Chapter 4. Project Planning Core Processes Terms you'll need to understand: Scope planning and definition Schedule development Cost estimating and budgeting Scope statement Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Precedence Diagramming Method and Arrow Diagramming Method Chart of Accounts Milestones Activity list, definition, and sequencing Activity Duration Estimate Resource pool Scope, cost, and risk management plans Decomposition Project network diagram Resource requirements Reserve time Crashing Fast tracking Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT) Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) Critical Path Method (CPM) Project Management Information System (PMIS) Duration compression Resource leveling Cost baseline Project plan Project schedule Work package WBS Analogous, Bottom-up, and Parametric estimating Techniques and concepts you'll need to master: The core planning process steps, including inputs, outputs, techniques, relationships, and differences The differences between project charter, scope statement, WBS, activity list, project schedule, and project plan The differences between project initiation, scope planning, and scope definition The difference between scope definition and activity definition The process of building a project schedule The types of task dependencies The three different types of network diagram techniques Time estimating guidelines and methods Scheduling techniques Critical path, lag, slack, and other scheduling concepts The criteria for completing the schedule-development process The techniques for shortening the schedule The key cost-estimating factors The role of risk management in the core planning process Project planning is the second project management process to execute in the project lifecycle, and it will be the focus of approximately 23.5% of the exam questions. Because project planning comprises 21 of the 39 PMBOK processes, we decided to "decompose"this section into two chapters. This chapter will review the "core" project planning processes, and the following chapter will review the "facilitating" project planning processes. Although the exam questions regarding the core project planning processes tend to be straightforward, and many project managers have considerable experience performing these activities, this is a subject area not to be taken lightly. The techniques and terms utilized in real-life project planning are not always consistent with PMI's methodology. In addition, the PMBOK organization and definition of Project Time Management, Project Scope Management, Project Cost Management, and Project Integration Management can make the project planning process seem much more difficult and complex than it really is. To streamline your exam preparations, we will focus on the "gotta-know" concepts and terms that are important to PMI and the "common" gaps you may need to close to be ready for the exam questions related to the core project planning processes. |