GRADER: Jim Joiner

COURSE LINKS: OPRE 6362 Project Management

MAS 6301 Special Topics: Management

October 11, 2002

Memorandum

To;PM Student

From:Jim Joiner

Subject:Need for information on our processes

I have been asked a lot of questions about how we make certain determinations about our projects. Our leaders want to know if our selection criteria are sufficient for our business needs; if our projects generally tie to our company strategy; if we do sufficient scope planning/documentation; how good are our decision processes. I need you to pick one of your current projects and document the following for me.

  1. What financial techniques do we use to justify the financial soundness of our projects? What would you recommend?
  2. Describe our selection process. In your opinion is it adequate for our needs.
  3. How objective is our decision-making processes? How can we improve them?

4.Research and prepare a report on how project scope is being managed within your company/organization. The report should:

A) Include a description of the current practices of your company/organization in managing project scope.

B) Include an assessment of how effective these current practices are, an assessment what the areas for improvement are, and propose solutions for addressing the areas/practices that need improvement. Your assessments will need to be based on interviewing colleagues, project managers, and other appropriate people in your company/organization. In addition to interviews, you can also perform a survey to collect data for this assessment. Your report needs to includes at least the following:

B1) Briefly describe the approach/methodology used for the assessment. Attach survey forms, if they were used.

B2) List the top 5 findings on project scope management practices that are working well.

B3) List the bottom 3 findings on project scope management practices that are not working well.

B4) At least one recommendation for improving each finding listed I n item 3 above.

5. Identify a project from your work environment and prepare the following:

A) A half-page overview/description of the project.

B) Project objective statement.

C) A list of IS/Is NOT (Inclusions and Exclusions).

D) A list of key milestones.

E) A WBS.

  1. Are we involving our people in our process or are our managers making too many decisions without adequate input from others. Describe how decisions are made.
  2. Finally, are we adequately addressing quality in our Scope planning/development? A simple answer will suffice for now but I’m sure I will be asking for details later.

Thank you for your willingness to undertake this project. I can assure you your efforts will not be forgotten when performance review time rolls around.

I will need this not later than close of business on November 7, 2002

Jim

972 883-2652