Project Management Overview Quiz

Project Management Overview

• Project Management is a multifaceted field encompassing a variety of approaches and processes.
• A project is a temporary undertaking designed to produce a unique product, service, or result.
• Projects often involve multi-departmental collaboration.
• Defined by a beginning and an end, along with specific time, cost, and performance requirements.
• Agile project management is an iterative methodology often preferred during conditions with high levels of uncertainty.
• Teams in projects are typically small (4-8 members). Using a structured, 'rolling wave' methodology improves iteration and collaboration with the customer, producing tangible progress within each iteration.
• Project management involves both technical and socio-cultural aspects.
• The technical dimension focuses on the formal, logical aspects of planning, scheduling, and control.
• The socio-cultural dimension encompasses human dynamics, teamwork, and communication.

Agenda for Project Management Course

• Land Acknowledgement (a formal acknowledgement of Indigenous peoples' historical presence)
• Instructor introduction
• Class introductions
• Review of syllabus
• Class attendance policies
• Team assignments

Project vs. Program

• Project: Completion of a specific course (e.g., project management).
• Program: Completion of a suite of courses (e.g., business major).

Routine vs. Project Work

• Routine Work: Repetitive tasks like taking notes, or daily accounting.
• Projects: Complex work, such as writing a paper or creating a new product.

Project Life Cycle

• Defining: Goals, specifications, tasks, and responsibilities are established.
• Planning: Schedules, budgets, resources, and risk assessment are developed.
• Executing: Tasks are performed, reports are generated, and changes are managed.
• Closing: Customer training, document transfer, evaluation, and celebration.

Project Manager Role

• Manages non-repetitive activities independently from the organization.
• Manages project resources.
• Serves as a direct contact with the customer.
• Coordinates and integrates the project team.
• Responsible for overall project success.
• Influences individuals to resolve issues and make the right decisions.

Current Drivers of Project Management Growth

• Product life cycle compression
• Knowledge explosion
• Triple bottom line factors (planet, people, profit)
• Increased customer focus
• Regulatory changes

Agile Project Management Methodology

• A response to challenges with traditional project management, especially in software development.
• Iterative and incremental process, sometimes termed a 'rolling wave' approach..
• Active collaboration between project and customer representatives.
• Breaks projects into smaller, functional pieces, adapting to changing requirements during the 'defining' phase.

The Socio-Technical Approach

• A combined approach to project management covering formal process aspects (technical) and factors like employee cooperation and social dynamics (sociocultural).

Rolling Wave Development

• Iterations generally last from one to four weeks.
• Iterations focus on achieving tangible progress in defining requirements, solving technical problems, or developing features for demonstration.
• Review of progress and necessary adjustments are made at the end of each iteration.
• New iterations incorporate work from previous stages until project completion.

Class Attendance

• Important component for active engagement and learning.