Assignment - POM+ Case Study - Project Application
Project Plan:
Task 1: Provides a strategic overview of the project that clearly explains project objectives and goals and other factors you consider important to position your project (like an executive summary or simple project charter) in presenting it to the sponsor. You may include items you feel are relevant to forming a clear picture of the project.
Task 2: Provide a project plan (incorporating case study parts 1-3 inclusive) including relevant output/reports and data capture using Microsoft Project, or other project tools, which MUST be incorporated into your presentation. Software files and printouts will not be accepted.
Tasks 1 & 2 may be incorporated into the one "document".
Project Status Report:
Task 3: A project status update (case study part 4A) that includes clear status report at the date required and your specific recommendations, as project manager) for project progress, post-status date based on the case data presented. DO NOT complete part 4B.
Often projects are "formulated" as strategy but inevitably implementation is delayed, as in in this case, (from 2012) to 1 March 2018. Whilst specific reasons are not given, it might be safe to assume that the decision to delay might have related to budget pressures, the requirement to use current equipment until it was obsolete or "written off" either mechanically or financially, for example. Students needn't dwell on this aspect but accept the current project start date and make appropriate date adjustments/assumptions accordingly.
Please consider all dates in the text as 2018/2019 and note the text uses a US date format, holidays, etc. Use the text data as the basis for your project. You may have to research the specific holiday dates online.
You should use Australian date format in presenting your project plan and reports, even though the case uses the U.S. format. The simple assumption is that you are based in Australia (or your domicile).
Project structure and assumptions: Because of the delay (date change) to the project you may need to make assumptions regarding those changes, especially task dates and baseline task 2, (parts 2 & 3) and in task 3, (part 4A). Those assumptions should be explained in your project overview, plan and status report.
Larson & Gray on page 625, Project Management, the managerial process 2011 (5th Ed.) state "In developing the exercises, trade offs had to be made to enrich the learning experience. One of the major problems students initially encounter is data and detail overload. This reduces their ability to identify project and data problems and to compare alternatives. Although the project found in this exercise is real, it has been reduced and detail has been modified many times to concentrate on applying project management principles and understanding linkages. In addition, other simplifying assumptions have been made so that students can trace problems and discuss outcomes. These assumptions detract from reality, but they keep the focus on the objectives of the exercises and reduce student frustration with software intricacies. Moving from these exercises to real projects is primarily one of increasing detail".
These simplifying assumptions are given below (make sure they are included in "default," "preferences," and/or "options" sections of the software used":
• Each task will represent a work package. Accept the WBS in table given (page 626) as correct.
• Resources will be considered in terms of teams not individuals. Resource information is included in the case study in table A2.1 (page 628).
• The public holidays listed in the case should be used. You will need to research those dates and factor them into your plan.
• There are no overhead costs included in this project. Use only the costs of people resources stated in costs per unit of usage time in table A2.2 (page 628).
This project is designed to take you through the project strategy/executive summary (task 1), design and planning (task 2, case parts 1-3 inclusive) and partly the implementation/execution/control (task 3, case part 4A) phases of the project.
Rationale - This assignment is designed to help you understand the issues of Project Management in an organisation and apply the technical principles of Project Management, particularly to develop an integrated information system needed for decision-making and for tracking a project's progress. The project software is a tool to help with this process.
Understanding the key linkages and connections of all the tasks of the exercise should be a key objective for the assignment. You will develop a holistic project plan from a project manager's point of view which covers everything from the strategic intent to the technical plan, status report, your observations, and finally, a communication document for management.
Learning outcomes related to this assessment include:
1. being able to gather information, define project goals and objectives and create a timeline so as to present a completed and comprehensive project plan;
2. being able to monitor progress through measurement of resource usage, timeline performance and actual cost versus budget to measure project progress against plan;
3. be able to provide a comprehensive risk assessment for a project;
4. be able to evaluate project outcomes:
5. be able to utilise project management software as a tool for planning and managing a project; and
6. be able to successfully transfer outcomes to the customer at completion of the project (in the assignment as a project plan and status report);
Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar