Principles of Project Management Flashcards

Project management methodology:

Answer: A series of steps or processes intended to guide the project manager and team through a project

A project management methodology is a structured framework that provides a set of principles, processes, and practices to effectively plan, execute, and control a project. It serves as a guide for the project team, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and successful project delivery. It outlines a systematic approach to managing projects from initiation to closure.

Which project management approach enables more frequent communication with the client?

Answer: agile

Agile project management emphasizes iterative development, frequent communication, and continuous feedback, making it highly adaptable to changing client needs. It involves regular interactions with the client throughout the project lifecycle, often through short 'sprints' and frequent review meetings, ensuring the client is deeply involved and satisfied with the evolving product. This collaborative approach prioritizes client engagement.

Choose a waterfall-compatible project.

Answer: Expanding a highway

The Waterfall methodology is best suited for projects with well-defined requirements, minimal expected changes, and a clear, sequential progression of phases. Large-scale construction projects like expanding a highway typically have fixed designs, extensive planning, and a linear execution process, where each phase must be completed before the next begins. This makes Waterfall an appropriate choice for such predictable and structured endeavors.

Sprints are used in ____ and .

Answer: agile and scrum

Sprints are a core component of the Scrum framework, which is an agile methodology. In Scrum, a 'sprint' is a fixed-length iteration (typically 1-4 weeks) during which a specific set of work is completed and made ready for review. Therefore, sprints are intrinsically linked to both agile principles and the Scrum process, representing a time-boxed period for focused development.

What are three popular project management methods?

Answer: agile, scrum, and waterfall

Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall are three of the most widely recognized and utilized project management methodologies. Waterfall is a traditional, linear approach; Agile is an iterative and flexible approach; and Scrum is a specific framework within the Agile methodology. These three represent distinct and popular ways to manage projects, each with its own strengths and applications.

What limitations may alter with project scope?

Answer: Quality, resources, risks, customer satisfaction or schedule may be impacted by a change to project scope.

The 'project scope' defines what is and is not included in a project. Any change to the scope (often called 'scope creep') can have a ripple effect across all other project constraints and aspects. Altering the scope typically impacts the project's budget (resources), timeline (schedule), quality of deliverables, potential risks, and ultimately, customer satisfaction if not managed properly. This interconnectedness is often referred to as the 'project management triangle' or 'iron triangle'.

How to eliminate project risks?

Answer: It is impossible to avoid project risks completely, all projects have inherent risks

Project risks are inherent uncertainties that can impact project objectives, making complete avoidance impossible. While risks can be identified, analyzed, and mitigated, the dynamic nature of projects, external factors, and unforeseen circumstances mean some level of risk will always exist. Effective risk management focuses on minimizing the probability and impact of risks, rather than attempting to eliminate them entirely.

How many project risks are unknown?

Answer: indefinite

In project management, risks are often categorized into known-knowns, known-unknowns, and unknown-unknowns. The 'unknown-unknowns' represent risks that cannot be foreseen or identified in advance due to their unpredictable nature. By definition, the number of such risks is indefinite, as they emerge unexpectedly during the project lifecycle and cannot be quantified beforehand.

List 6 project restrictions.

Answer: Schedule, scope, resources, risks, quality, customer satisfaction

The six project restrictions, often referred to as constraints, are critical factors that limit or influence a project's execution and success. These typically include schedule (time), scope (what needs to be done), resources (people, equipment, materials), risks (uncertainties), quality (standards), and customer satisfaction (meeting stakeholder needs). These elements are interconnected, and changes in one can significantly affect the others.

What's project scope?

Answer: Project scope refers to what the project is expected to accomplish.

Project scope defines the boundaries of a project, detailing all the work that needs to be done to deliver a product, service, or result with specified features and functions. It clearly outlines the project's objectives, deliverables, and requirements. Essentially, project scope answers the fundamental question of 'what' the project is expected to accomplish.

Project scope management's focus?

Answer: What is and is not included the project

Project scope management is the process of defining and controlling what is and is not included in the project. Its primary focus is to ensure that the project includes all the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully. This prevents scope creep, manages stakeholder expectations, and ensures the project stays focused on its defined objectives.

What's scope?

Answer: All activities that must be done to accomplish the project without unnecessary tasks not supporting the project objectives.

Scope, in a project context, encompasses all the activities that must be performed to accomplish the project's objectives. It specifically excludes unnecessary tasks that do not directly support the project goals. This definition ensures that the project team focuses efficiently on essential work, preventing wasted effort and ensuring alignment with the final deliverables.

Stakeholder: what?

Answer: Anyone with an investment in or impacted by a project.

A stakeholder is any individual, group, or organization who may affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision, activity, or outcome of a project. This broad definition includes not only direct investors or team members but also customers, suppliers, government agencies, and even the general public if they are impacted. Identifying and managing stakeholders is crucial for project success.

Which knowledge area covers project product purchases?

Answer: Project Procurement Management

Project Procurement Management is the knowledge area that encompasses the processes necessary to purchase or acquire products, services, or results needed from outside the project team. This includes managing contracts, selecting vendors, and overseeing all aspects of external purchasing for the project. Its goal is to ensure that necessary resources are obtained efficiently and effectively to support project objectives.

Project Human Resource Management addresses which?

Answer: Identifying, acquiring & managing the people necessary to complete the project

Project Human Resource Management focuses on organizing, managing, and leading the project team effectively. This knowledge area involves processes such as planning human resource management, acquiring the project team, developing the project team, and managing the project team. Its objective is to ensure the project has the right people with the right skills at the right time to achieve project goals.

Project is:

Answer: A temporary endeavor was undertaken to create a unique product, service or result.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), a project is defined as a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. Key characteristics include its temporary nature, having a definite beginning and end, and its aim to produce a distinct and novel output. This distinguishes projects from ongoing operational activities.