PROJECT MANAGEMENT INTRO

A.

Definitions
Milestone – specific date at which a stage of a project plan should be completed. Evaluation of
whether the stage has been completed successfully is performed using a quality gate.
Quality Gate (QG) – checkpoint, often linked to a milestone, that consists of a set of quality criteria
defined at the beginning of the project. The project must meet these exit criteria in order to proceed to
the next stage, i.e. open the QG.
Decision Gate – like a QG but failure to meet the criteria can lead to a project being shelved or
cancelled.
Green Light – formal approval to proceed or start.
Kick-off – official beginning.
Exit Criteria – see Quality Gate
Deliverable – (not in exercise but may be used by learners in their descriptions of projects)
measurable, verifiable outcome that shows a project or a stage of a project has achieved a result. The
criteria set out in a QG measures deliverables.
Sign-off – official end of a project.
Deployment – process of introducing or disseminating the results of the project throughout an
organisation or company.

B.
Multiple choice
1) Project managers set ………… for projects to be able to monitor progress and check if
the project is delivered on time.
a. obstacles b. milestones c. challenges
 2) The most important aspect of a project closure phase is client’s acceptance of ………….
a. deliverables b. goals c. products
3) The team must be aware of such …………. as limited resources to be able to take them
into consideration during the planning stage.
a. grants b. constraints c. frameworks
4) Clients provide project …………., which represent their needs and help the team define
the task they need to complete to ensure the success of a project.
a. programme b. demands c. requirements
5) We must define the project …………. to establish the boundaries of the range and
responsibilities for each team member.
a. range b. extent c. scope
6) Project managers are responsible for finishing projects on time and delivering results to
…………., either inside or outside the organization.
a.stakeholders b. shareholders c. contractors

C. Definition matching

Word Definition

A sum of money given by an organization, government, or other funding

Obstacle
body for a particular purpose.

The range of view, perception, or understanding; the extent of a subject or

Milestone
area.

A planned series of activities or procedures designed to achieve a particular

Challenge
outcome.

Individuals or companies hired to perform specific tasks or services for a

Deliverable
project or organization.

A basic structure or system that provides support and guidance for the
Goal
development of something.

Individuals who own shares in a company, representing ownership and

Product
sometimes having voting rights.

Grant A thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress.

 Word Definition

Individuals, groups, or organizations with an interest or concern in a

Constraint
particular project, system, or business.

An aim or objective, the desired result that a person or group works towards
Framework
achieving.

A task or situation that tests one's abilities or resources, often with difficulty
Programme
or uncertainty.

Demands The degree or scale to which something extends or reaches.

The extent or variety of something, often referring to the limits or scope of a

Requirements
particular set.

The necessary conditions or specifications that must be met for a particular

Range
purpose.

The requirements or needs, often expressed by a group of people, that must

Extent
be fulfilled.

A significant event or stage in the development of something, often marking

Scope
progress or achievement.

Stakeholders A limitation or restriction that hinders or prevents certain actions or choices.

Shareholders Something that is manufactured or produced, typically for sale.

A tangible or intangible item produced as a result of a process, project, or

Contractors
task that can be delivered.

E.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRcReyRYIMg

Watch the video which describes in a nutshell how Scrum project methodology works and fill
in the gaps in the sentences below:

A product owner creates a product _________ which is a prioritized wish list.

During sprint _________, the team pulls a chunk from the top of that wish list, a sprint
backlog, and decides how to implement those pieces.

The team has a certain amount of time — a _________ (usually two to four weeks) — to
complete its work, but it meets each day to assess its progress (daily Scrum).
Along the way, the Scrum _________ keeps the team focused on its goal.

At the end of the sprint, the work should be potentially _________: ready to hand to a
customer, put on a store shelf, or show to a stakeholder.

The sprint ends with a sprint _________ and retrospective.

As the next sprint begins, the team chooses another _________ of the product backlog and
begins working again.

F.
Read the article and find synonyms of the words below:

 repeatable = …………………
 comprehensive = …………………
 to question = …………………
 to harmonize = …………………
 delivered =…………………
 objects = …………………
 to demonstrate = …………………
 progressive = …………………

Scrum is an iterative and incremental agile software development framework for managing
product development. It defines a “flexible, holistic product development strategy where a
development team works as a unit to reach a common goal”, challenges assumptions of the
“traditional, sequential approach” to product development, and enables teams to self-organize
by encouraging physical co-location or close online collaboration of all team members, as
well as daily face-to-face communication among all team members involved. A key principle
of Scrum is the dual recognition that customers will change their minds about what they want
or need and that there will be unpredictable challenges.

Scrum calls for four ceremonies that bring structure to each sprint:

 Sprint planning: A team planning meeting that determines what to complete in the
coming sprint.
 Daily stand-up (AKA daily scrum): a 15-minute mini-meeting for the software team to
sync.
  Sprint demo: A sharing meeting where the team shows what they’ve shipped in that
sprint.
 Sprint retrospective: A review of what did and didn’t go well with actions to make the
next sprint better.

During a sprint, visual artifacts like task boards and burndown charts, visible to the team and
spectators alike, are powerful motivators. They drive the spirit of “we’re doing this!” Having
the opportunity to show off new work at the sprint demo is equally motivating, and the
consistent, incremental feedback helps the team stay on track.

G.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qyKfDErMiE

Watch the video on Agile vs. Waterfall and discuss the questions below in groups:
a) What are the differences between Agile and traditional project management (Waterfall)?
b) Which of these two methodologies would work better in your workplace? Why?
c) What’s your opinion about Agile/Scrum? Is this just a buzzword or a revolution in how
people work?
d) Which aspect of Scrum do you like/hate the most?
e) What is missing from Scrum? What practice would you suggest to improve it?
f) Who in your opinion should not adapt Scrum and continue working using standard
Waterfall methodology

H.
I.
Compare two methodologies. Discuss their pros and cons.

J.
1. Project Initiation:
o What is the first step when starting a new project?
o Why is it important to define the project scope at the beginning?
2. Team Collaboration:
o How do you ensure effective communication within a project team?
o Can you name a few roles commonly found in a project team?
3. Setting Goals:
o Why is it important to have clear and measurable project goals?
 o How do you prioritize tasks to achieve project objectives?
4. Time Management:
o How do you create a project timeline or schedule?
o What challenges might you face in managing project deadlines?
5. Risk Management:
o Why is it important to identify potential risks in a project?
o Can you give an example of a risk in a project and how it could be mitigated?
6. Monitoring Progress:
o How do you track the progress of a project?
o What tools or techniques can be used to monitor project tasks?
7. Stakeholder Engagement:
o Why is it essential to involve stakeholders in a project?
o How do you manage conflicting interests among project stakeholders?
8. Problem Solving:
o Can you describe a situation where a project faced challenges, and how those
challenges were addressed?
o What steps would you take if a project is falling behind schedule?
9. Quality Control:
o Why is ensuring quality important in project management?
o How do you ensure that the final project deliverables meet quality standards?
10. Closure and Evaluation:
o What steps are involved in closing a project?
o Why is it important to conduct a project review or evaluation after completion?