Introduction
A project plan is indispensable as a document that governs the development of a project. The process of developing a project plan ensures that all critical issues relating to the success of the project receive attention early in the project.
In this sense, any activity that has definite goal, fixed resources, and a time constraint fits within the definition of a project. This plan sets out the essential issues surrounding the taking of the project management unit. The unit qualifies as a project because there are constraints on it similar to any project.
Project Rationale
The choice of this unit came from the desire to learn about project management. Project management is an essential component of any job today. The skills are invaluable for any employee. Learning about project management improves the marketability of any student.
The strategic objectives that led to the choice of the project included the following. First, it will lead to a clear advantage when looking for work opportunities because of the demand for project management skills.
Secondly, regardless of work and employment, learning about project management gives a student the ability to plan projects of any nature. This may include remodeling a home, opening a business, or organizing an event. Thirdly, the unit is a prerequisite for graduation. This means that completing it is a necessary step towards graduation from college.
The mission underlying the project is to participate as a leaner in the project management unit to gather the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to perform the roles of a project manager.
There are no clear alternatives to the project management unit within the college. However, there are options available for taking project management courses in other institutions. It is also possible to participate in certification programs in project management based on experience gained in projects.
Scope Statement
The scope of this project includes the following deliverables:
- Attending classes.
- Taking continuous assessment tests.
- Carrying out assignments.
- Participation in group discussions and seminars.
- Sitting for a final exam.
The University requires students to attend at least two thirds of all classes to pass the unit. It is better to attend all the classes because this has an impact on the final scores, and mastery of the subject. Continuous assessment tests provide feedback relating to comprehension of the subject to both the learner and the tutor. Assignments form part of continuous assessments.
However, they cover specific issued related to the course. Participation in group discussion and seminars will contribute towards better comprehension of the unit. Finally, sitting for the final exam provides a means of grading.
The time needed to complete the unit is the semester. The institution is responsible for determining the time each unit will take. The university offers the project management unit within a semester. Therefore, by the end of one semester, the project will be complete.
The budget for the unit is part of the semester’s fees. The university makes statutory charges per student and thereafter, a student pays for each unit taken. The cost related to the project is the fees paid to take the unit. The statutory fees do not change with the number of units taken. This cost is a prerequisite to paying for the project management unit.
The project specifications for the unit come from the course outline. The issues covered are as follows:
- Development of a project rationale.
- Learning to develop a scope statement.
- Identification of project constraints.
- How to carry out a stakeholder analysis.
- Developing a project work breakdown structure.
- Identification of project milestones.
The main assumption relating to this project is that there will be no disruption to the academic calendar. The second assumption is that the grades from the continuous assessment tests and the final exams will be high enough to guarantee successful completion of the course.
The required standard for this is attaining at least forty percent of the overall marks to pass the unit. However, the actual target is much higher. This unit will contribute towards the grades used for classification before graduation. A favorable classification requires higher grades of at least seventy percent.
Project Constraints
Project constraints refer to the issues that limit the operations of the project . The main constraints in this project include time, availability of discussion group partners, and budgetary constraints.
Time is usually the most significant constraint affecting the development of any project . In order to deliver the best results, it is important to spend as much time as possible in the activities of the project.
This is not possible for two reasons. First, the project must end on a fixed date. There is no way of revising this time to add time to the project. Secondly, there are competing interests vying for attention. The project management unit is just one of the units for the semester.
The second constraint is the availability of people to participate as members of an academic group. Teams form the best workgroups for projects because of the ability to solve problems faster than individuals . The same time constraint also affects the potential discussion group members. This means that the number of meetings will be few.
The final project constraint is budgetary in nature . The costs associated with taking the course are not the problem. No payment to the university is outstanding. However, buying books, attending project management seminars and gaining access to project management resources online are all dependent in the availability of the finances. In this sense, finances will be a constraint to the project.
Stakeholder Analysis
Project stakeholders refer to people who can have an impact on the execution of the project. They also include people who may suffer or benefit from the implementation of the project . In this project, the main stakeholders are the project sponsors, lecturers, classmates, academic advisors, and the department in general. The following table elaborates on relationship between the project and the stakeholders.
Table 1: Stakeholder management plan.
Project Work Breakdown Structure
Table 2: Work Breakdown Structure.
Project Milestones
The milestones indentified in this project are as follows:
- Formation of Discussion groups
This is a key component of learning. Successful formation of the discussion group will be a key step in ensuring participation in a group activity. - Sitting for continuous assessment tests
The tests contribute towards the final exams. - Handing in take home assignments
These will be vital to attaining the objectives of the project because of the exposure to project management issues and their contribution towards the final mar. - Sitting for final exams
This is the final step in the active life of the project.
Reference List
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Holmes, D. (2005). Communication Theory: Media, Technology, and Society. London, UK: SAGE.
Jeyarathmm, M. (2008). Strategic Management. Mumbai, India: Global Media.
Kerzner, H. (2009). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling (10 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
Klastorin, T. (2003). Project Management: Tools and Trade-offs. New York: Wiley.
Lewis, J. P. (2006). The Project Managers Desk Reference. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional.
Peacock, L. (2012). Thousands of Jobs could be Created at Former Pfizer Site in Kent. Web.
Project Management Institute. (2003). A Guide To The Project Management Body Of Knowledge. San Diego: Project Management Institute.
Stackpole, C. (2010). A Users Manual to the PMBOK Guide. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
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