Introduction to Project Management: Project vs Operations, Objectives, Constraints and Role of Project Manager Questions

Question 1

Define a project.

Accepted Answer

A **project** is a temporary endeavour to create a **unique** product, service, or result.

Question 2

What are operations?

Accepted Answer

**Operations** are ongoing, repetitive activities that keep an organization running.

Question 3

What is project management?

Accepted Answer

**Project management** is applying knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to meet project requirements.

Question 4

State the triple constraint.

Accepted Answer

**Scope, Time, Cost**.

Question 5

Who is a stakeholder?

Accepted Answer

A **stakeholder** is anyone who can affect or is affected by the project.

Question 6

What is scope creep?

Accepted Answer

**Scope creep** is uncontrolled increase/change in project scope.

Question 7

Explain characteristics of a project (any three).

Accepted Answer

Key characteristics (any three):
- **Temporary** (has start and end)
- **Unique output** (new product/service/result)
- **Progressive elaboration** (details become clearer over time)
- Uses limited resources and involves risk

These features distinguish projects from routine operations.

Question 8

Differentiate between project and operations (any three points).

Accepted Answer

**Project** is temporary and delivers a **unique** output; **operations** are ongoing and deliver repetitive output.
Projects end after delivery; operations continue to sustain business.
Examples: app development (project) vs daily customer support (operations).

Question 9

Explain project success criteria (brief).

Accepted Answer

Project success is not only time/cost. Criteria can include:
- meeting **scope** and **quality**
- stakeholder/customer satisfaction
- business benefits/value
- compliance and safety

A project can meet schedule/budget but fail if it doesn’t satisfy stakeholders.

Question 10

Explain project constraints beyond triple constraint.

Accepted Answer

Beyond **scope-time-cost**, projects also face constraints like **quality**, **resources**, **risk**, and **stakeholder expectations**. These constraints influence planning and can change during execution.

Question 11

Explain who are stakeholders and why they are important.

Accepted Answer

Stakeholders are individuals/groups who affect or are affected by the project (customer, sponsor, team, suppliers). They are important because their expectations define success, they provide approvals/resources, and unmanaged stakeholders can cause delays/conflicts.

Question 12

State key skills of a project manager (any three).

Accepted Answer

Key skills (any three):
- **Communication/negotiation**
- **Planning and organizing**
- **Leadership and motivation**
- Problem solving and decision making
- Conflict management

These help manage people and project constraints effectively.

Question 13

Differentiate between project and operations with a table and flowchart.

Accepted Answer

### **Differentiate between Project and Operations**

A **project** is a temporary effort to create a **unique** output, while **operations** are continuous and repetitive activities that sustain the business.

| Basis | **Project** | **Operations** |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | **Temporary** | **Ongoing** |
| Output | **Unique** product/service/result | **Repetitive** output |
| Objective | achieve project goals | maintain business continuity |
| Example | build a bridge, develop an app | daily production, daily support |

```text
Project: Start → Work → Deliver unique output → End
Operations: Repeat → Repeat → Repeat (continuous)
```

Thus, projects end after delivery, while operations continue to deliver routine value.

Question 14

Explain triple constraint and its impact on project planning with a table/diagram.

Accepted Answer

### **Explain triple constraint and its impact on project planning**

The **triple constraint** (also called iron triangle) includes:
- **Scope** (what work/output)
- **Time** (schedule)
- **Cost** (budget)

Key idea: these constraints are **interdependent**. If one changes, at least one other will be affected.

| Change | Likely impact |
|---|---|
| Scope increases | time/cost may increase |
| Time decreases | cost increases or scope reduces |
| Cost decreases | scope/quality may reduce or time may increase |

```text
Scope ↔ Time ↔ Cost
(Keep balance to protect quality and stakeholder expectations)
```

Therefore, PM must balance constraints to meet success criteria.

Question 15

Explain the role of a project manager with responsibilities and a flowchart.

Accepted Answer

### **Role of a Project Manager (PM) with key responsibilities**

A **Project Manager** is responsible for achieving project objectives by planning, coordinating, and controlling the project work.

**Major responsibilities**:
- define objectives and plan work (**scope**, schedule, budget)
- lead and manage the team
- manage **stakeholders** and communication
- identify and manage **risks/issues**
- monitor progress and take corrective actions
- manage changes and ensure quality
- close project and document lessons learned

```text
Plan → Execute → Monitor/Control → Close
(Communication + leadership + risk management throughout)
```

Thus, the PM integrates people, process and tools to deliver successful outcomes.

Introduction to Project Management: Project vs Operations, Objectives, Constraints and Role of Project Manager

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