International Project Management Association (IPMA) Practice Exam

On most projects, the project plan is developed by the:

1. Senior executives

2. Customer working alone

3. Project manager working alone

4. Project management team

The correct answer is: Project management team

The project plan is typically developed by the project management team, which is composed of various stakeholders, including the project manager and other key team members. This collaborative approach ensures that the plan incorporates diverse perspectives and expertise from different areas, leading to a more comprehensive and realistic timeline, resource allocation, and risk management strategy. The involvement of the project management team allows for a thorough analysis of the project scope, objectives, and constraints, leading to well-informed decisions. Additionally, team members bring specific knowledge relevant to their functional areas, ensuring that important details are not overlooked. In contrast, relying solely on senior executives or customers working alone can result in a plan that may lack practical feasibility or fail to address on-the-ground realities. A single project manager working alone would also miss out on the benefits of collaboration and shared input. Thus, the project management team's collective effort is critical in creating a robust project plan.