Framework Flashcards
A project is a …
- Temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service or result
- Has a definite beginning and ending
- Unique because the deliverables are different in nature from status quo
Progressive elaboration is
- Continuously improving and detailing
- Also called “rolling wave planning”
Name the 6 constraints I need to balance
- Scope
- Quality
- Schedule
- Budget
- Resources
- Risks
At the beginning of a project:
Cost and staffing levels are…
Cost of change is…
Stakeholder’s influence is…
Risk is…
Probability of successfully completing the project is…
Cost and staffing levels are low.
Cost of change is lowest.
Stakeholder’s influence is highest.
Risk is highest.
Probability of successfully completing the project is lowest
Name the 6 project drivers
- Market demand (fuel efficient cars)
- Strategic opportunity (new course)
- Technological advance (faster laptop)
- Legal requirement (toxic waste disposal)
- Social needs (potable water project)
- Customer request (new website)
What is difference between a project vs. operations?
Projects are temporary and unique. The purpose is to attain objectives and transfer to operations.
Operations are on-going, permanent, and repetitive. The purpose is to sustain or maintain the business.
What is a deliverable?
A unique, tangibe, and verifable product, result, or capability
Requires approval from sponsor or customer.
Examples: a car part, a design document, or a service target
What is Integration?
Identify, define, combine, unify and coordinate processes
What is Scope?
Includes all the work and only the work required
What is Time?
Timely completion of the project
What is Cost?
Complete the project within approved budget
What is Quality?
Satisfy needs for which the project was undertaken
What is Human Resources?
Organize, manage, and lead project team or staff
What is Communications?
Timely and appropriate project information to stakeholders.
What is Risk?
Maximize opportunities and minimize threats
What is Procurement?
Purchase or acuire products/services needed from the outside
What is Stakeholder?
Identify stakeholders, engage them, manage expectations
Name the three types of phase lifecycles
-
Predictive or Plan-Driven
- Scope, time, etc. defined early
- Product well understood
- Good industry base knowledge
- Product to be delivered in full
-
Iterative & Incremental
- Changing objective & scope
- Iterative = repeated cycle
- Incremental = add functionality
-
Adaptive or Change-Driven
- Scope difficult to define in advance
- High levels of change - Agile
- Rapid iterations - 2 to 4 weeks
Describe a Sequential phase
Sequential phase means one phase after another.
- Lower risk.
- Difficult to reduce the schedule.
Describe an Overlapping phase
Overlapping phases means a phase starts prior to completion of the previous phase.
- Increased risk.
- Fast tracking.
- My require extra resources.
- May result in rework.
What is Project Life Cycle?
- Project phases are collectively known as the project life cycle.
- Defines the beginning and end of a project
- Part of the Product Life Cycle.
Phase End
Reassess work or terminate project:
- Phase exits
- Toll gates
- Phase gates
- Kill points
Phase Closure involves
- Approval
- Some form of transfer or hand-off
Portfolio Management
Management of projects, programs, and operations grouped together to meet strategic business objectives.
Example: Infrastructure company’s portfolio of power, oil, and gas, transportation, and security.
Program Management
Group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control unavailable by managing them individually.
- Example*: New communications system program with projects: satellite design, construction, and launch.
- Example*: New transportation program with bus, rail, subway, and airport
Project Management
Application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet project requirements.
What is a PMO?
Group that standardizes project governance, sharing of resources and methods.
May have direct or indirect responsibility for project success.
Describe 3 types of PMOs
Supportive = consultative.
Controlling = require compliance (the police).
Directive = directly manage projects
PMO vs. PMs
- PMOs find opportunities for collaborated project management; PMs achieve specific project objectives.
- PMOs optimize shared resources; PMs manage assigned resources.
- PMOs manage methodologies & standards; PMs manage constraints.
Name three types of organization structures and who wields the power
Functional (silos)
- PM is just an expediter
- Functional manager manages budget & decisions.
Matrix (weak, balanced, strong)
- Weak: PM is expediter or coordinator. Functional manager manages budget & decisions.
- Balanced: PM is project manager. PM and functional manager own the budget & decisions.
- Strong: PM is project manager. PM has more power.
Projectized (project based only, Accenture)
- PM is project manager. PM has full authority.
What is project manager responsible for and what are her competencies?
Responsible for achieving project objectives.
Competencies:
- Knowledge
- Performance
- Personality
Negative stakeholders…
Impede project progress
Key stakeholders…
- Exert influence
- Actively involved
What does the Sponsor do?
- Provide resources and support
- Approves project charter
- Promotes the project
- Serves as escalation path
- Provides initial scope
- Authorizes go / no-go decisions
What does the Customer (User) do?
- Provide clear requirements
- Defines scope, quality assurance, and quality policy
- Validates scope
- Approve and manage product
What does Portfolio Manager / Review Board do?
- Performs high-level governance of portfolio
- Acts as project selection panel
- Review each project for ROI
What does Functional Manager do?
Assigns and approves resources
Receives and evaluates individual performance reviews from PM
Oversees a business unit
What does Operations Manager do?
- Produces and maintains saleable products or services.
- Incorporates handed off project into operations.
What does Sellers / Biz Partner do?
- External companies
- Vendor, suppliers, contractors
- Provide special expertise
What are EEFs?
External Environmental Factors (EEF)
External variables that impact project.
Examples:
- Market trends, strategy, conditions
- Organizational structures, culture
- Government or industry standards
- PMIS
- Infrastructure, personnel administration
- Work authorization systems
- Industry-specific PM body of knowledge
What are OPAs?
Organizational Process Assets (OPA)
Includes assets used int he project’s success.
Examples:
- Processes & procedures & templates
- Corporate knowledge base (databases, historical info, lessons learned, project files, etc.)
What is PMIS?
Project Management Information System (PMIS):
Automted tool suite with access to project data. Includes:
- Scheduling system
- Information gathering system
- Configuration management system
What is a Configuration Management System?
Configuration Management System (CMS):
- A subsystem of PMIS
- Procedures to identify, control changes to, and support audit of product characteristics
- Includes version control tracking
- Focus on both deliverables and processes
- Establishes baselines
Configuration management activities include:
- Identification
- Status accounting
- Verification and audit
What is a Change Control System?
Change Control System (CCS):
- Subsystem of CMS
- Documents & procedures
- How project deliverables and documentation are controlled, changed, and approved
- Components: emergency CCS, contract CCS
What does the Change Control Board do?
- Reviews, evaluaes, approves or reject changes.
- PM has authority to approve non-critical change requests.
- Sponsor or customer may be required to approve critical changes.
- CCB has company interest; PM has project interest.
