Midterms

4-2 CPM Midterms

Project

Repetitive set of daily tasks

Main purpose of project management

To plan, organize, and control resources to meet objectives

Initiation

Phase that authorizes the start of a new project

Reopen the planning phase for proper completion

(Situational): A project nearing closure faces issues in deliverable hand-off because documentation is incomplete. What should the manager do?

Characteristic of Project

1. Unique purpose

2. Defined start and end

3. Progressive elaboration

Triple Constraint of Project Management

Scope, Time, and Cost

Fast Tracking

(Situational): The project manager decides to shorten the timeline by overlapping dependent tasks while managing risk. What scheduling strategy is being applied?

Initiate a formal change control process

(Situational): During project execution, a stakeholder requests an additional deliverable outside the original scope. How should the manager respond?

Analyze the critical path and adjust the schedule dependencies

(Situational): A project manager notices that certain high priority tasks are dependent on delayed materials. What should be the first step?

Schedule Compression

(Situational): A project manager observes that frequent design revisions are delaying progress. Which technique will best help realign the schedule?

Scope Verification

(Situational): A team completes most deliverables early but discovers missing documentation. Which process should be revisited?

Integration Management (Situational)

(Situational): A project halfway complete when a new regulation requires additional reports. Which knowledge area should guide how these changes are incorporated?

Milestone

A significant event marking progress

Responsibility Assignment Matrix

(Situational): Team members report confusion about overlapping responsibilities. Which document should clarify this?

100% Rule

Rule that ensures the WBS covers all project work?

Work Package

Lowest level of detail in a WBS

Accomplishment of WBS

Decomposes deliverables into manageable components

Gantt Chart (Purpose)

Tool for sequencing activities and identifying dependencies

Scope Statement

Defines the boundaries of what is included and excluded in the project

Integration Management (Definition)

Ensures that all project elements are coordinated effectively

Risk Management

Knowledge area that focuses on identifying, analyzing, and responding to uncertainties

Project Sponsor

Primary subject responsible for approving the project charter

Closing

The phase where final deliverable acceptance happens

Monitoring and Controlling

Process which ensures that the project objectives are being met

Planning

Process group that involves developing detailed schedules and budgets

Project Charter

The key output of the initiation phase

Gantt Chart (Represents)

Tasks over time using horizontal bars

Closing (Situational)

(Situational): The sponsor demands a report on whether objectives were achieved and lessons learned documented. Which process is being referred to?

Stakeholder Management

Knowledge area that governs stakeholder satisfaction

Cost Management

(Situational): The project’s cost baseline is exceeded while scope remains unchanged. Which area requires review?

Cost

(Situational) Rising material prices increase the project budget. Which constraint is affected?

Quality

(Situational) If the sponsor shortens the timeline but doesn’t add resources, it threatens what?

Cost Performance Index

(Situational) Completing tasks early but overspending requires checking the what?

Communication Management Plan

Document that ensures effective communication across all groups?

Cost Overrun

Indicates unapproved additions to the project work

Procurement Management

(Situational) Late delivery of outsourced materials should be handled under what?

Monitoring and Controlling (Situational)

(Situational) Conducting an ISO quality audit belongs to what?

Monitored periodically

(Situational) A high probability but low impact risk should be what?

Updating the Risk Register

(Situational) Identifying new risks during execution requires what?

Inefficiency through micromanagement

(Situational) An overly detailed WBS may cause what?

Gantt Chart

Chart that shows task dependencies clearly

Planning

Where using past lessons learned improves the process group

Project Documents and Lessons Learned

Outputs stored for future reference when the project ends

Critical Path

(Situational) A milestone delay caused by dependencies should lead the manager to inspect the what?

A formal change approval is obtained

(Situational) Both accepting a client’s change request, the manager must ensure that?

Ahead of schedule

(Situational) Completing 60% of tasks in 40% of the time indicates the project is what?

Progressive Elaboration

Refining project plans as new information becomes available

WBS Dictionary

Contains the detailed explanation of each WBS element

Behind schedule

(Situational) Earned value below planned value tells the manager the project is what?

Close the project and finalize documents

(Situational) Once objectives are achieved and deliverables accepted, the next step is what?

Change Management Plan

Document that outlines how changes will be requested, reviewed, and approved

1. Identified risks

2. Risk owners

3. Risk reponses

Risk Register contains

Activity List

An output of the “Define Activities” process

Primary Purpose of Schedule Baseline

Serves as the approved version of the project schedule

Rough Order of Magnitude

An estimate that is the least accurate during early planning

Stakeholder Register

Document listing individuals, their interests, influence, and engagement

Request for Quotation

Procurement document used to solicit price quotes

Project Management Plan

A collection of subsidiary plans that guide the execution and control

Critical Path in Schedule

Represents the longest path determining project duration

RACI Chart

Responsibility matrix used to assign tasks to team members

Variance Analysis

(Situational) When a project team compares actual performance against the baseline, they are performing what?

Lessons Learned Register Purpose

Capture insights to improve current and future projects

PERT

A scheduling technique uses optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely durations?

Pareto Chart

A quality tool used to display categories of defects in descending order

Float / Stack Scheduling

Time a task can be delayed without affecting the schedule

Resource Leveling

(Situational) A project team is adjusting resources to resolve over-allocation. This technique is what?

Avoided / Transferred

(Situational) A risk with low probability but very high impact should be what?

Contract Change Log

A document used to record formal communication during contract execution

FTF / Synchronous Communication

Communication method that is best for urgent, sensitive decision

Quality Management Plan

Defines the standards, metrics, and quality control procedures

Parametric Estimating

Cost estimation method that uses historical data and statistical relationships

Fallback plan

A backup response if the primary plan fails during risk planning

Issue

A current problem requiring action

Facilitation

An interpersonal skill which helps reduce conflicts and build consesus

Business Case

Identifies “WHY” a project is being undertaken

Highest-value Features

(Situational) A project uses agile-style iterations. What is prioritized first?

Close Procurements

(Situational) A project has multiple contractors. Which process ensures all agreements are completed?

Validation Scope

Performs formal acceptance of completed deliverables

Example of Preventive Action

Implementing a process to avoid future defects

Change Request

(Situational) A project needs a new tool to meet quality requirements. This request should be added to the what?