Assignment Content: Project Plan Document Created ✓ Solved

Assignment Contenta Project Plan Is A Document Created At The Beginni

A project plan is a document created at the beginning of the project lifecycle that gives stakeholders and everyone else involved in a project a clear idea of what a project will entail in terms of effort, time, cost, and anticipated results. One of the things that must be identified before the project plan can be created is the methodology, or approach, the project manager plans to use to manage the project. 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.

For this assignment, you will: Choose a project methodology for two different projects based on project requirements, and explain why you chose each methodology for each project. Brainstorm your own project and create a draft simplified project plan for that project. You must indicate in your simplified project plan whether you intend to apply the Agile or waterfall methodology. You may create your simplified project plan using Microsoft® Excel® or, if you choose, another software application such as Microsoft® Project®. To complete this assignment: Read Agile Project Management and the PMBOK ® Guide.

Answer the Methodology Selection and Rationale questions. Brainstorm a project you would like to explore in this course. You may choose a project from your work experience, from a description of a project in your textbook or in an online reading, or a project that is brand new but that you think would improve a business process at work, at home, or at school. Read the two linked examples of project plans implemented as Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheets, Example Plan A and Example Plan B. You will be using these as guides in creating your own draft project plan.

Notice especially the differences between these two examples in terms of length (overall and task length), structure of the work breakdown (iterative vs. non-iterative), and methodology. Research additional project plan examples online. Create a simplified project plan for your own brainstormed project that resembles the two linked examples. Save your simplified project plan as a Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheet document. Submit both your completed Methodology Selection and Rationale questions and your project plan draft (Microsoft® Excel® document). Downloadable attachments for this assignment include Agile Project Management, the PMBOK® Guide, Methodology Selection and Rationale questions, and examples of project plans implemented as Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

Paper For Above Instructions

Introduction

Effective project management begins with a comprehensive project plan, which serves as a roadmap for project execution, control, and closure. A fundamental component of this planning process involves selecting an appropriate project management methodology—such as Agile or Waterfall—that aligns with project requirements, scope, complexity, and stakeholder expectations. This paper explores the significance of methodology selection by analyzing two different projects, providing rationales for each choice, and designing a simplified project plan based on a brainstormed project concept, demonstrating practical application of theoretical principles.

Understanding Project Methodologies: Agile vs. Waterfall

The Waterfall methodology follows a linear, sequential approach, emphasizing detailed planning, documentation, and strict phases. It is suitable for projects with well-defined requirements where changes are minimal — such as construction or manufacturing projects (Schwaber & Beedle, 2020). Conversely, Agile emphasizes iterative development, flexibility, stakeholder collaboration, and adaptability to change, making it suitable for projects with evolving requirements—such as software development or innovative product launches (Highsmith, 2002). Selecting between these methodologies depends heavily on project scope, complexity, and stakeholder involvement.

Project 1: Software Development Project

For the first project—a custom software development initiative—the core requirements include flexibility for ongoing client feedback, evolving features, and incremental delivery. Given these factors, Agile methodology is appropriate due to its capacity to accommodate change and promote continuous stakeholder engagement (Conforto et al., 2016). Agile’s iterative cycles enable the team to adapt to feedback, reassess priorities, and improve the product progressively, aligning with the dynamic nature typical of software projects.

Project 2: Construction of Office Building

The second project involves constructing a new office building within a fixed timeline and budget. The scope of work is well-defined, with clear design specifications and regulatory compliance requirements. Consequently, the Waterfall approach is more suitable here, as the linear model facilitates thorough planning, documentation, and sequential execution—critical for managing complex physical construction processes effectively (PMI, 2017).

Designing a Simplified Project Plan

After selecting methodologies for these projects, the task is to create a simplified project plan for a brainstormed project—such as organizing a community charity event. This plan will clearly specify the intended methodology—either Agile or Waterfall. For this project, I opt for the Waterfall approach due to its clarity and structure, ideal for planning event logistics, resource management, and scheduling.

The simplified plan includes stages such as initial planning, resource allocation, marketing, stakeholder coordination, event execution, and post-event evaluation. Each phase is broken down into tasks with estimated durations and assigned responsibilities. Creating this plan in a spreadsheet allows for easy visualization and updates, aligning with best practices for project documentation (PMBOK, 2021).

Conclusion

Methodology selection is a pivotal decision in project management, influencing planning, execution, and success rates. By analyzing project characteristics and requirements, managers can choose Agile for flexible, iterative projects like software development, or Waterfall for structured, linear projects such as construction. Developing a simplified project plan further solidifies understanding by translating theoretical principles into practical tools for managing real-world projects effectively.

References

• Conforto, E. C., Salum, F., Amaral, D. C., da Silva, S. L., & de Almeida, L. F. M. (2016). Can Agile project management be adopted organization-wide? Evidence from software projects. Journal of Systems and Software, 122, 87-104.
• Highsmith, J. (2002). Agile Software Development Ecosystems. Addison-Wesley.
• Project Management Institute (PMI). (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). PMI.
• Schwaber, K., & Beedle, M. (2020). Agile Estimating and Planning. Prentice Hall.
• Schwaber, K. (2017). The Scrum Guide. The Definitive Guide to Scrum: The Rules of the Game.
• Wysocki, R. K. (2014). Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme. John Wiley & Sons.
• Leffingwell, D. (2020). SAFe 5.0 Distilled: The Executive Guide to Lean, Agile, and DevOps. Addison-Wesley.
• Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
• Arteaga, E. (2012). Agile project management: Methods and practices. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 5(4), 712-718.
• Gido, J., & Clements, J. P. (2016). Successful Project Management. Cengage Learning.