A project management methodology defines the way you will complete a project. It usually includes the steps, methods, processes, and roles that will occur as you work to complete the project. Since there are many differences in the methodologies, it is important to pick one that works well for your industry and your specific project.
Read the Customer Support Inc. Case Study and complete the assignment below.
Part A:
Select a project management methodology you will use to implement the project discussed in the case study.
Create a 2- to 2½-page, detailed task list for your project by applying your selected methodology (make sure you use the correct Example Plan below that matches the methodology you choose!). You should use either spreadsheet software or another software application of your choice to create the task list. Include at least the following for each task (you must include each of these for your tasks):
Name
The time needed to complete the task
Prerequisite tasks
Whether the task is completed internally or by an external vendor
Additional notes
Tips:
Research additional task lists or project plan examples online.
Consider the project requirements when building your task list. Think about how the learning resources and their tacking will need to be integrated into the HR software.
Read the 2 linked examples of project plans implemented as Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheets: Example Plan A and Example Plan B. Use these as guides in creating your draft project plan. Notice the differences between these 2 examples.
Part B:
Write a 1- to 2-page paper on the following two topics (you must submit original work, and avoid quoting):
Differentiate between Agile and waterfall methodologies. In your paper, you should justify your selection of the methodology used for this project. Cite at least 2 sources to support your rationale.
Describe the critical roles that are needed for this project to be completed successfully using the methodology you selected. The roles you discuss could include project manager, project sponsor, business analyst, scrum master, or program manager.
Submit your assignment—both your completed task list and paper (make sure both are submitted! Someone usually forgets to submit one or the other. Note that each is worth a significant amount of the overall score for this assignment so missing one will mean a low score for the assignment.) Once the assignment is graded you cannot add the missing piece.
WBS Help
Here are some links to help you understand what a WBS is and how it is constructed.
The basic description is to start by identifying the major tasks that must be completed. For example: to build a house the major tasks are (only identifying a few to demonstrate)
Level Ground
Remove trees
Remove boulders
Level ground
Dig trenches for pipes
Mark House Boundaries
Put stakes at corners
Run string to mark outer edges
Lay 2X6 under string (on its side)
Pour Foundation
Frame House
The bold words are the major tasks. After identifying the major tasks, you then break them down into smaller, subordinate, measurable tasks. These are the blue text in the example above. These tasks are given durations and resources are assigned. When the durations are set, the bold, major task durations are established automatically by the earliest date to the latest date of their subordinate tasks.
From Forbes is a high-level discussion of WBS to gain a basic understanding.
From ProjectManager.com you get a good rundown in written and video.
From Project-Management.com there is a WBS outline example that is pretty good.
Resources
Center for Writing Excellence
Reference and Citation Generator
Grammar Assistance
Customer Support, Inc. Case Study
Customer Support, Inc. (CSUP) is a large corporation with international clients that provides customer support related to their bank, credit card, or other financial accounts of their clients. It has over 5,000 full-time employees across the United States.
Its HR department recently completed a skills gap analysis for its workforce using resumes, employee feedback, managerial feedback, industry data, and analysis of internal data related to task completion. It identified skills gaps related to Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and its new CRM software that needed to be improved across the organization. HR also projects a 10-15% productivity improvement across its workforce by providing these skills across its workforce.
The IT department has been assigned with the project of providing access to a third-party vendor’s training materials to all of its employees. The courses taken should be tracked within each employee’s HR information which uses a separate HR software package. Lastly, each employee will have a set of courses linked to their annual performance assessment which is tracked using a same HR software. Employees will only get their full bonus if they complete the courses their managers assign to them and link to their performance assessment.
You can assume that the project will take 5 months with an initial cost estimate of $150,000.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
1.Project management
2.Requirements definition
3.Vendor and course identification
4.HR Software integration
5.Testing
6.Training, rollout, and support