Project Management

RUBRIC ( Need to be followed )

Critical Thinking Skills/Original Thoughts 25%	Student applies relevant, professional, personal, or other real-world experiences in a manner that is rich in thought and provides valuable insight into the topic.	Student applies relevant professional, personal, or other real-world experiences to the discussion. Thought and analysis are present, but may lack depth or detail.	Student discusses professional, personal, or other real-world experiences, although these experiences may not be wholly relevant to the discussion topic. Student’s post demonstrates an incomplete analysis of the topic.	Student poorly applies professional, personal, or other real-world experiences to the topic. Student’s initial post is weak and lacks analysis of the discussion topic, and may miss the point of the discussion topic entirely.	Student demonstrates no critical thinking or original thoughts in initial post. Initial post is either non-existent, or severely limited.

Content/Subject Knowledge. 25%	Student thoroughly addresses all elements of the discussion prompt, and demonstrates an advanced knowledge of the topic. Student makes strong and precise connections to previous and/or current course content, or to real-life situations, in initial post.	Student addresses all elements of the discussion prompt, and demonstrates Distinguished knowledge of the discussion topic. Student relates content in initial post to course content, or to real-life situations, though the connection may lack depth.	Student addresses most of the elements of the discussion prompt, and demonstrates a basic knowledge of the discussion topic. Student may not relate the content in initial post to course content, or to real-life situations.	Student fails to address a majority of the elements in the discussion prompt, and does not demonstrate basic knowledge of the topic. The student does not clearly relate the topic of the discussion to any course content, or to real-life situations.	Student demonstrates no content/subject knowledge in initial post. Initial post is either non-existent, or severely limited.

Participation 20%	Student responds with thorough and constructive analysis to the required number of peers, relating the response to relevant course concepts. Student may pose pertinent follow-up thoughts or questions about the topic, and demonstrates respect for the diverse opinions of fellow learners. Student properly cites resources (if applicable), per instructor expectations.	Student responds substantively to the required number of peers, relating the response to relevant course concepts. Student demonstrates respect for the diverse opinions of fellow learners. Student properly cites resources (if applicable), per instructor expectations.	Student responds to the required number of peers. Peer responses lack adequate analysis, offering a superficial reaction to the peer’s initial post. Student demonstrates respect for the diverse opinions of fellow learners. Student cites resources (if applicable), per instructor expectations.	Student responds to fewer than the required number of peers, and/or, student’s peer responses are brief and lack substance. Student may fail to demonstrate respect for the diverse opinions of fellow learners.	Student did not respond to any peers

Coherence & Organization 20%	Student effectively communicates a central idea or point that is weaved throughout the entirety of the post, in a coherent and logical manner. Post is easy to understand.	Student communicates a central idea or point that is weaved through most of the post in a coherent manner. Post is, for the most part, easy to understand.	Student communicates a main idea or point in the post, but may incorporate other unrelated topics, as well. Coherence and organization are somewhat visible in the post.	Student communicates several unconnected ideas or points in the discussion response, with no apparent pattern or coherence.	Student does not display any sense of organization or coherence. Initial post is either non-existent, or lacks any expression of ideas or points.

Mechanics 10%	Initial post contains very few, if any, minor errors related to grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Post is easy to read and understand. Student properly cites resources (if applicable), per instructor expectations.	Initial post contains several minor errors related to grammar, spelling, and sentence structure, but they do not distract the reader from the content of the post. Student properly cites resources (if applicable), per instructor expectations.	Initial post contains errors related to grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. The errors do not distract the reader from the content of the post. Student cites resources (if applicable), per instructor expectations.	Initial post contains major errors related to grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and citations, which may distract the reader from the content of the post.	Initial post is either non-existent, or contains so many errors related to grammar, spelling, and sentence structure, that it cannot be read or understood.

Week 2 DQ 1

Uncontrolled scope creep can weaken or prevent a project from reaching a successful conclusion. Tell us about a project you have been a part of or read about that suffered from scope creep. How could an effective change management system have prevented the problem?

Your initial post should contain at least 200 words and be supported by at least one professional or academic source other than the textbook. Use this week’s lecture as a basis for your post. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. Your replies should be between 100 to 150 words in length and add depth and/or insight to the discussion.

DQ2

Students come to this course from many different professional and educational backgrounds. Tell us about your career goals and the role that project management skills may play. Evaluate the possible value of a professional certification such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI) in your career field.

Your initial post should contain at least 200 words and be supported by at least one professional or academic source other than the textbook. Use this week’s lecture as a basis for your post. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. What other areas should they consider? Your replies should be between 100 to 150 words in length.

Week 3

DQ1

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is one of the most valuable and commonly used tools available to the project team. Select one task your department or group is responsible for in your current or a previous job . Alternatively you may select a company you are familiar with or desire to research. Using the process of decomposition list two subtasks. Further decompose one subtask into two work packages. As a final step provide two levels of effort for one of the work packages.

Present your WBS in a simple indented format. Discuss how you might use a WBS in other aspects of your job responsibilities, at home, or elsewhere.

Your initial post should contain at least 200 words and be supported by at least one professional or academic source other than the textbook. Use this week’s lecture as a basis for your post. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. Your replies should be between 100 and 150 words in length and add depth and/or insight to the discussion.

DQ 2

A project manager has the responsibility to develop team members’ skills and expertise. Read the Forbes article “4 Ways to Help Your Team Adapt to Change” by Jeff Boss. Which of these suggestions have you seen used in your organization? Which one do you think would be most beneficial to introduce to your current work group, and why?

Your initial post should contain at least 200 words and be supported by at least one professional or academic source other than the textbook. Use this week’s lecture as a basis for your post. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. Are their approaches logical? Your replies should be between 100 and 150 words in length.

Week 4

DQ1

Risk is present in nearly every human undertaking and projects are no exception. Recall a project that you have participated in and name at least one risk that was recognized before it happened. What, if anything, did you do to mitigate the risk? Was there a risk that emerged that was not seen in advance? What effect did it have on the project? What was a lesson learned from the surprise event?

Your initial post should contain at least 200 words and be supported by at least one professional or academic source other than the textbook. Use this week’s lecture as a basis for your post. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. Are they missing important elements that should be considered? Your replies should be between 100 and 150 words in length.

DQ 2

We can easily look at a project schedule and quickly determine if we are ahead or behind of the plan. We can make a similar inference by examining the project budget and estimate if we have overspent or underspent, but do these two items by themselves tell the full and true story? What ambiguity exists in using these disconnected data points? Earned value management (EVM) integrates schedule and budget to tell us if what we are getting is what we are paying for. A beginning project manager needs to be at least familiar with EVM. Conduct research in the Ashford University Library or on YouTube and provide a citation or link to a short article or video that explains the basics of EVM. Summarize the findings of the article or video. Each class member is expected to supply a unique source.

Your initial post should contain at least 200 words and be supported by at least one professional or academic source other than the textbook. Use this week’s lecture as a basis for your post. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. Your replies should be between 100 and 150 words in length and add depth and/or insight to the discussion.

Week 5

DQ 1

Kick-off meetings are commonly held for many types of events and occurrences; however, they play a critical role in project management. Select a project (real or proposed) that would benefit your current or a past employer. Prepare an agenda for use at the project kick-off meeting that shows the important points you will discuss.

Your PowerPoint presentation will consist of two slides. The first slide will feature bullet points that briefly describe the project and the benefit to the employer. The second slide will feature bullet points that describe the balance of the agenda for the meeting. Each of these slides must contain speaker notes and five to six bullet points. Add a title slide and a reference slide showing at least one source used to prepare your assignment. Attach your agenda to the discussion forum as a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts with comments, suggestions or questions. Your replies should be between 100 and 150 words in length and should share any insights or suggestions you may have on preparing and/or delivering professional presentations.

DQ2

Nearly all projects produce lessons learned, many of which have applications to other current or future projects. While these lessons may be shared at any point during a project, a lessons learned meeting should be held at the end of every project. Using the project from this week’s first discussion, prepare an overview for a final lessons learned meeting that shows the important points you will discuss.

Your presentation will consist of two slides. The first slide will feature bullet points that briefly describe the lessons learned. The second slide will feature bullet points that describe how the lessons may be of use to other current or future projects. Each of these slides must contain speaker notes and 3 to 4 bullet points. Add a title slide and a reference slide showing at least one source used to prepare your assignment. Attach your slides to the discussion forum as a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts with comments, suggestions, or questions. Your replies should be between 100 and 150 words in length and should share any experiences or suggestions for holding the meeting.

WEEK 6

DQ1Project teams may be made up of members who come from a variety of disciplines, professions, and skills. Members may be recruited from a number of internal and external organizations. Project managers must bring together diverse teams to produce the expected business results while maintaining communications and relative harmony. The Jung Myers-Briggs test is often used to identify personality types that make up a team. Armed with this information project team members may have a better idea of how best to approach, work with, and communicate with other members.

If you have previously taken the Myers-Briggs test then you may use that information here. If you have not taken the test before then please take the Jung Typology Test, tell us your four letter Myers-Briggs description, and briefly describe its meaning. Tell us if you believe the result accurately describes you and the potential strengths and weaknesses your personality type has in working in teams and or in relationships. (There are sources that discuss this). Replies should contain at least 200 words and be supported by at least one professional or academic source other than the textbook.

Respond to at least two other classmates with a brief description of how you may best communicate and work with them based on their four letter designation. Your replies should be between 100 and 150 words in length.

DQ 2

A PMO can bring structure to larger and more complex project organizations. Tell us if your current or previous organization has a PMO. Alternatively, you may select an organization you are familiar with or desire to research. If your selected organization does have a PMO, tell us the advantages and disadvantages of your PMO. If your selected organization does not have a PMO, tell us if you would recommend the establishment of a PMO and why or why not.

Your initial post should contain at least 200 words and be supported by at least one professional or academic source other than the textbook. Respond to at least two other classmates. What other advantages or disadvantages might they want to consider? Your replies should be between 100 and 150 words in length.

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