Homework #2

Bharat Darsi IE 6840 PM Week 2 Assignment GY2876

Read Case Study: Project Overrun PMCS, pg. 249

• Write a brief synopsis.

The case study presented is the best illustration of customer misrepresentation of the

company's reality, and no clear contact between the company's top management and

internal departments. The green project was supposed to be completed three months earlier

but a 60 percent overrun was observed in the production period which resulted in huge cost

losses. Phil, the project manager for both the functional manager and the project manager,

set up a meeting to address the problems that were found and to prevent potential mistakes

and slags in this project. The project manager told Phil that during the negotiation of the

initial contract there was no specified delivery timeline set by green so the customers were

not aware of when the new production plan would get ready. Just 3000 units per month

were produced on the basis of the regular schedule and the new production plant was 2

months ahead of the schedule, so customers insisted on increasing the production process.

Because of this demand from the customers , the company began production overtime

which irritated the manufacturing employees. Since the Green company was not provided

with adequate OSHA and EPA guidance until the test phases of the new plant, this resulted

in the re-manufacture of 6000 units that were not in compliance with the specifications

given, and it took another six months to complete. The project manager was not bound to

pay anything for this issue, but the firm had to incur tremendous fines for it. Therefore, the

paychecks of the workers for working overtime were cancelled, leading to usable workers

disappointed. It was, therefore, actually the company's error, which did not take into

account the rules and guidelines laid down by OSHA and EPA, and the company

acknowledged the date of delivery not stated in the contract, and no proper documentation

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was done. In conclusion, the head of the company would have read the terms and conditions

right, and continued with the project.

• Whose responsibility is it to review the terms and conditions of the contract, as well
as the statement of work?

It is the duty of the Project Manager to review the contract terms and conditions, as well

as the statement of operation.

• How important are OSHA and EPA requirements?

The standards and specifications set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) must be followed by all existing

businesses and organisations. Such rules and guidelines are developed in order to create a

safer working atmosphere for all workers employed in a organization and to ensure health.

To be precise, EPA takes care of the aspects of health and the climate within a company.

• Are there detrimental effects to working people on overtime?

Overtime job has both physical and emotional implications for the workers. Overtime work

for a longer duration can lead to exhaustion and serious health problems. Excess exhaustion

at work will reduce the employee's efficiency and quality of work. So sometimes working

overtime is great, but if done in excess, it can lead to above-mentioned problems that are

not good for the growth of the business.

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Read “Project Management Enables Consulting Consistency”, George Lowden, PM Network,

Oct 2002, p 16

• Write a brief synopsis, highlighting the major points.

The article in question addresses how consultancy business has made project management

an important part of this.

The author of this article highlights the significance, skills and addresses the relevant

processes of project management that he has encountered through his past consulting

industry work experience. It is apparent that consultancy industry focuses on project

management by clearly identifying the problem, evaluating the issue, finding rational

solutions and making intelligent decisions. To be successful a project manager must have

planning, leadership, budget, and communication skills.

The most critical moves are:-

1. Winning the job: – The project manager will catch the new projects with the aid

of his professional experience and skills. By successfully completing the project ,

the project manager must consult its clients by better knowing their requirements

and listening to their needs.

2. Project Management: – The project manager and his staff are primarily

responsible for running the project in a great manner. All required stages of project

management must be followed, and the project should be completed on time. The

crucial aspect of project monitoring is keeping an eye on project progress and

recording it. No slags and bugs, the project must go forward. All the appropriate

steps must be taken to prevent any significant issues and problems that might occur

during the project.

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Read “Should You Be Given A Project End Date?”, Neal Whitten, PM Network, Feb 2003, p 22

• Write a brief synopsis, highlighting the major points.

The article addresses whether or not the programs will have an end date. Therefore, this

situation is the same as two sides of a coin, but keeping in mind more the positive aspect.

Targets and deadlines are typically set in every organization to allow their workers work

effectively and complete tasks completed on time. The method of setting deadlines keeps

the staff on their feet, and creatively helps them think.

There will be cases where deadlines are not being met and the project is not being finished

on schedule, but the workers will still be doing their best job. Setting deadlines for a project

is a good idea, but it should be practical. The duties of project managers are all things

related to project deadlines. Therefore, in order to achieve the results, there is a need for

right attitude and guidance.

Read “The Power of the Program”, Greg Seigle, PM Network, Feb 2004, pp 29-34

• Write a brief synopsis, highlighting the major points.

The above article explains how each person is directly or indirectly connected to the

techniques of project management, and how they perform the role of project manager in

their respective field of interest. The examples considered here are from the different fields

of operation, and among them, they have no common thing. Yet, the way they do their job

is just like program management. Continued learning, fulfilling the promises made, seeking

solutions to the challenges and evaluating the product strengths are the steps taken to

effectively run the project. It's not always accurate, though, that all business strategies and

plans work for each person or firm. Hence, maintaining good contact with clients, fully

understanding their expectations, constantly learning from their past mistakes, and

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delivering the job as planned are some of the positive ethics of a successful project manager

and a successful business.

Read “A Measure of Success”, Malcolm Wheatley, PM Network, Jun 2004, pp 39-44

• Write a brief synopsis, highlighting the major points.

The following article addresses the merits of performance-based budgeting (PBB) and its

de-merits. PBB was successfully used in the public sector to reduce project costs and

control project portfolios. The expected benefits of the project are defined with strict rules,

no matter how the benefits are delivered.

The article includes examples of where PBB approach has been used, including, New

Zealand 's 1989 public finance act, Labor Party initiative in Great Britain, and Florida's

public school system. In the case of New Zealand, after implementation of PBB, a dramatic

change in the economy of the country came about. In the case of Florida, mixed evaluations

were conducted about PBB, the basic skillset improved, test scores increased reducing its

significance and decreased emphasis on subjects, and new opportunities decreased.

PBB performs well when calculating results but not so well when results are not calculated.

In the latter case, we need to develop the methods of gathering data and remove any flaws.

We may therefore conclude that, when implemented in the public sector, PBB had mixed

feedback, but delivered good results when implemented in the private sector. So, there's a

long-term outcomes question about PBB.

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Read “Share the Vision”, Sarah, Fister Gale, PM Network, Dec 2007, p 30-38

• Write a brief synopsis, highlighting the major points.

In this essay, we speak to a project manager about the value of organizational approaches

and project priorities within a project. A company's business priorities as well as project

targets will be on the same line. The project manager's primary emphasis will be on

schedules, cost saving and deliverables. Yet, the company's key goals should not be ignored.

Melvar, a construction firm, focuses mainly on green building construction which is its

main strategy. This company's corporate goals as well as strategic priorities go hand in

hand and its staff fully understand those priorities.

The participation of project managers in each project meeting and the exchange of their

views will have a direct effect on their mindsets, which in turn helps to establish a

constructive approach. Considering the example of an England-based business Watson

Wyatt, PMO board takes all decisions in this venture. For its project the PMO board has

put forward eight approaches that go hand-in - hand with its project strategy. Project

managers are encouraged to prioritize their tasks, properly distribute resources and

maintain a good relationship with their customers. Even at IBM, we experience this sort of

strategic and business priorities that are of great significance to the company.

Therefore the corporate priorities and goals of the corporation need to be incorporated and

imbibed in the workers so that the aims of the project are faithfully achieved.

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What are the causes of scope creep and what countermeasures can be employed to
minimize the occurrence?

The main causes and the countermeasures are as follows,

• No communication between project team and customer: – The development of proper

communication between project team and customer can minimize this.

• Undefined scope of project: – This can be rectified by specifying the scope of the project.

• No awareness of the business and customer objectives: – This can be minimized by raising

awareness of business and customer objectives.

• No proper project statistical analysis: – This can be rectified by doing the correct project

statistical analysis.

• Avoiding changes in design in the middle of the project: – This can be avoided by making

improvements in the design with a positive attitude.

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