Introduction to Project Management Flashcards
What is a project?
A project is a temporary endeavor with a specific goal and a defined beginning and end.
Creates a unique product, service and result.
What do projects have?
- Scope
- Resources
- Timeframe
- Specific objective
What is a program?
Group of related projects.
What is a portfolio?
Collection of projects & programs to facilitate management of work to meet the strategic objectives of the organization / division of the company.
What is a task?
A specific actionable unit of work with a defined outcome
What are the four project management methodologies?
Waterfall, Spiral, Agile, Big-Bang.
What are some of the Waterfall Methodology’s characteristics?
Linear progression with an emphasis on planning.
Clear roles, requirements and responsibilities.
Predictable timelines and budgets.
Less adaptable to change.
What are some of the Agile Methodology’s characteristics?
Iterative and incremental with cross functional teams.
Focuses on working software with continuous learning and it is used when requirements are not understood.
What are the five Agile Methodologies?
Scrum, Kanban, Extreme Programming, Feature Driven Development (FDD) and Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
What is scrum?
Iterative and incremental framework.
What is Kanban?
Kanban focuses on visualizing workflow and limiting work in progress.
What is Extreme Programming?
Extreme Programming emphasizes customer satisfaction and engineering practices.
What are the challenges for the Waterfall methodology?
Adaptability, feedback loop, innovation, speed and agility, emergent needs.
What is a scope?
The work that needs to be accomplished to deliver a project.
Identifies what is
* In Scope – included in the project
* Out of Scope – not included
What is a schedule?
A structured framework that outlines the planned start and finish dates for:
* Project activities
* Milestones
* Deliverables
What is a budget?
A budget:
- Outlines the expected costs for different components of a project
- Used to ensure that the project stays within its financial limits.
- Often presented with time phased estimates
- Shows when the money is expected to be spent
What is the Spiral methodology?
A risk-driven iterative software development model that combines elements of the waterfall and prototyping models with a focus on risk management and mitigation. It is adaptable to changing requirements and priorities.
What is Big Bang methodology?
Big Bang is minimal planning with no formal phases and rather, relying on continuous development and adaption.
Highly code-centric, it focuses on rapid coding and iteration. Works best for one to two developers and can be fast and efficient but also prone to errors and rework.
Why is agile becoming the dominant approach?
- Adaptability
- Faster time to value
- Empowered Teams
- Continuous Learning
- Reduced Risk
- Cost-Effectiveness
What is Agile’s philosophy and what is it characterized by?
Agile is a mindset that enables organizations to be more responsive to change.
Characterized by:
- Iterative development
- Adaptability
- Customer collaboration
- Willingness to accept and embrace change
What are the four core agile values governing projects?
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Software over Documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change over following a plan
What are the three roles in Agile and what do they do?
Scrum Master (process expert and ensures team meets objectives while removing any hurdles), Product Owner (business interface and key-decision maker, prioritizing backlog), Deliver Team (developers).
What are the main concepts driving Agile Project Management?
- Sprint (usually 2 to 3 weeks, a fixed time period in which work gets done and delivers a working increment)
- Product Backlog (prioritized by product owner, it is a list of stories, bugs and issues).
- Sprint planning (Based on prioritized items, team picks work, delivery team and scrum master commit based on resources and estimates of stories)
What are the Agile Ceremonies that form part of the agile process?
Standups, Backlog Grooming, Sprint Planning, Retrospective
What are standups
Daily meeting that is typically, about 10 to 15 minutes in duration. Simple and Informal.
Delivery team identifies any roadblock. Scrum Master
responsible for removing roadblock.
What is backlog grooming?
Done by the Product Owner working with the Team and Stakeholders. Product Owner Cleans, Organizes, and Prioritizes the existing Backlog.
What is sprint planning?
Attended by Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Delivery Team. Done prior to Sprint Start. Team identifies the scope of the Sprint and people responsible for delivering.
What is retrospective?
Occurs after each sprint. Serves as a reflection on what went well and what can be improved. Key ceremony for continuous improvement.
What do pre-initiation tasks include?
- Determining the scope, time and cost.
- Identify the project sponsor.
- Identify the project manager.
- Review the process and expectations.
- Divide the project into smaller projects.
What is project initiation?
It is the First Phase in the Project Management Lifecycle where the Project’s Value and Feasibility are measured.
What are the key components of project initiation?
- Project charter
- Stakeholder Identification
- Initial Scope Statement
- Business Case
What is the project charter?
Formal document that authorizes the project.
What are the elements of the project charter?
Project purpose, scope overview, project team, stakeholders, risks and management, and preliminary project objectives, roles, and resources.
What is stakeholder identification?
The process of identifying all individuals, groups, or organizations impacted by the project or who can impact the project.
What are the three key steps to stakeholder identification?
Identify, Analyze, Classify
What is the scope statement?
A document outlining the project’s deliverables, boundaries, requirements and acceptance criteria.
What are the key parts to scope statements?
- Project Objectives
- Deliverables
- Boundaries
- Requirements
- Acceptance Criteria
- Constraints and assumptions
What is an Agile Vision Statement?
A brief statement that provides a clear, long-term direction for the Agile Project team, fostering a shared understanding of the project’s purpose and goals.
What are the key parts of an agile vision statement?
Target audience, needs, product and rationale.