MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND
INFORMATION SYSTEMS

SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

CODE: HCS403

DECEMBER 2018

SESSIONAL EXAMINATION

DURATION: 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS
CALCULATORS ARE ALLOWED IN THE
EXAMINATION ROOM
1. ANSWER ANY 4 QUESTIONS.
2. READ EACH QUESTION CAREFULLY TO DETERMINE
WHAT IS REQUIRED BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE
ANSWER.
3. ANSWER MUST BE SET OUT IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY
UNDER APPROPRIATE HEADINGS AND SUB HEADINGS.
4. NUMBER YOUR ANSWERS CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY.

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Question 1

a) Identify and describe the 5 different types of tender. (15marks)

b) Discuss the major steps that have to be followed in the tender procedure.(10 marks)

Question 2

a) Explain in detail the significance of the following aspects in software project

management:

Project crashing. (5 marks)

ii) Cash flow forecasting. (5 marks)

iii) Project evaluation. (5 marks)

iv) Project planning. (5 marks)

v) Risk management (5 marks)

Question 3

Software effort estimation is considered to be very important software project management

and estimates need to be realistic. Discuss the various software effort estimation techniques
that can be able to be used and show with aid of a relevant practical examples, how one can
ensure accurate and realistic estimates can be derived from each technique.
(25marks)

Question 4

Discuss the risk management process specifying the activities involved.

(25marks)

Question 5

a)List the benefits of using the critical path method when scheduling projects.
(9 marks)
b)Identify and explain the steps involved CPM project planning.
(12 marks)
c)Explain:

i) The backward pass rule. (2 marks)

ii) The forward pass rule. (2 marks)

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Question 6

Consider the project schedule in the table below and answer the questions that follow;

Duration (weeks)

Activity Precedent Optimistic Most likely Pessimistic

time time time

A - 6 8 10

B - 5 7 9

C A 3 4 5

D B 8 10 13

E B 4 6 8

F - 7 10 14

G E, F 3 5 8

H C, D 2 4 7

I G, H 5 8 11

(a) Calculate the expected time for each activity expressing your answer correct to 1
decimal place. (5 marks)

(b)Draw a network diagram for this project. 10 marks)

(c) Calculate the variance for each activity. (6 marks)

(d)What is the variance of the critical path? (4 marks)

Question 7

Identify any five (5) stakeholders in a software project of your choice and clearly indicate
their needs and interests in the project. (25 marks)

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