Project Management Fundamentals

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of a project sponsor?

Defining project scope

Understanding the why of the project (correct)

Coordinating team members

Managing project risks

What is the key difference between a project and a day-to-day process?

Projects require stakeholder management, while day-to-day processes do not

Projects have a clear objective, while day-to-day processes do not

Projects have a definite beginning and end, while day-to-day processes are ongoing (correct)

Projects involve repetitive tasks, while day-to-day processes do not

What is the primary purpose of a project's scope statement?

To define the project's objective and deliverables (correct)

To assign tasks and responsibilities to team members

To outline the project's timeline and budget

To identify potential risks and threats

What is the primary difference between a programme and a portfolio?

A programme is a set of projects, while a portfolio is a set of projects related to an entity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of stakeholder management?

To understand the interests and needs of stakeholders Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a project's Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

To break down the project into smaller, manageable tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a project's Communication Matrix?

To define roles and responsibilities and communication channels Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a project's Risk Identification process?

To identify and manage project risks Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Delhi Metro Project?

To build a mass transit system for Delhi's capital city Signup and view all the answers

Who is the Managing Director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation?

Dr.Ellatuvalapil Sreedharan Signup and view all the answers

What event is the Delhi Metro Project trying to complete in time for?

The XIXth Commonwealth Games 2010 Signup and view all the answers

What is the total length of the metro tracks in Phase II of the Delhi Metro Project?

128.06 kilometers Signup and view all the answers

What was the time left for the completion of Phase II of the Delhi Metro Project?

1 year, 2 months and 11 days Signup and view all the answers

What was Dr.E.Sreedharan's approach to managing the Delhi Metro Project?

Using simple common sense and down-to-earth tactics Signup and view all the answers

Who prepared the case study on Delhi Metro Rail Corporation?

Professor V.G.Narayanan and Research Associate Saloni Chaturvedi Signup and view all the answers

What is the date mentioned in the case study as the deadline for the completion of Phase II of the Delhi Metro Project?

July 20, 2009 Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of the bridge collapse on the Central Secretariat–Badarpur line?

Six people died and 15 people sustained injuries Signup and view all the answers

What happened during the clearance operation the next day?

The launcher along with the cranes lifting it came crashing down Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of the girder launcher collapse at Laxmi Nagar in East Delhi?

Two people died and several others were injured Signup and view all the answers

What did Dr. Sreedharan call the day of the incident?

The blackest day Signup and view all the answers

When was DMRC incorporated?

May 1995 Signup and view all the answers

What was the largest public infrastructure project ever undertaken by the Government of India (GoI) in 1998?

The Delhi Metro project Signup and view all the answers

What had DMRC earned from the residents of Delhi during the construction of the first phase of the metro network?

Significant support Signup and view all the answers

What was threatened by the events that had unfolded over the last week?

All the good that DMRC had achieved in the last decade Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Project sponsor: The "why" of the project, focusing on the objective and reason behind the project.
Project planning involves repetitive tasks, project risk management, stakeholder management, and team management.

Projects vs Day-to-Day Processes

Projects lead to change, while day-to-day processes maintain the status quo.
Projects have a definite beginning and end, with a clear objective.
Day-to-day processes are ongoing, with no clear endpoint.

Level of Uniqueness

First-timers: Unique projects, like Chandrayaan (India's first lunar mission).
"As … but…": Projects with some similarities, but with variations.
Paint by numbers: Projects with well-defined processes and no surprises.

Success Measures

Operational success: Evaluating project success using the iron triangle (time, budget, scope) and quality.
Strategic success: Evaluating project success based on whether it serves the project's "why" (long-term impact).

Project, Programme, and Portfolio

Programme: A set of projects, like a polio eradication mission.
Portfolio: A set of projects related to an entity, like a company's overall project portfolio.

Stakeholder Management

Stakeholders have different interests, and it's essential to understand their WIIFM (What's in it for me?).
Stakeholder matrix: Categorizing stakeholders based on their level of interest and power.

Project Communication

Collaborative vs adversarial relations: Building positive relationships with stakeholders.

Types of Projects

Internally focused projects: Strategic projects that benefit the organization.
External client projects: Revenue-earning projects for clients.

Scope Statement and Project Lifecycle

Scope statement: Outlining project objectives, timelines, budgets, deliverables, and exclusions.
Project lifecycle: Business proposal, project selection, defining, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.
Project lifecycle stages:
- Defining: Scope statement, project priority matrix, and work breakdown structure (WBS).
- Planning: Project network, project risk management, and communication matrix (RACI/RASCI).

Project Risk Management

Risk identification: Identifying known and unknown risks through risk profiling and risk breakdown structure.
Risk assessment: Evaluating risk probability, impact, and detection difficulty using a risk matrix.
Risk response development: Developing strategies to avoid, mitigate, transfer, share, or accept risks.
Risk monitoring: Continuously monitoring and reviewing risks.

Project Execution and Closure

Project execution: Monitoring and controlling project progress.
Project closure: Formalizing the project's end, documenting lessons learned, and evaluating project success.
Post-project appraisal: Evaluating the project's long-term impact and strategic success.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

Dr. E. Sreedharan, Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), was worried about completing Phase II of the Delhi Metro Project in time for the XIXth Commonwealth Games 2010.
Only 1 year, 2 months, and 11 days were left to complete the remaining 76.65 kilometers of the 128.06 kilometers long metro tracks.

Construction Accidents

A portion of the bridge under construction on the Central Secretariat–Badarpur line collapsed at Zamrudpur, South Delhi, on July 12, 2009, killing six people and injuring 15.
The next day, a launcher along with cranes lifting it came crashing down during a clearance operation, although no serious injuries resulted.
A similar accident had occurred eight months earlier, when a girder launcher collapsed at Laxmi Nagar in East Delhi, killing two people and injuring several others.

DMRC Background

DMRC was incorporated in May 1995 to build a mass transit system for Delhi.
The multi-billion dollar project started in 1998 and was the largest public infrastructure project undertaken by the Government of India (GoI) at that time.
DMRC had a reputation for delivering projects on time and within cost, earning accolades from institutions like the Project Management Institute and the Indian Institute of Bridge Engineers.

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Description

Test your understanding of project management basics, including project planning, risk management, and stakeholder management. Learn about the differences between projects and day-to-day processes and how to measure success.