(H5) Project Management for Information Systems IMIS HIGHER DIPLOMA QUALIFICATIONS

IMIS HIGHER DIPLOMA QUALIFICATIONS
Project Management for Information Systems
(H5)
Friday 5th December 2014 10:00hrs – 13:00hrs
DURATION: 3 HOURS
Candidates should answer ALL the questions in Part A and THREE of the five
questions in Part B. Part A carries 40% of the marks available and Part B
carries 60%. Candidates should allocate their time accordingly.
No reference material of any kind may be taken into the examination.
[Turn over]
© Institute for the Management of Information Systems –
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PART A. Answer ALL questions in this section
Question A1.
Briefly describe two reasons why a "mid-stage" report might occur during a project
using PRINCE2©.
Possible answers are (T1. Page 227):Exception situation.
A Request or Change that would result in tolerances being exceeded.
Potential overlapping stages.
Boosting confidence during a long stage.
2 marks for each of 2 of the above or similar plus an additional mark for an answer
that indicates an appreciation of PRINCE2©.
(5 marks)
Question A2.
Give two reasons why a Product Breakdown Structure can help in the development
of a project plan.
Possible answers are (T1 Pages 119-120):Focus on "what" rather than "how". ( 3 marks).
Helps to envisage the work.
( 2 marks).
Less easy to forget something.
( 2 marks).
Once products are identified, it is easier to identify other things associated with them
eg. quality requirements.
( 2 marks).
(5 marks)
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Question A3.
Briefly compare the differences between Line Management and Project
Management.
Possible answers should contain the following points (T1 Page 401):Line management continuous, project management finite.
Line managers - permanent post, project managers temporary post.
Line managers - many chances to improve performance, project managers usually
only have one chance.
Up to 5 marks for the above or other valid.
(5 marks)
Question A4.
Describe the purpose of a System Migration project.
Type of project where an existing system has to be moved to a new operating
environment. (T1 Page 7)
(5 marks)
Question A5.
Name two ISO standards relating to project management and for each, briefly state
the area of concern that they address.
Possible answers are (T1 Page 426) :ISO 12207 - Software Life Cycle Processes
ISO 9000 - quality management
ISO 9001 - provides more detail on how quality management should work.
ISO14001 - environmental management system.
1 mark each for naming 2 of the above plus up to 3 marks stating the area of
concern for each up to a total of 5 marks.
(5 marks)
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Question A6.
List five headings that should appear in a periodic report from the project manager to
the sponsor.
Answers should include (T1 Pages 223-224):Report Identifier comprising Project Name, Report number,
Date of report, Author etc.
up to 2 marks
Short narrative of progress
up to 2 marks
Milestones achieved
1 mark
Problems encountered
1 mark
Predicted end date etc.
1 mark
Requests for Change
1 mark
Costs to date
1 mark
(5 marks)
Question A7.
Describe the purpose of SWOT analysis.
(T1 Page 20.)
Answers simply stating "Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats"
will gain a maximum of :-
1 mark
Differentiating between "Internal" and "External"
up to 2 marks
Allows an organisation to determine options
up to 2 marks
Could help to determine if a project should proceed up to 2 marks
(5 marks)
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Question A8.
Name and briefly describe two recognised approaches to systems development.
Acceptable answers could include two of the following (T1 Pages 76-88):Traditional, Waterfall, SSADM, Scrum, Agile, OO, UML, Component-based, Extreme
Programming, Package-based, Soft systems, socio-technical, Business process reengineering, etc.
1 mark for naming each of two of the above or other valid plus up to 3 marks for a
brief description of each to a maximum of 5 marks in total.
(5 marks)
PART B. Answer any THREE of the following FIVE questions.
Question B9
a)
Explain what is meant by "situational leadership" in project management.
(7 marks)
" A style of leadership; a recognised and useful leadership model. A situational
leader has different leadership styles according to the situation and in particular
according to the need for direction or support to be given to those being led." (T1
Page 433 and expanded in Pages 373-374):Up to 7 marks for the above or similar.
b)
List and describe four leadership styles or practices that a project manager
might adopt.
There are a number of different ways of expressing leadership styles or practices (T1
362-374) Among those acceptable are:Tells, Sells, Consults, Joins.,Challenging the process, Inspiring a shared vision,
Enabling other to act, modelling the way, Encouraging the heart, Dictatorial,
Democratic, Free and easy, etc.
Up to 2 marks for each style/practice to a maximum of 8.
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(8 marks)
c)
According to research by Kounzes and Posner, name the four leadership
characteristics common to successful leaders.
Honest
Competent
Forward-looking
Inspiring.
1 mark for each of the above plus an additional mark for a well constructed answer.
(5 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
Question B10
a)
Describe five benefits to an organisation that a Project and Programme
Support Office (PPSO) can bring.
Benefits are:Information on past projects.
Consistency
Independence
Specialism
Centre of excellence.
(T1 Page 64).
1 mark for naming plus 1 mark for a valid description for each of the above to a
maximum of 10 marks.
(10 marks)
b)
Give examples of five services that a PPSO might provide which would
contribute to the success of a project.
(T1 Pages 58-63)
No two PPSOs provide the same services therefore up to 2 marks for each valid
service (1 mark for naming plus 1 mark for description) to a maximum of 10 marks.
(10 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
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Question B11.
a)
Using a flowchart or similar, show the risk management process.
(5 marks)
A flowchart showing Plan risk management approach, Identify risks, Assess risks,
Plan risk responses, Carry out risk reduction actions as shown on T1 Page 260
would gain maximum marks.
Award 1 mark for each label in the correct sequence to a maximum of 5 marks.
b)
Based on your answer to Part a), explain and justify each step in the risk
management process.
T1 Page 260.
Up to 3 marks for a valid explanation and justification for each step to a maximum of
15 marks
(15 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
Question B12.
a)
Draw and label a stakeholder grid that you could use in the early stage of a
stakeholder management process.
Answers are expected to show a simple POWER and INTEREST grid showing High
and Low for each and labelled with appropriate actions. Example is shown in T1
Page 300.
Up to 3 marks for Power and 3 marks for Interest. Maximum 6 marks.
1 mark for High and 1 mark for Low on each axis. Maximum 2 marks.
1 mark for each of four labels to a maximum of 4 marks.
Other valid variations to be marked accordingly. (eg answers with High, Medium and
Low)
(12 marks)
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b)
Describe how this grid would assist in the stakeholder management process.
Answers could include analysis showing the type and frequency of communication
needed with Stakeholders, whether they are for or against the project, how they will
be affected by the project, how they can contribute to the project, etc. (T1 Pages
300-301).
2 marks for each valid piece information from the grid up to a maximum of 8 marks.
(8 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
Question B13
Project ABC
Original Scheduled Duration 12 Months
Original Total Budget 200,000
Month
BCWS
January
February
March
April
BCWP
14,000
28,000
44,000
65,000
4,000
12,000
20,000
27,000
ACWP
5,000
18,000
35,000
44,000
SV
CV
-10,000
-16,000
-24,000
-1,000
-6,000
-15,000
SPI
0.29
0.43
0.45
CPI
0.80
0.67
0.57
Notes:
The above figures are cumulative
BCWS = Budget Cost of Work Scheduled
BCWP = Budgeted Cost of Work Performed
ACWP = Actual Cost of Work Performed
SV = Schedule Variance
CV = Cost Variance
SPI = Schedule Performance Index
CPI = Cost Performance Index.
Please refer to the spreadsheet on the page before
In April, what is:i)
The SV and how is it calculated?
(2 marks)
ii)
The CV and how is it calculated?
(2 marks)
iii)
The SPI and how is it calculated?
(3 marks)
iv)
The CPI and how is it calculated?
(3 marks)
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Forecast
end time
41.38
27.91
26.67
Forecast
end cost
250,000
298,507
350,877
v)
The forecast end time, in months.
(5 marks)
vi)
The forecast end cost.
(5 marks)
Answers should be expressed as two decimal points where appropriate.
Project ABC
Original Scheduled Duration :
12 months.
Original total budget :
200,000.
Month
January
February
March
April
BCWS
14,000
28,000
44,000
65,000
BCWP
ACWP
4,000
12,000
20,000
27,000
5,000
18,000
35,000
44,000
SV
-10,000
-16,000
-24,000
-38,000
CV
-1,000
-6,000
-15,000
-17,000
SPI
CPI
0.29
0.43
0.45
0.42
Forecast Forecast
end time end cost
0.80
0.67
0.57
0.61
41.38
27.91
26.67
28.57
250,000
298,507
350,877
327,869
SV = BCWP - BCWS
CV = BCWP - ACWP
SPI = BCWP ÷ BCWS
CPI = BCWP ÷ ACWP
(Total 20 marks)
END OF EXAMINATION
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