Harry is a project manager of a software development project. In the early stages of planning, he and the stakeholders operated with the belief that the software they were developing would work with their organization’s current computer operating system. Now that the project team has started developing the software it has become apparent that the software will not work with nearly half of the organization’s computer operating systems. The incorrect belief Harry had in the software compatibility is an example of what in project management?
A.
Risk
B.
Constraint
C.
Issue
D.
Assumption
Explanation:
Because the initial planning was based on the belief that the software would work with the current operating system, this is an assumption.
Assumptions are things that are believed to be true but are not yet proven to be true.Answer option A is incorrect. This is not an example of a risk though this assumption has risks surrounding it. Risks are events that have positive or negative affects on the project.
Answer option B is incorrect. This is not an example of a constraint. Constraints limit the project manager’s options.
Answer option D is incorrect. While the impact of the assumption could be an issue, the belief in the application’s compatibility is an assumption.
Reference: Chapter 5. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK Guide), Fourth Edition, ISBN:9781933890517, Section 5.2.3.1.