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(a) One of the reasons for a project
failure is perpetual maintenance. Explain how this situation can arise
and give two ways in which it can be avoided. [3]
- Perpetual maintenance is often caused by
poor design: much of the estimated 60% to 70% and more of systems
costs that are spent on maintenance could be eliminated by not designing
in so many mistakes. [1]
- Effective management and technical reviews of the interim system
development deliverables, documentation and code, could eliminate
many of the bugs currently delivered into production. [1]
- Comprehensive, intelligently applied testing, throughout the development
life cycle, is also a key factor in delivering quality, error-free
code. [1]
(b) There are many approaches applied
to reduce the failure rate in a project. Name and briefly explain
any three approaches. [6]
The following ways can help in reducing failure
rate in a project
development process.
- Divide and conquer
- Measurable deliverables
- Reviews and walk-throughs
- Testing
- Project staffing
- Change control
- Maintenance
(Any three of the above, 1 mark for identification and 1 mark for
an
explanation) [6]
(c) In project management there is a
great difference in using the traditional
approach and new approach. Briefly discuss any two problems associated
with the traditional approach and the two benefits in choosing the
new approach in project development. [6]
Problems associated with the traditional
approach
- Inattention to the importance of customers.
Customer satisfaction is often treated as an afterthought. Most energy
is directed towards satisfying the famous triple constraints
of time, budget and specifications.
- Single-minded focus on a fixed set of tools for dealing with scheduling,
budgeting, and resource allocation.
- Narrow definition of what it should be concerned with.
First, traditional project management often limits the project life
cycle to
four phases: concept, planning, execution and closeout.
Second, the traditional project management approach holds a constricted
view of what project managers should be able to do.
(Any two of the above: Identification and explanation of each point
carry
1 mark each) [4]
Benefits in choosing the new approach
- project management must become more customer focused;
- it must explore the use of new management tools;
- it must redefine the role of project managers, giving them more
power to operate effectively.
(Any two of the above, 1 mark each) [2]
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