Foundation Flashcards
(100 cards)
Recall six aspects of project performance to be managed.
CostTimescalesQualityScopeBenefitsRisk
Recall the definition and five characteristics of a project
“A temporary organization that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to an agreed Business Case.”– Mechanisms of CHANGE– TEMPORARY– Complex/CROSS-FUNCTIONAL– UNIQUE– Involve UNCERTAIN
Recall four integrated elements of principles, themes, processes, and the project environment upon which PRINCE2 is based.
Principles: “guiding obligations and good practices” MANDATORY for a project to be PRINCE2.Themes: “aspects of PM that must be addressed continually and in parallel throughout the project.”Processes: “Step-wise progression thru the project
Recall the benefits of PRINCE2
“Established and proven best practice and governance for PM.”Applicable to any type of project “and can easily be implemented alongside specialist, industry-specific models.”“Widely recognized and understood.”“Provides for explicit
Recall the customer/supplier context of a PRINCE2 project.
Environment in which the customer defines the requirement, pays for the project and uses the eventual products; and in which the supplier provides the required skills and know-how to create the end-products for the customer.
Understand the seven principles.
(1) Continued business justification.(2) Learn from experience.(3) Defined roles and responsibilities.(4) Manage by stages.(5) Manage by exception.(6) Focus on products.(7) Tailor to suit the project environment.
Understand the difference between a project and a programme.
“The distinction between projects and programmes is that projects typically produce or change something and are then disbanded. The benefits of the undertaking are like to be accrued after the project is completed. Programmes are typically used to help tr
Understand the characteristics of a project.
Change- Temporary- Cross-functional- Unique- Uncertainty
Understand the purpose of the Business Case theme.
“The purpose of the Business Case theme is to establish mechanisms to judge whether the project is (and remains) desirable, viable, and achievable as a means to support decision making in its (continued) investment.
Understand how the Business Case theme supports the continued business justification principle.
The Business Case documents the business justification for the project and describes the reasons for the project based on estimated costs, risks, and the expected benefits.
Understand the difference between an output, an outcome, and a benefit.
“An OUTPUT is any of the project’s specialist products (whether tangible or intangible).”“An OUTCOME is the result of the change derived from using the project’s outputs.”“A BENEFIT is the measurable improvement resulting from an outcome t
Understand the purpose of a Business Case and a Benefits Review Plan.
“The Business Case is a description of the reasons for the project and the justification for its undertaking. It should provide a clear statement of the benefits that are expected from the project and the costs, risks and timescale that are entailed in ac
Understand the recommended composition of a Business Case.
An executive summary- Reasons- Business options- Expected benefits- Expected dis-benefits- Timescale- Costs- Investment appraisal- Major risks
Recall the defined roles within the Organization theme.
executive- Senior User- Senior Supplier- Project Assurance- Change Authority- Project Manager- Project Support- Team Manager
Understand the purpose of the Organization theme.
“The purpose of the Organization theme is to define and establish the project’s structure of accountability and responsibilities.”“The Organization Theme provides the knowledge to help define and establish the project’s structure of accountability
Understand how the Organization theme supports the Defined Roles and Responsibilities principle.
By “[providing] information on the Project Management Team, and its structure and accountability.”
Understand in which process(es) the Organization theme is applied and which roles are responsible for this.
Directing- Executive- Senior User- Senior Supplier- Processes: SU, DPManaging- Project Assurance- Change Authority- Project Manager- Project Support- Processes: SU, IP, SB, CS, CPDelivering- Team Manager
Understand the three project interests and how these are represented within the three levels of the project management team structure.
- Business (Executive)- User (Senior User)- Supplier (Senior Supplier)Represented at the Directing (Project Board) level of the project management team.
Understand how the four levels of the project management structure apply to the process model.
Corporate/Programme- issue the project mandate- (i.e. commission the project)- identify the Executive- define the project tolerancesDirecting- Processes: SU, DPManaging- Processes: SU, IP, SB, CS, CPDelivering- Proc
Understand the role of the Project Board.
“Responsible for the overall direction and management of the project . . . accountable for the success of the project.”“Approve all major plans and resources. Authorize any deviation that exceeds tolerances. Approve stage completion and start of n
Understand the role of the Project Manager.
“Ensure that the project produces the required products in accordance with the time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefit performance goals.”“It is the responsibility of the Project Manager to plan and oversee all of the day-to-day work and to
Understand the role of Project Assurance.
“Monitoring all aspects of the project’s performance and products independently of the Project Manager.”Support “the PM by giving advice and guidance on issues such as the use of corporate standards or the correct personnel to be involved in diffe
Understand the role of the Change Authority.
“Responsible for agreeing to changes to the requirements or scope of the project. By default this responsibility lies with the Project Board but they may, if they wish, delegate it to another body.” [ILX]
Understand the role of the Team Manager.
“To ensure production of those products allocated by the Project Manager.”“Where they do exist, it is the responsibility of the Team Manager to manage the creation and delivery of the specialist work packages and products under their control, as d