When do Project Management Plan, Project Document and OPA need to be updated ?

Submitted by lonelyghost on Fri, 10/12/2012 - 18:08

I'm a little confused when these artifacts to be updated ? what's the characteristics of processes which update them ? When OPA will be included in Input ? 

For example: In Scope Management, The Verify Scope Process won't update Project Management Plan, but Control Scope will update PM Plan. OPA is included in the input of Control Scope but not in the input of Verify Scope, ...

 

Thanks for your help

 

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anand_kl

Mon, 10/15/2012 - 15:33

Hi,


First lets understand that a "Plan" is a guideline or a baseline against which you track your project. "Is my project going as planned? " And if there happens to be a change, if it affects the baseline then you update your plan to accomdate the change. It can affect one or more subsidiary plans.


Lets see your example:


Verify Scope wont update Project Management Plan: Verify Scope is a process to formalize acceptance of your deliverable (which has already undergone QC). And mostly the Change request from Verify Scope is a Defect Repair and not a Scope change. If it becomes a scope change it is considered as part of  "Control Scope" process and these changes affect the baseline.


If scope increases, the cost and time baselines shall also change. In such cases, after CCB approval, you  will have to update Project Management Plan and track  your project according to new baseline.


Regarding OPA. Your question is legitimate. Why OPA is not used as Input to Verify scope process. In fact Page 37 of PMBOK 4th edition says "these must be taken into account for every process even if they are not explicitly listed as inputs in the process specification".


But at the same time when you look practically, would you need OPA for all the process in your project?. I believe PMI consciously does not use it at places, where OPA may not have much significance.


I would be eager to know feedback from Mr. Pawar on this OPA issue.


Regards,


Anand KL, PMP

sspawar

Tue, 10/16/2012 - 01:26

Outof 42 processes only 8 processes do not use directly OPA as an input, but indirectly because of their other inputs, or widely no use , these are not shown.






















Collect Requirement 
Verify Scope 
Perform Quality Assurance 
Develop Project Team 
Plan Risk Responses 
Monitor & Control Risks 
Administer Procurements 
Close Procurements 


 


Few processes take input of PMP, OPA,PDS, but do not update


Few processes take input of PMP, OPA,PDS, but do update


Few processes do not take input of PMP/ OPA/PDS,


Its all depends on their purpose/function and limitations.


Indivudually if discussed it will be very wide subject, and exam point of view, it is enough.


regards