Chapter 13.5: Work packages and control accounts Flashcards
(18 cards)
What’s a work package?
A work package is like a focused assignment — it’s a small chunk of the project with its own goals, budget, and timeline. It’s basically a contract for a specific job that you can monitor and manage.
Why are work packages important in project control?
They’re where the action happens. Each work package is a control point for tracking progress, checking costs, spotting issues, and making course corrections.
What is a control account?
A control account is the “hub” that oversees a group of work packages. It pulls together data like actual costs and progress so managers can evaluate how that section of the project is going.
Why are control accounts helpful?
They give project managers a clear picture of what’s going well and what’s not. Instead of looking at the whole project, they can zoom in and troubleshoot specific areas.
What happens when a project has tons of work packages?
It gets messy. But a system like PCAS (Project Control and Accounting System) helps organize it all and makes it easier to track progress and catch delays.
What’s PCAS?
Think of PCAS as the project’s central dashboard. It logs data like costs, time, and progress for each work package and helps generate performance reports.
How do teams track work progress?
Using a “percent complete” estimate. Supervisors check how much has been done and how much time is left, then report it on tools like Gantt charts.
What’s the end goal of all this tracking?
To stay on top of schedules, costs, and deliverables — and avoid nasty surprises at the end of the project!
How do managers actually measure work progress in a project?
It’s not just about time or money spent — they look at how much real progress has been made on the actual tasks using different methods.
What’s one of the most basic ways to measure progress?
Supervisor observations. Managers check in, ask questions, and review reports to get a feel for what’s getting done.
What are milestones in a project?
Milestones are key points that signal progress — like completing a major report, finishing design drawings, or solving a big technical issue.
What’s the deal with tests and demos?
They show whether a system, part, or component actually works. It’s a great way to track technical progress as the project moves forward.
How do outside experts help track progress?
They act like guest judges. They review documents, talk to the team, and give feedback on how things are going.
What does ‘status of design documentation’ tell us?
If the blueprints, manuals, and models are nearly finished, the design work is likely almost done too.
Can tracking resources say anything about progress?
Yep! When special equipment or labs are being used, it often means tasks are in full swing or wrapping up.
What are “telltale tasks” and why do they matter?
These are early-stage tasks like concept design. If they’re still hanging around late in the project, it’s a red flag for delays.
How does benchmarking or analogy work in tracking?
It compares your project’s pace to similar ones. If others finished this step faster, maybe you’re falling behind.
Why do bugs, change requests, and rework matter?
Too many of these near the end = trouble. It might mean unresolved issues are still piling up and delaying progress.
