30 Dec 6. Work Breakdown Structure

Unit Assignments

Unit I Article Review

Using the CSU Online Library, locate a recent article (less than 5 years old) that discusses one or more of the five essential areas (process groups) of project management. Address the following in your article review:

1. Summarize the article, and discuss the main points of the article.

2. Explain how the article addresses the theoretical aspects of project management.

3. Discuss the relevance of this article with respect to the development of project scope and the organizational structure of the project.

4. What questions might you pose to the author of this article?

Your response should be a minimum of two pages in length, be double-spaced, and typed using 12-point Times New Roman font. References should include the article from the CSU Online Library and one additional credible source. All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations in APA style.

Unit II Case Study

Case studies are an important learning strategy in business classes (particularly at the master’s level) as they provide an opportunity for you to critically analyze events that have taken place in real-life businesses. This develops your critical thinking and research skills as you research the competition and industry in which your business resides with an end goal of formulating a recommendation for the challenges faced by the company.

Review the article “Power of Persuasion” by D. Brox starting on page 141 of your textbook, and respond to each of the questions using both theory and practical managerial thinking as well as supporting research.

Choose two of the six core project management traits that you feel are most important when negotiating in a project setting. Explain and support your choices.

Give an example (real or fictional) that demonstrates the importance of your two chosen traits in project management negotiations.

Explain how the triple constraints (scope, schedule, and cost) could affect a project manager’s negotiations during the project.

Explain the benefits and challenges of keeping the key stakeholders informed at various progress points during the project.

In formatting your case analysis, do not use the question-and-answer format; instead, use an essay format with headings. Your APA-formatted case study should be a minimum of two pages in length (not including the title and reference pages). You are required to use a minimum of three academic sources that are no more than 5 years old (one may be your textbook). All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased material must have accompanying in-text citations.

Unit III Case Study

For this assignment, read the case study, “Acorn Industries” starting on page 180 of your textbook. Once you have read and reviewed the case scenario, respond to the following questions with thorough explanations and well-supported rationale.

Looking at the historical organizational changes of Acorn industries, describe how you would organize the business now for greater effectiveness. Include a new (updated) organizational chart, and explain your rationale for making these changes.

Explain the risks associated with your new organizational structure on the overall organization and the effectiveness of a project management system, including discussion around project scope and structure.

Describe the Key Management Incentive Program (KMIP) and how it would be impacted by your new organizational structure. Address any challenges that might arise with the implementation of the new organizational structure. Describe how changes in organizational structure and scope might impact the overall project management process at Acorn.

Your case study response should be at least two pages in length and follow APA guidelines. References should include your textbook plus a minimum of one additional credible source. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations in APA style.

Unit IV Case Study

For this assignment, read the case study, “Heublein: Planning a Project Management and Control System” starting on page 222 of your textbook. Once you have read and reviewed the case scenario, address the components listed below with thorough explanations and well-supported rationale.

Describe the level of risk-taking and the efforts to mitigate these risks within the project planning process at Heublein.

Explain the project planning and scheduling techniques used at Heublein.

Describe the theoretical aspects of budgeting discussed in Chapter 7. Explain how Heublein might use these budgeting

concepts in the overall management of this project.

What do you recommend for Heublein going forward?

Your response should be a minimum of two pages in length and follow APA style guidelines. References should include your textbook and a minimum of one additional credible source. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations in APA style.

Unit V Case Study

For this assignment, read the case study, “Nutristar” starting on page 342 of your textbook. Once you have read and reviewed the case scenario, respond to the following questions with thorough explanations and well-supported rationale.

1. Create a program evaluation and review technique (PERT), Gantt, or critical path method (CPM) network diagram for this project. Which path do you expect to be the critical path, and what is its expected completion time?

2. What are the process resource allocations and your recommended monitoring processes?

3. How might the project manager at Nutristar incorporate simulation analysis into his or her risk analysis process?

Your response should be a minimum of two pages in length and follow APA style. References should include your textbook and a minimum of one additional credible source. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations in APA style.

Unit VI Essay

Read the “Better Control of Development Projects at Johnson Controls” starting on page 445 in your textbook. Address the following questions in your essay.

1. What control processes did Johnson Controls utilize in their projects?

2. Explain the impact of scope creep on Johnson Controls’ projects. What control features should they implement to minimize the impact of scope creep in the future?

3. Develop a set of 3–5 management review processes that Johnson Controls should implement as a part of their project management review of best practices.

Your response should be a minimum of two pages in length and follow APA style. Use APA-style format with headings (not question-and-answer format). References should include at least two additional credible sources beyond the textbook. All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations in APA style.

Unit VII Project

Final Project Plan

In the application of the concepts learned in this course, you will compile a comprehensive project plan for a project of your choosing. This can be a personal project (such as a home remodeling project), a civic project (such as a fundraiser for the PTA or a church group), or a workplace project (real or hypothetical). The development of this project plan will be completed during this unit (Unit VII), and you will present your findings in a PowerPoint presentation in the final unit of this course (Unit VIII).

During this unit, you will complete all written sections of your project. This is a comprehensive project, and you will need to use information from several chapters of the textbook in order to complete it.

The completed project plan should contain the sections listed below.

1. Title page

2. Project Overview

3. Project Mission Statement and Scope Statement

4. Project Schedule and Control

5. Project Management Structure and Budget

6. Work Breakdown Structure

7. Risk Management Process

8. Project Communication

9. Project Closure

10. References page

As you are compiling the project plan, address the components listed below.

Within the parameters of the project schedule, discuss the resource allocations and monitoring processes.

Within the parameters of the project schedule, identify project evaluation and control processes.

Within the Project Management Structure and Budget section, explain the management structure, and compile an estimated budget.

Your final project plan should be a minimum of eight pages in length and follow APA style. References should include a minimum of three credible sources in addition to the textbook (for a minimum of four sources). All sources used must be referenced; paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying citations in APA style. Use the provided headings.

Unit VIII PowerPoint Presentation

Final Project Plan: PowerPoint Presentation

You developed your project plan in the last unit. In this unit, you are going to present your plan in a PowerPoint presentation. In addition to the title and references slides, you should have one slide for each of the required elements from your project plan, for a total of 10 slides.

Your PowerPoint presentation will include the same elements as your final project plan in Unit VII; see below.

1. Title slide

2. Project Overview

3. Project Mission Statement and Scope Statement

4. Project Schedule and Control

5. Project Management Structure and Budget

6. Work Breakdown Structure

7. Risk Management Process

8. Project Communication

9. Project Closure

10. References slide

This is an academic presentation. Use the notes section of PowerPoint to clarify your points and to write out your narrative. Your slides should be clear, concise, and professional. Use graphs, charts, and other visual aids to enhance your presentation. Be sure to cite and reference the textbook at a minimum, and follow APA style.