Spm-Unit-02 (Simple Notes)
Spm-Unit-02 (Simple Notes)
PROJECT EVALUATION
Projects can be grouped into programmes. The benefits of projects and
programmes should be identified and managed. Finally, some methods of
evaluating the costs and benefits of individual projects must be explored.
Project Evaluation -Why
• Want to decide whether a project can proceed before it is too late
• Want to decide which of the several alternative projects has a better
success rate, a higher turnover, a higher...
• Is it desirable to carry out the development and operation of the software
system?
Project Evaluation – Who
• Senior management
• Project manager/coordinator
• Team leader
Project Evaluation – When
• Usually at the beginning of the project
o e.g. Step 0 of Step Wise Framework
Portfolio Management
Focus:
Overseeing all projects and programs within an organization to ensure
they align with the overall business strategy and goals.
Goal:
To maximize the value of the organization's investments in projects and
programs.
Example:
A portfolio might include projects to develop new products, improve
existing processes, and implement new technologies, as well as programs
to manage these projects.
Key Activities:
Strategic Alignment: Ensuring that projects and programs are aligned with
the organization's strategic goals.
Resource Allocation: Optimizing resources across the entire portfolio to
ensure that the most important projects and programs are funded.
Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating risks that could impact the
entire portfolio.
Performance Monitoring: Tracking the performance of projects and
programs to ensure they are delivering the expected results.
Project Selection: Evaluating and selecting the projects and programs that
will best contribute to the organization's strategic goals.
Technical assessment
Economic Assessment
An Economic Assessment involves analyzing the financial costs and
benefits of a project, policy, or decision, often using methods like cost-
benefit analysis or economic impact analysis, to determine feasibility and
value for money.
Definition:
Economic assessment is a systematic process of evaluating the economic
implications of an activity or proposal.
Purpose:
It aims to identify the economic benefits and costs, assess the project's
value, and make informed decisions based on available evidence.
Applications:
It can be used in various contexts, including healthcare, infrastructure,
public policy, and business strategy.
Types of Economic Evaluation:
Cost-minimisation: Focuses on which option has the lowest cost, while
achieving the same outcome
Cost-benefit: Places a monetary value on both the costs and benefits of a
project or intervention, allowing for a direct comparison.
Economic impact analysis: Estimates the total economic costs of an issue
like a disease or illness.
Key Steps in Economic Assessment:
Define the Scope: Clearly state the purpose, objectives, and scope of the
analysis.
Identify Costs and Benefits: Determine all relevant costs (monetary and
non-monetary) and benefits (direct and indirect).
Quantify the Costs and Benefits: Estimate the monetary value of the
costs and benefits.
Analyze the Alternatives: Compare the costs and benefits of different
options or interventions.
Assess Risks and Uncertainties: Consider potential risks and
uncertainties and their impact on the outcome.
Present Findings: Clearly communicate the findings and
recommendations.
NET PROFIT
Is a company's total earnings after subtracting all expenses.
Expenses subtracted include the costs of normal business
operation as well as depreciation and taxes.
Is the discount rate at which the net present value (NPV) of all cash flows
from a project or investment equals zero, essentially the rate at which an
investment breaks even.
RISK EVALUATION
Risk evaluation and profile analysis using decision trees, you first identify
potential risks, then build a tree where nodes represent decision points and
branches show outcomes, assigning probabilities and impacts to each
outcome for a quantitative assessment.
1. Risk Identification:
Identify potential risks: Begin by brainstorming and listing all possible
risks relevant to the project or situation.
Categorize risks: Group similar risks together to facilitate analysis.
Examples: Scope changes, resource constraints, technology issues,
communication breakdowns, etc.
Team Capabilities:
Ensure the team has the skills and experience to effectively use the
chosen methodology.
Risk Assessment:
Identify potential risks associated with each methodology and develop
mitigation strategies.
Stakeholder Input:
Involve stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure buy-in and
alignment.
4. Make a Decision:
Choose the Best Fit:
Select the methodology that best aligns with your project's objectives,
constraints, and organizational context.
Document Your Choice:
Clearly document the rationale for choosing a particular methodology and
the expected benefits.
Communicate Effectively:
Communicate the chosen methodology to the team and stakeholders,
ensuring everyone understands the approach.
Product-Driven:
Focus: Delivering continuous value to customers and evolving based on
market needs.
Timeframe: Ongoing, as long as there's customer demand and profitability.
Team Structure: Typically a permanent team focused on product
development.
Success Metrics: Customer satisfaction, market share, and profitability.
Example: Maintaining and improving a software application, a website, or a
physical product.
PRODUCT-PROCESS-RESOURCE UNCERTAINTY
Refers to the inherent unpredictability and variability in various aspects of a
product's lifecycle, from design and production to resource availability and
market demand.
Product Uncertainty:
This includes uncertainties related to the product itself, such as:
Demand Uncertainty: Fluctuations in customer demand, market trends, and
competitive pressures.
Product Design Uncertainty: Difficulty in predicting the final product's
performance, features, and functionality.
Product Complexity: The intricate nature of a product can lead to
unforeseen challenges during development and production.
Process Uncertainty:
This refers to uncertainties related to the production process, such as:
Operational Yield Uncertainty: Variations in the efficiency and output of
production processes.
Production Lead Time Uncertainty: Unpredictable delays or variations in
the time it takes to manufacture a product.
Quality Uncertainty: The possibility of defects or variations in product quality
during production.
Failure of Production System: Unexpected breakdowns or malfunctions in
equipment or processes.
Changes to Product Structure: Modifications or adjustments to the product
design during the production process.
Resource Uncertainty:
This relates to the availability and reliability of resources needed for
production, including:
Supply Uncertainty: Disruptions or delays in the supply chain, including raw
materials and components.
Resource Availability: Shortages or unexpected limitations in the availability
of resources, such as labor, equipment, or materials.
Technology Uncertainty: Rapid advancements or unexpected changes in
technology that can impact production processes.
Purpose:
This approach aims to:
Identify and address potential issues related to sustainability, economic
growth, and social responsibility at each stage.
Make informed choices that balance trade-offs and positively impact the
economy, environment, and society.
Promote sustainable practices throughout the entire value chain.
Benefits:
Enables a holistic view of impacts, avoiding shifting problems from one stage
to another.
Facilitates better decision-making by considering all environmental media (air,
water, land).
Promotes innovation and development of more sustainable products and
processes.
Examples:
Project Management: Using a life cycle approach to manage projects from
initiation to closure.
Financial Planning: Understanding the different stages of a person's
financial life cycle (formative years, early career, etc.).
Systems Development: Considering the entire lifecycle of a system, from
conception to disposal.
A CONTROL SYSTEM
Is a set of devices that regulates the behavior of other systems or
devices. Control systems are used in many industries, including production
and distribution.
Components of a control system
Sensor: Detects a physical quantity like temperature or pressure and
converts it into an electrical signal
Controller: Processes the signal and generates an output signal
Actuator: Translates the output signal into a physical action, such as
opening a valve or turning a motor on or off
An information system (IS)
Is a collection of interconnected components, including hardware, software,
data, people, and processes, that work together to collect, store, process,
and distribute information for analysis and decision-making.
Key Components of an Information System:
Hardware:
Physical devices like computers, servers, storage devices, and network
equipment.
Software:
Programs and applications that enable the system to function, such as
operating systems, databases, and application software.
Data:
Raw facts and figures that are collected and processed by the system.
People:
Individuals who interact with the system, including users, developers, and
IT professionals.
Processes:
The procedures and workflows that define how data is collected,
processed, and used.
"GENERAL APPLICATIONS"
Refers to software designed for a wide range of common tasks, like
creating documents, managing data, or designing presentations, rather
than being specialized for a specific industry or purpose.
Definition:
General application software, sometimes called "off-the-shelf" software, is
designed to perform a variety of fundamental functions that users need on
a daily basis.
Examples:
Common examples include word processors (like Microsoft Word or
Google Docs), spreadsheets (like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets),
presentation software (like Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides), and
database management systems (like Microsoft Access or MySQL
SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES
A HARDWARE ENVIRONMENT
A SAFETY-CRITICAL SYSTEM
WATERFALL MODEl
THE V-MODEL
Is a development approach that emphasizes early and thorough testing
throughout the software development life cycle, with each development
phase paired with a corresponding testing phase. It's known as the
Verification and Validation Model and is visually represented as a "V"
shape.
Verification and Validation:
The V-model focuses on both verification (ensuring the product is built
correctly) and validation (ensuring the right product is built).
Software prototyping
A prototype is a working model of one or more aspects of the projected
system. It is constructed and tested quickly and inexpensively in order to
test out assumptions. Prototypes can be classified as throw-away
evolutionary or incremental.
Throw-away prototypes:
The prototype is used only to test out some ideas and is then discarded
when the development of the operational system is commenced.
Evolutionary Prototypes:
The prototype is developed and modified until it is finally in a state where it
can become the operational system.