PROJ6000 Entire Course (PROJ6000 Principles of Project Management)

Course Code: PROJ 6000 Principles of Project Management

PROJ6000 Assessment 1 - Project Management Lifecycle (PML) opinion post and peer response

PROJ6000 Assessment 2 - Group collaboration and individual report: PMBoK versus PRINCE2 or Agile in contemporary projects

PROJ6000 Assessment 3 Project Charter development

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PROJ6000 Entire Course

Assessment 1 - Project Management Lifecycle (PML) 

opinion post and peer response

 

Context: 

The project management lifecycle (PML) is an important component of project management  methodology. It incorporates several areas of knowledge from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) and it affects and interacts with the application of PMBoK in a project. Different stages of the PML may require focussing on different areas of the PMBoK, and project managers need to assess the PML for their project to identify possible risks, plan for resourcing and commence communicating with stakeholders. This assessment requires that you answer the following question: 

“What areas of the PMBoK are affected by the Project Management Lifecycle the most and how do we ensure alignment between the lifecycle of the project and the implementation of PMBoK in projects?”. To answer this question, you will need to:

 

(a) Post a 600 word response to this question, based on your opinion, to the Discussion Forum on the learning portal. 

(b) Respond to one other student post by critiquing their opinion and comparing it with yours in 200 words.

 

The assessment requires that you critically read and interpret both the Project Management Lifecycle and the PMBoK. 

Instructions: 

1. Read about the PMBoK and the Project Management Lifecycle to familiarise yourself  PROJ6000_Assessment 1 Brief_081118.Docx    Page 2 of 5 with their fundamental concepts. Critically reflect on your readings to form an opinion of both. Commence writing your opinion to answer the question and support that opinion by using at least six (6) references from academic or industry literature. Cite these references in your opinion of 600 words both in-text and as a reference list at the end of your opinion piece. The word count does not include the reference list and is +/-10%. 

2. Read one other student’s post. Think about their opinion and try to compare and contrast it to yours. This will allow you to “critique” their view. You can do this by highlighting the things you agree with and those you disagree with in their post. You need to justify and explain your critique of their opinion. Try, where possible, to refer to some of the literature you read or even your own working experiences. You will need to write 200 words in your response. This does not include the reference list and is +/- 10%.

Output and Submission: 

Submit your completed assessment by the end of module 2 (Week 4) on Blackboard.  

 

Assessment 2 - Group collaboration and individual report: PMBoK versus PRINCE2 or Agile in contemporary projects

 

Context:

 

There are several project management methodologies that are used in contemporary  project management. Each has certain specific elements that its proponents say make it easier to use, more applicable, more robust or other utilities. While these methodologies are all valid and reliable tools for a project manager to use, it is important to be able to contrast them and to form a view of how they might best be used in a project. This includes their usefulness, application in various types of projects and how they view project risk.

 

This assessment has two parts: 

 

(a) You will be placed in a group by your lecturer. In that group in weeks 4 and 5 of the term you will need to read about PMBoK, PRINCE2 and Agile to learn more about their use, application and how they treat project risk. You will also need to read about the similarities and differences between them. The group needs to be divided into two halves. Each half must select either PMBoK or PRINCE2 or Agile to defend. This “defence” takes the form of discussions between your group members in weeks 4 and 5 of the term. You do not need produce anything from this exercise, but you do need to take notes for yourself. These notes will help you complete your individual assessment in part (b) below. 

 

(b) Individually, you will need to write a 1,200 - word report that compares and contrasts PMBoK and PRINCE2 or Agile (any 2). This will be based on the week 4 and week 5 discussions that you had in your group. The report must use the following headings:

 

1. Introduction to PMBoK, Agile and/or PRINCE2 (only 2) (their background and  historical context)

2. Similarities between them

3. Differences between them

4. How each method treats project risk

5. In which types of projects each is used

6. Reference list (6 to 12 references)

 

You will need to consult the literature and use at least 6 references (and not more than 12 references) from academic and industry sources. The word count does not include the reference list. Each reference must be in-text cited in your report. The word count is +/- 10%.  

 

The assessment requires that you submit your report via the Learning Management System. You do not need to upload anything relating to your group discussions in weeks 4 and 5.

 

Instructions: 

 

1. Discuss the strengths, weaknesses, similarities and contrasts of PMBoK and PRINC2 in  your allocated group in weeks 4 and 5. This discussion can be done in your own time, at your convenience and using the format that you prefer (e.g. email, phone, Zoom, online, etc.). The purpose of this is to simply enter into a discussion based on your readings and what you have learned in the subject about these two methodologies. This discussion will help inform your actual assessment, which is the individual report.

 

Write your 1,200-word report with the headings  

1. Introduction to PMBoK, Agile and/or PRINCE2 (only 2) (their background and historical context)

2. Similarities between them

3. Differences between them

4. How each method treats project risk

5. In which types of projects each is use

6. Reference list

 

Output and Submission: 

 

Submit your completed assessment by the end of module 3 (Week 6) on Blackboard.  

 

 Assessment 3 Project Charter development

 

Context: 

 

Project leadership is about inspiring the project team to do their best from the outset. This  requires a combination of verbal and written communications and a range of applied leadership skills. One of the foundational documents that helps “kick-off” the project is the Project Charter. This is a document that describes the entire project in a short, succinct and presentable document that can be shared with project staff or other stakeholders to commence the project in earnest. It also helps clarify the project context, the project team roles and the goals of the project. 

In this assessment you will be given a project case study to use in order to develop a Project Charter. Though all students will receive the same case study, it is expected that each student will think about the project from their own perspective as an up-and-coming project manager. Use your own style based on your critical thinking of what it means for you to lead a project. That will help you formulate your unique Project Charter. 

 

Instructions: 

 

1.    Read the case study provided by your lecturer. This will form the basis for your Project  Charter, because you will assume that you are the project manager for this project.

2.    After reading the case study start developing your project charter. This needs to be a  2000-word report (+/- 10%) and must use a minimum of 6 references (academic literature and industry publications. The case study is a 7 th  reference).

3.    The Project Charter must include the following headings and be written as if you were  presenting it to the project team that will build this project. You are the project manager. The contents of the Charter are:

a. Background to the project

b. Reasons for the project

c. Project objectives

d. Constraints, limitations and risks

e. Leadership structure (project manager and his or her senior aides: list the roles 

and explain what each does in the project. You need to cite 4 roles)

f. Project risks and their mitigation

g. Project stakeholders and how to interact with them

h. The vision of the project and the type of project team culture you wish to promote in your team 

 

Output and Submission: 

Submit your completed assessment by the end of the first week of Module 6  (Week 11) on  Blackboard.