Module 6: Life Cycles, Developmental Approaches and Common Elements

Question 1

What are the stages of a project lifecycle?

Answer 1

Ideation/Feasibility
Planning
Design
Build (execute and monitor and control)
Closing

Question 2

Which project artifacts are created during ideation?

Answer 2

Business case and charter

Question 3

Defn: Project Phase

Answer 3

a collection of logically related project activities that culminates into the completion of deliverables.

Question 4

Defn: Phase gate

Answer 4

point of deciding if a project should move forward

Question 5

There can be ___ projects in a product lifecycle?

Answer 5

Many

Question 6

Project phases are ____ & ____

Answer 6

sequential and logical

Question 7

Defn: Project governance

Answer 7

The framework, functions and processes that guide project management activities to create a unique product or service to meet an orgs needs and goals.

Question 8

Who determines project governance?

Answer 8

The organization, project sponsor and steering committee.

Question 9

___ can influence project leadership style.

Answer 9

Organization structure

Question 10

Orgs typically assign projects in one of three ways (org structures) They are:

Answer 10

Functional (PM division, PM in charge)
Projectized (Project teams, PMs not in charge)
Matrix (combines the two)

Question 11

What is the difference between a strong and weak matrix org structure?

Answer 11

Strong = PMs have more power
Weak = Power leans towards functional manager

Question 12

What are the 4 types of Project Management Offices (PMO’s)? What is the general idea of each?

Answer 12

Supportive - consultative role
Controlling - Provide support and require standards to be met
Directing - Directly manage projects and share resources
Agile Center of Excellence - Training and mentoring.

Question 13

Defn: Organizational Process Assets (OPA’s)

Answer 13

Comprise the project knowledge base and library of information

Question 14

Defn: Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEF’s)

Answer 14

Factors that are outside the control of the team and affect the project. Factors can be internal and external.

Question 15

Defn: Developmental Approach

Answer 15

Method used to create and evolve a product/service/result during the PLC. Can demonstrate specific characteristics such as being iterative or incremental.

Question 16

What is the importance of using developmental approach?

Answer 16

1. Adds value
2. Is responsive.
3. Can help generalize a project into predictive, hybrid or agile.

Question 17

Predictive Lifecycles have ____

Answer 17

clear stages

Question 18

Agile Lifecycles will ____

Answer 18

be iterative and loop on itself.

Question 19

Defn: Project performance domain

Answer 19

A group of related activities that are critical for the effective delivery of project outcomes.

Question 20

What are the 8 project performance domains?

Answer 20

Stakeholders
Team
Dev Appr / Lifecycle
Planning
Project Work
Delivery
Measurement
Uncertainty

Question 21

Defn: Fixed scope

Answer 21

Details are known and work is ready to begin

Question 22

Defn: Flexible scope

Answer 22

The team understands what needs to be built, but still considering the finer details.

Question 23

What tools should PMs use to create schedules in a predictive lifecycle?

Answer 23

Critical path method and work breakdown structure.

Question 24

What are the 6 key stages of scheduling in a agile lifecycle?

Answer 24

Roadmapping
Story mapping
Backlog
Sprints
Feedback loops
Repetition

Question 25

Adaptive lifecycles use which two budgeting tactics?

Answer 25

Burn rate and just in time budgeting

Question 26

What are two useful tools PMs should use to for scheduling resources in a predictive lifecycle?

Answer 26

RACI and Responsibility Matrix.

Question 27

Defn: Quality

Answer 27

Degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills reqs. Must have a standard.

Question 28

What are the two tools PMs should use to determine the cost of quality (COQ)?

Answer 28

Cost of compliance (standards)
Cost of noncompliance (defects)

Question 29

Defn: Compliance

Answer 29

The degree to which something does or does not meet a standard

Question 30

The ____ lifecycle uses quality management plans. The ___ lifecycle uses quality methods.

Answer 30

Predictive, agile

Question 31

T/F: Quality is relative

Answer 31

True

Question 32

Defn: Change

Answer 32

A modification to any formally controlled deliverable, project management plan component or project document.

Question 33

Defn: Constraints

Answer 33

Project boundaries or limits variables, such as time, cost or scope.

Question 34

Defn: Risk

Answer 34

Uncertain events or conditions that has negative (threat) or positive (opportunity) effects on project objectives.

Question 35

What type of risk is this:

Any business endeavor that involves profit/loss.

Answer 35

Inherent

Question 36

What is:

Degree of uncertainty an organization is willing to accept

Answer 36

Risk appetite

Question 37

What is:

Level of risk exposure. Risks above this line are addressed and those below may be accepted.

Answer 37

Risk Threshold

Question 38

What is:

An event/situation that indicates a risk is about to occur.

Answer 38

Trigger condition

Question 39

Defn: assumptions

Answer 39

Factors in the planning process that are true, real or certain w/o proof or demonstration.

Question 40

Defn: Issue

Answer 40

risks that have occurred.

Question 41

What are the two main communication blockers?

Answer 41

Filters and barriers

Question 42

What are the 4 communication methods?

Answer 42

Formal Written
Informal Written
Formal Verbal
Informal Verbal

Question 43

Communication can either be ____ or ____

Answer 43

push, pull

Question 44

Communication should answer what?

Answer 44

Who, What, When, Why and How

Question 45

What are the 3 processes related to communication management?

Answer 45

Plan, Manage and monitor all plans.