Project milestones constitute significant events or stages in the project lifecycle. They signify substantial progress and flag dates when specific goals or parts of the project should be completed. Milestones do not have a duration; they represent a point in time.
For instance, if you are managing a software development project, milestones could include completion of requirement documentation, completion of software design, testing, and project delivery. Each of these milestones offers a check point to validate that the project is proceeding as expected.
2. Recognizing and Managing Dependencies:
Dependencies in project management refers to the relationship between different tasks. They are the constraints that prevent you from carrying out a particular function until another has been completed.
For example, you cannot test a software application (task B) until it is developed (Task A). Here, task B is dependent on the completion of task A. Similarly, you cannot construct a building (Task B) before laying the foundation (Task A). Here too, the construction is dependent on the completion of the foundation.
In PMP, there are typically four types of dependencies:
- a. Finish-to-Start (FS): The finish of task A leads to the start of task B.
- b. Start-to-Start (SS): The start of task A leads to the start of task B.
- c. Finish-to-Finish (FF): The finish of task A leads to the finish of task B.
- d. Start-to-Finish (SF): The start of task A leads to the completion of task B.
3. Story Points and Agile Estimation:
Story points are a common method of estimating work effort in agile project management. Instead of estimating tasks based on time (days or hours), tasks are estimated based on relative size or complexity.
A team compares a new user story (a feature or function) with a set of baseline stories. If the new user story is perceived as twice as complex as a baseline story previously estimated at 5 points, then the team might estimate the new story as 10 points.
Story points are helpful in providing a rough estimate of the effort involved in a project. However, it’s important to remember that these points represent estimates, and the real effort might be more or less than the points indicate. The power of story points lies in their ability to quickly gauge the complexity and effort required to complete tasks, which aids in planning and resource allocation.
In conclusion, understanding milestones, dependencies and story points is crucial for effective project management and successful PMP examination. These elements not only assist in accurately estimating tasks, but also in managing project timelines and ensuring efficient resource utilization. By accurately estimating your projects, you’re laying the foundation for success, and making strides towards achieving your PMP certification.
Practice Test
True or False: Milestones are broken down tasks in a project.
Answer: False
Explanation: Milestones are significant events or stages in a project. They are not tasks, but they indicate the completion of groups of tasks.
Which of the following dependencies are types of task dependencies that can exist in a project? (Select all that apply)
- a) Mandatory Dependencies
- b) Discretionary Dependencies
- c) External Dependencies
- d) Internal Dependencies
Answer: a) Mandatory Dependencies, b) Discretionary Dependencies, c) External Dependencies, d) Internal Dependencies
Explanation: These are all types of dependencies that can exist in a project. Mandatory dependencies are inherent in the work being done, while discretionary dependencies are determined by the project team. External dependencies involve a relationship with a party outside of the project, and internal dependencies are between tasks within the project.
True or False: Story points are used in agile project management to estimate the size of tasks.
Answer: True
Explanation: Story points are a unit of measure used by teams to estimate the effort required to implement a piece of work (or “story”).
The process of defining and organizing the tasks of a project is referred to as what?
- a) Milestone planning
- b) Task estimating
- c) Task sequencing
- d) Scope definition
Answer: c) Task sequencing
Explanation: Task sequencing refers to defining and organizing the tasks of a project in the order they should be executed.
True or False: Task duration can be estimated without considering resource availability.
Answer: False
Explanation: When estimating task duration, resource availability is an important factor to consider. The availability of necessary resources can significantly impact the time required to complete a task.
What is the term used to describe a significant event or accomplishment in a project?
- a) Dependency
- b) Milestone
- c) Story point
- d) Initiation point
Answer: b) Milestone
Explanation: A milestone in project management is a significant event or accomplishment that denotes progress in a project.
In Agile project management, what is a tool used for representing progress over time?
- a) Story points
- b) Gantt chart
- c) Burn-down chart
- d) Milestone chart
Answer: c) Burn-down chart
Explanation: A Burn-down chart is a graphical representation of work left to do versus time in Agile project management.
True or False: As a project manager, you don’t need input from team members while estimating tasks.
Answer: False
Explanation: When estimating task durations, it is essential to get input from the team members who will be performing the tasks. They will have the most accurate idea of how long these tasks will take.
What is the best way to handle project tasks that are dependent on each other?
- a) Ignore the dependencies
- b) Plan the dependent tasks together
- c) Plan the dependent tasks separately
- d) Delegate the dependent tasks to different team members
Answer: b) Plan the dependent tasks together
Explanation: In the case of dependent tasks, it’s ideal to plan them together accounting for any dependencies between them to ensure the project is completed efficiently.
Which of the following statements about story points in Agile project management is true?
- a) They represent the estimated time to complete a task
- b) They measure the complexity and size of a task
- c) They depict the deadline of a task
- d) They represent the priority of a task
Answer: b) They measure the complexity and size of a task
Explanation: Story points are a unit of measure for expressing an estimate of the overall effort that will be required to fully implement a product backlog item or any other piece of work. The complexity, effort, and uncertainty of the item are taken into consideration while estimating with story points.
Interview Questions
What are project tasks commonly associated with in project management?
Project tasks are typically associated with work packages in the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), milestones, dependencies, and story points.
How would you define a milestone in project management?
A milestone in project management is a specific point in time within a project lifecycle used to measure the progress of a project towards its ultimate goal.
What is a dependency in project management?
In project management, a dependency is a relationship between tasks wherein one task or milestone relies on the completion of another before it can start or finish.
How would you define “story points” in project management?
In project management, particularly in Agile project management, “story points” are a unit of measure for expressing an estimate of the overall effort required to fully implement a product backlog item or any other piece of work.
What is the difference between a task and a milestone?
A task is an activity that needs to be accomplished within a defined period of time while a milestone is a significant event or a particular point in time in a project. A milestone does not consume time and resources, unlike a task.
How are task dependencies used in scheduling?
Task dependencies are used to establish the sequence of tasks. They define the relationships between different tasks, indicating which tasks must start or end before others can start or end.
What tool is typically used to visualize dependencies between tasks?
A Gantt chart is commonly used to visualize dependencies between tasks. This chart can show both the duration of tasks and the dependencies between them.
How can project managers use story points?
Project managers can use story points to estimate the workload and complexity of tasks. These estimates can help in planning sprint cycles and allocating resources efficiently.
What is the purpose of estimating tasks in project management?
The purpose of estimating tasks in project management is to get a realistic picture of the project timeline, to allocate resources appropriately, and to identify potential risks and delays in advance.
What is meant by internal and external dependencies in project management?
Internal dependencies are relationships between tasks within a project, while external dependencies involve a relationship between project tasks and non-project activities. For example, the dependency on a vendor to provide essential components is an external dependency.
When establishing task sequences, what are the four types of dependencies you could use?
The types of dependencies are Finish-to-Start (FS), Start-to-Start (SS), Finish-to-Finish (FF), and Start-to-Finish (SF).
What does it mean if two tasks are defined as ‘Finish-to-Start’?
‘Finish-to-Start’ means the second task cannot start until the first task is complete. It is the most common type of task dependency.
What do story points quantify in agile projects?
In Agile projects, story points quantify the overall effort involved in implementing a user story – including the time to develop, test, and resolve any issues that may arise.
What is a Work Package in the context of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?
In the context of the WBS, a Work Package is a group of related tasks that are defined at the same level within the WBS. A Work Package represents the lowest level of the WBS where cost and schedule can be estimated and managed.
Can there be a dependency between milestones?
Yes, there can be dependencies between milestones. For instance, the start of one phase of a project (a milestone) may depend on the completion of another phase (another milestone).
extutorials.com