Session 2 PMIS Exit

During a meeting, a project manager learns that a business result needs to be delivered in four weeks, although the original plan was sixteen weeks. The project manager also hears that there is no available technical resource who might be able to join the team. The project manager knows the technical resource manager because they worked together on a previous project.

What is the first thing the project manager should do?

• Notify the project sponsor about the lack of a technical resource.

• Immediately escalate the issue to decision makers in the organization

• Check with the technical resource manager to see if there is an available technical resource.

• Since time is short, hire an outside party to meet the need for a technical resource

Answer explanation

A Per Agile manifesto, it values individual and interactions over processes and tools. Thus, it is best to meet with the resource manager to understand the real situation rather than informing sponsor first which might be the false alarm.

A customer is not satisfied with the delivered product, saying that it was not what they expected. The project manager is surprised, because the agile development team delivered the product several iterations early.

What is one way that the project manager could have avoided this result?

• Required team sign off for each of the constant changes to the requirements

• Set aside more resources for product testing after changes are made

• Made sure that the customer was aware of the value of demos

• Ensured that the team fully participated in developing the project scope

Answer explanation

C The customer was not engaged enough in the project. The iteration review is the best mechanism for the team to demonstrate working software and for the customer to give feedback to ensure that their expectations are met.

After six iterations, significant variations have occurred to project scope and schedule. These are due to the customer's technology regulations and security policies, which are regularly reviewed. The project manager wants to suggest a new approach to the next iteration to avoid possible delays.

What should the project manager do first?

• Rank the importance of each improvement item, then implement actions identified during the last retrospective.

• Engage in a cost-benefit analysis that can help predict the profits that could be realized through the use of new technology for the next phase.

• Research new technology trends and management tools that have been successful on similar projects.

• Use a backlog refinement meeting and include the customer's change requests in the discussion.

Answer explanation

A The retrospective is used to review lessons learned and suggest corrective actions for the next iterations.

During one daily standup meeting, team members indicate that they are having to engage in rework because there seems to be too much up-front work.

How should the project manager respond to this concern?

• Try using a Kanban board for reviews.

• Request that team members explicitly implement time boxing

• Request that the project owner maximizes the product value

• Engage in a process to manage a reduction in the product backlog.

Answer explanation

B Shorter iterations allow for managing functionalities more closely should the team keep working on a minimum Viable Product.

A project manager receives the following for a new project:

-assumptions

-restrictions

-preliminary scope

After receiving this information, what should the project manager do first?

• Review and understand the business case and project goals.

• . Put together the project team and assign project tasks.

• Build the project schedule and determine the critical path.

• Ensure project charter approval is obtained from the sponsor.

Answer explanation

A

The business case and project goals need to be understood first before a charter can be written. Building a team and a schedule come later in the process