Part 1 Flashcards

(28 cards)

1
Q

What is a project?

A

A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique service or result.

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2
Q

What are attributes of projects?

A
Unique, one-time endeavor
Degree of uncertainty
Clear objective
Specific time frame
Sponsor and / or customer
Series of interdependent activities
Various limited resources
Organized set of work efforts
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3
Q

What is project management? (Definition)

A

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements

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4
Q

What are the activities of project management?

A
Initiation 
Planning
Executing
Controlling
Closing
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5
Q

Name the Standards on Project management

A

DIN (Deutsche Industrie Norm)
PRINCE2
ISO (intl. orga. for standardization)
PMBOK (PM - US Standard)

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6
Q

Name the Project Goals and Constaints

A

Scope
Cost
Quality
Schedule

Hard to fulfill all objectives in one project: high quality and low costs as well as scope and schedule do not work well together.

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7
Q

Forms of Project Success

A

-Meeting Agreements
(cost, schedule, specification met)
-customer success
(Customer need met, deliverables used, customer satisfied)
-performing organizations success
(increase market share, new products, new technology)
-project teams success
(loyalty, development of the people, satisfaction of project members)

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8
Q

Show the strategic planning process

Portfolio alignment

A

Strategic analysis-> guiding principles (vision&mission) —>
Strategic objectives-> flow-down objectives —> portfolio alignment

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9
Q

Describe the elements of a swot analysis with examples

A
  • strength (patents, know how)
  • weaknesses (financial resources, Human Resources)
  • opportunities (new trends, new laws, market growth infrastructure)
  • threats (new competition, political instability, catastrophes)
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10
Q

Name and describe the guiding principles in the strategic planning process

A

VISION - describes the organization of the future (economically, socially, and environmentally)

MISSION - way to achieve vision

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11
Q

Name and describe the key components of a mission state consideration

A
Purpose (why)
Core values (how)
Beliefs (what do we stand for)
Culture (how members should act)
Primary business areas (what business engages in)
Primary customers (who for)
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12
Q

Strategic objectives vs flow-down objectives

A

Strategic - means achieving vision and mission, objectives setting occurs annually (once a year), describe short-term and long-term results, describe measures of achievement

Flow down - enforce strategic objectives, implement through ongoing operations - primarily through projects

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13
Q

What are the strategic requirements of objective ( how should they be)

A
S   pecific
M  easurable
A   ffectable.    (influence2achieve)
R   ealistic 
T   ime bounded
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14
Q

Portfolio Management

How to identify potential projects?

A
Through PESTLE- Analysis: 
Political (strategic opportunity)
Economical (market demand)
Social (social needs)
Techological (techno. advance)
Legal (legal 
Environmental (environmental consideration)
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15
Q

Types of organizational structures

A

Functional
Projectized
Matrix

Difference in:
Work assignments
Reporting relationship
Decision-making responsibility

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16
Q

Comparison of organizational structures

Who makes the most decision?

A

Functional - functional manager

MATRIX - Shared

PROJECTIZED - project manager

17
Q

Comparison of organizational structures

pros/cons

A

Functional Manager
+
Good discipline-specific-knowledge, easy for central control, effective for shard resources, one boss, clear career path for professionals
-
slow communicationbtw. departments, slow response to change slow decision making
MATRIX
+flexible, easy to share resources, good cooperation betw. departments, more input for decision, wide acceptance of decision, good discipline-specific knowledge, effective integration on project, increased transfer of knowledge btw. projects
-
two bossees, many sources of conflict, more meetings, slow reaction time, hard to monitor & control
PROJECTIZED
+
break down department barrier, shorter response time, quick decisions, one boss, enhanced project team identity, customer focus, effective integration on project
-
duplication of ressources
rules not always respected, potential lessons learned can be lost, discipline-specific knowledge can slip, less career opportunity for team member

18
Q

What is Organization Culture

A

Organizational culture: shared values, social rituals and symbols
implemented through rituals: meeting, ceremonies
implemented through symbols: architecture, dress code

19
Q

How does Organizational Culture impact on Projects?

A

motivate ethical actions and communication of managers and subordinated. Determines how ppl are treated, controlled and rewarded, establish how cooperation, competition, conflict and decision making are handled, encourage personal commitment to the organization and justification for its behaviour

20
Q

Name the types of culture

A
Power culture (boss controls firm)
Role culture (follow your role)
Task culture (get your job done)
Person culture (interest in employees development/needs)
21
Q

Describe Project Culture Norms

A

act ethically in the best interests of the projects, the project team and other project stakeholder

22
Q

How should the project manager behave under the project culture norm

A

be responsible (own decision)
respectful (towards others, resources, finance, eco)
be fair
be honest

23
Q

What is the Role of the Project Executive?

A
Steering Team (select, prioritise, resource and guide the project)
Sponsor (issue charter, review progress reports/ mentoring and assisting PM)
Customer (select contractor, funding and stoping the project== task develope clear requirements, sign charter and accept/reject deliverables)
24
Q

What is the role of the Project Management?

A

PROJECT MANAGER
leads planning, controlling & closing of project, accountable for project result, schedule and budget, less formal power (authority)
FUNCTIONAL MANAG
head of department, negotiates with PM to assign member to project, has formal power (in function. orga.)

25
What is the Role of the Project Associate?
CORE TEAM carry out project activities, project level decision, capture lessons learned and transfer SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT extended team member, used on as need basis, choosen for specific expertise
26
What is the Project Charter?
document issued by project initiator/sponsor that formally authorises the existence of a project, provides project manager with authority to apply organisational resources to project activitites. Formal conttract btw, project team and sponsor & signing represents transition from initiating to planning
27
What is the purpose of a Project Charter
Authorize the projet manager to proceed help to develop a common understanding help to create commitment (manager/core team)
28
Name the elements of a project charter
scope overview (boundaries), business case (why), background, milestone schedule (when), acceptance criteria(what), risks, resources, stakeholders, team operation principles, lessons learned, signatures and commitment)