Ashford 5 Week 4 Assignment Monthly Status Report To Sponsor

Ashford 5 Week 4 Assignmentmonthly Status Report To Sponsorsassum

Assume you are the project manager for a software company and your team is in charge of delivering an update to tax preparation software for the next tax season. The project team has ten software developers working together, but located across the country. You have the following information about the project, and need to provide a status to the sponsors. New items you learned this month about the project: There is a three-day weekend in the coming month. Nine of the developers are on track to finish their tasks two weeks early. One software developer took the recently announced “early retirement” package, and is leaving in one week. He is confident he will be able to finish his piece of the work before he leaves. It is hurricane season in Florida, where three of the developers are located. The developer who is retiring is the only person who knows how to get approval for the final product from the IRS. The project costs are under budget and there has been no need for overtime.

Write a one-page status report (excluding the title page) to the sponsors providing a clear indication of the status of the project (suggestion: use green, yellow, or red for status). The sponsors also like to only know the two most important risks, and what could be done to mitigate the risk if it happens. The conclusion of the status report should include a paragraph that describes any requests for additional resources, if they are necessary. The best status reports use bullets, memos or templates since they provide an at a glance status.

If you use a template or memo you can create your own or find one from a respected source that meets the above objectives. If you use a template/memo from another source, you must cite the source in a reference page. In addition, you do not need to use any scholarly sources; however, if a reference is used it must be cited and included on a separate references page. Your paper must be formatted according to APA style guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Paper For Above instruction

Status Summary:

  • Status: Green
  • The project is progressing well with most tasks two weeks ahead of schedule and on budget.

Key Updates:

  • Nine developers are ahead of schedule, completing their tasks early, which provides a buffer for upcoming risks.
  • One developer is retiring in one week but expects to complete their assigned tasks before departure.
  • There is an upcoming three-day weekend in the next month, which might impact the schedule if not managed properly.
  • Three developers are in Florida during hurricane season; potential weather disruptions could impact their work or availability.
  • The sole person knowledgeable about IRS approval is retiring, posing a risk to final compliance approval.

Risks and Mitigation Strategies:

  1. Risk 1: Loss of IRS approval knowledge due to the retiree's departure.
  2. Mitigation: Arrange knowledge transfer sessions with the retiring developer before departure and document approval procedures thoroughly.
  3. Risk 2: Disruption caused by hurricanes affecting Florida-based developers.
  4. Mitigation: Coordinate flexible work schedules, ensure remote access, and prepare backup plans to maintain productivity during possible weather disruptions.

Resource Requests:

Given the upcoming transition in knowledge and potential weather disruptions, we request additional temporary resources to assist with knowledge transfer and support for remotely working Florida developers. This will help ensure that project milestones are met without delays or quality issues.

Conclusion:

The project remains on track overall, with most tasks progressing ahead of schedule and under budget. However, the impending departure of the IRS approval expert and the hurricane season present notable risks. Proactive mitigation measures are in place, but additional resources for knowledge transfer and flexible work arrangements would strengthen our risk management. We recommend approving these resources to ensure continued project momentum and successful delivery for the upcoming tax season.

References

  1. Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
  2. PMI. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). Project Management Institute.
  3. Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.
  4. Remington, K., & Pollack, J. (2018). Tools for Complex Projects. Gower Publishing.
  5. Heldman, K. (2018). Project Management JumpStart. Wiley.
  6. Meredith, J. R., & Mantel, S. J. (2017). Project Management: A Managerial Approach. Wiley.
  7. Gray, C., & Larson, E. W. (2017). Project Management: The Managerial Process. McGraw-Hill Education.
  8. Shenhar, A. J., & Dvir, D. (2007). Reinventing project management: The diamond approach. Harvard Business Review.
  9. Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced Project Management: a structured approach. Gower Publishing.
  10. Heldman, K. (2014). PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide. Sybex.

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