Homework+Assignments

 Widgets Unlimited! **Memo:** New Communication Policy **Date:** 10/10/10  ** To: ** Jerry Smith, Applications Development Supervisor  Tom Black, Technical Operations Supervisor  ** Cc: ** Allan Sergeant, CEO **From:** Angela Rupert, IT Department Manager   Jessica Campbell, HR Director **New Communication Policy immediately in effect:** **Instant Messaging (IM):** IM is the departments preferred method of communication. IM may be recorded so keep personal chatting to a minimum. IM may be used to contact other department employees for immediate or pertinent information. If an employee contacts you for a service order, direct them to the online service order form so that we can track the request. **E-mails:** E-mails should be used between employees when attaching paperless memos. Paperless memos and communication are preferred whenever applicable. E-mails are typically used when documenting communication is pertinent to the task. E-mails should be kept to about a paragraph in length. An e-mail auto-response should be set up if you will not be answering e-mails for more than two days due to vacation or illness. **In-house phone usage:** In house phone calls are pertinent for the day to day communication between employees and with customers. Phone calls should be made when communication needs to be more in depth then instant messaging or e-mails. In house phone calls are encouraged over cell phones whenever possible. If working at a desk for a while, forward company cell calls to your in-house line. **Cell Phones:** Cell phone usage in the workplace should be kept to a minimum. Personal calls should be made during employee breaks only. Cell phones should be turned off during meetings. Employees may use cell phones to contact each other if they have been issued a company cell phone. Cell phone calls between employees should be used conservatively. Cell phones may be used to contact customers or answer calls when away from the desk. If working away from your desk, forward in-house calls to your cell phone whenever possible. **Voicemail:** Voicemail should be set up with a personal greeting. During meetings, voicemail will pick up automatically when you turn your cell phone off. If leaving the office for vacation or a personal day, please post an announcement on your voicemail about your return date and if you will be checking your messages while out. **Texting:** Texting should be kept to a minimum. Texting during meetings is discouraged. Texting should be used as a last resort for pertinent information notifications or emergencies. IM, e-mails and phone calls are preferred to texting. Personal texting should take place during break in the staff lounge.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Copperplate Gothic Bold',sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin-bottom: 14.15pt;">Widgets Unlimited!

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Memo: ** Agenda for One on One Meetings with staff

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** To: ** Angela Rupert, IT Department Manager

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Date: ** 9/14/10

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Staff: ** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jerry Smith, Applications Development Supervisor <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Terry Jones, Media Designer <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Chris Johnson, Developer <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Tom Black, Technical Operations Supervisor <span style="display: block; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 14.15pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Sheila Parker, Programmer Ed Greer, Help Desk Keiko Tamasaki, Help Desk

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Please review the following questions with each of your staff members:

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Supervisors Questions: **

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What projects are you currently working on and what are the ones with the highest priority? Why?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> How do you delegate responsibilities to your subordinates?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What is your management style?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> How long have you worked here and what is your background?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Why did the last person in my position leave?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Who are the most helpful of your employees?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What are the discipline procedures for the staff? Is it a point system?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> How do you think that I can be the most effective in making positive improvement for this department?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Staff Questions: **

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What are your job responsibilities?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> How long have you worked here and what is your background?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What do you think of your supervisors management style?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What are your goals working for this company?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What advice do you have for me for getting along with the staff? <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Copperplate Gothic Bold',sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin-bottom: 14.15pt;">Widgets Unlimited!

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Memo: ** Interview Questions for Applicants

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** To: ** Angela Rupert, IT Department Manager

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Date: ** 9/14/10

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Staff: ** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Jerry Smith, Applications Development Supervisor <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Chris Johnson, Developer <span style="display: block; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Please review the following questions with Jerry Smith and Chris Johnson for the new developer applicants scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00pm:

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> How long have you been a developer?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Where did you go to school?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Do you need any special accommodations to perform your job to the best of your abilities?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Why are you interested in this job?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What tools have you worked with? How proficient are you with them?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What were the things that you liked the most and least about your last job?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> What were your best strengths and weaknesses in your last job? How did you overcome them?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Are you an independent worker or do you prefer assigned tasks?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Are you available for overtime?

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Tell me about a time that you weren’t able to make a deadline, what did you do to overcome it?

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Copperplate Gothic Bold',sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; text-align: center;">Widgets Unlimited! Performance Evaluation

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> **Staff Name:** Jerry Smith, Applications Development Supervisor

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> **Supervisor:** Angela Rupert, IT Manager

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> ** Evaluation Date: ** 9/16/10 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Salary: $ 75,000 Score: 3.5 Cost of living increase: $2,625 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Performance Questions: <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. The employee demonstrates superior communication skills with others. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rarely 1 2 3 __4__ 5 Consistently** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. The employee shows pride in quality work. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rarely 1 2 3 4 __5__ Consistently** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. The employee demonstrates creativity when using problem solving strategies. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rarely 1 2 __3__ 4 5 Consistently** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. The employee is punctual. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rarely 1 __2__ 3 4 5 Consistently** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5. The employee meets the appropriate project deadlines. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rarely 1 2 __3__ 4 5 Consistently** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6. The employee demonstrates superior communication skills with others. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rarely 1 2 __3__ 4 5 Consistently** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7. The employee delegates responsibility in an appropriate manner to subordinates. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rarely 1 2 3 __4__ 5 Consistently** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8. The employee facilitates team cooperation with his/her staff members. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rarely 1 2 3 __4__ 5 Consistently**

<span style="font-family: 'Copperplate Gothic Bold',sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Widgets Unlimited! ** To: ** Allan Sergeant, CEO **From:** Angela Rupert, IT Department Manager
 * Memo:** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Request for new reporting structure **Date:** 9/29/10

Cc: Austin Sweeney, CFO <span style="border: initial none initial; display: block; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">

After discussing with Austin Sweeney about some of the communication problems that the IT department has been facing recently, we have come to the mutual agreement that the IT Department Manager would best be suited for a new reporting structure directly to the CEO. Miscommunication caused our order for 48 new executive lap tops to be sent to our sister factory in Mexico City. The executives were most appreciative of the gesture and Austin and I just didn’t have the heart to ask the staff to pack up the laptops and send them out here. By the time we identified the mistake, the Mexican IT department had already donated the old laptops to priests at a missionary school in the Aztec jungle. In May, our department picked up an intern from the local University. While I was on vacation, the intern received information from the CFO to the Accounting department manager to the Administrative assistant that they had been hired to reprogram a customer database in C+ instead of C++. The intern was intimidated by the assignment and promptly dropped out of school. Had the assignment been filtered directly through the IT department, the miscommunication would never have happened. Most recently, I was not invited to the executive meeting to hear about the problems with accessing our Citrix system. The information I had received was that everyone was having a difficult time logging in because of their passwords. We had to reassign login ID’s and Passwords to 3500 employees. This cost our department about two weeks of labor and production for much of the company was delayed. Had I been at the meeting I would have been able to identify that the cause of the problem was really due to an internal error on the Citrix server. This internal error could have been easily fixed with a three minute patch caused when we had upgraded system browsers to IE8. The common complaints from the department heads would have clued me into that the IE8 upgrade was the real issue. Instead I received a memo stating that it was a password problem and a security breach. Austin Sweeney and I have come to the mutual agreement that the company would be best served if the IT manager reported directly to the CEO. Austin can concentrate more on the business side and be less likely to miscommunicate information. I can be more efficient in my position by directly reporting to you and attending all of the executive meetings to be sure to answer questions and troubleshoot problems as we go along. Fewer errors mean better production!

Angela Rupert October 6, 2010 A project plan is an integral part of any project. It provides a framework for the project outline. A project plan identifies the project conception, funding, stakeholders, resources and time constraints. Project plans keep the project organized and track the project’s progress. Phase One: Scope the Project o Define objectives within companies overall goal o Get proper sponsorship for the project o Identify stakeholders impacted by project o Identify constraints or project limitations o Compose a project charter document o Compare similar past projects Phase Two: Develop the Project Plan o Identify time constraints and estimate as a group o Identify costs associated with the project o Identify internal and external resources required Phase Three: Launch the Project o Identify launch options o Stage a “Kick-Off Meeting” Phase Four: Track the Project’s Progress o Utilize a project management tool o Incorporate Gantt charts and time lines o Use graphic representations for task analysis o Identify project milestones o Provide updates to the management team Phase Five: Close Out the Project o Write a closeout report o List additional accommodations o Summarize progress o Identify follow up needs
 * Assignment # 3 Project Plans **
 * Project Plan Components**