Theme: Plans Flashcards

1
Q

what are the 3 levels of planning

A
  • Project plan: provides a high-level view of the full project, comprising key milestones, resource requirements, and overall cost and time estimate.
  • Stage plan: a detailed plan used as a basis for project management control throughout a management stage. Each element will be broken down to the level of detail required to be an adequate basis for day-to-day control by the Project Manager.
  • team plan: covers the work of the team during that stage or for a work package. In PRINCE2 team plans are optional
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

which type of plan is optional in Prince2

A

Team plan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

how many management stages must a Prince2 project have?

  • name the stages
A

2 stages:

  • 1) the initiation stage (thinking) and
  • 2) the rest of the project (doing)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what are the 7 planning steps

A

1) designing a plan: where we decide the number of stages, the format of the plan and the links to the programme or portfolio where appropriate

2)defining and analysing products: using the product focused steps

3) Identifying activities + dependencies: defining the work required: to develop the products and the dependencies between them
4) Preparing estimates:
5) Preparing a schedule
6) Documenting a plan
7) Analysing risk to a plan (this happens at every stage of the plan)

Note: This approach can be applied to any level of plan (e.g project plan / stage plan/ team plan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what are the Prince2 minimum requirements for planning

A
  • Ensure that plans enable the business case to be realized
  • Have at least two management stages (initiation and rest of the project)
  • Produce a project plan for the whole project and a stage plan for each management stage * Use the product-based planning technique for project, stage and exception plans and optionally for team plans
  • Produce specific plans for managing exception
  • Define the roles and responsibilities for planning
  • Use lessons to inform planning
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what are the 4 products that must be produced

A
  • the project product description
  • product descriptions
  • a product breakdown structure
  • a plan.
  • Note: A fifth product is recommended which is the product flow diagram but this is optional*
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

when is a stage plan used

A

A stage plan is required for each management stage. Each stage plan is finalised near to the end of the previous stage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

who produces team plans (if there is one)

A

Team plans are produced by the Team manager

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

when is an exception plan made

A

this is produced when a plan will no longer finish within the agreed tolerances. The exception plan is produced to replace the original plan.

  • It needs to be produced to the same level of detail as the plan it replaces (exception plans can either be at project or stage level).
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

who needs to approve the exception plan if it replaces the original stage plan

A

the project board

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

who needs to approve the exception plan if it replaces the original project plan

A

corporate or programme management

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is product based planning

A

this is when you take time to understand the products that need to be produced in a project first. This allows you to better understand the stages involved to producing the product.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what are the 4 main stages of product based planning

A
  • Writing the project product description – the senior user is responsible for specifying this but in practice the PM + executive can work on this with the senior user
  • create a product breakdown structure (PBS) – involves breaking down the components of the project in a hierarchical structure. Prince2 doesn’t define a format for this, It is down to your preference how you do it
  • Writing product descriptions for all identified products
  • create a product flow diagram – used to show the order in which products must be created.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is the Prince2 definition of a product

A

anything that is produced by, or on the way through a project.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what are “baseline products”

A

All the items of paperwork, reports and control mechanisms that have to be produced during the course of a project’s lifetime to ensure that the project is managed correctly

E.g business case, registers, checkpoint, highlight reports, end project reports

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

why are external products not included in the Product breakdown structure (PBS)

A

because we can’t control external products (so can’t plan them).

External products are included in the risk register

17
Q

what are the benefits of product based planning

A
  • Removes ambiguity and involves users in specifying the product requirements which in turn can improve communication.
  • Clarify the scope boundary
  • Identify external products and therefore associate risks
  • Create a basis for work packages for suppliers
  • Gain agreement on production, review and approval responsibilities.