Project and Programme Management

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Questions and Answers

What distinguishes a project from a process?

A project can address issues that are not clearly defined.

A project has a clear beginning and end. (correct)

A process produces tangible outputs.

A project is an ongoing process without a defined end.

Which of the following best describes an output in project management?

A tangible result produced or delivered. (correct)

A set of actions leading to goal clarification.

A temporary organization set up to achieve a goal.

A collection of activities aimed at achieving objectives.

What is a characteristic of a programme in project management?

It is temporary and aims to deliver one specific output.

It is focused solely on routine tasks.

It has no binding agreements for due dates.

It consists of multiple projects aiming to achieve one or more objectives. (correct)

Which situation warrants the use of a process?

The situation involves creative brainstorming and exploration. Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct order of predictability in project management from high to low?

Routine, Project, Programme, Process, Improvisation Signup and view all the answers

Which stage involves hazard and risk identification?

Change Initiation Signup and view all the answers

Which activity is NOT typically part of the strategic planning stage?

Zone clearance Signup and view all the answers

What role does a project manager primarily fulfill?

Leading the organization to deliver the project according to specified requirements. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of the pro-active land acquisition policy?

High risk Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT part of the costs in land development?

Costs for building Signup and view all the answers

In the active land acquisition policy, what is the municipality's major advantage?

Possibility of profit Signup and view all the answers

What needs to be removed to determine the net planning area?

Technical green zones Signup and view all the answers

Which stage in land development includes connecting buildings to essential services?

Preparing for use Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of revenue in land development?

Sale of prepared land Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes municipal responsibility in passive land acquisition?

Legal matters and planning Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the costs during land development compared to maintenance costs over time?

Always more expensive during maintenance Signup and view all the answers

What type of preparation is involved in preparing for building land?

Environmental law compliance Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of the sale of prepared land?

Excludes costs of real estate Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the initiation phase in a project?

Finding a project leader Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following elements is NOT part of a project's definition phase?

Defining project quality standards Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the project contract?

To outline project scope and management strategy Signup and view all the answers

During which phase is cost monitoring primarily conducted?

Execution phase Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum level of quality that must be achieved for a project to be considered successful?

Acceptable quality Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is primarily evaluated in the closing phase of a project?

Financial evaluation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the risk management process during the project?

To identify and mitigate potential issues Signup and view all the answers

At what point should the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) be considered complete?

When activities are precise and manageable Signup and view all the answers

Which level of public participation involves providing information to help citizens understand issues?

Inform Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'marginal cost' in the context of public goods?

The cost of producing one additional unit Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of public participation in project planning?

To provide a sense of ownership and inclusion among stakeholders Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'abundant goods'?

Goods that are affordable and widely available Signup and view all the answers

What does the acronym SMART in quality criteria stand for?

Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic, Timely Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Project, Programme and Process

A project is a temporary, non-permanent organization aiming to produce a tangible output. It's typically short-term and has defined requirements.
A project manager leads the project team to deliver the output according to the specified requirements.
A programme is a collection of activities aimed at achieving one or more objectives. Activities are cohesive.
Outcomes are the results of achieving the objectives. A situation may need renewal, change, or repair.
A process is a set of activities to achieve clarification of a goal. Routine or improvisational tasks should not be treated as a project.
Predictability is characterized by routine efforts, while improvisation relates to unpredictable work. This translates into a high predictability for projects and a low predictability for improvisation.
Programmes are larger than projects. They contain several projects that share the same goal.

Change Initiation/Strategic Planning/Project Consideration/Design/Costing and Approval/Construction/Use and Ongoing Management/Renewal

Change initiation involves setting the scene, considering trends, identifying hazards/risks, and getting community input.
Strategic planning includes research, analysis, and specialist consultations.
Project consideration centers around conceptual design, feasibility (financial and otherwise), and community consultation.
Design involves detailed designs and consultations with the community.
Costing and approval involves detailed costs, document submissions, and approvals.
Construction focuses on building the physical form (the structure).
Use and ongoing management handles the building's or programme's usage and its ongoing upkeep and repairs.
Renewal/recovery/decommission deals with future trends, plans, and concepts for renewal and restarting processes.

Phases in a Project

Initiation phase: Identifying the project idea, assigning a leader, doing cost and risk analysis, and creating a project brief.
Definition phase: Forming a team, defining project requirements (deadlines, quality, etc.), and agreeing to a contract.
Execution phase: Starting up meetings, collaborating on sub-projects, and doing the core work of executing the project.
Closing phase: Concluding, assessing the project, and learning from it.

Project Evaluation and Lessons

Project contracts outline intended results, activities, and management.
Key elements of a good project contract include defining the project, work breakdown structure, control plan, and risk analysis.

Project Control

Project leaders monitor whether projects stay within budget, time limits, and quality standards.
Key factors in control include communication with stakeholders, managing information, and reporting on progress and costs.

Money/Cost Control

Cost estimates are done during the project's initiation phase, with more accurate estimates made during the definition phase.
Budgets are monitored during the project's execution phase.
Financial evaluations are undertaken at the project's closure phase for future use.

Quality

Acceptable quality is the minimal quality level.
Appropriate quality is what the sponsor expects.
Aspirational quality is where the team is committed and responsible, leading to better quality than expected.

Communication

A good project involves identifying who needs what information and how.

Risk Management

Risks, such as time, money, quality, organization, communication, and information, are managed during both project definition and execution.

Finance (Land Development)

Spatial Development defines the process of changing land use.
Land value is determined by use, future use expectations, and location.
In land development, stages include acquisition, building, preparation for use, and maintenance.
Land policy can be pro-active, getting the land before planning; active, municipality acquiring the land for development; or passive, where the land is acquired by developers.
Methods are used to determine costs related to land preparation, construction, and ongoing maintenance during land and building development.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts in project and programme management, including definitions and differences between projects, programmes, and processes. It explores the role of project managers and the significance of predictability in managing projects. Test your knowledge of these critical management concepts.