Project+Plan

5. //Projects and project plan. Scope? Scope is bubble covering project.// //Why scope suffers or defined wrong? Because of lack of communication among stakeholders and leadership problems.// //What does Project champion do?// A **project** is “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result” (PMBOK® Guide, Fourth Edition, 2008, p. 5). ‘Operations’ is work done to sustain the business. Projects end when their objectives have been reached or the project has been terminated. Projects can be large or small and take a short or long time to complete **Project plan:** The main purpose of project planning is to //guide execution.// It is a formal approved document that defines how the project is executed, monitored, and controlled. It may be a summary or detailed and may be composed of one or more subsidiary management plans and other planning documents such as communications plan and risk register. Some projects have a senior manager called a **champion** who acts as a key proponent for a project. Champions should be skilled on people relations. They should have good relations with stakeholders of a project. They should have the capability to affect people and get their support to the project. Champions are generally well known and experienced members of an organization. **Scope** refers to //all// the work involved in creating the products of the project and the processes used to create them. It looks like a bubble covering project. Scope defines the borders or limits of project. Defining scope well and realistic is vital for the success of project. Once the scope is defined project leadership should monitor and control the scope very closely. Changes to scope should be approved by project sponsor and changes to plan in terms of resources should be made. Any change effecting scope should be processed very carefully from the beginning to the end. Stakeholders should avoid asking for anything that is not included in the scope of a project. Asking for features or deliverables beyond the limits of project can cause project creep that can fail the project in the end. A **deliverable** is a product produced as part of a project, such as hardware or software, planning documents, or meeting minutes. Project scope management includes the processes involved in defining and controlling what is or is not included in a project. At the beginning of projects, scope may be vague since the projects are **temporary endeavors** undertaken to create a **unique** product, service, or result. Project scope is generally unclear at the initiating and planning phases of a project. As time progresses, the scope of a project should become more clear and specific. A well defined scope requires a good leadership with high communications skills. Many projects fail since their scopes are not well defined. Successful and experienced project managers devote more than 80% percent of their work times to communication with stakeholders to define, and monitor and control project scope. It is very difficult to create a good scope statement and WBS for a project. It is even more difficult to verify project scope and minimize scope changes. **Scope verification** involves formal acceptance of the completed project scope by the stakeholders. Scope control involves controlling changes to the project scope. Goals of scope control are to:
 * Influence the factors that cause scope changes
 * Assure changes are processed according to procedures developed as part of integrated change control
 * Manage changes when they occur

** Assignment # 3 Project Plans ** 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. **Project Plan Components** 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 <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;">Phase Three: Launch the Project <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;"> o Identify launch options <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;"> o Stage a “Kick-Off Meeting” <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;">Phase Four: Track the Project’s Progress <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;"> o Utilize a project management tool <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;"> o Incorporate Gantt charts and time lines <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;"> o Use graphic representations for task analysis <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;"> o Identify project milestones <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;"> o Provide updates to the management team <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;">Phase Five: Close Out the Project <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;"> o Write a closeout report <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;"> o List additional accommodations <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;"> o Summarize progress <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;"> o Identify follow up needs

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

** Memo: ** Agenda for One on One Meetings with staff

** To: ** Angela Rupert, IT Department Manager

** Date: ** 9/14/10

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

Please review the following questions with each of your staff members:

** Supervisors Questions: **

What projects are you currently working on and what are the ones with the highest priority? Why?

How do you delegate responsibilities to your subordinates?

What is your management style?

How long have you worked here and what is your background?

Why did the last person in my position leave?

Who are the most helpful of your employees?

What are the discipline procedures for the staff? Is it a point system?

How do you think that I can be the most effective in making positive improvement for this department?

** Staff Questions: **

What are your job responsibilities?

How long have you worked here and what is your background?

What do you think of your supervisors management style?

What are your goals working for this company?

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

** Memo: ** Interview Questions for Applicants

** To: ** Angela Rupert, IT Department Manager

** Date: ** 9/14/10

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

Please review the following questions with Jerry Smith and Chris Johnson for the new developer applicants scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00pm:

How long have you been a developer?

Where did you go to school?

Do you need any special accommodations to perform your job to the best of your abilities?

Why are you interested in this job?

What tools have you worked with? How proficient are you with them?

What were the things that you liked the most and least about your last job?

What were your best strengths and weaknesses in your last job? How did you overcome them?

Are you an independent worker or do you prefer assigned tasks?

Are you available for overtime?

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
 * Staff Name:** Jerry Smith, Applications Development Supervisor

**Supervisor:** Angela Rupert, IT Manager

** Evaluation Date: ** 9/16/10

Salary: $ 75,000 Score: 3.5 Cost of living increase: $2,625 Performance Questions: 1. The employee demonstrates superior communication skills with others. 2. The employee shows pride in quality work. 3. The employee demonstrates creativity when using problem solving strategies. 4. The employee is punctual. 5. The employee meets the appropriate project deadlines. 6. The employee demonstrates superior communication skills with others. 7. The employee delegates responsibility in an appropriate manner to subordinates. 8. The employee facilitates team cooperation with his/her staff members.
 * Rarely 1 2 3 __4__ 5 Consistently**
 * Rarely 1 2 3 4 __5__ Consistently**
 * Rarely 1 2 __3__ 4 5 Consistently**
 * Rarely 1 __2__ 3 4 5 Consistently**
 * Rarely 1 2 __3__ 4 5 Consistently**
 * Rarely 1 2 __3__ 4 5 Consistently**
 * Rarely 1 2 3 __4__ 5 Consistently**
 * Rarely 1 2 3 __4__ 5 Consistently**