Chapter 2: Structures and frameworks (Maylor)

Question 1

The environment in which projects operate may be summarised by the 5 C:s. Which are they?

Answer 1

1. Context - the external general influences in the organisation
2. Complexity - the level of difficulty or complication
3. Completeness - How much of the end requirements a project will deliver
4. Competitiveness - how many other organisations will be competing
5. Customer focus - the expectations that customer will have their needs met by the project

Question 2

The ‘context’ (External factors) can be described by the acronym “PESTEL”. What does PESTEL stand for?

Answer 2

Political influence
Economic - the influence of general and local economics
Social - the influence of social changes on the project environment, for instance on methods of communication.
Technical
Environmental
Leagal

Question 3

The ‘complexity’ whithin a project (internal factors) can be described by the “7-S framework”. Which are they?

Answer 3

Strategy - The high-level requirements of the project and the mans the achieve them
Structure - The organisational arrangement that will be used the carry out the project
Systems - The way we work
Staff - The selection, recruitment, management and leadership of those working on the project
Skill - The managerial and technical tools available to the project manager and the staff, and how these are developed.
Style/culture - The underlying way of working within the team
Stakeholders. All with interest of the project outcome or processes

Question 4

What are the main contraints in the ICOM-model (Input, constraints, Outputs, Machanisms)?

Answer 4

Time
Cost
Quiality
Legal
Ethical
Environmeltal
Logic 
Activation
Indirect effects

Question 5

What types of outcome is possible from the ICOM-model (3 types)

Answer 5

Converted information
A tangible product
Changed people

Question 6

What types of mechanisms is there in the ICOM-model (5 types)

Answer 6

People
Knowledge
Financial recources
Tools and techniques
Technology

Question 7

Describe the “Hedgehog syndrome”

Answer 7

No infomation exchange between projects leads to repetition of misstages.

Question 8

Name and describe “the four phases of project management” according to Maylor

Answer 8

• Define the project - goal defenition
• Design the project - Plan, estimatie, recorce analysis, conflict resolution etc
• Deliver the project (Do it!) - Organisation, control, leadership, decision-making and problem-solving
• Develop the process - Assesment of process and outcomes of the project, evaluation, changes for the furture

Question 9

What part in “the four phases of project management” has the longest timeframe?

Answer 9

Define it ~ 3 %
Design it ~ 5 %
–> Do it ~ 87 %
Develop it ~ 5 %

Question 10

The level of structural complexity of an activity is a function of five elements, giving the acronym “MODeST”. Which are they?

Answer 10

Mission
Organisation
Deliviery
Stakeholders
Team