PMP Practice Questions #102
You have been assigned as the project manager for a new project at your organization to develop a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. This is a large-scale project characterized by complex integrations, a diverse group of stakeholders, and fairly understood requirements. Additionally, the customer is looking for incremental delivery of the system. Considering these factors, which life cycle approach would you consider most suitable for this project?
A. Adopt a predictive (waterfall) methodology, as it provides a structured approach, which is suitable for large-scale projects with complex integrations.
B. Choose an agile methodology, focusing on iterative and incremental development, adaptable to changing requirements and stakeholder feedback.
C. Implement a hybrid methodology, combining elements of both predictive and agile approaches, to manage different aspects of the project effectively.
D. Select a critical path method, emphasizing the sequence and duration of project tasks, to ensure timely delivery within a structured framework.
Analysis:
The challenge presented in this scenario is determining the most suitable life cycle approach for a complex, large-scale CRM system development project. Key characteristics of this project include intricate integrations, a wide range of stakeholders, and requirements that are somewhat but not fully defined. The added dimension of the client’s preference for incremental delivery further complicates the selection of an appropriate project management methodology. The goal is to identify a life cycle approach that can adeptly manage this blend of project traits.
Analysis of Options:
Option A: Adopt a predictive (waterfall) methodology, as it provides a structured approach, which is suitable for large-scale projects with complex integrations. While this approach offers a structured method, which is typically beneficial for large-scale projects with complex integrations, it may not be flexible enough to adapt to the “fairly understood” requirements and the customer’s desire for incremental delivery.
Option B: Choose an agile methodology, focusing on iterative and incremental development, adaptable to changing requirements and stakeholder feedback. Agile focuses on iterative and incremental development and is adaptable to changing requirements and stakeholder feedback. However, the complexity and scale of the project may pose challenges for a purely agile approach, given the need for more rigorous planning and integration efforts.
Option C: Implement a hybrid methodology, combining elements of both predictive and agile approaches, to manage different aspects of the project effectively. This approach combines elements of both predictive and agile methodologies. It potentially offers a more balanced solution by providing structure for the complex integrations while also allowing for the flexibility and incremental delivery that the customer seeks.
Option D: Select a critical path method, emphasizing the sequence and duration of project tasks, to ensure timely delivery within a structured framework. This method emphasizes task sequences and durations, ensuring timely delivery within a structured framework. However, it is more of a scheduling technique than a complete life cycle approach and may not fully address the project’s need for flexibility and adaptability.
Conclusion: Option C, implementing a hybrid methodology, seems the most appropriate for this project. It effectively bridges the gap between the need for structured planning due to the project’s scale and complexity, and the flexibility required for adaptive requirements and incremental delivery. This blended approach allows for leveraging the strengths of both predictive and agile methodologies, making it well-suited to manage the diverse aspects of this CRM system development project. This question touches on the topic of Project Life Cycle selection, highlighting the need to choose a life cycle approach based on project characteristics like change volatility, size, complexity, and delivery cadence.
PMP Exam Content Outline Mapping
Topics Covered
- Life Cycle Selection
