Assignment
Unit I
In Units VII and VIII of this course, you will submit a comprehensive project plan and a PowerPoint presentation (see the details in the syllabus). In this unit, start thinking about your topic for your project plan. For this journal submission, describe your topic ideas for your final project and presentation. Discuss if this is a personal project, a workplace project, or a civic project. Examples of potential projects might be a construction project at your home, the planning of a wedding or other celebration, or any other personal endeavor that requires multiple steps. It can be a project you are currently working on or one that you would like to take on in the future. Describe your ideas for your project plan. It is acceptable to have multiple ideas at this point.
Unit II
Review the case analysis, "Incidents For Discussion: Pritchard Soap Co." on pages 138-139 of your textbook, which illustrates the problems that can arise when project managers are not good communicators. Explain your own strengths and weaknesses as a communicator, and describe how you will capitalize on your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses when leading a project team. Consider how you will apply project management communication strategies to your final project due in Units VII and VIII.
Unit III
Your final project for this class is due in Unit VII (final project plan) and Unit VIII (presentation). For this journal entry, discuss your progress on your project plan. What progress have you made on the required elements for the project plan (i.e., project overview, project mission statement and scope statement, project schedule and control, project management structure and budget, work breakdown structure, risk management process, project communication, project closure)? What stumbling blocks are you running into? What questions do you have for your instructor on the final project plan?
Unit IV
Why is it important to reduce risk in a project? Discuss how the financial aspects of a project are interrelated to risk assessment. How are you planning to employ risk planning into your final project for this course?
Unit V
Discuss how you might utilize some of the project management scheduling tools discussed in this unit in your final project. Discuss the progress you are making on your project (due in Unit VII) and presentation (due in Unit VIII). What resources have you found most useful when preparing your project?
Unit VI
Take a look at the "Project Management in Practice" discussion on pages 423 of your textbook, which discusses how project management can be used to control nuclear fusion. Think through the concepts learned so far in this course. Why do you think the complexity of the task was so greatly underestimated? Do you think the outcome would have been different if standard project management principles were implemented from the start of the project? Your final project is due in the next unit! What questions do you have for your instructor regarding the project?
Unit VII
Reflect on this unit's reading, and think about the evaluation of a project being a means of control. Discuss how you incorporated the concepts of evaluation and control in your final project plan.
Unit VIII
Through some self-reflection, would you consider moving into the profession of project management? Why, or why not? What did you learn about your project management skills through the creation of your final project plan? What plans do you have to continue honing your project management skills?
The each journal entry should be 200 words and include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.