CIS 202A Project Management For IT

CIS 202A Project Management for IT Assignment 4

Some of you might be thinking “When are we going to use MS Project?” Well the answer is now. You will get started using MS Project’s user interface and enter your WBS in to a project. Some people don’t understand how to use project management software properly. Therefore we are learning about the concepts before using the software. It is important that we study the concepts in each of the chapters and then apply them by using MS Project.

Chapter 5:

. Read chapter 5. . Read and do Appendix A: Guide to Using Microsoft Project 2013 Pages A.1 - A.28. The first pages of the guide give you an overview of the software and then show you how to create a WBS. As you go through the guide you may need data files. You can get them on the publisher’s website as stated in the textbook or I have posted them to the Lectures page for your convenience. Look for Chapter 5 under the Other Documents heading “Project Files”. . Read the running case Manage Your Health, Inc. (MYH) at the end of Chapters 4 & 5. . Do tasks 2 & 4 on page 208 to create the project scope statement and the WBS. Use the template files found as a link on the Lectures page. The two files are: scope_statement.docx and WBS.docx (optional, see task 3). Please read task 3 for guidelines on creating the WBS. You may create a WBS document using the WBS.docx template. It is optional. You will need to enter your WBS in to MS Project. The two required deliverables for this assignment are the scope_statement.docx and MS Project .mpp file with your WBS in it. Please note for task 4 the book may say to use MS Project 2007. I believe that is a typo. Appendix A gives instruction on MS Project 2010. You may use either version 2007 or 2010 however I suggest 2010 because the Appendix and I will be using 2010. Remember you can get a free copy of MS Project 2010 using your MSDN account issued to you earlier in the term. . Notes on the scope statement: the template gives suggested deliverables which are a good start. Make sure you tailor the deliverables to the case. For example for this case if we are not doing a business case or team contract, then don’t include them in your list. Also, don’t limit yourself to the suggested deliverables. You may have more deliverables for this case. For example in the product list you might add a test plan or training plan or communications plan or marketing plan. o The objective for this part of the assignment is to see if you understand what the differences are between project justification, product characteristics and requirements, project management deliverables, and product deliverables. This can be tricky for some students. The justification should tell us why management has approved this project. What business problem or opportunity the project is addressing. If you say “The Recreation & Wellness website must ______.” or “The Recreation & Wellness intranet website has to ______.”, then you are talking about a characteristic or requirement. Project management tasks such as creating plans, the project charter, scope statement, and WBS create project deliverables. Any tasks that are specific to the product deliverable in this case the Recreation & Wellness website is a product deliverable. Pretty much any deliverable in the Execution phase is a product deliverable and any deliverables in the other project management phases are project deliverables. o Project Success Criteria: Every project has four success factors: time, cost, scope, and quality. Make sure your success criteria address these factors. o Example: Read Appendix C, Green Computing case, Part 2: Scope Management, task 2 developing the scope statement. Here is a link to the example. . Notes on the WBS: make sure that you include all of the deliverables listed in the scope statement on your WBS. The list will be about 1 - 1.5 pages long. Enter the WBS in to MS Project creating a new file from scratch. Do NOT use a template or one of the .mpp files that you downloaded for the Appendix A exercises. Save your project plan .mpp file for later use. This file is the beginning of the project plan that you will be building upon for the remainder of the course. o Example: In MS Project 2010 there’s a software development template may be helpful since this is developing a website. Steps: File tab, New, in the Office.com Templates search textbox type “software development” and then click the Start searching arrow button. Double-click the Software development plan button to open up the plan. o Example: Read Appendix C, Green Computing case, Part 2: Scope Management, task 4 creating the WBS in MS Project. Here is a link to the example. o NOTE: Remember when using examples or templates they are just for reference and to give you some ideas. Do NOT simply use the template. Please be sure to create a WBS that is specific to the MYH case study. You can use some of the line items and structure, but be sure it makes sense and is specific to the case study.

What to submit?

Upload your scope statement document and the WBS MS Project plan .mpp file to the Chapter 5 assignment in TalonNet.