Section 1 Flashcards
Critical path method (CPM)
The method of project scheduling that graphically shows dependent, interconnected, and related activities or tasks, including the critical sequence of tasks, called the critical path, that must take place on schedule if the overall project is to stay on schedule.
Budgeted cost of work scheduled (BCWS)
The estimated or planned cost to complete a particular task. Can be expressed as dollars or hours.
Budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP)
The amount of the estimated budget earned based on comparing the task work actually completed to the estimated budget for the task.
Actual cost of work performed (ACWP)
The amount of money or hours spent performing the task.
Design to Cost (DTC)
A method of design in which the initial task sets an appropriate cost target. All subsequent planning, preliminary design, and final design activities and solutions are monitored and tested for conformance with the initial cost target.
Finish-to-Finish (FF)
Two (or more) tasks are interrelated and scheduled to finish at the same time.
Finish-to-Start (FS)
Two (or more) tasks are interrelated and one must finish before the other is scheduled to start.
Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP)
A type of contract with which the design firm invoices on a cost basis up to a stipulated maximum dollar amount that cannot be exceeded.
Lump sum (LS)
A type of contract with which the design fee is a specific fixed amount that the design firm receives for its services regardless of how much money it actually spends to provide the services.
Management by Objective (MbO)
Method by which projects are managed by objectives rather than by activities or tasks. A set of manageable project objectives are defined. Project progress is then measured by performance toward achieving these objectives rather than by the performance of activities or tasks. Completed work is analyzed and necessary adjustments to future work are made to achieve the stated objectives. The MbO method was first outlined by Peter Drucker in his 1954 book % Practice of Management.
Other Direct Costs (ODCs)
A term used in project accounting that refers to miscellaneous costs other than those related to direct labor. In general, ODCs include postage costs, messenger services, printing, photo development, etc.
Program Evaluation & Review Technique (PERT)
A work diagramming system that uses statistics to determine the probabilities of task durations.
Project Manager (PM)
The person who leads the project team. The PM has six main activities: 1. defining the project scope of work, 2. planning the design work, 3. directing the design work, 4. coordinating the work with the client and the design team, 5. monitoring the work progress, 6. and learning from project outcomes to improve performance on the next project.
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
The Project Management Institute’s guidebook. PMBOK is a recognized ANSI standard.
Project Management Institute (PMI)
An international organization devoted to the standardization and dissemination of project management knowledge and techniques worldwide and across industry lines.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)
Quality assurance involves developing a quality-control plan by which all the “right things” are done throughout the project to achieve a project management process that produces a design and deliverables of high quality. Quality control is the use of a standardized system of checking procedures to ensure that deliverables are as accurate as practically possible.
Start-to-Finish (SF)
Two (or more) tasks are interrelated so that one task finishes when the other is scheduled to start.
Salary-related expenses (SREs)
The additional labor costs associated with the employees’ salaries such as Social Security, vacation, sick leave, employee benefits such as health insurance, etc.
Start-to-Start (SS)
Two (or more) tasks are interrelated so that the tasks are scheduled to start at the same time.
Time + Materials (T + M)
A type of contract with which the design firm is paid for its labor (time) costs and its other direct costs (materials). T&M contracts do not have maximum dollar amounts.
Total Quality Management (TQM)
Involves managing the quality of all aspects of a project including the design, the design process, and the management of the design process. With TQM, a firm’s upper management leads by example and assumes that employees will naturally do a good job if properly trained, given the correct tools, and provided with the right overall work environment.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
A review and analysis of the design of an architectural, engineering, or planning project by a third-party team of experts with the mission of improving the design’s performance, reliability, quality, safety, and lifecycle costs.
Will include the following characteristics: developed iteratively and is hierarchical; no more or less detail than is needed; tasks are defined by object, duration, and level of effort
6 Project Management Goals (Ramroth)
Goal 1 - Reach the end;
Goal 2 - Reach the end on budget
Goal 3 - Reach the end on time
Goal 4 - Reach the end safely
Goal 5 - Reach the end (as close to) error-free (as possible)
Goal 6 - Reach the end meeting everyone’s expectations
6 Fundamental Activities of Project Management (Ramroth)
DEFINING the design project’s scope of work, budget, and schedule / determine project objectives
PLANNING work effort so that project objectives, budget, and schedule will be met
DIRECTION the design team so that objectives will be met while staying within budget and schedule
COORDINATING the efforts of the design team so that interdisciplinary information flows smoothly and at the right time
MONITORING the design team’s work production and profess against project objectives, budget, and schedule
LEARNING from the project - what went right and what went wrong