ASSIGNMENT#02

M.SALEH

FA16-EPE-156

QUESTION 3
3(a)

What is a project? State the six characteristics of a project.

Answer:

Six Characteristics of a Project

1. A project is typically for a customer.

2. The project is temporary in nature. It typically has a defined start and a
defined end-point.
3. The project will have a unique set of requirements that need to be
Delivered within the boundaries of this project.
4. A project can typically be more of a once off endeavor, rather than something
That’s happening all the time in a repeated fashion.
5. A project is not ‘business as usual’, which is more akin to a process.
6. A project can very often be cross-functional, or indeed cross-organization.

3(b) State 12 reasons why projects fail in your opinion, how can such failures be
prevented.

Answer:

Even on simple, straightforward projects there are many areas that can cause the sorts
of problems that can eventually manifest themselves in failure. Add to the many
possible causes of failure any level of complexity and problems can rapidly escalate
into disasters. Here are just some of the most common causes of project failure:

1. Poorly defined project scope

2. Inadequate risk management
3. Failure to identify key assumptions
4. Project managers who lack experience and training
5. No use of formal methods and strategies
6. Lack of effective communication at all levels
7. Key staff leaving the project and/or company
 ASSIGNMENT#02

8. Poor management of expectations

9. Ineffective leadership
10. Lack of detailed documentation
11. Failure to track requirements
12. Failure to track progress

QUESTION 4
4(a) State the importance of identifying critical path on projects. How do you
manage all the activities on the critical path in terms of resources?

Answer:

Think of critical path in project management as a project modeling technique. It’s a

sequence of stages where you figure out what the least amount of time is necessary to
complete a task with the least amount of slack. So, the critical path is really the
longest length of time it will take to complete the project tasks.

Critical Path – Definition of Terms

To understand the concept of critical path, you need to understand the various terms
used in this method. The critical path is the longest distance between the start and the
finish of your project, including all the tasks and their duration, which gives you a
clear picture of the project’s actual schedule.

Another term in the critical path method is earliest start date. This is simply the
earliest date that a task can be started in your project. You cannot determine this
without first knowing if any tasks are dependent on this one task, or figuring out other
constraint that might impact the start of this task. Next is the earliest finish date. This
being the earliest date your task can be completed.

Monitoring the Critical Path with ProjectManager.com

Monitoring the critical path is a way to make sure your project stays on schedule. You
can do this the easy way or the hard way.
 ASSIGNMENT#02

The hard way is to create a network diagram that illustrates the activities that are
networked together and what their dependencies are. They are pinned to an early or
late start date, which allows you to understand the flow of the project. This is a
complicated process, but it’s how it has been done since the advent of project
management.

But there is an easier way.

In ProjectManager.com, thanks to our advanced Gantt chart, you can automate the
calculation of the critical path. Simply go to the Gantt chart view in our online project
management software, select the Gantt settings, and then filter to only show the
Critical Path Tasks. It’s never been so easy to calculate the critical path.

Critical Path Method Example

To see the elegance of the critical path method, let’s take a look at it in action. We’ll
just pick a very easy task to help make the process more concrete, such as building a
birdhouse.

The first step is to break up the project into tasks. In this case, that would include:
designing the birdhouse, choosing where it will be place when done, buying the wood,
glue, nails and whatever equipment is necessary, such as a hammer. Then, once the
resources are assembled, the build would take place and finally securing it to the site.
You should use a work breakdown structure to capture all the steps.

Now comes the tricky part, you want to know how long each task will take. This can
be difficult if you’ve not built a birdhouse before and have nothing to base your
estimates on. If that’s the case, get advice from others who have, so you can have the
most accurate estimation of the duration of the various tasks possible.

It’s time to think about task dependencies. Are there any tasks that can’t start until the
prior one is completed? For example, you can’t build the birdhouse until you have a
design and materials. Make a note of all dependencies.
 ASSIGNMENT#02

6 Benefits of Critical Path Analysis

Critical path analysis is required in order to predict the timing of project’s completion.
Here are 6 main advantages of CPM:

 The method visualizes projects in a clear graphical form.

 It defines the most important tasks.
 Saves time and helps in the management of deadlines.
 Helps to compare the planned with the real status.
 Identifies all critical activities that need attention.
 Makes dependencies clear and transparent.

4(b) Write down 10 most important skills of a project manager.

Answer:

Though the list of useful project management skills is nearly endless, certain skills are
generally considered to be more important than others. If you’re an experienced PMP,
these are the skills you use every day to keep your projects on time and on budget. If
you’re an aspiring project manager, or are simply looking for new ways to contribute
to the projects you work on, developing these skills will put you on the path to
success.

1. Budget management

In order to keep a project on track, a project manager must have a solid grasp of basic
accounting principles and must maintain a constant awareness of the project’s
budgetary performance. Identifying variances or discrepancies as soon as they arise
will help you avoid unpleasant surprises down the road.

2. Scope management

Project managers must have a thorough understanding of what is and is not in scope at
the beginning of every project. When a project’s scope needs to change, be sure to
document the change appropriately, create a clear audit trail and communicate the
impact on budgets and time lines to all stakeholders.

3. Conflict resolution

The bigger the project and the higher the stakes, the more likely it is that conflicts will
arise. Whether the disagreement is between members of the same team, between a
vendor and a customer, or between any other groups of stakeholders, a good project
manager knows how to defuse tension and find a path forward. Setting expectations
 ASSIGNMENT#02

and providing transparency throughout the project lifecycle can go far in minimizing

conflicts and keeping everything on track.

4. Creating and delivering presentations

Even if you’re a gifted writer and an engaging speaker, delivering an effective

presentation is a distinct skill, one that requires practice. Project managers should
understand how to use presentation software to get important messages across,
especially when delivering in a virtual environment where reading an audience is even
more challenging.

5. Time management

Much of a project manager’s job involves determining and communicating how other
people will spend their time, but it’s equally important to be aware of how you’re
managing your own time. Look for opportunities to become more efficient by
delegating responsibilities, multi-tasking, or rearranging your schedule.

6. Negotiation

Discussions about budgets, resource allocation, and time lines can become adversarial
and counter productive if not handled tactfully. Successful project managers know
how to find compromises where possible and how to hold a firm line without
damaging their workplace relationships.

7. Relationship management

Good project managers make a conscious effort to build trust with customers,
vendors, and internal team members. Positive working relationships make it easier to
navigate through disputes and other difficult situations, which becomes even more
important when the connections are all virtual.

8. Risk management

When something goes wrong on a project, all eyes turn to the project manager.
Regardless of the circumstances, everyone wonders whether the manager could have
foreseen and prevented the problem. Being able to anticipate issues and develop
solutions for them in advance will dramatically improve your chances of success.

9. Maintaining communications

With traditional project management, there’s a fine line between keeping people in
the loop and overwhelming your team with a flood of emails and meeting invitations
(whether virtual or otherwise). Reducing status meetings and emails while keeping
everyone in the loop is now possible with modern online project management
software—where all information is accessible from one place.

10. Using technology effectively

 ASSIGNMENT#02

Project management software has evolved dramatically in recent years, opening up

new possibilities for collaboration, data management, and communication and
reporting. Using the latest tools will enable you to work more efficiently and
maximize your effectiveness in every aspect of a project.
Interested in learning more about how you can lead your projects to success? Check
out a product tour of Clarizen’s industry-leading collaborative project management
solutions.