Podcast
Questions and Answers
A project plan is an approved document to manage project ______ execution
A project plan is an approved document to manage project ______ execution
project
Time is always ______, time needed tends to expand towards time available
Time is always ______, time needed tends to expand towards time available
short
A good project plan will help the project manager and the project organization respond to changes with least ______ risk
A good project plan will help the project manager and the project organization respond to changes with least ______ risk
time, cost
The project timeline is initially agreed final delivery date is expanded to show the delivery dates of the phases and ______ phases
The project timeline is initially agreed final delivery date is expanded to show the delivery dates of the phases and ______ phases
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The critical path is determined by the flow timing/completion of ______ activities
The critical path is determined by the flow timing/completion of ______ activities
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Project leaders provide ______ between activities to cover unexpected external events
Project leaders provide ______ between activities to cover unexpected external events
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Resource is always ______; most scarce resource is generally people
Resource is always ______; most scarce resource is generally people
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Money is always ______ enough (generally)
Money is always ______ enough (generally)
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One can get more ______ but a project cannot normally be hurried by mere throwing bodies into it
One can get more ______ but a project cannot normally be hurried by mere throwing bodies into it
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In global projects, ______ costs account for bulk of project budgets
In global projects, ______ costs account for bulk of project budgets
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What output must be delivered: ______ plan (scope definition, work breakdown)
What output must be delivered: ______ plan (scope definition, work breakdown)
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Who will do the activities: ______ plan (resource requirements, resource activity scheduling)
Who will do the activities: ______ plan (resource requirements, resource activity scheduling)
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How much will it cost: ______ plan (cost estimation)
How much will it cost: ______ plan (cost estimation)
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Who manages the project, who reports to whom; ______ plan (reporting lines, project roles and responsibilities)
Who manages the project, who reports to whom; ______ plan (reporting lines, project roles and responsibilities)
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How will ______ be identified, managed: risk management plan
How will ______ be identified, managed: risk management plan
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What services, goods, materials need to be bought and when: ______ plan (what to buy, when, from which potential sources, estimate of how much)
What services, goods, materials need to be bought and when: ______ plan (what to buy, when, from which potential sources, estimate of how much)
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Study Notes
Project Planning Fundamentals
- A project plan is an approved document that manages project execution and can change over time due to changes in environment, output scope, inputs, and resources.
Critical Planning Elements
Time
- Time is always limited, and buffers need to be kept low to accommodate unexpected delays.
- A project timeline is initially agreed upon and later expanded to show delivery dates of phases and sub-phases.
- Critical path analysis determines the flow and timing of prerequisite activities to identify the critical path in terms of time.
- Buffers are provided between activities to cover unexpected external events, such as resource unavailability or natural disasters.
Resources
- Resources are always scarce, with people being the most scarce resource.
- Project plans help visualize realistic assignment of scarce resources across multiple activities and projects.
- Resource plans identify potential resource contention upfront, preventing unrealistic deadlines due to lack of resources.
Cost
- Money is often limited, but it is easier to obtain than time and resources.
- Resource costs account for a bulk of project budgets, especially in global projects.
Core Planning Processes
- Core planning processes are essential for all projects and answer the following questions:
- What output must be delivered? (Scope plan: scope definition, work breakdown)
- What activities are required to produce it, and how long will they take? (Activity plan: activity definition, activity sequencing, activity and total duration)
- Who will perform the activities? (Resource plan: resource requirements, resource activity scheduling)
- How much will it cost? (Cost plan: cost estimation)
Facilitating Planning Processes
- Facilitating planning processes are not always performed but are essential for well-managed projects and answer the following questions:
- Who manages the project, and who reports to whom? (Organization plan: reporting lines, project roles and responsibilities)
- What resources need to be hired or contracted, and by when? (Staffing plan: also called recruitment plan)
- Which quality standards should be followed? (Quality plan: standards, measures, transparency)
- How will risk be identified and managed? (Risk management plan)
- What will be communicated, to whom, when, how, and by whom? (Communications plan)
- What services, goods, and materials need to be bought, and when? (Procurement plan: what to buy, when, from which potential sources, estimate of how much)
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of project planning, including the critical elements of a project plan, core planning processes, and facilitating planning processes. Learn how to create and manage a project plan.