SPM mod 1

Question 1

What is software crisis ?

Answer 1

Question 2

List five contributing factors to software crisis.

Answer 2

Question 3

What is Feasibility Study?

Answer 3

As the name implies, a feasibility analysis is used to determine the viability of an idea, such as ensuring a project is legally and technically feasible as well as economically justifiable. It tells us whether a project is worth the investment—in some cases, a project may not be doable. There can be many reasons for this, including requiring too many resources, which not only prevents those resources from performing other tasks but also may cost more than an organization would earn back by taking on a project that isn’t profitable.

Question 4

List three types of feasibility study types

Answer 4

Technical
Economical
Scheduling

Question 5

List four responsibilities of a project manager

Answer 5

1- feasibility study
2- Planning
3- Moniter and control
4- representing- meeting with clients and developers etc

Question 6

List five characteristics of a software project

Answer 6

Question 7

What is a project plan ?

Answer 7

Question 8

What is work breakdown structure ?

Answer 8

Question 9

What is critical path method ?

Answer 9

Question 10

List some key project stakeholders

Answer 10

1- project manager
2- team members
3- customer
4- sponsors

Question 11

How does stakeholder management works ?

Answer 11

1- Stakeholder Identification
2- Stakeholder analysis
3- Stakeholder matrix

Question 12

What is scope of a project ?

Answer 12

It is what needs to be achieved and the work that must be done to deliver a project includes a list of specific goals, deliverables, tasks, deadlines and costs.

Scope can refer to either product scope or project scope

Question 13

What is product scope ?

Answer 13

Product scope is defined as the functions and features that characterize a product or a service

Question 14

What is project scope ?

Answer 14

Project scope is the work that must be done in order to deliver a product according to the product’s scope(required functions and features)

Question 15

what is W5HH principle ?

Answer 15

The barry W boehm proposed questions that is helpful in defining scope of a project. 
1- Why is the software being built
2- What will be done. 
3- When will it be done 
4- Who is responible for a function
5- Where does the organisation located

Question 16

What is involved in project scope management ?

Answer 16

1- Planning scope management
2- Collecting requirements 
3- Creating the work breakdown structure(WBS)
4- Validating scope 
5- controlling scope

Question 17

List five reasons for project failure ?

Answer 17

1- Developement team doesn't understand customer's needs
2- Choosen technology changes 
3- Unrealistic deadlines 
4- Inexperienced team
5- Poor project management

Question 18

What are the types of software ?

Answer 18

1 - package software- prewriiten software , horizontal market and vertical market
2- custom software

Question 19

What are information systems ?

Answer 19

eg stock control software, patient management software

Question 20

What are embedded softwares ?

Answer 20

controls hardware

eg- automobile control software, Nuclear plant control software, robots, TV remote

Question 21

What are software services ?

Answer 21

it includes, software customization, maintainance, testing, and also contract programmers who carry out ad hoc activities.

Question 22

What are the constraints of a software project ?

Answer 22

Time constraints- deadlines
Scope constraints - Goals, features and functions
cost constraints - Budget of the project

Question 23

What are the key objectives of effective manageement ?

Answer 23

1- Quality - quality standards must be met
2- productivity - Increased productivity lowers cost
3- Risk reduction - Risk should be identified and must be dealt early

Question 24

How to select the right person for the job ?

Answer 24

1- Create  a job specification
2- Create a job holder profile
3- Obtain applicants
4- Examine CVs
5- Interviews

Question 25

What is motivation ?

Answer 25

Motivation is the willingness to exert efforts in order to achieve a desired outcome or goal which will satisfy someone’s needs.

Question 26

List four theories on motivation

Answer 26

1- Tayloirist model
2- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
3- Herzberg’s two factor theory
4- Expectancy theory of motivation

Question 27

What is taylorist model ?

Answer 27

in this model taylor emphasis on the piece rates and day rates

Piece rates are those where the workers are paid a fixed sum for each single item they produce whereas day rates refer to the daily pay that is given to the workers on a timely basis.

Question 28

What is maslow’s heirarchy of needs ?

Answer 28

The basic needs are placed by maslow in an ascending order of importance are -

1- Physiological needs- food, shelter etc
2- Security or safety needs
3- Affiliation or social needs
4- Esteem needs- this kind of need produces satisfactions like respect, power, prestige, status
5- Self-actualization needs- this is the highest need in the heirarchy. it is the desire to become what one is capable of becoming.

Question 29

What is herzberg’s two factor theory ?

Answer 29

people tend to be dissatisfied about thier job due to certain factors. they are -
1- Hygiene or maintainance factors
2- motivators

A hygiene factor makes the person dissatisfied if they are not rightly used. for eg- The working conditions of the worker

Motivators can make the person feel that the job is worth doing it. like a sense of achievement or the challenge of the work

Question 30

What is expectancy theory of motivation ?

Answer 30

Vroom identified three influencing factors on motivation. They are-
1- Expectancy - is a belief that working harder will lead to better performance.

2- Instrumentality - is the belief that better performance will be rewarded.

3- Percieved value- denotes the resulting reward.

Question 31

List three Methods to improve motivation

Answer 31

1- Specific goals - Must be demanding goals but yet acceptable by staff and should gain approval from them

2- Providing feedback - reflects the performance of the staff about how they are progressing

3- Considering job design - makes the job more interesting and provides the staff with greater responsibility

Question 32

Causes of stree in project management ?

Answer 32

1- unrealistic timeline
2- working in a matrix system in which PM does not have the full control of the resources
3- lack of resources- human or equipment
4 - Inter group conflict