RE: What does the PMI teach?

["Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>]

  _____  

From: Pro TechWriter [mailto:pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com] 


On 7/17/07, Lauren <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu> wrote: 


I don't know about beef because I'm vegetarian, but here's my take on PMI,
PMP Certification, and Scope Planning. 

 
Hey Lauren, me too :-) 


 PMBOK states that inputs to Scope Planning are the product
description, the project charter, constraints, and assumptions. Techniques 
to determine the scope can vary by project manager and project managers may
discuss different methods to perform this analysis.  From an older version
of PMBOK, tools and techniques for Scope planning include product analysis, 
benefit/cost analysis, alternatives identification, and expert judgment.

 
Now I always wondered about this part, because I was taught to include an
risk assessment during scope plannning as well as part of the constraints
and assumptions. Is that included in the PMBOK in the Inception phase?  
 
>From the scope statement, with the proper input from experienced project
managers and developers (very important), you can begin putting together an
estimate for the project. Stating risk and how it can be amelorated is a
very important part of the scope and estimate. I can't tell you how many
times I have asked a PM about the risks associated with the project, and
what percentage was included in the estimating, and I got a blank look. 
 
--PT 
 

I feel like we're discussing a holy text.  "The PMBOK states..."  
 
Risk Assessment is a part Project Management and risks are not necessarily
included in the scope.  The scope should be what the project will accomplish
and not the risks, but the organization that requires the project may want
to know the risks in the scope.  There are a lot of things that are required
for project management and should be included in the Project Plan (the text
document that supports the project, not the Microsoft Project file).  Risk
Management is a separate "Knowledge Area" from Scope Management.  I don't
have the latest PMBOK, but 1996 PMBOK has nine knowledge areas.  Risk
management is one of the "facilitating" processes of project planning, while
scope management is one of the "core" processes in project planning.
 
A PM does not need to analyze the risks, but the PM should be aware of the
risks and make sure that somebody has analyzed the risks and produced a Risk
Management Plan.  The risks should also be clear in the Project Plan, so if
a PM has begun work on the project and you want information, then ask to see
the Project Plan (remember, that's not an mpp file).  If you are tasked with
developing the project plan (because "you're a writer"), then ask the PM for
the risk assessment or for the name of the project resource that is handling
the risk assessment.  One of the good things about the PMBOK is that it
helps to determine what questions to ask of a project manager.  It also
presents a potential starting point for arguments with project managers that
prefer to work without a common methodology, like PMBOK.  Just be aware of
that.
 
Lauren
 
 
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