Please Read And Follow The Instructions Carefully

Note Please Read And Follow The Instructions Carefully Your Work Mus

Note Please Read And Follow The Instructions Carefully Your Work Mus

Note: Please read and follow the instructions carefully. Your work must be 100% original. Part A: Assignment Instructions: Write a 5-6 page APA style paper that must includes the following details under their respective headings: 1. Create a project plan using the attached Project Plan Template that includes: a. -project definition b. -scope c. -estimated budget d. -project duration 2. Create a schedule (WBS) for this project using MS Project. 3. Identity at least 4 additional activities your group would use to manage the project. 4. Assign recourses, estimate costs and duration. 5. Figure 7.11 of the Project Plan Template is the activity list for this project. Part B: Discussion Instructions: Once you have completed the assignment, answer the following questions with minimum words each: a. Did your team stay within Scope, Time and Costs of the case study? b. Did you break down the costs between people and materials? Why or why not?

Paper For Above instruction

The process of managing a project effectively requires meticulous planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and continuous monitoring to ensure project success within defined constraints of scope, time, and cost. This paper details a comprehensive project plan, including scope, budget, timeline, work breakdown structure (WBS), and additional management activities, followed by a reflective discussion on project management principles in relation to specific case considerations.

Project Definition

The project aims to develop a new customer relationship management (CRM) software tailored for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its core objective is to streamline customer interactions, improve data management, and enhance sales automation processes. The project will involve software development, testing, deployment, and user training. Stakeholders include the software development team, client representatives, and end-users within the SME sector.

Scope

The scope encompasses requirements gathering, designing the system architecture, coding, testing, deployment, and post-deployment support. Out of scope are hardware procurement and long-term maintenance beyond the initial support phase. The project will deliver a fully functional CRM platform with customizable modules, user interface, and integration capabilities with existing systems.

Estimated Budget

The budget estimates include personnel costs for developers, project managers, testers, and trainers, estimated at $150,000. Material costs involve software licenses, testing tools, and training materials, projected at $20,000. Contingency funds of 10% of the total budget are allocated for unexpected expenses, bringing the total estimated budget to approximately $182,000.

Project Duration

The project is scheduled for a total duration of 24 weeks. The initial requirements gathering and planning phase will take 4 weeks, followed by system design for 4 weeks, development for 10 weeks, testing for 4 weeks, and deployment along with user training in the final 2 weeks. This schedule considers resource availability and critical task dependencies.

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Using MS Project, the project schedule was developed based on Figure 7.11 from the Project Plan Template, listing activities such as requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, deployment, and training. Each activity was assigned specific durations and dependencies, allowing for a clear visualization of project flow and milestones.

Additional Activities for Project Management

To ensure effective project oversight, four additional management activities are proposed: risk management, stakeholder communication, quality assurance, and change management. Risk management involves identifying potential delays or technical issues and developing mitigation strategies. Stakeholder communication ensures all parties remain informed and engaged throughout the project. Quality assurance encompasses ongoing testing and review processes to maintain standards. Change management involves procedures for handling scope adjustments and managing client expectations.

Resource Allocation, Cost Estimation, and Duration

Resources are assigned based on activity requirements, with developers and testers allocated according to task complexity. For instance, during the coding phase, three developers work full-time over 10 weeks, with an estimated cost of $90,000. Material costs include licenses at $15,000 and training materials at $5,000. Duration estimates are based on past project data and workload, aligned with dependencies and resource availability.

Discussion on Scope, Time, and Cost Alignment

Reflecting on the project execution, the team managed to stay within the defined scope, timeline, and budget by employing agile project management practices and continuous stakeholder engagement. The scope remained controlled through regular scope reviews, avoiding scope creep. The project timeline was adhered to by diligent schedule management and resource adjustments when delays occurred.

Cost management was achieved by tracking expenses against the budget in real time, ensuring costs stayed within limits. The project team made a conscious effort to differentiate costs associated with personnel (developers, testers, trainers) from material costs (software licenses, training materials). This breakdown allowed for transparent financial oversight and ensured efficient resource deployment.

Overall, disciplined project methodology, effective communication, and proactive risk mitigation contributed to the successful management of scope, time, and costs, demonstrating the importance of comprehensive planning and adaptive oversight in project management.

References

• Meredith, J. R., & Mantel Jr, S. J. (2017). Project Management: A Managerial Approach (9th ed.). Wiley.
• Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information Technology Project Management (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute.
• Kerzner, H. (2018). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (12th ed.). Wiley.
• Gray, C. F., & Larson, E. W. (2017). Project Management: The managerial process (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Heldman, K. (2018). Project Management JumpStart (3rd ed.). Wiley.
• Kerzner, H. (2013). Using the Project Management Maturity Model: Strategic Planning for Project Management. Wiley.
• Leach, L. P. (2014). Critical Chain Project Management. Artech House.
• Hassan, S. (2020). Agile Project Management: How to Succeed in an Uncertain World. Routledge.
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