Question

a.You are the Project Manager for a major software development project. You are concerned that one of the project constraints is going unbalanced, but the project sponsor is unable to understand your concern since he is not familiar with the concept of project constraints. How would you explain this concept and its significance in project success, to the project sponsor? You can use the Iron Triangle to illustrate the concept.

b. Saudi Railways has announced a project to add a new railway route from Hofuf Railway Station to Riyadh railway station. Both railway stations already exist and functioning. Explain why adding a new route between two already existing railway stations is a project, and not a part of their business operations?

Answer 1

a.How would you explain project constraints concept and its significance in project success, to the project sponsor?

Answer a

Project constraint is defined as the factor that will limit your project. Constraints are the limitations and boundaries that limit the workability and scope of the project. It is necessary for a project manager to balance all the constraints that may come or exist in the project for its successful accomplishment. It is the responsibility of the project manager to maintain a balance between the constraints. There are various constraints that may exist in the project but the important constraints are the time, scope and cost. If a project manager is able to maintain a balance between the time scope and cost of the project then the project will definitely result in success. These three constraints are also called the "Triple Constraint" or "Triangle of time, cost and scope " or "Iron triangle".

1.Scope

Scope defines the goals ,objective and vision of the project and all the necessary and required steps taken by the project manager to achieve the objectives .

2.Time

The time factor defines the deadline time at which the project has to be delivered and has to be completed within available resources. The project manager has to ensure that he should prioritize all the activities according to the delivery time and allocate resources according to the priority.

3. Cost

Cost defines the budget of the project. This factor deals with all the available financial resources that company has. This is one of the most important factors because the cost associated with the allocation of resources,with the project completion ,scheduling of activities etc. requires to be managed.

Significance of Project constraints in project success

1.Balancing of these constraints helps to deliver the quality project.

2.The proper integration of these constraints helps to achieve success with gaining huge profitability.

3.If these constraints are not balanced and the project is not according to the standard quality then this will affect the goodwill of the company .

4. Balance between the constraints helps to complete the project in less time with a huge range of profit.

5. This will increase the scalability of the project.

6.If a company is unable to maintain these constraints then this will affect the quality of the project and hence it may close all the doors for new upcoming projects.

b. Explain why adding a new route between two already existing railway stations is a project, and not a part of their business operations?

Answer b.

All the facilities provided by the government to the people have a motive of serving the people and hence called the Project whereas Business Operations are profit oriented aims only to accomplish the activities or task to gain profit.

Reasons for adding a new route between two already existing railway stations is a project, and not a part of their business operations are:

Project	Business operations	Example
Project is a time bound activity that has a definite end and beginning.	Business operation is an ongoing activity which aims to gain profit.	The construction of the railway line between two already existing lines is considered as a project because it has a definite end and beginning time during the construction which aims to serve the people.
Projects are temporary and deliver one time outcome.	Operations are permanent and deliver ongoing results.	Construction of the railway line is considered as a project because it has a definite structure time and the outcome is one time i.e, delivery of constructed railway line.
Projects are budgetary in nature.	Operations aims to gain profit.	When a new railway line has been constructed in addition to the existing line there has been a predefined budget that the Saudi government has assigned to it.
Projects are performance based and are terminated when the task has been achieved.	Operations are based on efficiency and continuous and ongoing for the purpose of maintaining and gaining the profit cycle.	Construction of a new railway line is a performance based activity since the government aims to enhance the performance system of the railway sector by adding a new railway line.
Project is based on a single objective.	Operation has been based on multiple objectives.	The single objective of a government is to establish a new railway line along with existing railway lines.
Project focuses on the building of facilities.	Operation has been focused on the continuous following those activities used during providing the facilities so that they will generate more and more output.	The building of the new railway line is a one time activity and aims to provide facilities to the people.