The “Golden Bridge” software development project was scheduled to be completed

in about 12 months. Two to six team members were planned to work on the project at

the same time. Project progress control was based on a monthly report that would

refer to each of the 32 activities to be performed and to the components (1) risk item

management, (2) schedule, and (3) human resource utilization.

The first three monthly progress reports submitted to management did not indicate any deviation from the plan. The fourth progress report presented an unresolved

risk item that was listed in the project plan, a substantial overrun in human resource

utilization (overtime, etc.), as well as a month’s delay in the expected completion

dates for some of the activities.

a. Can you suggest possible reasons for the relatively late detection of the deviations

from the project plan?

b. For each of the above three components, describe the measures that could have

prevented the deviations and their adverse effects.