Confusing Things - Need Help

Submitted by PMP_Learner on Sun, 10/30/2011 - 19:51

Hi All


While reading PMP text book (the PMBOK 4th Edition) and sample questions, I came across following which is confusing to me. I'll appreciate if one can clarify, thanks in advance:


1. Project Manager reports to PMO.


Is it true? Why?


2. PMBOK has following text about WBS -> Work Package and Activities:


Work Package: "...The planned work is contained within the lowest level WBS component, which are called work package.."


Activities: "...subdividing the project work packages into smaller , more manageable components called activities.."


When work package was already at lowest level, how can it be further decomposed into activities.


3. In PMBOK fig 5-12, Scope baseline is coming from Develop Project Management Plan, shouldn't it come from Create WBS?


4. In Section 5.3 Create WBS, it' said "Create WBS is the process of subdividing project deliverables and project work into smaller...". Is it not just deliverables that are decomposed?


5. One of the input to Estimate Activity Resources is Resource Calendars, which is output of Acquire Project Team which is an Executing process. How can a planning process which is Estimate Activity REsources take input from Executing process Acquire Project Team?


6. Why Estimate Activity Resource comes before Estimate Activity Duration? We first should estimate effort required to complete an activity and then estimate for resources.


 


Thanks,


PMP_Learner

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MANOJ RAMRAOJI ...

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 16:25

To get PMP certified one should be adoptive of PMIyeesm.

 

vmetha

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 16:44

WBS and Activity

 

Example: If you building a house installing a drywall would be an work package, which would be manageable by one person/group. Decomposing Work package would be breaking that work package into more detail. For example, Wall Layout, Install Stud, install drywall, mud & tape drywall and paint drywall. PMI also refrains to braek activity in more small items like install screws on stud. The activity list will be much longer and will not be manageable.

 

PM guru here can further clarify if needed.

cnppmp's picture

cnppmp

Thu, 06/13/2013 - 17:36

You need to understand the Planning process group is an Interative Process. Though you know planning process group is the only process group goes in sequence but it doesn't  stop after initial planning done, your planning and freezing doesn't happen once you complete each processes in planning process group. You would again go back again after risk management is completed.

Work package group is though lowest item in WBS but the each work package to complete would have manageable activities / resources assigned / duration & finally schedule is developed using the actvivity resoures & activity duration for each activity lists to complete the deliverable put in logical relationship using the PDM.

Upto work package it is scope management, moment you hit time maangement you need the actual bottom-up estimate using the work package to decompose to activities for having the definitive estimate.

Regarding resource calendar is picked from Org assets for knowing the holidays and preassigned resources (Remember project charter ) . During Acquire team it is actuall final team acquirement happens so you have to again have to have your resource calendar updated, though this is done in executing process group.

 

Project maanger reporting to PMO this could be a fucntional organization or weak matrix.

 

Regards

CN Patil