Midterm Quiz Flashcards
What is a project?
• An endeavor to accomplish a specific objective through a unique set of interrelated tasks and the effective utilization of resources
What are some attributes of a project?
- Well defined, clear objective – establishes what is to be accomplished
- Series of interdependent tasks in a certain sequence
- Utilizes various resources
- Has a specific time frame
- May be unique/one time endeavor (planning a wedding, etc.)
- Has a customer/client/sponsor
- Degree of uncertainty (budget, schedule, scope)
What are the 5 key concepts when beginning a project?
- Client
- Project scope
- Deliverables
- Cost
- Schedule
What is Phase 1 of the project life cycle (PLC) ?
Phase 1:
• Identify need, problem, or opportunity
• Determine if project is to be selected
• Develop project charter: rationale, project objective, expected benefits, general requirements and conditions
• Decide if RFP (request for proposal) is needed
What is Phase 2 of the PLC?
Phase 2:
• Show how project scope will be accomplished
• Plan the work and work the plan
• Develop baseline plan: what needs to be done, how will it get done, who will do it, how long will it take, how much will it cost, what are the risks
• Have actual resources plan the work
What is Phase 3 of the PLC?
- Accomplish project objectives: project manager leads, project team completes the project
- Increase pace as more resources are added
- Monitor and control progress
- Take corrective action as needed
- Manage and control changes with sponsor approval
- Achieve customer satisfaction with acceptance of deliverable
What is Phase 4 of the PLC?
Phase 4: • Collect and make final payments • Recognize and evaluate staff • Conduct post project evaluation • Document lessons learned • Archive project documents • Record lessons learned
What are some aspects of building relationships with clients?
- Requires being proactive and engaged (face to face meetings)
- First impressions count
- Necessitates being a good listener and a good learner
- Focus should not remain on discussing projects alone
- Establishing and building trust is key
- Ethical behaviour in dealing with clients is imperative for building trust
What are some things to keep in mind when building relationships?
- Control emotions and be tactful and not confrontational in discussions with clients
- Maintain a positive and can-do attitude in dealings
- Build credibility based on performance
- Always put the client first
- It is important to build relationships with several key people in a client or partner organization
What are some ways to development a winning proposal?
- A selling document – not a technical report
- Understands what the client is looking for
- Can achieve the intended results professionally, on time, and, within budget
- Emphasize the benefits to the customer
- Be realistic in scope, cost, and schedule
- Write in a simple, concise manner
- You want to convince the client that you are able to meet their needs
What are some aspects of proposal preparation?
- Can be a straightforward task performed by one person or a resource-intensive effort requiring a team
- May designate a proposal lead
- Schedule must allow time for review and approval by client/management
- Can be a few pages or hundreds of pages
What is the technical section of the proposal’s contents?
- Understanding of the problem/need
- Proposed approach or solution
- Exception – variation from specified requirements
- Benefits to the customer
What is the management section of the proposal’s contents?
- Description of work tasks
- Deliverables
- Project schedule
- Project organization
- Related experience
- Equipment and facilities
What is the cost section of the proposal’s contents?
- Labour**
- Materials**
- Travel**
- Subcontractors and consultants
- Equipment and facilities rental
- Documentation
- Overhead
- Escalation
- Contingency or management reserve
- Fee or profit
What are some aspects of the proposal submission and follow up?
- Submit proposals on time
- Hand deliver expensive proposals or send by express mail services, if necessary
- Clients may request electronic submissions
- Continue to be proactive even after submission
- Follow-up needs to be done in a professional manner