Competency 1.1

List and describe each of the ten project management knowledge areas.

1. Project scope management involves defining and managing all the work required to complete the project successfully. 2. Project time management includes estimating how long it will take to complete the work, developing an acceptable project schedule, and ensuring timely completion of the project. 3. Project cost management consists of preparing and managing the budget for the project. 4. Project quality management ensures that the project will satisfy the stated or implied needs for which it was undertaken. 5. Project human resource management is concerned with making effective use of the people involved with the project. 6. Project communications management involves generating, collecting, disseminating, and storing project information. 7. Project risk management includes identifying, analyzing, and responding to risks related to the project. 8. Project procurement management involves acquiring or procuring goods and services for a project from outside the performing organization. 9. Project stakeholder management includes identifying and analyzing stakeholder needs while managing and controlling their engagement throughout the life of the project. 10. Project integration management is an overarching function that affects and is affected by all of the other knowledge areas.

Describe the triple constraint. What are the three components and what is the relationship between them?

Every project is constrained in different ways by its scope, time, and cost goals. These limitations are sometimes referred to in project management as the triple constraint. To create a successful project, a project manager must consider scope, time, and cost and balance these three often-competing goals. He or she must consider the following: Scope: This goal involves questions such as, "What work will be done as part of the project? What unique product, service, or result does the customer or sponsor expect from the project? How will the scope be verified?" Time: This goal encompasses questions such as, "How long should it take to complete the project? What is the project's schedule? How will the team track actual schedule performance? Who can approve changes to the schedule?" Cost: This goals deals with questions such as, "What should it cost to complete the project? What is the project's budget? How will costs be tracked? Who can authorize changes to the budget?" Managing the triple constraint involves making trade-offs between scope, time, and cost goals for a project. Experienced project managers know that they must decide which aspect of the triple constraint is most important. If time is most important, one must change the initial scope and/or cost goals to meet the schedule. If scope goals are most important, one may need to adjust time and/or cost goals.

Opponents of a project do not belong to the category of stakeholders. -True -False

False

Questions about how a team will track schedule performance is related to a project's scope. -True -False

False

What are some of the qualities of a good project manager? Explain.

Project managers often take on the role of both leader and manager. Good project managers know that people make or break projects, so they must set a good example to lead their team to success. They are aware of the greater needs of their stakeholders and organizations, so they are visionary in guiding their current projects and in suggesting future ones. Companies that excel in project management grow project "leaders," emphasizing development of business and communication skills. Yet good project managers must also focus on getting the job done by paying attention to the details and daily operations of each task. The best project managers have leadership and management characteristics; they are visionary yet focused on the bottom line. Above all else, good project managers focus on achieving positive results.

Which of the following is true of program managers? -They report to project managers who represent the next level in the hierarchy. -They provide leadership and direction for project managers heading the projects within a program. -They are responsible solely for the delivery of project results. -They recognize that managing a program is simpler than managing a project.

They provide leadership and direction for project managers heading the projects within a program.

Program managers are change agents. -True -False

True

An important tool for project scope management is _____. -a work breakdown structure -a Gantt chart -crashing -fast tracking

a work breakdown structure

A Gantt chart is a standard format for displaying project schedule information by listing project activities and their corresponding start and finish dates in a ____ format. -bar graph -calendar -line graph -pie chart

calendar

A _____ is a tool used in quality management. -critical path analysis -probability matrice -checklist -request for proposal

checklist

A _____ is a tool used in risk management. -probability matrice -work breakdown structure -critical path analysis -project organizational chart

probability matrice

Project _____ management ensures that the project will satisfy the stated or implied needs for which it was undertaken. -time -risk -cost -quality

quality

Project _____ management involves defining and managing all the work required to complete the project successfully. -cost -time -scope -human resource

scope