Lesson 1: Project Management
Discussion Question 1 (50 points)
Reread Case Study #2, E-Commerce for a Small Supermarket, on page 31 of yourtextbook. Pretend you are a consultant helping Matt and Grace. Describe in an essay the tasks their project will entail in each of the four (4) phases of the project life cycle. (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)
Lesson 1: Project Management
Discussion Question 2 (50 points)
Design an RFP (request for proposal) to meet Matt and Grace's needs and concerns. (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)
Lesson 3: Project Management Information
Discussion Question 1 (50 points)
Discuss at least 10 common features of project management information systems. In your opinion, which of these are the most important? (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)
Lesson 3: Project Management Information
Discussion Question 2 (50 points)
Discuss how the Internet can facilitate project communications. (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)
Lesson 5: Risk Mitigation
Discussion Question 1 (50 points)
Describe what needs to be done to manage risk on a project. When should this be done? How can a risk assessment matrix help in this process? What risks for a project have the highest priority? Does the priority for a risk change as the project progresses? (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)
Lesson 5: Risk Mitigation
Discussion Question 2 (50 points)
What is resource leveling with a project plan? Discuss the internal post project evaluation process and the two types of meetings involved. What are some ways you can obtain feedback from a customer after a project has been completed? How would you use this information? (50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)
Lesson 2: Project Objectives, Needs, Scope, and Risks
Activity 2: Just Right Company – WBS and Responsibility Matrix (100 points)
Congratulations! Have It Your Way Company has awarded The Just Right Company a new contract worth $250,000, and you have been chosen the sole project manager!
Have It Your Way is a fast-food restaurant company with thousands of franchise organizations all around the country. They desperately need you and Just Right Company to develop their latest software application to run on their local store computers. This important application will help them become more efficient at inventory/supply management and billing functions, which, in the long term, will enable Have It Your Way to continue to meet Wall Street financial quarterly projections, as well as investor expectations.
The following are project particulars, which will be used throughout this and Lesson 4's activity.
1. Project Start Date: January 3, 2007
2. Cost: Whatever it takes to complete the project, but keep in mind that your billing revenue cannot exceed $250,000, and you need to make a profit on this contract!
3. Overhead Charges: The rates that The Just Right Company's internal accounting department charges to your contract are as follows.
a. Eighteen percent (18%) of the billing revenue is charged for any and all lab and testing facilities.
b. Twenty percent (20%) of the billing revenue is charged to your staff members.
4. Project Team Members: You are the Project Manager. The rest of your team is listed below.
Primary Support
Activity Responsibility Responsibility
Development Dan Mike, Bill
Support Bill Sal
Deployment David Sal
Design Dan Mark
Training David Jen
Documentation Mark Jen
Testing Amy Jon, Bill
5. All necessary lab and testing facilities are available to your team during this 120-day period.
Your Activity responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct, and formatted in the same fashion as the Activity itself.If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc.In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document in a bibliography using APA style.(A WBS and matrix are required.)
Part A Create a work breakdown structure (WBS) similar to the one found on page 117 of the text.Research and include at least two (2) logical subdivisions for each Activity's Support Responsibility team members.
Part B Create a responsibility matrix, similar to the one found on page 128 of the text.Use each of the names listed under Support Responsibility as a "Primary" for one of your subdivisions and as Support for the other subdivision.
Note:You may use MS Word (organizational chart function, tables, textboxes, etc,) or Excel to develop your WBS and responsibility (relationship) matrix for submission.
Lesson 4: Project Scheduling
Activity 4: Agile Project Management (100 points)
Describe the agile project management for a project where a Scrum master is facilitatingthe Scrum development process for a software development project. Include the following:
Part A A description of agile project management.
Part B The roles of the participants involved in the scrum approach.
Part C A description of the six steps in the agile project management process.
Lesson 6: The Project Manager and the Project Management Office
Activity 6: Project Conflict and Problem Solving (100 points)
Part A Project conflict is inevitable.
1. Outline the seven (7) sources of conflict that can arise during a project.
2. Discuss the five (5) approaches that people typically use to deal with conflict.
3. Is conflict always bad? Explain.
Part B Problem Solving
1. Write a short summary about the "Nine-Step Approach to Problem Solving."
2. If you were the project manager for a virtual team, explain whether your approach would change if a problem arose between the virtual team members. If it would change, explain why and how it would change. If not, explain why not.
(100 points) (A 4-page response is required.)
MB670D Standalone Project – Chase Retail Complex
Stand-Alone Project: Chase Retail Complex (200 points)
You should begin working on the Stand-Alone Project early in the course. Each assignment provides a benchmark for completing the Stand-Alone Project in a timely manner while working through the course. You will find this information in the "Stand-Alone Project Benchmark" section of each assignment.
NOTE: You will need to download a free 60 day trial of Microsoft Project 2013 for the Stand-Alone Project. You can access the download by going to the textbook website at:
Go to the "Microsoft Project Trial" tab. Your Microsoft Project Software trial works for only 60 days. You must complete your Stand-Alone Project in 60 days unless you purchase Microsoft Project Software.
Required Background Reading: The following readings will prepare you for this project:
Gido, J., & Clements, J. P. (2015). Successful project management. (6th ed.). Cengage Learning. Appendix C.
The Scenario. Chase Opportunity has selected you as the project manager to oversee their latest project – Chase Retail Complex. Chase's vision is to build four (4) 10,000 square foot buildings (see concept drawing below). Within each building, suite sizes may vary per customer rental agreement (estimating five (5) 2,000 square foot areas per building). Chase has the funds to cover the total project costs and they have already purchased the land for construction. Chase wants to start construction January 2, 2007 and complete the project as soon as possible.
This project is comprised of seven (7) parts. Please read each part carefully to ensure that you submit all of the work. Your Stand-Alone Project responses should be both grammatically and mechanically correct, and formatted in the same fashion as the project itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your response and document in a bibliography using APA style. (200 points) (A 10-page response plus associated Gantt charts and Excel spreadsheets is required.)
Part A Develop a project life cycle analysis of the proposed project. Include and discuss at least two (2) tasks for each of the four (4) stages.
Part B Develop a work breakdown structure (WBS) and a responsibility matrix like those found in your text. You may use MS Word or Excel to develop both of these charts. (A chart and matrix are required.)
The following work activities should be included in your charts. Look them over and determine the best sequence in which they should be accomplished. Some activities (WBS Level 1) may be performed simultaneously whereas others may not. Using your personal knowledge and research, include at least two (2) sub-activities/sub-levels (WBS Level 2) for each activity. Use each of the two (2) names listed under Support Responsibility as a "Primary" for one of your sub-activities/sub-levels and as "Support" for the other sub-activity/sub-level. The WBS and matrix for Activity "Roof" may look something like these examples.
Primary Support
Activity Responsibility Responsibility
Roof Jack Steve, Wally
HVAC Bill Scott, Trevor
Landscaping John Lynn, Beth
Paving Greg Jeff, Pat
Plumbing Max Tyler, Damian
Grading and Site Prep Sal Jim, Joe
Interior Structure Don Keith, Andrea
Foundation Construction Randy Mark, Mike
Exterior Structure Bob Dan, Ken
Electrical Seth Neil, Roy
Part C Prepare a WBS and Gantt Chart in MS Project using the information developed in Part B and the information given. Then explain how much time the overall project is going to take to complete as is.
1. It takes 30 days (standard 8-hour workdays, Monday through Friday) to complete each activity.
2. Construct the WBS and Gantt Chart (in Project) illustrating the construction of each building in sequence. For example, building "A" must be built (completed) before construction on building "B" is started, etc. DO NOT include the Level 2 tasks in your Gantt Chart created in Part B.
Part D Incorporate the following information into your WBS from Part C.
The project manager is paid $30/hour and each primary (P) worker is paid $25/hour while support (S) workers are paid $15/hour.
1. Determine the project's total labor costs. Explain your results. Submit a copy of your Resource Sheet.
2. When developing the project cost plan, what things should be considered to estimate the total project costs? It may be helpful to contact actual contractors, construction companies, vendors, etc., for the tasks involved in this type of project.
Part E In Part C, your WBS and Gantt Charts were based on each of the buildings being constructed one after the other. We know that building in this manner is a large waste of resources, namely people and time. Revise your original WBS and Gantt charts to reflect better use of your resources. In addition, submit a copy of your new Resource Sheet. Explain the changes you made, why you made them, and how these changes affect your overall project (i.e., costs, project duration, etc.).
Part F Identify three (3) conflicts that may arise during this project. Then provide a solution to each conflict using Steps 1-7 of Gido and Clement's Nine-Step Approach to Problem Solving.
Part G Write a description explaining to Chase Opportunity what a successful project looks like. In other words, how will Chase know when you have achieved the common goal you set out to achieve? Describe three metrics, or measures, that you will use throughout the project life cycle. Explain how each metric relates to the project.
Answer contains paper, Microsoft Project file, Responsibility Matrix in excel, resource file, gantt chart and WBS saved in pdf.
