Course One: Readings

Question 1

Four key competencies of a project manager
ECSF

Answer 1

Enabling decision-making, communicating and escalating, strong organizational skills, and flexibility

Question 2

Three Flexible planning strategies
PAC

Answer 2

Plan for risks and challenges
Assess external constraints.
Calculate “float” in your schedule.

Question 3

Five ways to handle ambiguity?
METKC

Answer 3

Keep Calm
Express Empathy
Communicate what you know, clearly
Make decisions and stick to them
Trust the expertise of your team

Question 4

Five Phases of the Project Life Cycle
In Physical Ed, Mary Cries Constantly

Answer 4

Project Initiation
Project Planning
Project Execution
Project Monitoring and Controlling
Project Closing

Question 5

Waterfall vs. Agile: PM Roll

Answer 5

W: Project manager serves as an active leader by prioritizing and assigning tasks to team members.

A: Agile project manager (or Scrum Master) acts primarily as a facilitator, removing any barriers the team faces. Team shares more responsibility in managing their own work.

Question 6

Waterfall vs. Agile: Scope

Answer 6

W: Project deliverables and plans are well-established and documented in the early stages of initiating and planning. Changes go through a formal change request process.

A: Planning happens in shorter iterations and focuses on delivering value quickly. Subsequent iterations are adjusted in response to feedback or unforeseen issues.

Question 7

Waterfall vs. Agile: Schedule

Answer 7

W: Follows a mostly linear path through the initiating, planning, executing, and closing phases of the project.

A: Time is organized into phases called Sprints. Each Sprint has a defined duration, with a set list of deliverables planned at the start of the Sprint.

Question 8

Waterfall vs. Agile: Cost

Answer 8

W: Costs are kept under control by careful estimation up front and close monitoring throughout the life cycle of the project.

A: Costs and schedule could change with each iteration.

Question 9

Waterfall vs. Agile: Quality

Answer 9

W: Project manager makes plans and clearly defines criteria to measure quality at the beginning of the project.

A: Team solicits ongoing stakeholder input and user feedback by testing products in the field and regularly implementing improvements

Question 10

Waterfall vs. Agile: Communication

Answer 10

W: Project manager continually communicates progress toward milestones and other key indicators to stakeholders, ensuring that the project is on track to meet the customer’s expectations.

A: Team is customer-focused, with consistent communication between users and the project team.

Question 11

Waterfall vs. Agile: Stakeholders

Answer 11

W: Project manager continually manages and monitors stakeholder engagement to ensure the project is on track.

A: Team frequently provides deliverables to stakeholders throughout the project. Progress toward milestones is dependent upon stakeholder feedback

Question 12

When would you implement Lean PM?

Answer 12

Implement Lean project management when you want to use limited resources, reduce waste, and streamline processes to gain maximum benefits.

Question 13

Lean Manufacturing methodology recognizes eight types of waste within an operation:

TIMED WON

Answer 13

defects, excess processing, overproduction, waiting, inventory, transportation, motion, and non-utilized talent

Question 14

Waste in (Lean) mfg, often attributed to lack of proper (7)..,

DUMP PEP

Answer 14

• Lack of proper documentation
• Lack of process standards
• Not understanding the customers’ needs
• Lack of effective communication
• Lack of process control
• Inefficient process design
• Failures of management

Question 15

You can achieve this by using the pillars of the Lean 5S quality tool. The term 5S refers to the five pillars that are required for good housekeeping:

Answer 15

1. Sort: Remove all items not needed for current production operations and leave only the bare essentials.
2. Set in order: Arrange needed items so that they are easy to use. Label items so that anyone can find them or put them away.
3. Shine: Keep everything in the correct place. Clean your workspace every day.
4. Standardize: Perform the process in the same way every time.
5. Sustain: Make a habit of maintaining correct procedures and instill this discipline in your team.
   Within the Lean methodology, 5S helps you boost performance.

Question 16

What are two core methods of the Lean Methodology???

Answer 16

Kanban boards and 5S are core methods of the Lean methodology.

Question 17

The seven key principles of Six Sigma are:

AIM AIRS

Answer 17

1. Always focus on the customer.
2. Identify and understand how the work gets done. Understand how work really happens.
3. Make your processes flow smoothly.
4. Reduce waste and concentrate on value.
5. Stop defects by removing variation.
6. Involve and collaborate with your team.
7. Approach improvement activity in a systematic way.

Question 18

The largest difference between Lean and Six Sigma methodologies?

Answer 18

The largest difference between these methodologies is that Lean streamlines processes while Six Sigma reduces variation in products by building in quality from the beginning and inspecting products to ensure quality standards are met.

Question 19

The five key purposes of a PMO?
(Seek Information Examples Really Carefully)

Answer 19

The key purposes of a PMO include: strategic planning and governance, implementing project management best practices, establishing common project culture, resource management, and creating project documentation, archives, and tools.