PRM3701_EXAM_SEMESTER 1_2025

May/June 2025

PRM3701
PROJECT MANAGEMENT

80 marks
Duration: 3 hours

Date: 27th May 2025 EXAMINERS:

FIRST: Mrs Z Aziz
Start time: 14h00
SECOND: Mrs Q Buthelezi
End time: 17h00

This examination paper consists of eight (8) pages, including the instructions.

General instructions:

• This assessment constitutes the May/June 2025 examination.

• This is an open-book assessment.
• Answer all the questions. The four (4) questions add up to a total of 80 marks.
• This assessment remains the property of the University of South Africa and may not be distributed to a third
party.
Guidelines for answering the examination questions as well as plagiarism:

• No marks will be awarded for copying and pasting the theory and/or content from sources at your disposal.
• Depending on the question, your answers must demonstrate application and/or insight in and/or understanding
and/or integration of the theory.
• This means that you need to synthesise the theory appropriately and use your own words to integrate the
theory into your answers.
• Provide in-text references to acknowledge any sources that are not your own. The author and year are
required, but no page numbers are required, for example: (Collier & Evans, 2021). No reference list is required
for this examination.
• Honesty declaration: Unisa’s plagiarism policy applies to this portfolio. In submitting your answers to this
examination, you are declaring that it is entirely your own work and has not been taken from the work of
others.

Where to answer the examination questions:

• This examination question paper only contains the examination questions.

• You may choose whether to type your answers or handwrite your answers.
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Instructions if you choose to type:

• Answer the questions to this examination in a new Microsoft (MS) Word answer document, which you must
create yourself.
• Ensure that your name, student number and module code are reflected on the first page of your MS Word
answer document.
• Use Arial, font size 11 and 1.15 line spacing in your answer document.
• You do not have to rewrite the questions but ensure that your question numbering is correct.
• Once you have completed answering the questions in your answer document, you will convert the document
to a PDF file. While saving your completed answer document in MS Word, you can convert your file to PDF
by locating “save as type” and selecting “PDF”. Alternatively, you can use PDF conversion software to create
the final file for upload.

Instructions if you choose to handwrite:

• Handwrite your answers, using an A4 writing pad, with clear margins.
• Write with a black pen.
• Ensure that your name, student number and module code are reflected on the first page of your answer
document,.
• Scan these pages into a single PDF document and upload this file as your answer file. When scanning, you
may use a PDF scanner application (using your cell phone) or a copier/scanning device.

How to submit your answer file:

1. Access myExams at https://myexams.unisa.ac.za/ and log in using your student number and myUnisa
password.
2. On the next screen, click on the myExams dropdown menu and locate your module code. Click on the
Module Code.
3. Once the module site has loaded, find the examination link on the main page.
4. Click on the Exam link to open it.
5. If the examination is still in session, an Add Submission button will display at the bottom of the page. Click
on that button.
6. Review and check the Honesty Declaration to see if you comply with the provisions stated there.
7. In the File Submissions section, click on the first icon Add to start the upload process.
8. Next, click on Choose File. Your own folder system will display. Navigate and select the file you want to load.
Be careful. Make sure you pick the correct file.
9. Then, click on Save changes.
10. Submission confirmation: Once you have submitted your assessment, you will receive a confirmation
message on the screen. Make a screen copy for your records.

Who do I contact if I am experiencing any problems completing this assessment or uploading my answer
file?

If you require guidance regarding the completion or upload of this assessment, please send an e-mail to
[email protected]. You MUST send the e-mail from your myLife e-mail address.

The Invigilator application

Please take note that the use of The Invigilator application is compulsory for your upcoming assessment or
examination. Failure to use the application will result in your examination mark being retained. You have been
provided with all the information grading this. Please see your e-mail and the Announcements on myUnisa.
 PRM3701_EXAM_SEMESTER 1_2025

How do I get started with The Invigilator application?

• Follow the guidelines on page 2 of this document.

• Should you encounter any technical difficulties, please WhatsApp the Invigilator Helpdesk on 073 505 8273.
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 PRM3701_EXAM_SEMESTER 1_2025

DECLARATION REGARDING ORIGINALITY

Plagiarism is a serious offence at Unisa. Note that your examination script will not be marked
if this declaration has not been completed. You will receive 0% should plagiarism be
detected.

Declaration of own work

I hereby declare that the material which I now submit for assessment is entirely my own work
and has not been taken from the work of others.

I am aware that, as this is an open-book examination, I will not be awarded marks for reciting
theory, and that my answers, as guided by the relevant questions, must demonstrate an
integrated understanding of the relevant aspects covered in this examination paper.

Full name & surname: ______________________________________

Student number: ______________________________________

Signature: ______________________________________
Digital handwritten signature OR initial(s) and surname

Cell phone number: ______________________________________

 PRM3701_EXAM_SEMESTER 1_2025

QUESTION 1 [20 MARKS]

You have been invited to deliver a speech to young graduates about the project life cycle and
its significance in project management. To educate them effectively, provide a detailed
discussion on the phases of the project life cycle, explaining their purpose and highlighting at
least two key activities that typically occur in each phase. Support your response with relevant
examples.

QUESTION 2 [20 MARKS]

The Department of Business Management has developed a plan for a business clinic project in
the conference rooms of four selected hotels in Mamelodi township. The workshops’ aim is to
benefit 400 small business owners, facilitated by lecturers and postgraduate students, running
eight hours a day (except on weekends) during September 2025. Business skills will be
developed, marketing support will be provided, and business manuals and starter packs will be
distributed to the attendees. The objective is to improve business management skills in a
turbulent environment.

Develop a project charter by explaining the elements that form part of a project charter.
Thereafter, provide specific practical examples for each of these elements based on the
business clinic project.

NB: You may use a project charter template as a guide but make sure that it includes all the
required elements discussed in your response.
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QUESTION 3 [20 MARKS]

As a project manager for Nando’s, you must manage a project with activities and their respective
durations as listed in the table below:

Duration
Activity Immediate predecessor
(months)
A None 2
B A 4
C A 2
D B 2
E B, C 4
F A, E 6
G D 4
H D, E, F 2
I G, H 6
J H, F 6
K H, I, J 4

3.1 Construct a network diagram to analyse your project. (11)

3.2 What is the total project duration time? (1)
3.3 Identify the critical path on your network diagram. (1)
3.4 When is the latest time that activity G must be completed in order not to experience
any delays in the project? (1)
3.5 What is the earliest time that activity D can possibly be completed? (1)
3.6 What is the free float for activity E with respect to activity H?
Show all your calculations for full marks. (4)
3.7 What would the implication to the project duration time be if there was a delay of two
months in completing activity F? (1)

QUESTION 4 [20 MARKS]

The Skyline Bridge Project is a large-scale infrastructure initiative aimed at reducing traffic
congestion in a metropolitan city. The project involves constructing a multi-lane bridge over a
river, connecting two major districts. The estimated duration is 36 months, and the budget is
set at R500 million. Key stakeholders include the government, contractors, environmental
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groups and local businesses. During the planning phase, the project team identified several
potential risks.

As the project risk manager, develop a risk register for the Skyline Bridge Project. Your risk
register should include at least five risks and address the following elements for each risk:

• risk description
• likelihood (high, medium, low)
• impact (high, medium, low)
• potential response strategy (avoid, mitigate, transfer, accept)
• responsible party

Total: 80 marks
UNISA May/June 2025 Examination