Incidents For Discussion 1
1. Elaborate on it is not sufficient for the PM simply to possess these skills they must also be perceived by others. 2. Can you think of several ways to assure breadth of communication in a project Do you think socialization off the job helps or hinders 3. Contrast the prime law for projects, Never surprise the boss, with the corporate adage Bad news never travels up. 4. 'The successful PM is a fire fighter by avocation. How much do you think fire fighting is a result of the PM's style Can...
Some ways of categorizing software projects
It is important to distinguish between the main types of software project because what is appropriate in one context might not be so in another. For example, SSADM, the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method, is suitable for developing information systems but not necessarily other types of system. Embedded systems are also called real-time or industrial systems. Information systems versus embedded systems A distinction may be made between information systems and embedded systems. Very...
Duration Fields
Table B-3 lists all duration fields available in Microsoft Project. For more information about durations, see Setting Task Durations on page 138. The amount of time that actual work has been performed on a task, up to the current date. Assignment AssignmentTime- Timephased OvertimeWork Resource ResourceTime- Timephased OvertimeWork The amount of overtime work already completed by a resource on a task. The amount of work already completed by a resource on a task. The amount of actual overtime...
Risk Management 1
1. A project manager discovers that there is a part of the project that contains some risk. His strategy with this risk is to subcontract the work to an outside supplier by using a firm fixed-price contract. Which of the following must the project manager do a. The project manager should make certain that the project team does not reveal the risk to the supplier until the contract is signed. b. The project manager should make every effort to make sure that the supplier is made aware of the risk...
Work Breakdown Structure WBS
In Chapter 1, I pointed out that when faced with any large, complex system you should break it into manageable pieces. The Work Breakdown Structure WBS consists of the complete list of tasks and subtasks required to complete the program. The elements of a WBS are discrete tasks or work packages that can be separately planned and budgeted. Examples of WBS items might include writing the test plan or user interface development. Develop a WBS where most of the tasks are of three-months duration....
Managing Conflict
Temporary management situations produce conflicts. This is a natural occurrence resulting from the differences in the organizational behavior of individuals, the differences in the way that functional and project managers view the work required, and the lack of time necessary for project managers and functional personnel to establish ideal working relationships. Regardless of how well planning is developed, project managers must be willing to operate in an environment that is characterized by...
The backward pass
The second stage is to carry out a backward pass to calculate the latest date at which each event may be achieved, and each activity started and finished, without delaying the end dale of the project. The latest date for an event is the latest date by w hich all immediately following activities must be started for the project to be completed on time. In calculating the latest dates, we assume that the latest finish date for the project is the same as the earliest finish date - that is. we wish...
Project Cost Management
Project Cost Management includes the processes involved in estimating, budgeting, and controlling costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget. Figure 7-1 provides an overview of the Project Cost Management processes which include the following 7.1 Estimate Costs The process of developing an approximation of the monetary resources needed to complete project activities. 7.2 Determine Budget The process of aggregating the estimated costs of individual activities or work...
TeamBuilding and Motivating Skills
Project managers will rely heavily on team-building and motivational skills. Teams are often formed with people from different parts of the organization. These people might or might not have worked together before, so some component of team-building groundwork might involve the project manager. The project manager will set the tone for the project team and will help the team members work through the various stages of team development to become fully functional. Motivating the team, especially...
Major Elements of SPMP
Usually completed from a template such as that described by IEEE 1058,Standard for Software Project Management Plans, the SPMP describes the how of the project processes discussed earlier in this chapter.1 1 It describes how the project team will implement the life cycle software development processes of the chosen life cycle. The project charter information is integrated into appropriate sections of the SPMP. The rest of the document contains sections that include Project overview and...
Activity Sequencing
The activity's identity comes from the work breakdown structure. When the WBS is completed, the bottom of the work breakdown structure defines the individual pieces of work that are necessary to complete the project. These individual pieces of work are the same items that become the activities in the project schedule. One of the things that is done in the development of the WBS is to check that each of the activities has inputs for the work required. Each output from an activity is used by...
Discussion Questions 1
1. Traditional project management depends heavily on being able to clearly define what the client needs. You cannot create a detailed project plan without that information. Within the framework of TPM, what could you do if it were not possible to get that clear definition 2. You have run the Conditions of Satisfaction by the book, and your gut tells you that the client's wants may be a bit too far-reaching. In fact, you have a strong suspicion that what they need is not what they have told you...
Distributing a Project Management Methodology
The initial distribution of the methodology should be by a face-to-face presentation. Subsequent distributions of updates can be accomplished by placing the document file and associated templates on company LAN WAN system in an area that is accessible to everyone. These should be read-only files. They could also be included on the PMCoE intranet Web site as downloadable files. In either case, the PMCoE secures the master copies of the methodology and associated templates for version control....
Hold a Kickoff Event
Building a PMCoE is creating a new business function, which is a big deal and should be treated as such. Among the many different ways to publicize the creation of the PMCoE are A story with interviews in the company newsletter Posters and intranet Web site announcements Creation of a PMCoE intranet Web site Visits to department team meetings by the PMCoE leader A company-wide e-mail announcement Multiple announcements for Q amp A events held at all company locations Special, by-invitation-only...
What is management
The Open University suggest that management involves the following activities planning - deciding what is to be done organizing - making arrangements staffing - selecting the right people for the job, for example directing - giving instructions monitoring - checking on progress controlling - taking action to remedy hold-ups innovating - coming up with new solutions representing - liaising with users etc. Exercise 1.6 Paul Duggan is the manager of a software development section. On Tuesday at...
IMPROVING THE PROCESS OF COST ESTIMATION Lbj
where . Thus, if the MAD is a sizable fraction of the variable being estimated, the average error is large and the forecast or estimate is not very accurate. Now, consider Column D. The sum of the entries in this column for any number of periods is the sum of the forecast errors, often referred to as the running sum of the forecast errors RSFE . If the estimator's errors are truly random, their sum should approach zero that is, the RSFE should be a small number because positive errors should be...
The forward pass
During the forward pass, earliest dates are recorded as they are calculated. For events, they are recorded on the network diagram and for activities they are recorded on the activity table. The forward pass is carried out to calculate the earliest date on w hich each event may be achieved and the earliest date on which each activity may be started and completed. The earliest date for an event is the earliest date by which all activities upon which it depends can be completed. By convention,...
Lex A van Gunsteren
Lex A. van Gunsteren 1938 is since 1997 engaged in the development of Open Design methodology in the Chair Computer Aided Design and Planning of the Faculty of Architecture of Delft University of Technology. He graduated as a naval architect and received his Ph.D. from Delft University, where in 1981 he was also appointed as Professor in Management of Technological Innovation. He was one of the pioneers of the Rotterdam School of Management where he taught management of innovation and crisis...
Monthly Status Report
On a monthly basis, the development lead or project manager assembles and presents a status report at the monthly program review. In addition, the next level of management in your organization conducts a monthly review of all of the programs in his or her organization. The report is designed to assess the overall status, progress, and stability of the development. The report serves two functions Early detection and assessment of program risks. An opportunity to communicate the risks early so...
Portfolio Management Process Cycle
Portfolio management is a continuous business process with certain activities invoked during a given year when deemed appropriate by the organization. Selection and authorization of components, for example, can be part of annual planning, or strategic refreshing, with quarterly or semi-annual updates. Performance monitoring of the portfolio is usually continuous. Revising the portfolio mix may be required when disruptions to the organization occur. Once established, the portfolio management...
CPFF contracts
With a CPFF contract the client pays the contractor a fixed fee and reimburses the contractor for all costs associated with the project labour, plant, and materials actually consumed are charged at rates that are checked and approved by open book accounting. The cost of overcoming errors, omissions, and other charges is borne by the client. Advantages for the client include the following costs are limited to what is actually needed, the contractor cannot earn excessive profits, and the...
Open Design a Collaborative Approach to Architecture 1
1 The potential of mathematical modelling for architecture and urban planning has increased dramatically in the nineties 8 1.1 Sjoelbak Dutch shuffleboard 10 1.2 Expert design sjoelbak 10 1.3 Multi-stakeholder sjoelbak design 11 1.4 Mathematical modelling in Open Design 16 2.1 In Open Design, the product champion needs several benefactors 23 3.1 Graphical representation of professor's time allocation problem 28 3.2 Professor's time allocation problem 28 3.3 Manufacturing allocation problem 31...
Using the PackageLevel Analogy Method to Size the Simulator Project
As you approach the simulator project, you assess your overall situation. Fortunately, you work for a mature development organization, and your processes, procedures, and development and design tools are in place. You access the staff you need in-house, and so can depend on a level of competence, not only in software design and implementation, but also in the use of the tools. There is no need to train new employees. You will do your development in a combination of C and Java. Your architect...
Pro jcf anSmcnt in Practice
' ScicctingJ oject iagcrs at'ffliyrelecoin, Inc. The normal approach to selecting project managers for telecommunications projects is to select someone trained in engineering, since this person will undoubtedly have the appropriate technical background. However, GTE Telecom has found that this is an improper utilization of their resources and instead now uses managers trained in project management, free to draw upon engineering resources as needed. This allows their project managers to handle...
Each bubble is a project 1
Bubble size often represents an additional variable such as cost or net present value Bubble color might refer to a specific qualitative criteria required to measure balance. 0.3 04 0.5 o.e Indicator X or Criteria 0.3 04 0.5 o.e Indicator X or Criteria Figure 11. Portfolio Balancing Using Indicators or Criteria Figure 12. Portfolio Balancing Using Strategic Categories and Targeted Business Units Expert judgment is often used to assess the inputs needed to determine how to balance the...
Portfolio Management Process and Organization
Portfolio management is a process that helps and engages executive management in meeting organizational needs and expectations. Portfolio management enhances transparent and efficient decision-making concerning projects, either directly or under programs. Portfolio management is carried out in an environment broader than the portfolio itself, through its roles and processes that relate across the organization. This chapter describes the key components of the portfolio management context in the...
Portfolio Management Process Overview Links with Strategy
Portfolio management includes processes to collect, identify, categorize, evaluate, select, prioritize, balance, authorize, and review components within the portfolio to evaluate how well they are performing in relation to the key indicators and the strategic plan. During a typical business cycle, components will be reviewed and validated in relation to the following Alignment of the components with corporate strategy Viability of the components as part of the portfolio, based on key indicators...
Maintaining Your Enterprise Projects
Now that your projects are stored on the project server, you can work with them as enterprise projects. What does that mean to you Essentially, it means that you check the project out of the server when you want to work on it and check it back in when you're done for the day, for example. It also means that you're now using the enterprise global template containing any standard project elements that have been defined for your organization, including custom fields, outline codes, macros, views,...
Valis Houston Pmp Acacia Pm Consulting
Plan the work, work the plan. This simple phrase can be your guide through many difficult times in a project management career. The Time Management Knowledge Area should be applied with the support of a project scheduling tool. Of course, it can be done with 3x5 cards to gather information and then organized in a spreadsheet. However, the spreadsheet will only communicate the proposed plan. Once the project starts and the dynamics of a project ensue dates slip, unplanned scope is added,...
Human Resources Management 1
1. What are the major advantages of the functional type of organization a. Single point of contact for the customer b. Stable organizational structure d. Multifunctional teams are easy to form 2. The project manager's leadership style should be matched to the corresponding developmental level of the project team and should move through successive steps in the following order a. Disciplinary, autocratic, participative. b. Projectized, matrix, functional. c. Team building, team development,...
Project Management Practices Building in a Buffer
Building in a duration buffer is a method that many project managers use as a contingency against project risk. Some say that the durations should be as real and accurate as pos sible, already taking into account any possible risk. Others say it just isn't realistic to believe that you can account for all possible problems while you're still in the project plan ning processes. To build in a buffer, also known as reserve time, you can do one or more of the following Add a percentage of the...
Establishing User Accounts and Permissions
Project Server is loaded with a set of built-in user groups, each of which is associated with a set of permissions having to do with various aspects of enterprise project management and workgroup collaboration. Consider using the built-in groups and permission sets as a starting point. As you and your organization gain more experience with Project Server and start to get a better idea about how you want to implement enterprise and workgroup features, you can make adjustments and customizations....
Currency Fields
Table B-1 lists all currency and currency rate fields available in Microsoft Project. For more information about working with costs, see Chapter 8, Planning Resource and Task Costs, and Monitoring and Adjusting Costs on page 338. For more information about analyzing project information with earned value, see Chapter 13, Analyzing Project Information. cost for work performed, plus fixed costs. value budgeted costs of work performed BCWP costs. value budgeted cost of work scheduled BCWS costs....
Defining a Lookup Table
If you want more control over how you or other users enter information in the outline code fields, you can set up a lookup table for them to choose from. A lookup table comprises a list of values for the outline code. To define a lookup table, do the following 1 In the Customize Fields dialog box, click the outline code for which you want to create a lookup table. 2 Be sure that the code mask is defined for the selected outline code. Click Define Code Mask to set up or review the code mask. If...
Integrating Microsoft Project with Microsoft Excel
Embedding Between Microsoft Project and Excel....................... Linking Between Microsoft Project 504 and Excel.................... Importing and Exporting with Excel . . . . 521 Several techniques for information interchange are at your disposal to exchange information in Microsoft Office Project 2003 with Microsoft Excel. Not only can you integrate Excel information into your project plan, but you can also feed information from Project 2003 to an Excel workbook. Such capabilities provide...
Key deliverables
Market risk level estimates Market definition and impact. .4 Inventory of All Existing Components The inventory of all ongoing components is a list of components that have been authorized previously and are being executed through the project or program management process, or that have been put on a waiting list at the end of the previous portfolio cycle. .5 Inventory of All New Component Proposals The inventory of all new component proposals is a list of components that have been proposed...
Getting Started
As Shakespeare said, In delay there lies no plenty. I don t know about you, but I need all the plenty I can get, so it s time to jump in and start using Project. You have three choices when starting a new project. You can use Project Guide to get Project s assistance creating a project, you can build a project on your own from scratch by entering individual task and resource details, or you can use a project template that already contains data related to your industry or the type of project you...
Importing Information into Microsoft Project
You can bring information into Microsoft Project from another application and another file format by importing it. Importing converts another application s file format into the Microsoft Project file format. You start an import process by simply using the File, Open command. To import data to Microsoft Project, follow these steps 1 In Microsoft Project, click File, Open. 2 In the Files of Type list of the Open dialog box, click the file format of the file you are importing for example,...
Setting the Microschedule
It follows that you must coordinate the class method implementation so that the use cases become integrated. The ideal way to organize this phase s activity is to 1. Plan the order of use-case implementation. 2. Derive the order of class method implementation to meet the use-case implementation plan. 3. Sort out the dependencies and resource leveling of the class method implementation and schedule the implementation of the classes based on the effort and the dependencies. 4. Reset the use-case...
What Is a Portfolio
Defined, a portfolio is a collection of projects temporary endeavors undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result and or programs a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually and other work that are grouped together to facilitate the effective management of that work to meet strategic business objectives. The components of a portfolio are quantifiable that is, they can be measured, ranked, and...
Planning Processes
Table A.2 lists the inputs, tools and techniques, outputs, and Knowledge Areas for the processes in the Planning process group. Process Name Develop Project charter Expert judgment Project manage- Integration TABLE A.2 Planning Processes continued Define Scope Project charter Expert judgment Project scope Scope Requirements Product analysis Project document Enterprise environ- Rolling wave Activity attributes Project schedule Time network diagrams Estimate Activity Activity list Resources...
Quality Circles
Quality circles are small groups of employees who meet frequently to help resolve company quality problems and provide recommendations to management. Quality circles were initially developed in Japan and have achieved some degree of success in the United States. The employees involved in quality circles meet frequently either at someone s home or at the plant before the shift begins. The group identifies problems, analyzes data, recommends solutions, and carries out management-approved changes....
Setting the Stage for Project
Look you ve go-t Project Manager, Acci. lAanager, and Opportunity Manager, Tout Sucking Up to the Manager just isn t a iield -the program comes -with. MiJart I explains the types of input you have to give Project to make best use of its capabilities. You get a briefing on using Project views, using calendar settings to build Project plans, creating task outlines, and then specifying the timing and relationships that organize your project s tasks.
Quality Management 1
1. The processes required to ensure that the project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken include all activities of the overall management function that determines the quality policy, objectives, and responsibilities and implements them by means such as quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement, within the quality system. This is called 2. Decisions as to the types of projects that should be accomplished and strategic plans as to the quality of...
Determining Cost
The team should have access to a standard costing table. This table will list all resources, unit of measure, and cost per unit. It is then just a simple exercise in calculating the cost per resource based on the number of units required and the cost per unit. Many organizations will have a spreadsheet template that will facilitate the exercise. These calculated figures can be transferred to the WBS and aggregated up the WBS hierarchy to give a total cost for each activity level in the WBS....
Identifying a Specific Resource Needed
Knowing the need for a specific resource will occur quite often. When the situation comes up, we are faced with the question, Should we put that specific person in the plan If you do and if that person is not available when you need him or her, how will that affect your cycle plan If he or she is very highly skilled and you used that information to estimate the duration of the task that person was to work on, you may have a problem. If you cannot replace him or her with an equally skilled...
Discussion Questions Xcd
1. Discuss the concept of the work package as an insurance policy. How is it an insurance policy, and what might it contain that would make it an insurance policy 2. You have two choices for a resource to work on a programming task. One choice is Harry. He is the most skilled programmer in the company and is therefore in constant demand. As a result, he is usually assigned to several projects at the same time. He is available to your project on a half-time basis. He currently has commitments to...
Cost Management 1
1. A project manager wants to make a trip to California by car. The project manager knows how many miles it will be to drive to California, the current price of gasoline, and how many miles the car will go on a gallon of gasoline. From this information he or she can calculate the estimated cost of the gasoline for the trip. This is a form of what kind of estimating technique 2. A project manager wants to make a trip to California by car. The project manager knows someone who has made this trip...
Discussion Questions Oje
1. You have used the three-point method to estimate the duration of an activity that you know will be critical to the project. The estimate produces a very large difference between the optimistic and pessimistic estimates. What actions might you take, if any, regarding this activity 2. Discuss a project on which you ve worked where time was the major factor in determining the success or failure of the project. What did you do about cost considerations Did the sponsor s agree with the added cost...
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Glg
You are planning to buy new technology choose an area for a product or service. Use reference materials and the Internet to determine a beginning supplier list to answer the following What should go into the make-or-buy analysis What are your seller selection criteria Using cost benefit analysis, what are the pros and cons of sole source procurement versus competitive selection Create a risk register for the following classes of procurement Very large effort, major company as seller. Company...