Chapter 2 - Key Project Management Terms

Question 1

Progressives elaboration

Answer 1

Involves discovering greater levels of detail as the project moves along
Rolling wave planning

Question 2

Predictive approach

Answer 2

Traditional waterfall or plan driven
Most of the planning is done upfront
Example: building a house

Question 3

Agile approach

Answer 3

Adaptive or change-driven
Product is built in small increments
Support changes throughout the project, add requirements without having to go through the change management process

Question 4

Hybrid approach

Answer 4

Combine both predictive and agile approaches

Question 5

ITTO

Answer 5

Input, Tools and techniques, and Output

Question 6

Phase

Answer 6

Completion of one or more deliverables
All 5 process groups: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, closure

Question 7

Predictive life cycle

Answer 7

Scope, time, and cost are known early in the project

Question 8

Iterative life cycle

Answer 8

Incremental or adaptive
Scope is know early but time and cost will be refined as the project progresses

Question 9

Baselines

Answer 9

Exist for scope, time, and cost
A baseline is an original plan plus any approved changes related during the planning phase

Question 10

System

Answer 10

Includes all formal procedures and tools put in place to manage something.

Question 11

Project Management Office (PMO)

Answer 11

Provides guidance and support for all project managers in the company.
- provide training
- define standards and best practices
- provide templates
- helps with approvals or resource gathering
- define project management role
- provide assistant PM’s with resources to complete their projects

Question 12

Supportive PMO

Answer 12

Support pm by providing templates and training
Low authority over the project

Question 13

Controlling PMO

Answer 13

Support the pm y giving them a particular framework they need to follow and templates they have to use.
Moderate authority over the project.

Question 14

Directive PMO

Answer 14

Direct the pm on what they should be doing and is in control of the project.
Pm reports to the PMO and the PMO is usually nigh in authority.

Question 15

Stakeholder

Answer 15

Ant individual or business that may be positively or negatively affected by the project.
** Everyone that is affected by the project.

Question 16

Project coordinator

Answer 16

When working in a functional or weak matrix organization, the pm’s role may not exist. In this case a project coordinator may be used.
Can’t make budget decisions but can assign resources. Some decision-making power.

Question 17

Project expeditor

Answer 17

In a functional organization where the pm is part-time an expeditor is used.
Less power than a pm or a coordinator. Just help to organize the project work.

Question 18

Weak matrix

Answer 18

Pm has little more power than in a functional organization. Authority is still relatively low and is managed by the functional managers.

Question 19

Balanced matrix

Answer 19

PM’s power is almost equal to the functional manager for the control of resources.
Share resources from a pool - will work on the project and then return to operations when the project is over.
Highest likelihood of conflicts between the pm and the functional managers since power is even.
Low to moderate authority.

Question 20

Strong matrix

Answer 20

Pm has the most power over the resources.

Question 21

Project life cycle

Answer 21

The phases a project goes through from initiating the project to its closing. It is the breakdown of work needed to complete the deliverables.
Organizational methodology for managing projects.

Question 22

Product life cycle

Answer 22

The life cycle that a product goes through from start to end. one product life cycle includes many project life cycles.

Question 23

Project governance

Answer 23

The framework, functions, and processes that a company will follow in order to complete a project.
Meet the organization’s strategic and operational goals.