Project Planning & Execution Flashcards

What are the five process groups in CSET project management?

Answer: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing

The five process groups provide a framework for managing any project: Initiating (defining the project), Planning (establishing scope and approach), Executing (doing the work), Monitoring & Controlling (tracking progress), and Closing (formal completion).

What is the critical path in CSET project scheduling?

Answer: The longest sequence of dependent tasks determining the minimum project duration

The critical path identifies the longest chain of dependent tasks. Any delay on these tasks directly delays the project completion date, making them the priority focus for schedule management.

What is scope creep in CSET project management?

Answer: Uncontrolled expansion of project scope without corresponding adjustments to time, cost, and resources

Scope creep occurs when new requirements or features are added without formal evaluation and approval, leading to schedule delays, budget overruns, and resource strain.

What is a work breakdown structure (WBS) in CSET practice?

Answer: A hierarchical decomposition of project deliverables into smaller, manageable work packages

A WBS breaks down the total scope of work into progressively smaller, more manageable components, making it easier to estimate, schedule, assign, and track all project work.

What is the triple constraint in CSET project management?

Answer: The interdependent relationship between scope, time, and cost

The triple constraint recognizes that scope, time, and cost are interdependent: changing one necessarily affects the others. Project managers must balance all three to deliver successful outcomes.

What is a milestone in CSET project management?

Answer: A significant event or deliverable marking progress at a key point in the project timeline

Milestones are significant checkpoints or achievements in a project timeline that mark the completion of major deliverables, phase transitions, or critical decision points.