initiating the project

 

Reflection and Discussion Forum Week 4

Reflection and Discussion Forum Week 4Reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Identify what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding. 
Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:

1. The sponsor for a project you have been managing sends you an email that he would like to make a small change to the project.  What is your response and why? 
2. A potential client wants you to be project manager for the construction of a new house, but she is vague about the details.  List a few questions you could ask her to gain a better understanding of the scope of the project.
3. Many factors can impact the accuracy of activity duration estimates. Describe four of the problems associated with estimating activity durations accurately, and the techniques you could use as a project manager to overcome them.

[Your initial post should be based upon the assigned reading for the week, so the textbook should be a source listed in your reference section and cited within the body of the text. Other sources are not required but feel free to use them if they aid in your discussion]. [Your initial post should be at least 450+ words and in APA format (including Times New Roman with font size 12 and double spaced). Post the actual body of your paper in the discussion thread then attach a Word version of the paper for APA review] 

 

Problem Set #4

Attached Files:

 Project Scope -WBS Exercise x Project Scope -WBS Exercise x – Alternative Formats (19.059 KB)

Scope Statement and WBS with Activity List ExerciseInstructions for this exercise are provided within the attached exercise template. 

SCOPE STATEMENT/WBS EXERCISE

Instructions: Continuing to use the Week 2 Business Case project the exercise this week will require you to complete a scope statement similar to Exhibit 7.4 on page 219 of the textbook. Do not mimic the items provided in the Exhibit; you must identify those specific to your project.

Copy and paste the Business Case you completed on Week 2 into the section below.

Draft a two or three sentence scope description for this project.

Provide six (6) key deliverables that are required to consider the project to have been completed successfully. Then state what the Acceptance Criteria entails to consider these Key Deliverables completed. Deliverables and Acceptance Criteria need to follow SMART criteria. That means that these need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. This exercise only needs to identify six (6) of the potential Deliverables needed in the project. It does not mean to identify six (6) deliverables to complete the whole project. These Deliverables will be utilized to create a future WBS with Activity List. So again, be specific and utilize SMART criteria.

As an example, if your Project was to build a wooden fence around a field then one of your Key Deliverables would be: Install Fence Posts. The Acceptance Criteria could be: Five-foot fence posts have been installed every eight feet around the field. Posts are properly secured in concrete and plumb. (This could be more specific but this is sufficient for the exercise).

The final step of this section will to be to define and identify Exclusions, Constraints and Assumptions. First, briefly define what these concepts are utilizing material from the weekly reading (textbook) in support of creating your definition. Then identify these items within the scope of your project and explain why these elements have been identified.

Business Case (copy and paste):

Project Scope Statement

Scope Description:

Key Deliverables with acceptance criteria (product scope):

KEY DELIVERABLES

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Exclusions

Define:

Identify & Explain:

Constraints

Define:
Identify & Explain:

Assumptions

Define:
Identify & Explain:

Instructions: You will continue to use the Week 2 Business Case project to complete the WBS Structure with Activity List exercise. Above you identified six (6) Key Deliverables that were required to complete the project within scope. For this exercise you will identify three (3) activities that need to be completed to create the overall Key Deliverable. (See Exhibit 8.3 on page 251 for an example). The textbook does not need to be cited or referenced in this exercise.

This should be a checklist of items that need to be completed to ensure that the Deliverable is completed and the Acceptance Criteria is met. SMART criteria must be used. Do not try to identify three (3) Activities to complete the entire Deliverable just provide three (3) that would be part of a potential full list.

* Another example using the construction of a fence around the field from last week:

2.

Erect Fence Post (Key Deliverable)

2.1

Dig round hole 3-foot-deep with circumference of two feet

2.2

Fill hole with concrete up to 6″ from top of hole

2.3

Insert 8′- 4” x 4” wooden fence post into the center of the hole leaving 5′ of post above top of hole

2.4 Use level to ensure wooden fence post is plumb

2.5 Once concrete has set fill last 6″ inches of hole with dirt. *

Title of Project

1.

1.1

1.2

1.3

2.
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.

3.1

3.2

3.3

4.

4.1

4.2

4.3

5.

5.1

5.2

5.3

6.

6.1

6.2

6.3