Project Management: Resources, EVM, Testing, and Team Development

What is project resource management

Making the most effective use of the human and physical resources involved with a project

The key to managing and leading people

* influence and power

* effectiveness

*emotional intelligence

Earned Value Management (EVM)

A project management technique that integrates scope, schedule, and cost to measure project performance and progress.

Planned Value (PV)

The authorized budget assigned to scheduled work — what you planned to spend by a given time.

Actual Cost (AC)

The actual cost incurred for the work completed during a specific time period.

Earned Value (EV)

The value of the work actually performed; represents project progress in terms of cost and schedule.

Budget at Completion (BAC)

The total budget allocated for the project when it is completed.

Estimate at Completion (EAC)

The projected total cost of the project based on current performance.

Schedule Variance (SV) Formula

SV = EV - PV → Measures schedule performance. (+) ahead of schedule, (-) behind schedule.

Cost Variance (CV) Formula

CV = EV - AC → Measures cost efficiency. (+) under budget, (-) over budget.

If EV < PV, what does that indicate?

The project is behind schedule.

If EV > AC, what does that indicate?

The project is under budget.

What does a positive variance mean in EVM?

Positive = Good (ahead of schedule / under budget).

What does a negative variance mean in EVM?

Negative = Bad (behind schedule / over budget).

SIT

Systems Integration Testing — tests how different modules or systems work together.

UAT

User Acceptance Testing — ensures the system meets business and customer needs.

BA

Business Analyst — bridges communication between business stakeholders and developers.

BSA

Business Systems Analyst — focuses on technical translation of business requirements into system design.

Unit Testing

Testing individual components or functions, usually performed by developers.

Regression Testing

Re-testing after changes to ensure new code doesn't break existing functionality.

Post-Production Testing

Testing performed after deployment to ensure the live system functions as intended.

Typical Testing Flow

Dev → Test → Prod (Development, Testing, Production environments).

Who participates in SIT?

Developers, BAs, and BSAs.

Who participates in UAT?

Customers, BAs, and BSAs.

Operations — Key Focus Areas

Automation, Deployment, QA People, Infrastructure.

Frequent Release Characteristics

Fast, frequent changes but can cause incomplete information or frequent change requests.

Automation

The use of scripts/tools to automatically test or deploy code, reducing manual effort.

Deployment

Moving software from test or staging environments into production.

QA People

Quality Assurance team members who ensure that software meets required standards.

Infrastructure

The underlying hardware, networks, and cloud services (e.g., AWS) that support applications.

EVM Chart — What does the y-axis represent?

Cost or budgeted value over time.

EVM Chart — What does the x-axis represent?

Time or project duration.

In EVM, when would EAC be ahead of schedule?

When earned value (EV) exceeds planned value (PV).

What is the first type of project resource management?

Planning resource management

What is the second type of project resource management?

Estimating activity resources

What is the third type of project resource management?

Acquiring resources

What is the fourth type of project resource management?

Developing the project team

What is the fifth type of project resource management?

Managing the project team

What is the sixth type of project resource management?

Controlling resources

What is one way to have influence on projects through authority?

Legitimate hierarchical right to issue orders.

How can assignment influence a worker's future work?

Ability to influence a worker's later work assignments.

What role does budget play in influencing projects?

Ability to authorize others' use of discretionary funds.

How can promotion influence a worker?

Ability to improve a worker's position.

In what way can money influence a worker?

Ability to increase a worker's pay and benefits.

What is the influence of penalty in project management?

Ability to cause punishment.

How can work challenge influence a worker's engagement?

Ability to assign work that capitalizes on a worker's enjoyment of doing a particular task.

What is the influence of expertise in project management?

Perceived special knowledge that others deem important.

How does friendship influence project management?

Ability to establish friendly personal relationships between the project manager and others.

Covey's seven habits to improve effectiveness on projects

• Be proactive

• Begin with the end in mind

• Put first things first

• Think win/win

• Seek first to understand, then to be understood

• Synergize

• Sharpen the saw

The Tuckman model describes five stages of team development

• Forming

• Storming

• Norming

• Performing

• Adjourning

What is a key aspect of good communication regarding needs?

Focus on group and individual communication needs.

What types of methods should be used for communicating?

Use formal and informal methods for communicating.

How should important information be distributed?

Distribute important information in an effective and timely manner.

What should be set up when communicating bad news?

Set the stage for communicating bad news.

What should be determined regarding communication?

Determine the number of communication channels.

Communication Methods

• Interactive communication

• Push communication: information

• Pull communication

Pull communication

information is sent to recipients at their request viawebsites, bulletin boards, e-learning, knowledge repositories like blogs,and other means

Push communication

information is sent or pushed to recipients withouttheir request via reports, e-mails, faxes, voice mails, and other means

• Ensures that the information is distributed, but does not ensure that it was receivedor understood

Interactive communication

two or more people interact to exchangeinformation via meetings, phone calls, or video conferencing• Most effective way to ensure common understanding