What is a Project?

Project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.

 Projects are unique.

 Projects are temporary in nature and have a definite beginning and end date.
 Projects are completed when the project goals are achieved or it is determined the project
is no longer viable.
 A successful project is one that meets or exceeds the expectations of your stakeholders.

How Unique?
 Product characteristics are progressively elaborated.
 The product or service is different in some way from other product or services.

How Temporary?
 It has a definite beginning and end. effort.
 It is not an ongoing effort such as in operations.
 It ceases when objective has been attained.
 The team is disbanded upon project completion.

Example
Building a road is an example of a project. The process of building a road takes a finite amount
of time, and produces a unique product.

Operations, on the other hand, are repetitive. Generating bills every month, and broadcasting
news everyday are examples of operations.

Subprojects are components of a project that often contracted out.

What is Project Management?

Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project
activities to meet project requirements.

Project management is accomplished through the use of the processes such as:

 Initiating
 Planning
 Executng
 Monitor and Controlling
 Closing
Project managers or the organization can divide projects into above phases to provide better
management control with appropriate links to the ongoing operations of the performing
organization. Collectively, these phases are known as the project life cycle.

Project managers deliver projects while balancing the following constraints:

 Scope
 Schedule
 Quality
 Resources
 Customer Satisfaction
 Risk

These all are so intertwined that a change in one will most often cause a change in at least one of
the others

For example:

 If time is extended, the cost of the project will increase.

 If time extended with the same cost then quality of the product will reduce.
 If scope is extended then cost and time will also extend.

Changes to any of these legs sets off a series of activities that are needed to integrate the change
across the project.

What is Program Management?

A program consists of a group of related projects and Program management is the process of
managing multiple on going projects. An example would be that of designing, manufacturing
and providing support infrastructure for an automobile make.

Program management involves centrally managing and coordinating groups of related projects to
meet the objectives of the program.

In some cases Project Management is a subset of Program Management. The project manager
may report to the program manager in such cases. A portfolio consists of multiple programs.

What is Portfolio Management?

A portfolio is a collection of projects, programs subportfolios, and operations that are grouped
together to facilitate effective management of that work to meet strategic business objectives.
Organizations manage their portfolios based on specific goals.

Senior managers or senior management teams typically take on the responsibility of portfolio
management for an organization.
Portfolio management encompasses managing the collections of programs and projects in the
portfolio. This includes weighing the value of each project, or potential project, against the
portfolio's strategic objectives.

Portfolio management also concerns monitoring active projects for adherence to objectives,
balancing the portfolio among the other investments of the organization, and assuring the
efficient use of resources.

Why do we need Project Management?

We need project management to manage projects effectively and drive them to success. Project
Management starts with the decision to start a project upon weighing its need and viability. Once
a project starts, it is crucial to watch the project progress at every step so as to ensure it delivers
what all is required, in the stipulated time, within the allocated budget. Other drivers influencing
the need of project management are:

 Exponential expansion of human knowledge

 Global demand for goods and services
 Global competition
 Team is required to meet the demand with quality and standard.
 Improved control over the project
 Improved performance
 Improved budget and quality

Project Management Skills:

Many of the tools and techniques for managing projects are specific to project management.
However, effective project management requires that the project management team acquire the
following three dimensions of project management competencies:

 Project Management Knowledge Competency: This refers to what the project

management team knows about project management.
 Project Management Performance Competency: This refers to what the project
management team is able to do or accomplish while applying their project management
knowledge.
 Personal Competency: This refers to how the project management team behaves when
performing the project or activity.

Interpersonal Skills Management:

The management of interpersonal relationships includes:

 Effective communication: The exchange of information

 Influencing the organization: The ability to "get things done"
  Leadership: Developing a vision and strategy, and motivating people to achieve that
vision and strategy
 Motivation: Energizing people to achieve high levels of performance and to overcome
barriers to change
 Negotiation and conflict management: Conferring with others to come to terms with
them or to reach an agreement
 Decision Making: Ability to take decision independently.
 Political and cultural awareness: Important to handle various personal and professional
issues.
 Team Building: Ability to create a productive team.

What is PMBOK Guide?

PMBOK Guide is the bible for Project Management. PMBOK stands for Project Management
Body of Knowledge. There are ten knowledge areas defined in PMBOK Guide, which are as
follows:

 Project Integration Management

 Project Scope Management
 Project Cost Management
 Project Time Management
 Project Risk Management
 Project Quality Management
 Project HR Management
 Project Communication Management
 Project Procurement Management
 Project Stakeholder Management

Each Knowledge area has certain processes. There are a total of 47 processes in PMBOK 5. Each
process has following three important parts.

 Inputs
 Tools & Techniques
 Outputs

The PMBOK covers each of the 10 knowledge areas and 47 processes with their inputs, outputs,
and tools & techniques.

Further the discipline of Project Management has five process groups.

These are:

 Initiating
 Planning
 Executing
 Monitoring and Controlling
  Closing

Each process is part of one of these five project phases. It is important to know the process group
for each of the 47 processes.

Here is a list of sample questions which would help you to understand the pattern of questions on
Project Integration Management being asked in PMP Certification Exams.

(1) A planning method, which provides details of the work to accomplish, but also provide some
preliminary description of the work to be done in later phases is called :

1. Expert Judgment
2. Rolling wave
3. Strategic
4. Operational

Answer:B

Hint:In Rolling wave, high level plan is made and detailed plans are made for activities just a
little before they have to be executed.

(2) What is the term used for the area that entails processes and activities that define, combine,
unify and coordinate the processes and project activities carried out within the various Project
Management Process Groups?

1. Project Integration Management

2. Strategic Management
3. Operations Management
4. Project Process Management

Answer: A

Hint:See Project Integration Management definition, Page 63, PMBOK 5

(3) When Integration is used under Project Management, it includes all of the following activities
except for.

1. Unification
2. Consolidation
3. Communication
4. Review

Answer: D

Hint: Refer First para, Page 63, PMBOK 5

(4) One of the initial project documents, issued by senior management, which outlines the
authority of the project manager, is called Project charter. As a seller, what other document can
be used in this place:

1. Work breakdown structure

2. Project scope
3. Contract
4. Internal memo

Answer:C

Hint: A Contract authorizes work for a seller

(5) During the planning development process, at times it is necessary to make certain
assumptions to enhance the project plan when the data is not available. In regard to making those
assumptions, which one of the following is most true for project planning purposes?

1. The assumptions will be considered as true, real, or certain.

2. By making the assumption, it tends to reduce the project risk.
3. Project assumptions are based upon historical data used for the project.
4. Senior management predefines the budget constraints.

Answer:A

Hint: Project scope statement: Assumptions, Page 124, PMBOK 5

(6) A project planning methodology is any structured approach used to guide the project team
during development of the project plan. What is an example of this methodology?

1. Standard forms or templates.

2. Upper management involvement
3. Functional work authorizations
4. Stakeholders skills

Answer: A

Hint: Use of predefined templates helps achieve standardization in processes

(7) Ahmar, a project manager in a construction company has been authorized to apply the
organizational resources to project activities. The authorization comes in the form of.

1. Project Management Plan

2. Project Charter
3. Justifications
4. Memos
Answer: B

Hint: Project Charter authorized the manager to obtain access to resources

(8) The process of defining, preparing and organizing all subsidiary plans along with integrating
them into the comprehensive project plan is known as.

1. Develop Project Charter

2. Develop Project Management Plan
3. Project Process Groups
4. Strategic Management

Answer: B

Hint: Refer Sec 4.2, Page 72, PMBOK 5

(9) The project closing process is essential to overall project planning. What is considered one of
the most important steps in closing the project?

1. Insuring that plans are produced to implement the project by phases.

2. Issuing work orders so that financial data can be collected.
3. Transition the lease of equipment to the owner
4. Satisfying the contractual obligations

Answer: D

Hint: All the requirements must be fulfilled before the closing process

(10) Each project phase is marked by completion of one or more:

1. Tasks.
2. Milestones
3. Deliverables
4. Life cycles

Answer: C

Hint: Some deliverables are produced as outputs from processes performed to complete project
work.

(11) Abdullah, a project engineer is working on an IT project that requires him to direct the
project activities and initiate the approved changes in the project work. He is executing which
activity of the Project Integration Management Process.

1. Monitor and Control Project Work

2. Perform Integrated Change Control
 3. Direct and Manage Project Work
4. Develop Project Management Plan

Answer: C

Hint: Direct and Manage Project Work, Page 79, PMBOK 5

(12) A project manager in a construction company identified the project activities that were not
giving output as per the performance goals outlined in the project management plan. The finding
is the result of:

1. Monitor and Control Project Work

2. Direct and Manage Project Work
3. Develop Project Charter
4. Devising of Project Management Plan.

Answer: A

Hint: Monitor and Control Project Work, Page 86, PMBOK 5

(13) Murli, a project manager in a Telecom Company got all the project related information
listed and improvised in the Organizational Process Assets (OPA) along with its communication
across the organization. The process undertaken by him is known as:

1. Monitoring and Controlling Project Work

2. Closing Project or Phase
3. Perform Integrated Change Control
4. Directing and Managing Project Work

Answer: C

Hint: Refer to Perform Integrated Change Control, Page 94, PMBOK 5

(14) Rahim, a project manager on a Distribution and Logistic Project is devising a cost estimate
for a contingency plan. He will resort to integration of the following except for:

1. Cost Management Plan

2. Project Schedule
3. Risk Register
4. Stakeholder Register

Answer: D

Hint: Cost estimate doesn't require a stakeholder register

(15) A project management team working on a manufacturing and materials project complete it
on time by undertaking the following activities under the project management plan except for:

1. Cost Management
2. Time Management
3. Performance of Corporate Social Responsibility
4. Scope Management

Answer: C

Hint: Corporate Social Responsibility isn't related with project management

(16) For the developing a project charter of an IT project, the project manager utilized various
inputs for it that exclude?

1. Project statement of work

2. Organizational Process Assets
3. Enterprise Environmental Factors
4. Schedule forecasts

Answer: D

Hint: Schedule comes into picture quite later

(17) Rahim, a project manager in a manufacturing company has devised the project management
plan for a project on construction of company premises. The project management plan that will
guide project execution and control has been developed on the basis of the following inputs but.

1. Project Charter
2. Work Performance Information
3. Outputs from other processes
4. Enterprise Environmental Factors

Answer: B

Hint: Work Performance Information comes as a result of validate scope process

(18) A project manager is directing and managing a project. While doing that, he is utilizing
some tools and techniques. The tools and techniques guiding him do not include.

1. Change Control Tools

2. Expert Judgement
3. Project Management Information system
4. Meetings

Answer: A
Hint: Change Control Tools are used in Perform Integrated Change Control process

(19) While directing and managing a project, the activities undertaken by the project manager
got the following output that excludes.

1. Work Performance Data

2. Change Log
3. Change Requests
4. Deliverables

Answer: B

Hint: Change log is an output of Perform Integrated Change Control process

(20) Monitor and Control Project Work is a process that utilizes various inputs for detecting and
correcting the shortcomings in any of the areas to ensure achievement of the goals of the project.
Which of the following inputs is used for the process?

1. Agreements
2. Approved Change Requests
3. Validated Changes
4. Accepted Deliverables

Answer: C

Hint: See Monitor and Control Project Work inputs, Page 65, PMBOK 5