Project Management Terms Flashcards
Define a project
A temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result. (Temporary)
Define Operations
Opposite of projects: Operations deal with the day to day work of a business. (Ongoing)
Define Progressive Elaboration aka rolling wave planning
Progressive Elaboration involves discovering greater levels of detail as the project moves toward completion.
Also: as time progresses things get more detailed
Define Project management
PM is the application of knowledge skills tools and techniques to meet the project requirements, it’s about managing people to accomplish the scope of the project within the given constraints of time and costs.
time/cost/scope
What is predictive project management? Aka Waterfall
Plan driven, much of the plan will be mapped out up front and then the rest of the project is executing such plan. Very few changes.
What is Agile PM?
Agile Aka change driven PM: the product is built in small increments instead of all at once.
The Key is feedback. Develop-release-feedback
Supports changes
What is Hybrid PM?
Hybrid PM is a combination of both Predictive aka waterfall and agile methods.
Values of Project - Thoughts…
Derive value from the output of that project… tangible value like money or intangible such as brand reputation
What is a process?
Processes have inputs, tools, and techniques, that are combined to execute a specific activity on a project and create a specific output.
Process: What is an input?
An Input are things that are needed to start the process.
Process: what are tools and techniques?
Tools and techniques are the things that allow you to execute a process
Process: what is an output?
An out put is the result that you get out of a process.
What does ITTO stand for? Hint process….
Input, Tools and Techniques, and Output.
What is a phase?
A phase is a division within the project where extra control is needed to effectively manage the completion of one of more deliverables. Phases are concluded and formally closed with the acceptance of a deliverable.
What are the 5 process groups
The 5 process groups are initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing.
What are phase gates? (Phase reviews, stage gates, and kill points)
Phase gates/phase reviews/stage gates/kill points are held at the end of each phase of a project to determine if the project is meeting its goals and if the project should continue.
What is a deliverable?
Part of the product that is presented to the customer or stakeholders for acceptance.
Who creates phases of a project?
Typically the project manager
Process group…. 5 Stages of a project?
Each phase will have these 5 processes: Initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing.
Knowledge Areas (10) ISSCQRCRPS
Integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, communications, risks, procurement, and stakeholders
What are Development Life Cycles
Development life cycles is the series of phases a project will go through from start to finish.
Predictive/waterfall
Iterative/incremental/adaptive/ agile
Hybrid… of both predictive and adaptive
What is a program?
A program is a collection of projects containing a common goal managed by a program manager
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a collection of projects and programs that are implemented to achieve a strategic buisness goal, and are managed by a portfolio manager.
What are the 3 baselines in every project?
3 baselines in every project are scope, time, cost
What is a baseline?
A baseline is an original plan plus any approved changes.
Planned work
What is historical information?
Historical information is Information learned from previous projects
What are lessons learned?
When are they recorded?
Lessons learned are new and better ways of completing various tasks and apply those methods to the remaining tasks on the project.
They are recorded at the end of every project or phase.
What are regulations?
Regulations are official documents that provide guidelines that must be followed.
What are standards?
A standard is approved by a recognized body that provides guidelines.
in project management what are systems?
Systems includes all formal procedures and tools put in place to manage something.
What is project governance?
Project governance is the framework, functions, and processes that a company will follow in order to complete a project.
How a company runs their own projects….
What is the role of the Project Management Office (PMO)?
What are the 3 types of PMOs?
The Project Management Office (PMO) provides guidance and support for all project managers in the company.
Supportive, Controlling, and Directive
What is a stakeholder?
A stakeholder is any individual or business that may be positively or negatively affected by the project. Including by not limited to the people on the project itself.
Stakeholder said simply…
Stakeholders are everyone that is affected by the project…
Who can accept deliverables (2)?
Deliverables can be accepted by the sponsors or the customers.
What is a project sponsor?
A sponsor is someone internal or external that provides resources and support to the project for the project’s success.
Who are customers and users?
Customers and users are the people that will use the project deliverables.
Who are Sellers?
Sellers are (Vendors) companies that provide supplies, or services to the project and are external to the company hosting the project.
Who are Organizational groups?
Organizational groups are internal entities that are affected by the project activities. (Sales, HR, Legal, Finance)
Who are functional managers?
Functional managers are individuals who are heads of different organizational functions. They hold the companies resources in their department
For example:
Head of Sales
Head of Finance CFO
What are senior managers?
Senior managers are individuals who are responsible for the strategic plans and goals of the company.
Who are the program managers?
Program managers are responsible for the programs they manager and for managing project managers.
Who are the project team?
The Project team consists of the people who create the project’s products, services, or results.
Who is the project manager?
The project manager is responsible for the project outcome. Authorized to use the project resources and do the day to day management of the project team.
What is a project coordinator?
Similar to a PM a project coordinator may not be able to make budget decisions but can assign resources.
What is the role of a Project Expeditor?
A project expeditor organizes the project work and have no power or responsibility to follow a budget. Staff with no formal authority.
What is a product owner? And what type of project methodology uses them.
The product owner is used on an agile project and they are in charge of organizing the product backlog.
What is the uses of an Organizational Structure?
An Organizational structure helps determine who has the power and authority level in each project to control the resources (budget or labor)
What does Project Orientated mean?
A project orientated business is where the PM controls all of the resources.
In what matrix does the PM have the most authority over resources? Weak, balanced, or strong?
The PM has the most authority over resources in a Strong Matrix
What are the 6 constraints of a project?
Time Scope Cost Risk Resources Quality
What is project success?
Project Success is when a project is completed within its approved baselines or constraints. aka on time, in scope, at cost
