PRO4801 EXAM PACK
2024
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
FOR ASSISTANCE CONTACT
EMAIL:
, lOMoARcPSD|44660598
Study unit 1
1. classify an activity as a project by providing an explanation of the
characteristics of projects and an illustration of the typology of projects
What is a project?
Characteristics of projects
A project has a definable goal or purpose and well-defined end item,
deliverables or results usually specified in terms of cost, schedule and
performance requirements
Every project is unique; it requires doing something different than was done
before previously. It is a one-time activity, never exactly to be repeated
Projects are temporary activities
Projects cut across organizational and functional lines because they need
skills and talents from different functions, professions and organizations
Given that a project is unique, it also involves unfamiliarity and risk
The organization doing the project usually has something at stake
A project is the process of working to achieve a goal; during the process the
project passes through several distinct phases in the project life cycle
2. emphasize the need for project management and relate this with its
response to a changing environment
The need arises, firstly, when simple conventional projects or large jobs are
managed as project operation systems. Other reasons are pressures for greater
productivity, changes in the global economy and a need to adapt.
Project management provides the diversified technical and managerial competency
and decentralized communication and decision making necessary to meet the
challenge of complex, unfamiliar, high-stake activities
3. explain the principles underlying the typology of projects
, lOMoARcPSD|44660598
Figure 1.3 (page 6) shows generalized projects endeavors, and examples of well
known projects. Notice the diversity in the kinds of efforts. The figure shows
approximately where projects fall with respect to complexity and uncertainty.
Complexity is measured by magnitude of effort, number of groups and organizations
that need to be coordinated and diversity in the skills or expertise needed to
accomplish the work. Time and resource commitments tend to increase with
complexity.
Uncertainty is measured roughly by the difficulty in predicting the final outcome in
terms of the dimensions of time, cost, and technical performance
Generally the more something is done the less the uncertainty in doing it.
Projects that are very similar to previous ones and about which there is abundant
knowledge have lower uncertainty
4. list the three-dimensional project goal and explain the possible trade-
offs between them
Cost- is the specified or budgeted cost of the project
Time- is the scheduled period over which the work is to be done
Performance- is what the project end-item, deliverables, or final result must do; it
includes whatever the project customer or end-user considers important
Target- represents a goal to deliver a certain something, by a certain date, for a
certain cost
Time, cost and performance must receive equal emphasis
Project management offers a way to maintain focus on all three dimensions and to
control the trade-offs among them
5. link the project management benefits with the three-dimensional project
goal
Most projects have a three-dimensional target in terms of time, cost and
performance (TCP). The approach to and unique methodology of project
management combine to ensure that this target is reached. This implies that
, lOMoARcPSD|44660598
stakeholder requirements are met. To achieve this, we need to understand the three-
dimensional features of project management that distinguish it from conventional
management, namely the person (project manager), the team (not a group) and the
methodology (integrated planning and control by using either the PMBOK, Prince2
and other tools or a combination of these).
6. briefly define the PMBOK and list the nine areas of project management
knowledge
The Project Managements Institute’s guide to the PMBOK divides project
management into nine areas namely;
Project integration management
Project scope management
Project time management
Project cost management
Project quality management
Project human resource management
Project communication management
Project risk management
Project procument management
7. briefly define the Prince2 model, provide the five primary benefits of
using this model and list the model’s eight distinctive management
processes
PRINCE2 model
The Prince2 methodology is another popular development. Prince is the abbreviation
for “PROJECTS IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS” (such as government
departments) and is extensively used by the UK government. A typical Prince2
project has a finite and clearly defined life cycle, measurable business products (with
defined activities to achieve these products), a defined amount of resources and a
defined organisational structure.
2024
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
FOR ASSISTANCE CONTACT
EMAIL:
, lOMoARcPSD|44660598
Study unit 1
1. classify an activity as a project by providing an explanation of the
characteristics of projects and an illustration of the typology of projects
What is a project?
Characteristics of projects
A project has a definable goal or purpose and well-defined end item,
deliverables or results usually specified in terms of cost, schedule and
performance requirements
Every project is unique; it requires doing something different than was done
before previously. It is a one-time activity, never exactly to be repeated
Projects are temporary activities
Projects cut across organizational and functional lines because they need
skills and talents from different functions, professions and organizations
Given that a project is unique, it also involves unfamiliarity and risk
The organization doing the project usually has something at stake
A project is the process of working to achieve a goal; during the process the
project passes through several distinct phases in the project life cycle
2. emphasize the need for project management and relate this with its
response to a changing environment
The need arises, firstly, when simple conventional projects or large jobs are
managed as project operation systems. Other reasons are pressures for greater
productivity, changes in the global economy and a need to adapt.
Project management provides the diversified technical and managerial competency
and decentralized communication and decision making necessary to meet the
challenge of complex, unfamiliar, high-stake activities
3. explain the principles underlying the typology of projects
, lOMoARcPSD|44660598
Figure 1.3 (page 6) shows generalized projects endeavors, and examples of well
known projects. Notice the diversity in the kinds of efforts. The figure shows
approximately where projects fall with respect to complexity and uncertainty.
Complexity is measured by magnitude of effort, number of groups and organizations
that need to be coordinated and diversity in the skills or expertise needed to
accomplish the work. Time and resource commitments tend to increase with
complexity.
Uncertainty is measured roughly by the difficulty in predicting the final outcome in
terms of the dimensions of time, cost, and technical performance
Generally the more something is done the less the uncertainty in doing it.
Projects that are very similar to previous ones and about which there is abundant
knowledge have lower uncertainty
4. list the three-dimensional project goal and explain the possible trade-
offs between them
Cost- is the specified or budgeted cost of the project
Time- is the scheduled period over which the work is to be done
Performance- is what the project end-item, deliverables, or final result must do; it
includes whatever the project customer or end-user considers important
Target- represents a goal to deliver a certain something, by a certain date, for a
certain cost
Time, cost and performance must receive equal emphasis
Project management offers a way to maintain focus on all three dimensions and to
control the trade-offs among them
5. link the project management benefits with the three-dimensional project
goal
Most projects have a three-dimensional target in terms of time, cost and
performance (TCP). The approach to and unique methodology of project
management combine to ensure that this target is reached. This implies that
, lOMoARcPSD|44660598
stakeholder requirements are met. To achieve this, we need to understand the three-
dimensional features of project management that distinguish it from conventional
management, namely the person (project manager), the team (not a group) and the
methodology (integrated planning and control by using either the PMBOK, Prince2
and other tools or a combination of these).
6. briefly define the PMBOK and list the nine areas of project management
knowledge
The Project Managements Institute’s guide to the PMBOK divides project
management into nine areas namely;
Project integration management
Project scope management
Project time management
Project cost management
Project quality management
Project human resource management
Project communication management
Project risk management
Project procument management
7. briefly define the Prince2 model, provide the five primary benefits of
using this model and list the model’s eight distinctive management
processes
PRINCE2 model
The Prince2 methodology is another popular development. Prince is the abbreviation
for “PROJECTS IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS” (such as government
departments) and is extensively used by the UK government. A typical Prince2
project has a finite and clearly defined life cycle, measurable business products (with
defined activities to achieve these products), a defined amount of resources and a
defined organisational structure.
