Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
I do not understand what FTE mean, but here comes my answer. First, we need to stay clear that one thing is project management and other is performing project management following some guideline (for example the PMBOK). Each of us are project manager because each person in this world is performing project management from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed. For each thing in people daily life they perform project management process. So, to answer that, I will say: what do you do if this situation is something you have to face and solve in your personal life?. You will surprise. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Sergio - FTE is Full Time Employee
If these are FTE's, then they are most likely working on other projects/things. My thinking is this; 'What', 'Who', 'When' - ask questions/read the project charter
- What is the project?
- When does the project have to be completed? Or start by?
- What skills are required?
- Which FTE (Who) matches that skillset?
- Which FTE is available during the project timeline?
I've not gotten a questions like that. Is that a typical PM interview question? Saving Changes...
To start to planning you need to know what to do, thats the projec itself
After know that, you need to know the scope, requirements, etc
you need to ask, why they think 5FTE and 6months could be enough to finish the project, how they stimate it?
try to get as much information as you can
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1 reply by Patrick Shediack
Mar 15, 2017 10:00 AM
Patrick Shediack
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I'm with you, Ruben.
My question to the interviewer would have been, "The five phases of a project are Initiate, Plan, Execute, Control and Closure. The Initiating Phase is where the organization commits to an effort that produces a product or service. So what did the organization commit to produce?"
If you have no idea what the organization committed to produce, then the number of FTEs, duration and so forth are nothing more than nonsensical talking points.
For example, maybe the organization committed to building and donating a dog house for the new bomb sniffing dog at the local police department. If that was the commitment, then the interviewer's data points in the original poster's case are worthless since one carpenter could probably build a very nice doghouse in a single day including putting a shingled roof with underlayment on it.
I've run into these sorts of questions before on interviews. It's usually the sign of a novice interviewer who has only a peripheral understanding of structured project management.
The way to deal with that question is to go to the starting point: What is the product or service we're supposed to produce with this project? A good interviewer should be able to state that in no less than five sentences; if not, you're dealing with an amateur in PM. In that case, go back to basics and formulate your answer in a structured manner based on Initiate, Plan, Execute, Control and Close. If nothing else, it will show you're thinking in an analytical, but methodical basis; not running out the door, so to speak, to 'do something'.
I'm guessing the interviewer wanted you to figure out that you have way more people than necessary to deliever the work.
I'm not sure how that is important for your planning other than you have to decide if you want just one person to do the whole work (feasible with a bit of overtime) or get parts of different people.
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1 reply by S Rajasekar
Mar 14, 2017 1:06 PM
S Rajasekar
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Yes, I realised that I told 160 hrs x 5 = 800 hrs so if we utilise all resource assuming all can contribute we can finish the project in 45 days and release the resources, if different skills needed we need to load/allocate resources based on task sequencing/skills required and release the resources as soon as they finish all of their task in the project. Ideal/wait time is loss for service provider.
Interviewer was so aragont not willing to take any counter question and also not accepted my explanation. He was expecting something which I was not sure about.
Saving Changes...
S RajasekarSenior Project Manager| AllscriptsBangalore, Karnataka, India
I'm guessing the interviewer wanted you to figure out that you have way more people than necessary to deliever the work.
I'm not sure how that is important for your planning other than you have to decide if you want just one person to do the whole work (feasible with a bit of overtime) or get parts of different people.
Yes, I realised that I told 160 hrs x 5 = 800 hrs so if we utilise all resource assuming all can contribute we can finish the project in 45 days and release the resources, if different skills needed we need to load/allocate resources based on task sequencing/skills required and release the resources as soon as they finish all of their task in the project. Ideal/wait time is loss for service provider.
Interviewer was so aragont not willing to take any counter question and also not accepted my explanation. He was expecting something which I was not sure about. Saving Changes...
S:
Andrew is on the right track; this is typical though.
The biggest thing that standout out for me in that you have a hard deadline to finish this project with 5FTE that most likely aren't full time. So you begin by working backwards by beginning with the end in mind.
Basically, they want to know you can think on your feet, want to know what kind of approach you would recommend and how you would proceed. It's okay to make assumptions and suggest a couple of scenarios back on methods you might use.
So, in hindsight; review your approach and consider what options are best practice.
I even asked him Are you are expecting answer related to cost and budgeting...he said no....
Did you asked for the feedback? or they gave you the explanation?
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1 reply by S Rajasekar
Mar 15, 2017 9:27 AM
S Rajasekar
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Yes , I asked for feedback he told me i'm not selected :-( apart from that no explanation
Saving Changes...
Aejaz ShaikhPM I| Alyx Technologies India Pvt LtdPune, Maharshatra, India
S Rajasekar, with 5FTEs, 6 month duration and 1000 hrs - I say the planning is already completed, scope is also baseline and the project now should be in the execution phase. You simply need to execute with what you have got. Project planning is progressively elaboration and can be re-done at any phase in the project. Saving Changes...
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