APM PFQ Definition
define the term 'project' - correct answer ✔✔A unique, transient endeavour undertaken to bring about
change and to achieve planned objectives
define the term 'project management' - correct answer ✔✔The application of processes, methods,
skills, knowledge, and experience to achieve specific project objectives for change according to the
project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters.
state the key purpose of project management - correct answer ✔✔To effect beneficial change
define the terms 'programme management' - correct answer ✔✔The coordinated management of
projects and business-as-usual (steady- state) activities to achieve beneficial change
Define 'portfolio management' - correct answer ✔✔The selection, prioritisation and control of an
organisation's projects and programmes in line with its strategic objectives and capacity to deliver.
(Portfolios balance the implantation of change initiative and maintain BAU, while optimising on
investment.
Portfolios can be managed at an organisational or functional level to optimise strategic benefits or
operational efficiency, respectively)
Define Programmes - correct answer ✔✔unique, transient, strategic endeavours undertaken to achieve
beneficial change and they incorporate a group of related projects and BAU activities.
What are programmes measure of success? - correct answer ✔✔Programmes measure of success Is the
actual realisation of the expected benefits
Define PESTLE - correct answer ✔✔Political - current and potential influences from political pressures
Economic - local, national and world economic impact
Sociological - the effect of changes in the needs of society
,Technological - new and emerging technology
Legal - local, national and world legalisation
Environmental - local, national and world environmental issues
describe why PESTLE analysis might be used by a project manager - correct answer ✔✔PESTLE is a
management technique to help the project management understand the environment in which the
project operates. These show the external or internal influences of success or failure.
One strength of a business case is to show that the organisation has not become over reliant on a single
idea
state the phases of a typical linear project life cycle - correct answer ✔✔Concept - development of an
initial idea through initial studies and high-level requirement management and assessment of viability,
including an outline business case
Definition - development of a detailed definition, plan and statement of requirements that include a full
justification for the work. PMP is formed in this stage
Deployment - implantation of plans, verification of performance through testing and assurance to realise
intended outputs, outcomes, and benefits.
Transition - handover, commissioning, and acceptance of outputs to the sponsor and wider users,
culminating in formal closure.
What is the "Predictive approach" to creating a life cycle - correct answer ✔✔rely on knowledge
identified at the start, allowing work to proceed in a sequential manner
What is the "Adaptive approach" to creating a life cycle - correct answer ✔✔implies new knowledge is
created as the work progresses, which is then used to inform and guide the remaining effort
state the phases of a typical iterative project life cycle - correct answer ✔✔Pre-Project - developing a
high-level vision
Feasibility and Foundations - finer details are uncovered during cycles of iteration
Evolutionary development - specification and design to run in parallel
Deployment - bring the evolving solution into operational use either fully or using an incremental
solution that delivers partial requirements, using user experience to form the next solution increments.
,Postproject - identifies whether the solution has delivered the benefits to the degree required to
achieve the business case
define the term 'hybrid life cycle' - correct answer ✔✔A pragmatic approach to achieving beneficial
change that combines a linear life cycle for some phases or activities with an iterative life cycle for
others.
What are the benefits for a hybrid life cycle? - correct answer ✔✔Adding iterative elements to
"predictive" projects can enhance deployment stages, support the generation of insights, underpin the
realisation of an early benefit, and validate some of the ideas much earlier in the cycle.
Building agile into a project/programme can offer increased efficiency and flexibility, however it requires
great skill and clarity when using multiple different systems of working
define the term 'extended project life cycle' - correct answer ✔✔A life cycle approach that adds an
adoption phase to a linear or iterative life cycle with the purpose of ensuring the accountability and
governance of the investment stays with the change teams until change is fully embedded. It provides
the missing connection to benefit realisation in a linear life cycle and facilitates cooperation and
knowledge sharing between change and business-as-usual teams.
When does the extended life cycle happen? - correct answer ✔✔After the transition phase
What are the two phases that are part of the extended life cycle? - correct answer ✔✔Adoption -
operations and sustainment required to utilise the new project and enable the acceptance and use of
the benefits
Benefits realisation - realisation of the required business benefits
Outline project management roles and responsibilities: Project Sponsor - correct answer ✔✔project
sponsor:
- Primary risk taker and has ultimate accountability and overall responsibility for the project.
- Most likely to have managed the project through the initial phase
- Responsible for ensuring the projects benefits are realised when the project is handed back to
operations.
- A member of the and has delegated authority of the steering group, as a chairperson
, - Assists in business management and project management issues that arise outside the formal issues of
the steering group
- Lends support by advocacy at the senior level
- Ensures necessary recourse are available for the project
- Responsibilities include:
o Arbiter for user and stakeholder requirements
o Determining the relative priority of time, cost, and quality
o Initiating the project and ensuring PM appointed
o Monitoring high level progress and making control decisions when necessary
o Monitoring business environment and reviewing the business case at gate reviews
o Keeping senior management involved of project progress
o Terminating the project if necessary, after gate review
o Developing and maintaining ownership of the business case
Outline project management roles and responsibilities: Project Manager - correct answer ✔✔Project
manager
- To plan, organise, staff, motivate, evaluate, direct, control and lead the project from start to finish to
deliver the project objectives.
- Responsibilities include:
o Delivering on time, cost, quality/performance priorities
o Making timely decisions
o Communicating with the sponsor, forming them of progress and seeking direction when necessary
o Managing sponsor and user expectations
o Defining and planning the project through creation of PMP
o Monitoring and controlling project progress
o Building, leading, and motivating the project team
o Ensuring work packages are allocated and responsibilities identified
o Initiating reviews and assisting the sponsor in making the decision to terminate (if justified)
o Communicating as prime point of contact with team members, other organisations, contractors,
suppliers, and operations representatives.
define the term 'project' - correct answer ✔✔A unique, transient endeavour undertaken to bring about
change and to achieve planned objectives
define the term 'project management' - correct answer ✔✔The application of processes, methods,
skills, knowledge, and experience to achieve specific project objectives for change according to the
project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters.
state the key purpose of project management - correct answer ✔✔To effect beneficial change
define the terms 'programme management' - correct answer ✔✔The coordinated management of
projects and business-as-usual (steady- state) activities to achieve beneficial change
Define 'portfolio management' - correct answer ✔✔The selection, prioritisation and control of an
organisation's projects and programmes in line with its strategic objectives and capacity to deliver.
(Portfolios balance the implantation of change initiative and maintain BAU, while optimising on
investment.
Portfolios can be managed at an organisational or functional level to optimise strategic benefits or
operational efficiency, respectively)
Define Programmes - correct answer ✔✔unique, transient, strategic endeavours undertaken to achieve
beneficial change and they incorporate a group of related projects and BAU activities.
What are programmes measure of success? - correct answer ✔✔Programmes measure of success Is the
actual realisation of the expected benefits
Define PESTLE - correct answer ✔✔Political - current and potential influences from political pressures
Economic - local, national and world economic impact
Sociological - the effect of changes in the needs of society
,Technological - new and emerging technology
Legal - local, national and world legalisation
Environmental - local, national and world environmental issues
describe why PESTLE analysis might be used by a project manager - correct answer ✔✔PESTLE is a
management technique to help the project management understand the environment in which the
project operates. These show the external or internal influences of success or failure.
One strength of a business case is to show that the organisation has not become over reliant on a single
idea
state the phases of a typical linear project life cycle - correct answer ✔✔Concept - development of an
initial idea through initial studies and high-level requirement management and assessment of viability,
including an outline business case
Definition - development of a detailed definition, plan and statement of requirements that include a full
justification for the work. PMP is formed in this stage
Deployment - implantation of plans, verification of performance through testing and assurance to realise
intended outputs, outcomes, and benefits.
Transition - handover, commissioning, and acceptance of outputs to the sponsor and wider users,
culminating in formal closure.
What is the "Predictive approach" to creating a life cycle - correct answer ✔✔rely on knowledge
identified at the start, allowing work to proceed in a sequential manner
What is the "Adaptive approach" to creating a life cycle - correct answer ✔✔implies new knowledge is
created as the work progresses, which is then used to inform and guide the remaining effort
state the phases of a typical iterative project life cycle - correct answer ✔✔Pre-Project - developing a
high-level vision
Feasibility and Foundations - finer details are uncovered during cycles of iteration
Evolutionary development - specification and design to run in parallel
Deployment - bring the evolving solution into operational use either fully or using an incremental
solution that delivers partial requirements, using user experience to form the next solution increments.
,Postproject - identifies whether the solution has delivered the benefits to the degree required to
achieve the business case
define the term 'hybrid life cycle' - correct answer ✔✔A pragmatic approach to achieving beneficial
change that combines a linear life cycle for some phases or activities with an iterative life cycle for
others.
What are the benefits for a hybrid life cycle? - correct answer ✔✔Adding iterative elements to
"predictive" projects can enhance deployment stages, support the generation of insights, underpin the
realisation of an early benefit, and validate some of the ideas much earlier in the cycle.
Building agile into a project/programme can offer increased efficiency and flexibility, however it requires
great skill and clarity when using multiple different systems of working
define the term 'extended project life cycle' - correct answer ✔✔A life cycle approach that adds an
adoption phase to a linear or iterative life cycle with the purpose of ensuring the accountability and
governance of the investment stays with the change teams until change is fully embedded. It provides
the missing connection to benefit realisation in a linear life cycle and facilitates cooperation and
knowledge sharing between change and business-as-usual teams.
When does the extended life cycle happen? - correct answer ✔✔After the transition phase
What are the two phases that are part of the extended life cycle? - correct answer ✔✔Adoption -
operations and sustainment required to utilise the new project and enable the acceptance and use of
the benefits
Benefits realisation - realisation of the required business benefits
Outline project management roles and responsibilities: Project Sponsor - correct answer ✔✔project
sponsor:
- Primary risk taker and has ultimate accountability and overall responsibility for the project.
- Most likely to have managed the project through the initial phase
- Responsible for ensuring the projects benefits are realised when the project is handed back to
operations.
- A member of the and has delegated authority of the steering group, as a chairperson
, - Assists in business management and project management issues that arise outside the formal issues of
the steering group
- Lends support by advocacy at the senior level
- Ensures necessary recourse are available for the project
- Responsibilities include:
o Arbiter for user and stakeholder requirements
o Determining the relative priority of time, cost, and quality
o Initiating the project and ensuring PM appointed
o Monitoring high level progress and making control decisions when necessary
o Monitoring business environment and reviewing the business case at gate reviews
o Keeping senior management involved of project progress
o Terminating the project if necessary, after gate review
o Developing and maintaining ownership of the business case
Outline project management roles and responsibilities: Project Manager - correct answer ✔✔Project
manager
- To plan, organise, staff, motivate, evaluate, direct, control and lead the project from start to finish to
deliver the project objectives.
- Responsibilities include:
o Delivering on time, cost, quality/performance priorities
o Making timely decisions
o Communicating with the sponsor, forming them of progress and seeking direction when necessary
o Managing sponsor and user expectations
o Defining and planning the project through creation of PMP
o Monitoring and controlling project progress
o Building, leading, and motivating the project team
o Ensuring work packages are allocated and responsibilities identified
o Initiating reviews and assisting the sponsor in making the decision to terminate (if justified)
o Communicating as prime point of contact with team members, other organisations, contractors,
suppliers, and operations representatives.
