Project planning and design

Question 1

Stakeholder analysis

Answer 1

• Identify stakeholders, who is interested in this project
• Determine different types of interested based on the type of stakeholder
• Document activities related to differing interests of stakeholders

Example

• Sponsor/stakeholder is interested in influencing an audience by providing a race event (the project) that is best in class.
• Event participant/stakeholder is hoping to improve her performance in the race to attract more money from her race sponsors
• Event project manager/stakeholder wants to provide a top quality race event to look for his next job

Question 2

Project scope

Answer 2

The size, cost and effort of producing the project. Define as many variables as possible to drive consensus or agreement with project sponsors before the project is underway.

Question 3

Scope creep

Answer 3

Changes to scope that increase the complexity, cost or time to deliver the project deliverables.

Question 4

Project controls

Answer 4

Document the controls the project manager and team will use to manage the project and keep the scope from changing.

Question 5

Success criteria

Answer 5

Define the outcomes that stakeholders and the project team agree reflect project success.

Question 6

Risk analysis and mitigation

Answer 6

• Analyse the project for possible risks, things that might block completion or success for the project.
• Describe mitigation steps to keep the risk from occuring
• document mitigation actions and steps to address risks that become issues.

Question 7

Risk versus Issue

Answer 7

Risks are possible actions or outcomes that might damage project success. Issues are risks that occur and must be acted upon.

Example
There is a risk of rain on the day of the event. The team decided the event could start as much as three hours later than the published start time and still be completed successfully. Poor weather was an issue on the day of the event and the event had to be postponed for two hours. The event was deemed a success with issues.

Question 8

Project constraints

Answer 8

Facts or activities that limit the project.

Example
The race event is constrained by weather concerns. If it is too hot or cold the race will not take place. Extreme cold weather is a project constraint.