Chapter 3

Defining the
Project

Alfred Mae H. Gomez

 5-steps

Step 1: Defining the project scope

Step 2: Establishing project priorities

Step 3: Creating the Work Breakdown structure

Step 4: Integrating the WBS with the Organization

Step 5: Coding the WBS for the Information system

The five generic steps described a structured
approached for collecting the project information
necessary for :

Planning

Scheduling

Controlling the project

 Step 1: Defining the project scope

Scope describes what you expect to deliver to your

customer when the project is complete.
A definition of the end result or mission (specific, tangible, and
measurable terms) of your project—a product or service for your
client/customer.
Focuses on the project purpose throughout its life
Agreement between customer and project manager
To plan and control performance
 Purpose of the Scope Statement
To clearly define the deliverable(s) for the end user
To focus the project on successful completion of its goals
To be used by the project owner and participants as a
planning tool and for measuring project success.
 Project Scope Checklist
Project scope – the keystone interlocking all elements of a project plan.

1. Project Objectives
2. Deliverables
3. Milestones
4. Technical
Requirements
5. Limits and
exclusios
6. Reviews with
customer
 Project Scope Checklist
1. Project objectives
To define the major objectives to meet your customer’s need(s).

WHAT

HOW MUCH

WHEN
 Project Scope Checklist
2. Deliverables
The expected outputs over the life of the project.

TIME
COST ESTIMATES
QUANTITY
 Project Scope Checklist
3. Milestones
The natural and significant events in a project.

TIME RESOURCES

COST
 Project Scope Checklist
4. Technical Requirements
To assure the proper performance of the product or service.
 Project Scope Checklist
5. Limits and exclusions

Avoid false expectations

 Project Scope Checklist
6. Reviews with customer

Understanding and agreement of expectations

Step 2: Establishing
Project Priorities
Step 2: Establishing Project Priorities
The primary jobs of a project manager is to manage
the trade-offs among time, cost, and performance.
 Step 2: Establishing Project Priorities
Causes of Project Trade-off:

Shifts in the relative importance of criterions related to

COST , TIME, and PERFORMANCE parameters.

Budget (COST)
Schedule(Time) SCOPE
(PERFORMANCE)
Step 2: Establishing Project Priorities

Project Management Trade-offs

Step 2: Establishing Project Priorities

Managing the Priorities of Project Trade-offs

Constrain – a parameter is fixed requirement. Project must meet

the completion date, specifications and scope of the project, or
budget

Enhance – optimizing a parameter over others. With regards to

performance, enhancing means adding value to the project.

Accept - reducing (or not meeting) a parameter requirement.

 Step 2: Establishing Project Priorities

Project Priority Matrix

Accept Enhance Constrain

Cost

(Time)

Performance