Chapter 8

Question 1

Project

Answer 1

A one off endeavour t achieve a specific objective

Question 2

Repetitive operations

Answer 2

“business as usual” - The normal day to day operations of the business

Question 3

Project Owner

Answer 3

The person for whom the project is being carried out and as such they are interest in the end result being achieved and their needs being met

Question 4

Project manager

Answer 4

The leader of the project team, taking the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the project meets its objective

Question 5

Project team

Answer 5

Members are given individual responsibility for parts of the project, chosen by the project manager. Good to include internal staff and external specialists

Question 6

Project customers/users

Answer 6

The end user, may or may not be the same party as the project owner

Question 7

Steering Committee

Answer 7

Oversee the entire project

Question 8

Scope Creep

Answer 8

changes, continuous or uncontrolled growth in a project’s scope, at any point after the project begins. This can occur when the scope of a project is not properly defined, documented, or controlled.

Question 9

Project sponsor

Answer 9

The person or organisation who provides the resources

Question 10

Project management

Answer 10

The term given to the processes undertaken to ensure that a project is completed on time, to budget and to the agreed quality standard

Question 11

PMBOK

Answer 11

The project management institute published the body of knowledge guide - documents and standardises generally accepted project management information and processes

Question 12

Earliest event time

Answer 12

The earliest time an activity can be completed by - determine the longest path up to the event and determine the minimum time that we can reach this point

Question 13

Latest event time

Answer 13

The latest time any preceding activity must be completed by if the project is to be finished by its required completion date

Question 14

Critical path

Answer 14

Activities in which any delay will lead to a delay in the overall project are for which EET = LET. It is the longest path through the network and the shortest time to complete the project

Question 15

Total Float

Answer 15

The time available to an activity less the activity duration i.e. End LET - Start EET

Question 16

Free float

Answer 16

The delay possible in an activity on the assumption that all preceding and subsequent activities start as early as possible i.e. End EET - duration

Question 17

Independent float

Answer 17

The delay possible if all preceding activities have finished as late as possible and all succeeding activities are to start as early as possible i.e. End EET - Start EET - duration

Question 18

EVM

Answer 18

A means of measuring the progress of a project by comparing performance on costs and time and thus identifying overruns/slippage. Provides an early warning signal

Question 19

Common measure of EVM

Answer 19

The cumulative cost performance index (CPI) - the earned value to date/cost to date.

Question 20

Buffering

Answer 20

Involves the inclusion of defined quantities to time within a project schedule to ensure the overall deliver date is met (building in slack to account for risky tasks)

Question 21

Padding

Answer 21

The adding of additional time to estimates to provide slack, distorting plans and leading to inefficient allocation of resources

Question 22

Feeding buffer

Answer 22

May be added to noncritical tasks that feed into critical tasks

Question 23

Capacity buffer

Answer 23

May be used in a multi-project programme to reduce the likelihood of a project being adversely affected by resource usage by another project

Question 24

Resource buffer

Answer 24

May be added to key resources to ensure that they are available when required

Question 25

Scenario planning

Answer 25

Allowances can be made for the risks associated with a project. It involves considering different sets of circumstances that may occur, and devising a plan to deal with each

Question 26

The project management maturity model (PMMM)

Answer 26

Aims to identify opportunities for continuous improvement by learning from past mistakes. There are 5 levels

Question 27

PMMM Level 1

Answer 27

Emphasises the importance of staff having basic project management knowledge throughout the organisation

Question 28

PMMM Level 2

Answer 28

Common standards and processes should be developed, so that the benefits can be repeated in future projects

Question 29

PMMM Level 3

Answer 29

Use of a single methodology throughout the organisation

Question 30

PMMM Level 4

Answer 30

Recognises the importance of benchmarking as an aid to improvement

Question 31

PMMM Level 5

Answer 31

Continuous improvement and feedback