The Martian is a story about an astronaut, Mark Watney, who gets trapped on Mars after a dust storm

during the mission. While this is a story on surviving, an engaging, riveting read (I found the science
enticing, too), I would like you to put your ‘Project Manager’ goggles on before you start reading it. I
would highly suggest reading the book, rather than watching the movie alone. However, given your time
constraints, it is up to you entirely. The movie does not capture the details as the book does. Trust me,
reading the book… You will find the experience immersive and fruitful!
Now, put your ‘Project Manager’ goggles on, I would like you to approach the Martian
expedition as a project. Identify the scope, planning process, risks, stakeholder interests
and resource allocation.

Which of the three (or four?) triple/ diamond constraints were paramount for the
project? Why? Who were they paramount for?

Now identify the risks (uncertainties) that could NOT be accounted for at the time of
initial and detailed planning phases. Which were they, and which of them actually
happened? What safeguards were already in place in the system? Why could the
existing systems not deal with this risk? What were the repercussions and how was the
outcome taken care of?

How did the scope change in the project happen? Did it follow the PMI’s scope
management cycle? Why/ why not? Who approved? Why was scope change necessary
and how much did it cost? Was it worth it?