BCS Certificate in Project Management for Information Systems

Transcription

1 BCS Certificate in Project Management for Information Systems Sample Paper A 3 Hour Examination preceded by 15 minutes reading time Answer all 3 Questions Pass Mark is 50% (must also get 50% on Question 1) Commence each answer on a new page and DO NOT write on the back of the examination script paper. Rough work (if any) may be embodied in the answers but should be struck out when completed. Your candidate number must be written in the top left hand corner of all paper used. YOUR SCRIPT WILL BE PHOTOCOPIED: Write in BLACK INK and do not write outside the margins. Your results will be released 4-6 weeks after the exam date. This paper must not be retained or removed from the examination venue. Any attempt to do so, will result in disqualification from this examination. Copying of this paper is expressly forbidden without the direct approval of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. Page 1 of 7

2 Candidate Number: Page 2 of 7

3 NOTES FOR CANDIDATES Where your answers use information that is not supplied in the paper, please ensure that any assumptions that you make are stated with the answer. Where answers can draw on the scenario they should do so. In such cases, it is not sufficient merely to repeat the theory of a Project Management Methodology. You should demonstrate how you would apply the relevant knowledge that you have. Start each answer on a new page with its Question number, your Candidate Number and the page number clearly identified. Answer ALL Questions. Page 3 of 7

4 Scenario GoWestRail (GWR), one of the major train service suppliers is introducing a service whereby customers can book journeys and make enquiries by use of automatic machines situated in the larger main line and underground stations in central London. GWR provides train services to and from London Paddington and the West Country, West Midlands and South Wales, and locally in those areas. The service is to be piloted in six stations for a period of up to 9 months and at the end of the pilot will be extended to another 45 stations. The six stations in the pilot will be four main line stations (excluding Paddington) owned by London MainLine Stations Ltd (LMS) and two London underground stations owned by Underground Transport Ltd (UTL). The additional 45 stations are owned by either LMS or UTL. GWL have agreed the timetable for the pilot with all parties involved and this is: 1/6/ /2/02 Pilot Project complete. The project will include, among others, these activities (with broad initial estimates): a) Modification to existing software for pilot 1 month b) Procure hardware for each station and then install at the six stations for the pilot 6 months c) Appropriate network communications links to be created /installed between the machines and the master computer in the Cardiff offices of GWR 2 months d) System testing 1 month e) Report on and review of pilot 1 month ITTs for the software changes (it has been deemed that some existing software can be reused) and hardware have already been issued. Software changes and new hardware are being supplied by existing reliable suppliers. However they have not yet been commissioned from those suppliers by GWR. You have been appointed to project manage this pilot exercise. Success will mean responsibility for the full roll out. You have a small team of 3 to 5 people dedicated to the project management aspects of the pilot project. In addition a business unit comprising from the functional area of GWR has been set up to deal with the non IT aspects of the pilot. Work is now well underway, so much so that a health check of the project is scheduled to take place. Page 4 of 7

5 Question 1 [Total 56 Marks] a) On one side of an A4 sheet draw an outline and presentable project plan as a Gantt chart to include the pilot Project activities listed in the scenario, together with any other activities that you consider relevant to such a high level plan. Your plan should include no more than 4 stages of about 3 months duration each and should reflect those activities necessary at each site only. Just over 50% of the marks assigned to this question are for the ADDITIONAL activities. (25 marks) b) From the scenario, list 5 risks to the timely completion of the project and your suggested mitigation option for each risk. (15 marks) c) A large proportion of your time as project manager will be spent on planning. Explain why planning is so important and identify up to six uses to which plans might be put. (16 marks) Page 5 of 7

6 Question 2 [Total 24 Marks] Specific business issues have been identified as a result of a review of the project. Of these the most important are: a) The business unit changes requirements frequently b) The business unit does not provide good people for the project c) The business unit is unwilling to change the business process d) The business unit cannot consistently resolve issues e) Middle level business unit management resists change and the system f) Other work or projects have a higher priority for the business units than your project does For each of these specific issues: a) Suggest how the situation is likely to have occurred b) Assess the potential impact c) Suggest how the problem might be prevented in the first place d) Detail how you would address the problem (24 marks) Page 6 of 7

7 Question 3 [Total 20 Marks] a) List documentation products that relate to testing. Such documents may relate to project testing generally or to specific project tests. Do not include in your list any documents that are provided for other purposes e.g. Design Specification. (10 marks) b) As Project Manager one task you will have to undertake is to negotiate a tolerance level with the Project Board. Describe the purpose of tolerance with regard to Project timescale and budget. (5 marks) c) List the steps you would initiate in the event of tolerance being exceeded or having potential to be exceeded. (5 marks) -End of Paper- Page 7 of 7