A Project Plan Is A Document Created At The Beginning Of The

A Project Plan Is A Document Created At The Beginning Of The Project L

A project plan is a document created at the beginning of the project lifecycle that gives stakeholders and everyone else involved a clear idea of what the project will entail in terms of effort, time, cost, and anticipated results. The methodology or approach the project manager plans to use to manage the project must be identified before the project plan can be created. Choosing a methodology is important because a methodology provides the framework—that is, an overall process and suggested documents and deliverables—that will guide project development from beginning to end. Some project methodologies are more appropriate for some types of projects than for others. Read attached - Manage Your Health Inc Case Study Complete the assignment below.

Consider the differences between Agile and waterfall. Select 1 methodology to use for a project plan for this initiative. Create a simplified project plan such as the examples listed in the “Tips” section below. Include, at least, the following criteria: Name of task, Duration, Predecessors, Notes. After completing your simplified project plan, write a 175-word paragraph and complete the following: Define which methodology, Agile or waterfall, is most appropriate for this project. Why? Cite at least 2 sources to support your rationale. Describe the following roles for this project: project manager, project sponsor, business analyst, and scrum master or program manager. You may create your simplified project plan using Microsoft® Excel® or another software application of your choice. Tips: Research additional project plan examples online. Consider the application characteristics and requirements when building your project plan. For example, the app will require a search feature so employees can search for available programs, will require security to protect personal information, etc., which will help with the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Note: This information will be helpful in the Week 2 – Apply: Work Breakdown Structure assignment. 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 own draft project plan. Notice the differences between these 2 examples in terms of length (overall and task length), structure of the work breakdown (iterative vs. non-iterative), and methodology.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of a comprehensive project plan is a crucial step in the successful management of any project. It establishes a roadmap that guides the project team and stakeholders through the various stages, ensuring clarity regarding objectives, timelines, resources, and deliverables. In selecting an appropriate methodology for the project plan, understanding the differences between Agile and Waterfall approaches is essential to align the project management style with project requirements and constraints.

For this initiative, the Waterfall methodology is chosen due to its structured and linear approach, which is well-suited for projects with clearly defined requirements and outcomes. The Waterfall model follows sequential phases—requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and deployment—allowing for meticulous planning and process control. Given the context described in the Manage Your Health Inc. case study, where a health management app requires strict security, precise functionalities, and regulatory compliance, a structured methodology minimizes ambiguity and facilitates detailed documentation. This approach ensures that each phase is completed before the next begins, reducing risks associated with scope creep and scope ambiguity, which are common in iterative models like Agile when requirements are well-understood.

Developing a simplified project plan within this methodology involves defining tasks such as requirements analysis, system design, development, testing, deployment, and training. Duration estimates for each task are allocated based on complexity, including dependencies, such as design following requirements analysis and testing following development. Predecessors establish task relationships, ensuring timely progression, while notes specify key considerations like security protocols or user acceptance criteria. For example, the initial task, requirements analysis, might take two weeks and precede system design, which could take three weeks. Testing would follow development with a two-week timeframe, culminating in deployment and user training. This linear plan ensures clarity and discipline, which are key benefits in projects with strict regulatory and security demands.

In terms of project roles, the project manager is responsible for supervising the entire project, ensuring that milestones are achieved on time within budget constraints. The project sponsor provides high-level support and strategic direction, advocating for resources and stakeholder engagement. The business analyst gathers and documents requirements, translating stakeholder needs into clear specifications, which are critical in both Waterfall and Agile settings. The Scrum Master, by contrast, facilitates Agile processes; in a Waterfall project, this role is typically assumed by the project manager or a project coordinator. The program manager oversees multiple interrelated projects to ensure overall organizational goals are met. Assigning clear roles and responsibilities ensures accountability and smooth communication throughout the project's lifecycle.

The choice of a Waterfall methodology for this health app project aligns with its requirement for comprehensive planning, regulatory compliance, and minimal requirement changes mid-project. Literature supports this alignment, with Boehm (1988) emphasizing that Waterfall is ideal for projects with well-understood requirements, and Royce (1970) advocating for sequential phases to enhance quality assurance. Conversely, Agile methods excel in dynamic environments where flexibility is paramount, which may not be suitable here due to strict security standards and regulatory constraints. Overall, the structured nature of Waterfall facilitates precise control and documentation, crucial for health-related applications that demand rigorous compliance and risk mitigation.

References

• Boehm, B. W. (1988). A Spiral Model of Software Development and Enhancement. Computer, 21(5), 61–72.
• Royce, W. W. (1970). Managing the Development of Large Software Systems. Proceedings of IEEE WESCON, 26(8), 1–9.
• Schwaber, K., & Beedle, M. (2020). Agile Software Development with Scrum. Pearson.
• Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) — Sixth Edition.
• Highsmith, J. (2002). Agile Software Development Ecosystems. Addison-Wesley.
• Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
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• PMI. (2019). The Standard for Program Management. Project Management Institute.
• Ambler, S. W. (2009). Agile Modeling: Effective Practices for Extreme Software Development. Wiley.
• Leach, L. P. (2014). Critical Chain Project Management. Artech House.