Assignment 2: Work Packages

Build on the project that you identified in Assignment 1 to complete this assignment.

This assignment consists of two (2) sections: 

• MS Project Exercise 
• Work Packages Paper 

You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment for which it is written. Additionally, you may create and / or assume all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

Section 1: MS Project Exercise

Update the project schedule in MS Project to account for the following changes:

1. Revise the project schedule so that it contains at least five (5) work packages. 

2. Establish a WBS to support the project with the revised schedule.

3. Revise the durations of the tasks based on the revised schedule.

Section 2: Work Packages Paper

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:

4. Specify the main changes that you have made to the project in question. Next, analyze the key manner in which you have aligned your WBS in order to deliver the project.

5. Provide the costs estimate for the tasks. Note: Your estimate should include, but not be limited to, fixed and variable cost components.  

6. Suggest the primary measures that you would use in order to successfully deliver the project.

Your assignment must follow these formatting guidelines:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length. 

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Analyze the functions of project management.
• Analyze project management processes for scheduling and sequencing work components.
• Appraise the process of determining the cost and relevant budget required for a project component.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in project estimating and budgeting.
• Write clearly and concisely about project estimating and budgeting using proper writing mechanics.

Assignment 3: Project Performance

Build on the project from Assignment 2.  This assignment consists of two (2) sections: 

• MS Project Exercise 
• Project Performance paper

You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment for which it is written. Additionally, you may create and / or assume all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

Section 1: MS Project Exercise

Update the project schedule in MS Project to account for the following changes: 

1. Develop a network schedule for your project using either the arrow diagramming method or the precedence method. Also, your project schedule should illustrate float/slack for each activity.

Section 2: Project Performance Paper

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

2. Summarize your project. Note: Your summary should include, but not be limited to, the project’s key objectives, projected costs and resources, and high-level timeline. 

3. Create a responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) for your project, and justify your response.

4. Outline the network schedule for your project. Include a narrative description of your network schedule.

5. Analyze the critical path of your project, and discuss the total float in the project. Next, suggest the primary measures that you would use in order to manage the critical path and reduce the float in the project.   

6. Identify and discuss at least one (1) best practice from the PMBOK textbook for each process group that you would apply in order to manage the project schedule. Justify your response.

Your assignment must follow these formatting guidelines:

• Typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length. 

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Analyze project management processes for scheduling and sequencing work components.
• Analyze quality assurance processes in project management.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in project estimating and budgeting.
• Write clearly and concisely about project estimating and budgeting using proper writing mechanics.

Assignment 4: Earned Value Management (EVM)

Use the Internet or the Strayer Library to research articles on EVM. 

Project managers often use Earned Value Management (EVM) if they want to compare the status of their projects to their project plans. Using the same project from Assignment 3, develop a project scenario to explain the amount of work that you have completed with the funds allotted.

This assignment consists of two (2) sections: 

• MS Project Exercise 
• EVM paper

You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment for which it is written. Additionally, you may create and / or assume all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.

Section 1: MS Project Exercise

Assume that your project is using more resources (e.g., time, money, and / or other non-labor resources, etc.) than anticipated through 50% of the project duration. 

1. Update the project schedule to reflect related resource changes. 

2. Produce a series of EVM reports from MS project that illustrates your project’s performance. Note: Your reports should focus on the cost and schedule performance of the project.

Section 2: EVM Paper

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:

3. Summarize the resource changes of your project, and discuss the performance results of your project.

4. Determine one (1) performance measurement baseline for your MS Project. Justify your response.

5. Apply earned value analysis (EVA) in order to forecast future cost issues. Justify your response. 

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. 

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Appraise the process of determining the cost and relevant budget required for a project component.
• Analyze quality assurance processes in project management.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in project estimating and budgeting.
• Write clearly and concisely about project estimating and budgeting using proper writing mechanics.

Assignment 5: Project Closeout

Imagine that you have completed the same project discussed in Assignment 4. You exceeded the project budget, but you were able to complete the project within 15% of its scheduled completion date. Now, the management has requested a project review of your project.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. Analyze the closeout process for your project. Next, determine the main challenges that you would encounter during the project closeout process, and provide your strategy to address the challenges in question. 
2. Select one (1) tool, other than MS Project, that you could use in order to manage project costs and scheduling. Next, speculate on the overall different project management strategy that you would apply based on the tool that you have selected. Provide a rationale to support your response. 
3. Analyze whether or not continuous process improvements would have helped the delivery of your project. Provide a rationale to support your response.
4. Speculate on whether or not using risk management techniques would have affected the delivery of your project. Provide at least two (2) examples of using risk management techniques that would have helped the delivery of your project to support your response.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. 

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Analyze quality assurance processes in project management.
• Evaluate systems for cost tracking and budget monitoring.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in project estimating and budgeting.
• Write clearly and concisely about project estimating and budgeting using proper writing mechanics.