Dec1999 PM217 : Project Management (Question 2) Suggest Solutions

(a)

Name any three approaches that may be applied to reduce the failure rate in a project.

Any three approaches from the following list:

•Divide and conquer.

•Measurable deliverables.

•Reviews and walk-throughs.

•Testing.

•Project staffing.

•Change control.

•Maintenance.

1 mark for each answer,up to a maximum of 3 marks.[3 marks ]

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(b)

Discuss any three problems associated with the traditional approach to project management.

The three problems are:

•Inattention to the importance of customers (1 mark).Customer satisfaction is often treated as an afterthought;most energy is directed towards satisfying the three constraints of time,budget,and specifications (1 mark).

•Obsession with project management dogma (1 mark).There is a narrow definition of what project management should be concerned with (1 mark).

•Obsession with project management tools (1 mark).Single-minded focus on a fixed set of tools for dealing with scheduling,budgeting,and resource allocation (1 mark).

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(c)

Discuss any three benefits in choosing the new approach in project management.

Three benefits in choosing the new approach are:

•Project management must become more requirements-oriented.

•It must redefine the role of project managers,giving them more power to operate effectively.

•It must explore the use of new management tools.

•Award 1 mark mark for the identification of each point,and 1 mark for a satisfactory elaboration. [6 marks ]

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