Project ManagementJames M. Conrad, ECEOutline• Introduction – Motivation• The Importance of Project Management• Basic Skills of Project Management• Exercise• Recap and DiscussionProject (from Wikipedia)A project is a temporary and one-time endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service. This property of being a temporary and a one-time undertaking contrasts with processes, or operations, which are permanent or semi-permanent ongoing functional work to create the same product or service over-and-over again.Project Management (from Wikipedia)Project management is the:• discipline of organizing and managing resources • in such a way that these resources deliver all the workrequired to complete a project • within defined scope, time, and cost constraints. The first challenge of project management is ensuring that a project is delivered within the defined constraints.The Importance of Project Management• Many engineers are now either faced with management responsibilities at their current positions, or promoted to higher positions• They need to have PM skills to manage various aspects of a project-driven technological organization combining engineering problems, human factors, and financial issues and to work in a cross-functional team• Consequently, to be successful in this work environment, it is crucial for engineers to have some level of PM knowledge and experience BEFORE they join the workforceSenior Design Students’ Knowledge of PM• The overall performance of the students in meeting expectations is rated between “moderate” and “good,” but closer to “moderate”• Their project planning abilities (setting clear goals, tasks, schedules, budget, and resources) are also rated in this category• Socio-cultural skills such as leadership and problem solving are additional candidates for improvement• Students are not able to foresee risks and prepare contingency plans accordingly since these skills are rated between “poor” and “moderate”Project Management Body of Knowledge• The Project Management Institute, the professional organization for project mangers, has identified a "Body of Knowledge" useful for managing small and large projects• Although this body of knowledge and certification is valuable in industry, it is too extensive to cover completely in a university curriculum centered on technical skillsProcess Groups & Links Between GroupsPMI has identified five groups of processes that incorporate one or more similar processes:• Initiating - authorizing/starting the project.• Planning - defining and refining objectives and courses of actions, and creating a project plan.• Executing - carrying out project plan.• Controlling - monitoring progress to ensure project objectives are met.• Closing - bringing the project to an orderly end.Basics of Project ManagementStudents should understand: • Work Breakdown Structure Identification based on the requirements of the project– What are all of the tasks that you think need to happen• Project Planning – Identify who does these tasks and how long they will take• Project Execution– Then make sure you follow the plan!• Watch out for changing requirements!– How do you handle these?Sample Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)0Projects reports10101010A, B, C, D40Weekly group project meetings20A20Monitor Project0.50.5A, B, Mentor, Sponsor2Review mitigation plan11A, B2Develop mitigation plan1111All6Identify Risks0Modify Project Plan0Review Project Plan0Create MS Project File0Modify WBS & Estimates0Review WBS0Develop WBS and schedulePM171718.538.591Total HoursDCBAResponsiblehrsTaskWBS1. Try to identify as many individual tasks that need to be done for the entire project. Can be done in a brainstorming session2. Estimate the time needed for each task3. Group tasks by “precedence” – similar task that may depend on each other4. Assign this work to someoneHint for project: Use the spreadsheet to help organizeTraditional GANTT Chart - WaterfallThe important thing to remember about traditional Project Management is that plans are made, then the project conforms to the plan.You can change the plan!Task 1Task 2Task 3Task 4Task 5Take the WBS, identify precedence of tasksSimple Exercise – Plan the SoutheastCon trip• WBS: Identify the tasks that need to happen.• Who does these tasks, how long do they take?• Rough GAANT chart – Now until March 25WebsterRisk n. 1. The chance of injury, damage, or loss: dangerous chance; hazard 2. Insurance a) chance of loss b) degree probability of loss c) amount of possible loss d) person or thing with reference to risk of insuring it vt. 1. To expose to the chance of injury, damage, or loss: hazard 2. To incur the risk of ….Webster’s New World Dictionary, Second College EditionPMIProject Risk Management includes the processes concerned with conducting risk management planning, identification, analysis, responses, and monitoring and control on a project . . . . the objectives are to increase the probability and impact of positive events and decrease the probability and impact of events adverse to the project,A Guide to the PMBOK® Third Edition, page 237Important Characteristics of Risks• Probability: 3 = likely, 2=possible, 1=unlikely– Will this risk event happen• Impact: 3=show-stopper, 2=medium, 1=low– If this risk does occur, how bad will it affect you?• Ease of Mitigation: 3=costly, 2=medium, 1=low or none– Is it easy to fix or PREVENTYour goal is risk avoidance – identify the potential risks and address them BEFORE they occur.Identify them using exercises like brainstorming.Brainstorm: What could go wrong with the SoutheastCon trip?Demonstration – Risk Assessment and MitigationDemonstration – Risk Assessment and MitigationImpact Analysis Report & Checklist for Requirements ChangesChange Request ID: ______________Title: ___________________________________________________________Description: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Prepared by/date: __________________________Prioritization Relative Benefit:(1-9)Estimates: Relative Penalty:(1-9)Relative Cost:(1-9)Relative Risk:(1-9)Calculated Priority: (relative to other pending requirements)Estimated total effort: ___________ labor hoursEstimated lost effort: ___________ labor hours (from discarded work)Estimated schedule impact: ___________ daysAdditional cost
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