Chapter 3 - Project Management

Front 1

Of the many different reasons that projects fail, what is the major cause of project failure?

Back 1

The major cause of project failure is that most project managers were not educated or trained to be project managers.

Front 2

What are the basic project management functions?

Back 2

a. Scoping – Defines the boundaries of the project. A project manager must scope project expectations and constraints in order to plan activities, estimate costs and manage expectations.
b. Planning – Planning identifies the tasks required to complete the project.
c. Estimating – Each task is required to complete the project must be estimated.

Front 3

What are the eight major activities in the project management life cycle?

Back 3

1) Scoping – Setting the boundaries of the project
2) Planning – Identifying the tasks required
3) Estimating – Identifying resources required
4) Scheduling – Developing a plan
5) Organizing – Making sure members understand their roles and responsibilities
6) Directing – Coordinating the project
7) Controlling – Monitoring progress
8) Closing – Assessing success and failure

Front 4

What are the differences between forward scheduling and reverse scheduling?

Back 4

Forward scheduling is an approach that establishes a project start date and then schedules tasks forward from the start date.
Reverse scheduling is a strategy that establishes a project deadline and then schedules tasks backward from the finish date.

Front 5

What should project managers do to manage changes that occur and/or are requested during a project?

Back 5

They should carry out a change management strategy that involves a process being established to facilitate changes that occur during a project. This is to protect the project manager and team from being held accountable for schedule and budget overruns that were driven by changes in scope.