Module 1 – Case
PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS AND FAILURES IN AN ORGANIZATION
Assignment Overview
As mentioned in the Background Material, you will focus on
the success and failure of Dreamliner project at Boeing.
Please read/review the Case Assignment materials specified
in the background readings in preparation for composing your Case Assignment
essay.
Case Assignment
Project managers must learn from past projects or they will
be destined to repeat errors in their current projects. In this case you are to
review the story of the Boeing Dreamliner project. Utilizing the other required
reading, you are to craft a review of the issues encountered in relation to
some of the pitfalls that should be avoided. The case should include the
following:
An overview explaining the Boeing Dreamliner project.
Detail the types of problems encountered during the project
and actions taken by Boeing. Tie these problems and actions with some of the
primary PM pitfalls described in your other reading.
What would you recommend Boeing do or not do going forward
in the project to enhance success?
Summarization/Conclusion.
Assignment Expectations
You should try to integrate your responses into a seamless
essay rather than using a question/answer format. You can segregate answers to
the various questions using sub-headings, if you would like. Please present
your response in a 3- to 5-page essay.
A good format for this paper is to use section headings. For
the first section the heading “Introduction” works quite well, of course. You
may want to include brief sub headings for the key topics in the body of your
essay and your final section could simply use “Conclusion” or “Summary and
Conclusion” as a heading. There are variations of this heading usage formatting
approach, of course. The key point here is that headings are very useful for
helping to organize your essay. They can also provide clues for your professor
for finding your answers to specific questions.
Also, please make sure that you include an appropriate cover
page and that you cite and reference your sources.
Include this essay in a Word Document and upload.
Module 1 – SLP
PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS AND FAILURES IN AN ORGANIZATION
As mentioned in the Background Material, you will be
exploring Project Management Maturity Models and the project management
discipline at Honeywell. During the first module of the SLP, you will explore
several versions of the PM maturity model including Kerzner’s Project
Management Maturity Model (PMMM), the PM Solutions Project Management Maturity
Model (which most closely follows the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) by
Software Engineering Institute (SEI) used primarily in software projects), and
the Berkley Project Management Process Maturity (PM)2. Although the models use
different terms, the models follow the same basic steps and levels.
Please read/review the SLP Assignment materials specified in
the background readings in preparation for composing your SLP Assignment.
SLP Assignment Instructions
This assignment will lay the foundation for the remainder of
the session. In this module of the SLP, you will describe the current
environment at Honeywell that supports the need for a project management
maturity model initiative. Honeywell is a leader in aerospace but the
evaluation of their project management maturity rated a Level 1.
In your Case for Module 1, you explored common problems
encountered by organizations with respect to their project management efforts.
You may consider those experiences as you explore Honeywell’s project
management efforts as well. Level 1 of PMMM often is characterized by starts,
stops, and yet to be implemented standards leading to complications in project
implementation efforts. Your job is to explain:
What is a project management maturity model and what value
does it bring?
Which Project Management Maturity Model will you be using
(remember, you will be using this model throughout the remainder of the session
so chose carefully!) What are the other levels, etc.
Why is Honeywell at Level 1?
SLP Assignment Expectations
You should not address these questions one by one but rather
integrate the answers in a 2- to 3-page essay using appropriate headings to
help your professor follow along with your discussion.
Also, please make sure that you include an appropriate cover
page and that you cite and reference your sources.
Include this essay in a Word Document and upload.
Module 2 – Case
THE PROJECT/PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE (PMO)
Assignment Overview
As mentioned in the Background Material, you will focus on
the PMO and project success experienced by A. G. Edwards.
Your primary focus will be on the Project/Program Management
Office (PMO). The PMO maintains the project management intellectual property of
the organization. Likewise, the PMO acts as the conduit for project management
status information to senior management. To perform these two important
functions, the PMO utilizes specially designed systems to coordinate and
correlate data for access by project managers and senior leadership (Cooke
& Tate, 2005, Kerzner, 2005). Project data repositories store the
information generated during the project and allows project managers to access
data such as “lessons learned” when needed. Likewise, this data can be used to
create reporting for senior management.
According to Kerzner (2005), three types of PMO exist.
First, the functional PMO handles project management within a specific
functional area or division. The primary focus of the functional PMO is
resource management. A common functional PMO is the IT department’s PMO where
the personnel can be highly utilized or consist of external contractors.
Second, the customer group project office brings together customer centric
projects to gain synergies and maximize customer experience. The customer group
PMO can exist on a temporary basis. Finally, the corporate PMO handles complex
and cross functional projects needing coordination to reach a strategic
objective or address a corporate wide issue.
The value of the PMO comes at a cost. These costs include
tangible costs and organizational costs (Berkun, 2005; Cooke & Tate, 2005,
Kerzner, 2005). Obviously, the organization must fund the individuals working
in the organization. Likewise, the organization must commit resources for the software
systems to maximize the value. From an organizational perspective, the
resistance to change experienced in the adoption of project management as a
discipline exists when management creates an organization within the
enterprise. Questions of the authority and locus of control worries manager
(Kerzner, 2005). The PMO can overcome these concerns by streamlining processes,
ensuring to maintain senior leadership sponsorship, and building and inclusive
environment.
The PMO is vital for the organization to continue to mature
in the project management discipline. The PMO acts at the guardian of the
corporate project management intellectual property. The different types of PMO
includes the resource management focused functional PMO, the customer centric
PMO, and the strategically minded corporate PMO. Finally, the PMO must be
funded. The PMO must produce results to match the investment to be considered
successful.
Case Assignment
Establishing a PMO can yield great value to an organization.
It can also cause loss if not properly implemented. As demonstrated in the A.
G. Edwards case, a PMO can be reinvented and enhance the project success of the
organization. In this case you are to review the story of the A. G. Edwards
PMO. Utilizing the other required reading, you are to craft a review of the
steps taken and the value realized. The case should include the following.
An overview explaining the Project Management Office, its
functions and values.
Detail the steps taken by A. G. Edwards and the results
realized.
Please discuss why establishing a PMO is important for
ensuring successful project management efforts in an organization.
Assignment Expectations
You should try to integrate your responses into a seamless
essay rather than using a question/answer format. You can segregate answers to
the various questions using sub-headings, if you would like. Please present
your response in a 3- to 5-page essay.
A good format for this paper is to use section headings. For
the first section the heading “Introduction” works quite well, of course. You
may want to include brief sub headings for the key topics in the body of your
essay and your final section could simply use “Conclusion” or “Summary and
Conclusion” as a heading. There are variations of this heading usage formatting
approach, of course. The key point here is that headings are very useful for
helping to organize your essay. They can also provide clues for your professor
for finding your answers to specific questions.
Also, please make sure that you include an appropriate cover
page and that you cite and reference your sources.
Include this essay in a Word Document and upload.
Module 2 – SLP
THE PROJECT/PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE (PMO)
As mentioned in the Background Materials, you will be
exploring Project Management Maturity Models and the project management
discipline at Honeywell.
SLP – Session Long Project
In the SLP for Module 1, you selected a Project Management
Maturity Model to use throughout the remainder of the session. In SLP 2, you
will discuss the Honeywell situation further by describing what must be done to
move Honeywell from Level 1 to Level 2. In your case for Module 2, you explored
the concept of the Project/Program Management Office or PMO. Level 2 of PMMM
often is characterized by the establishment of project management
infrastructure such as the PMO. Consider the concepts you reviewed in the Case
and how they apply to Level 2 and what you would suggest to Honeywell.
Please read/review the SLP assignment related materials
specified in the background readings in preparation for composing your SLP
Assignment.
SLP Assignment Instructions
This assignment will help to set the stage for discussing
how organizations continue to enhance the sophistication of their project
management related endeavors. In this assignment your key focus will be to
explain the steps necessary for Honeywell to move from Level 1 to Level 2 on
the PMMM Model of your choice. In your case for Module 2, you explored the
concept of the Project/Program Management Office or PMO.
Level 2 of PMMM often is characterized by the establishment
of project management infrastructure such as the PMO. Consider the concepts you
reviewed in the Case and how they apply to Level 2 and what you would suggest
to Honeywell. Your job is to explain:
What makes an organization’s project management maturity
level reach Level-2? What infrastructures, behaviors, measurements, and
practices would you expect to see?
What specifically would you tell the management of Honeywell
is needed to reach Level-2?
SLP Assignment Expectations
You should not address these questions one by one but rather
integrate the answers in a 2- to 3-page essay using appropriate headings to
help your professor follow along with your discussion.
Also, please make sure that you include an appropriate cover
page and that you cite and reference your sources.
Include this essay in a Word Document and upload.
Module 3 – Case
AGILE/SCRUM
Assignment Overview
As mentioned in the Background Material, you will focus on
the project methodology called Agile and Scrum. You will take this knowledge
and apply it to the success found at Primavera.
In Module 3, we explore Agile and Scrum as it relates to
project management and the case of Primavera. Agile and Scrum utilizes an
iterative, highly collaborative, people centric methodology with a focus on
delivering incremental value throughout the project lifecycle.
The predominant method for the development of software is
the waterfall method. The waterfall method utilizes a series of sequential steps.
In an attempt to make the waterfall more iterative, practitioners have placed
feedback loops back to the previous phases of the waterfall (see Figure 1).
Waterfall model
Figure 1: Waterfall model
In contrast to the waterfall model, the agile model utilizes
a “time boxed” or fixed time to drive the volume activity. These time-boxed
segments are often called “sprints.” The priority of the requirements is set by
the end user clientele. The development group takes this list of prioritized
requirements and commits to the amount of work that can be done within each
sprint (see Figure 2). The goal of agile is the creation of value as quickly as
possible without losing sight of the big picture.
Time Box
Figure 2: Agile/Scrum Model
Case Assignment
Agile/Scrum project management is a valuable alternative to
the traditional waterfall model. In this Case, you will be reviewing,
summarizing, and commenting upon the similarities and differences among these
models and their applicability to various types of projects. Your Case should
include the following:
Provide a brief description of Agile/Scrum and waterfall
models, highlighting their differences. What criticisms have been directed at
each type of model? Be specific.
Describe the differences between Scrum and generic Agile
models.
Describe the types of projects best suited to Agile/Scrum
methodology. Are there any projects that would be better handled using
waterfall methodology? Explain.
Discuss how Agile/Scrum methodology would benefit project
development in an organization in which you have some familiarity. If it would
be of no benefit, or of less benefit than the waterfall model, then explain
why.
Assignment Expectations
You should try to integrate your responses into a seamless
essay rather than using a question/answer format. You can segregate answers to
the various questions using sub-headings, if you would like. Please present
your response in a 3- to 5-page essay.
A good format for this paper is to use section headings. For
the first section the heading “Introduction” works quite well, of course. You
may want to include brief sub headings for the key topics in the body of your
essay and your final section could simply use “Conclusion” or “Summary and
Conclusion” as a heading. There are variations of this heading usage formatting
approach, of course. The key point here is that headings are very useful for
helping to organize your essay. They can also provide clues for your professor
for finding your answers to specific questions.
Also, please make sure that you include an appropriate cover
page and that you cite and reference your sources.
Include this essay in a Word Document and upload.
Module 3 – SLP
AGILE/SCRUM
As mentioned in the Background Material, you will be
exploring Project Management Maturity Models and the project management
discipline at Honeywell.
SLP – Session Long Project
In the SLP 1, you selected a Project Management Maturity
Model to use throughout the remainder of the session. In this SLP, you will
discuss the Honeywell situation further by describing what must be done to move
Honeywell from Level 2 to Level 3 and 4. Please note, the readings are repeated
in the background materials for convenience. There are not additional readings.
You are encouraged to research further information on Honeywell and PMMM to further
enhance your presentation.
SLP Assignment Instructions
This assignment will lay the foundation for the remainder of
the session. In this module of the SLP, you will build a paper that will
explain how Honeywell can move from Level 2 to Level 3 and then on to Level 4
on the PMMM Model of your choice. In your case for Module 3, you explored
Agile/Scrum. Consider the concepts of Agile/Scrum as potential methodologies
when crafting your SLP submission. Your job is to explain:
What makes an organization’s project management maturity
level reach Level 3 and Level 4? What infrastructures, behaviors, measurements,
and practices would you expect to see?
What specifically would you tell the management of Honeywell
is needed to reach Level 3 and Level 4?
SLP Assignment Expectations
You should not address these questions one by one but rather
integrate the answers in a 3- to 4-page essay using appropriate headings to
help your professor follow along with your discussion.
Also, please make sure that you include an appropriate cover
page and that you cite and reference your sources.
Include this essay in a Word Document and upload.
Module 4 – Case
SIX SIGMA AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Assignment Overview
In this module, you will explore Six Sigma as it relates to
project management. Six Sigma utilizes a five step process of define, measure,
analyze, improve, and control (Pande, Neuman & Cavanagh, 2002). We will
give an overview of these elements and the Six Sigma mystique.
The first step, of course, is to define customer needs. At
this time, the processes are also evaluated to locate difficulties in the
process. Once identified, the next step is the measurement step. This step
entails the collection of information regarding customer needs and process
issues at various points throughout the process. With the data collected, the
‘analyze’ step begins. With the data from the second step, the analyst will
evaluate the problem to determine an improvement standard using statistical
analysis. Once the standard is determined, the third step is to improve the
process by creating action plans and taking action. The final step is the
control step. This step leverages data to maintain the gains from step four. By
using statistics to determine the value is continuing to be realized, the
change will freeze and the value sustained.
So what does Six Sigma have to do with project management?
The project manager can use Six Sigma in making decisions in each phase of the
project. Likewise, the PMO can use Six Sigma techniques to measure and monitor
successes in the project management practices across the enterprise. This
module will give you the opportunity to explore these opportunities in both the
Case and SLP.
Case Assignment
Six Sigma has gained popularity in industry. By reviewing
the experience at Red Cross Hospital, the value of Six Sigma can clearly be
seen. In this case you are to review the story of the Red Cross Hospital in the
Netherlands. Utilizing the other required reading, you are to craft a review of
the steps taken and the value realized. The case should include the following:
A brief discussion of Six Sigma.
A brief discussion of the issues at Red Cross Hospital.
An explanation of how Six Sigma created value at Red Cross
Hospital.
How does the value realized at Red Cross Hospital translate
to your organization or an organization with which you have some familiarity?
Assignment Expectations
You should try to integrate your responses into a seamless
essay rather than using a question/answer format. You can segregate answers to
the various questions using sub-headings, if you would like. Please present
your response in a 3- to 5-page essay.
A good format for this paper is to use section headings. For
the first section the heading “Introduction” works quite well, of course. You
may want to include brief sub headings for the key topics in the body of your
essay and your final section could simply use “Conclusion” or “Summary and
Conclusion” as a heading. There are variations of this heading usage formatting
approach, of course. The key point here is that headings are very useful for
helping to organize your essay. They can also provide clues for your professor
for finding your answers to specific questions.
Also, please make sure that you include an appropriate cover
page and that you cite and reference your sources.
Include this essay in a Word Document and upload.
Module 4 – SLP
SIX SIGMA AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
As mentioned in the Background Material, you will be
exploring Project Management Maturity Models and the project management
discipline at Honeywell.
SLP – Session Long Project
In the SLP 1, you selected a Project Management Maturity
Model to use throughout the remainder of the session. In this SLP, you will
discuss the Honeywell situation further by describing what must be done to move
Honeywell from Level 4 to Level 5, the highest level of sophistication with
respect to the PMMM. Please note, the readings are repeated in the background
materials for convenience. There are not additional readings. You are
encouraged to research further information on Honeywell and PMMM to further
enhance your presentation.
SLP Assignment Instructions
In this module of the SLP, you will write a paper that
explains how Honeywell can move from Level 4 to Level 5 on the PMMM Model of
your choice. In your Case for Module 4, you explored Six Sigma. Consider Six
Sigma when crafting your SLP submission. Your job is to explain:
What makes an organization’s project management maturity
level reach Level 5? What infrastructures, behaviors, measurements, and
practices would you expect to see?
What specifically would you tell the management of Honeywell
is needed to reach Level 5?
SLP Assignment Expectations
You should not address these questions one by one but rather
integrate your answers into a 2- to 3-page essay using appropriate headings to
help your professor follow along with your discussion.
Also, please make sure that you include an appropriate cover
page and that you cite and reference your sources.
Include this essay in a Word Document and upload.
