidays, political climate, traditions)
-Legal Restrictions
-Commercial database (database of suppliers to help predict duration, cost, risks, etc.
-Academic research (publications, etc.)
-Industry standards (adhering to govt, org., etc.)
-Financial considerations (exchange rates, local currency, etc.)
-physical environment elements (where it will take place)
what is the acronym OPA
organizational process assets
What are OPA’s?
-organizational processes, policies, procedures, and items from a corporate knowledge database
-things that help analysts do better (historic documents on similar jobs)
What are the two catagories of OPAs?
-Processes, policies, and procedures (created outside of the project)
-Organizational knowledge repositories (updated throughout the project)
difference between OPA and EEFs
-OPAs used to assist a project
-EEF will constrain the project
-OPA generally owned by the Organization, EEF is not
How do you close out each sprint in SCRUM?
retrospective to improve upon the next sprint of the project
what are organizational knowledge repositories?
Include the databases, files, and historical information that you can use for your project
-one of pms best resources
how does the organizational system affect the pm?
how the pm utilizes their power, influence, leadership, and even political capital to get things done in the environement
-can be a constraint, how pm must act within the system
define “systems” regarding project management
components your organization deals with to reach the desired result (Think internet transaction; company, credit card company, payment transaction, etc.)
Define Governance Framework
how the objectives of the organization are created, how risks are assessed and tracked, and how organizational performance can be optimized
what 4 factors does governance framework need to address?
-alignment with org mission
-risk mgmt and distribution of positive and negative risks
-performance on time, costs, and technical objectives
-communications with the correct stakeholders at the correct time
what does PROJECT governance include?
-defining authority to approve changes and make other business decisions related to the project.
-can be created by pm, or governance framework can establish through the pmo, the department the project is in, or the organization itself
Who are organizational influences?
people that the pm has to answer to
What are the two big areas that project-centric organizations fall under?
-orgs that exist to do outside projects
-orgs that use mgmt by projects to manage their business (an IT department updating their own systems)
what are some cultural components within an organization?
-defined values and expectations of work
-policies and procedures
-defined authority
-defined work hours and ethics
what are the different organizational structures?
-functional (centralized)
-weak matrix
-balanced matrix
-strong matrix
-project-oriented
-virtual
-hybrid
define functional structure?
-clear divisions regarding business units and their associated responsibilities (org with acct, marketing, manufacturing, all seperate departments)
-may find resistance to collaboration across departments
PM in functional orgs have what attributes and resources?
-little power
-little autonomy
-report directly to a functional manager
-may be seen as coordinator, administrator, or team leader (scapegoat)
-project role is part time
-project team is part time
-little or no admin staff to expedite resources
define a matrix structure
-blend dutues and employees together on a common project
-multiple departments work together
-project team has more than one boss
Define a weak matrix structure?
map closely to functional structure
-project manager reports directly to a specific functional manager
what are the attributes of a pm in a weak matrix organization?
-limited authority
-management of part-time project team
-part-time project role
-known as coordinator or team leader
-may have part time admin staff to help expediteb
what is a balanced matrix structure?
-many similar attributes of weak matrix, but pm has more time requirements and power in project.
-includes time-accountability issues for the project team members, because functional managers will want reports on their time spent within the project
Attributes and resources of a pm in a balanced matrix?
-reasonable authority
-may manage a part-time project team
-full-time role as project manager
-may have part time admin staff
what is a strong matrix structure?
-equates to a strong pm
-similar to others, but pm has more power
-team may have more time available
what are the attributes and resources in a strong matrix structure?
-higher level of power
-mgmt of part time to nearly full time project team
-full time role as pm
-full time admin
what is a project oriented structure?
-pinnacle of pm structures
-groups employees, colocated or not, by activity on the project
-pm may have complete control over project
-pm have high level of autonomy over project, high level of responsibility
attributes and resources of a project oriented structure?
-high to complete level of authority
-work full time on project with a team
-full time admin staff
-manage the budget
-support from a strong PMO
what is a virtual structure?
uses network structure to communicate and interact with other groups and departments
-poc exists for each department, handles all messages in and out
-pm has low authority over team and shares authority over budget with functional managers
-pm could be full time, team is part
-could have part time or full admin staff
what is a hybrid structure?
also known as composite, but a blend of the different structures
if not identified on the test, what structure should you assume?
Matrix
what are the different types of PMOs?
-Supportive (plays consultative role)
-Controlling (controls project through specific methods pm must use)
-directive (manages project directly)
