SOLUTION: Managing Information Systems/Technology Projects

ASSESSMENT BRIEF 01Subject Code and TitlePROJ-6012: Managing Information Systems/Technology ProjectsAssessment01: Case StudyIndividual/GroupIndividualLength3,000 wordsLearning OutcomesAllSubmissionEnd of Module 3Weighting40%Total Marks40 marks Context: The subject demonstrates the significance of project management in the industry, especially for projects involving IT projects. Assessment 1 is designed to evaluate the ability of the student to understand the context and environment of a project under case study. The students will be utilising a range of tools for analysing the strategic significance of the project which will sharpen their skills to select the appropriate projects in the company. Further, it will enable the student to analyse and select appropriate project management tools and methods for successfully executing and managing projects. In this process of critically analysing the case situation and applying their project management skill, the student will learn to balance the three competing goals of projects i.e. scope, time and cost. It will expose them to project management standard tools and techniques, best practices and current trends which will hone their professional ability to manage projects. The assignment engages the student to explore the PMI’s knowledge areas, especially the areas related to Project Scope Management, Project Time Management, Project Cost Management and Project Integration Management. The students will be able to apply their learning to the real world projects, which would help them to reduce the risks, cut the costs and improve the success rate of the projects. Instructions: Consider the organization where you are currently working or an organisation with which you are familiar with and select a project. Alternatively, you may choose a project case study from the existing published literature for your analysis. For the considered case study you will be required to understand the background of the project and the business value that it is providing to the organisation. The project selected should be such that you can do a deep analysis by considering different aspects of project management discipline. A project manager needs to balance the three competing goals of the project, namely, scope, time and cost. These are commonly known as the triple constraints in project management. You will be required to analyse different methods and tools used to manage the scope, time and cost of the project and present the project management artefacts used to balance these constraints. Please consider some general instructions for preparing your assignments provided in this document. For completing your Assessment 1 you need to consider the following Analysis of the selected project case and its organisational context (size, budget, problem statement, project objectives)An evaluation of the current state of the organisation’s IS/IT technology and its dependence on it.Evaluate the impact that the selected project has on the society and the organization’s success (may consider SWOT analysis). You may provide some reasoning for selecting the project as a case study.Analyse the process (es) and methods used to select that particular IS/IT project.Provide justification for the methodology (predictive or agile) selected for project execution. Give reasoning, if you think a better methodology could have been used.Enquire and evaluate the tools (i.e., graphical representations) or software applications the organisation utilises in the system development processes. If you cannot find that information, suggest which ones you would utilise.Critically analyse how the selected project is aligned to the strategic goals of the organization. Suggest opportunities for improvement in the management of IS/IT strategies and approaches.Examine the scope of the project, major features, project limitations and issues related to scope changes. You may present the relevant artefacts like scope statement, requirements analysis document or project charter for clarification. If the project is using Agile method, you provide artefacts which define scope like a set of user stories and acceptance tests.Investigate the method used for creating the schedule of the project and the methods used by the project manager (or team) to control the project schedule. You may present the schedule plan like Gantt chart or other relevant document.Analyse the methods used by the project manager to keep the project within the allocated budget. You may present the budget documents, cost estimate, cost baseline for the project.If it is a failed or challenged project you may provide justification for its poor performance. Provide your suggestions which could have prevented project failure.All your claims and recommendations must be supported by relevant literature. Hence, a significant amount of academic references must be included in the report. Submission of Assessment 1: A Project Report General Instructions – If you have sensitivity about criticising your own organisation or any other organisation, remove any specific reference to the identity of the organisation, the people within it, or the identity of any projects referred to. The assignment is intended to develop your analytical skills and ability to suggest improvements.Do not exceed the word limit. Give concise descriptions of projects and avoid irrelevant technical detail. In marking the assignment, attention will be paid to clear and concise expression of ideas. Include and refer to appendices if you feel they are required to provide a clearer understanding of the relevant project details, extensive attachments will not be read. Including unreferenced appendices will lose marks.Formal documents like Cover Page, Executive Summary, Table of Content, Appendix, References are not included in the specified word limit. Learning Rubrics Assessment AttributesFail (Unacceptable) (0-49%)Pass(Functional) (50-64%)Credit(Proficient) (65-74%)Distinction(Advanced) (75-84%)High Distinction(Exceptional) (85-100%)Project Management Skills15%Limited knowledge, skill and/or experience in project management, including progression of project, changes required to a project, assurance of quality and needed communication.Develops project plans.Manages small projects.Prepares business cases.Tracks progress.Takes corrective action as needed.Ensures quality outcomes.Reviews projects.Conducts post implementation review.Demonstrates capability to manage small to large projects, including: Monitors progress. Manages change. Manages resources including utilisation of technology. Updates budget appropriately. Communicates updates to stakeholder.Demonstrates capability to manage larger, more complex projects, including: Identifies required resources and budget and can effectively manage these.Undertakes risk identification and mitigation. Communicates updates effectively to one or more stakeholder.Understands and identifies key strategic elements of small to project projects and sets goals and deliverables.Ensures resources are available, and where change is needed expertly negotiates adjustments to milestones and deliverables.Incorporates sustainability into the project implementation.Communicates all updates effectively to all stakeholders.Harnesses information and foresees new opportunities.Project Planning and Project Management15%Project management insufficient or ill-matched to project.Slippage and scope creep are not well defined and pose recurring problems.Key project assets can be lost, unavailable, not shared, overwritten, not backed up or not tracked effectively.Makes some use of ‘right sized’ project planning and project management methods and resources.Project plan will meet some key project deadlines and milestones; slippage and scope creep may be problems that require rescaling of the project.Risk that some key project assets may be lost, unavailable, not properly backed up.Uses asset management tools and follows team protocols.Makes good use of ‘right sized’ project planning and project management methods and resources.Promises to meet key project deadlines and milestones; slippage and scope creep will generally be managed and communicated and may require occasional rescaling of the project.Generally promises to have key project assets accessible, available, and properly backed up.Uses asset management tools and follows team protocols correctly.Effective use of ‘right sized’ project planning and project management methods and resources.Key project deadlines or milestones should be met; slippage and scope creep have a management plan carefully communicated.Key project assets such as documentation, code, project notes, meeting agendas and minutes, etc. should be consistently managed, tracked, shared, backed up and versioned.Uses optimal project planning and project management methods and resources.All project deadlines or milestones should be met or slippage and scope creep will have an effective management plan carefully communicated.All project assets such as documentation, code, project notes, meeting agendas and minutes, etc. should be consistently managed, tracked, shared, backed up and versioned.Adaptability and Focus on Client and Stakeholder Needs10%Shows little initiative or innovation in finding methods for improving quality and productivity.Resists changing project plans, designs, or methods in the face of new information.‘Do the right thing’ is unrecognized and often takes risky project or design decisions for the sake of expediency.Makes some effort in finding or implementing effective methods for improving quality and productivity. Does not adequately adapt and adjust project plans, designs, and methods as new information becomes available.‘Do the right thing’ is recognized but still places expediency above client and stakeholder best interests when making decisions.Shows reasonable initiative in finding and implementing effective methods for improving quality and productivity.Somewhat adapts and adjusts project plans, designs, and methods as new information becomes available.‘Do the right thing’ is important and generally acts in client and stakeholder best interests and mostly avoids making major project or design decisions for the sake of expediency.Clearly shows high initiative in finding and implementing effective methods for improving quality and productivity.Clearly adapts and adjusts project plans, project vision, scope, requirements, designs, and methods as new information becomes available.‘Doing the right thing’ is foremost and consistently acts in client and stakeholder best interests.Is innovative in finding and implementing effective methods for improving quality and productivity.Innovatively adapts and adjusts project plans, project vision, scope, requirements, designs, and methods as new information becomes available.Is innovative in linking ‘doing the right thing’ to client and stakeholders best interests.Assessment of organisation’s strengths and limitations10%Neglects one or more elements of a SWOT analysisCompletes all elements of a SWOT analysis.Elaborates all elements of the SWOT analysis beyond basic requirements.Elaborates all elements of the SWOT analysis beyond basic requirements and includes elements of political, economic, social and technological (PEST) factors.Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of each element of the SWOT analysis and integrates PEST analysis factors.Change Management Strategies10%Limited knowledge, skill and/or experience in change management.Understands change management principles and processes, and its impact on business and staff.Advocates processes to enable continuous improvement.Articulates how to facilitate team’s involvement in the change process.Communicates the need for change and strategies to support new ideas and processes. Understands the role of culture on change.Elaborates a process to create innovative solutions. Suggests a plan to develop individual and team commitment to new solutions.Articulates strategies to encourage knowledge sharing under different change scenarios.Anticipates obstacles and suggests ways to alleviate obstruction.Recommends a structure for supporting, implementing and rewarding innovation.Identifies a framework to foster a continuous improvement cycle of learning within the organisation.Anticipates obstacles and suggests ways to alleviate obstruction.Clear description of the project used and the process used to analyse strategic issues10%Neglects key strategic issues or steps in the process used` to analyse strategic issues for the project.Clearly describes the steps in the process of analysing strategic issues for the project.Clearly describes the analysis and elaborates each step of process for the project.Identifies key premises of a strategy to analyse issues for the project and elaborate each step in the analytic process of the project.Shows innovation in the process of analysis of the issues of the project and elaborates pros and cons considered for each key step of analysis within the project.Critical reasoning, presentation and defence of an argument and/or position10%Specific position (perspective or argument) fails to take into account the complexities of the issue(s) or scope of the assignment.Makes assertions that are not justified.Specific position (perspective or argument) begins to take into account the issue(s) or scope of the assignment.Justifies any conclusions reached with arguments not merely assertion.Specific position (perspective or argument) takes into account the complexities of the issue(s) or scope of the assignment. Others’ points of view are acknowledged.Justifies any conclusions reached with well-formed arguments not merely assertion.Specific position (perspective or argument) is expertly presented and accurately takes into account the complexities of the issue(s) and scope of the assignment.Justifies any conclusions reached with well-developed arguments.Specific position (perspective or argument) is presented expertly, authoritatively and imaginatively, accurately taking into account the complexities of the issue(s) and scope of the assignment. Limits of position are acknowledged.Justifies any conclusions reached with sophisticated arguments.Development Methods10%Poor or little use of reasonable development methods or tools.Avoids, or does not appropriately employ pair programming, agile methods, technical reviews or other applicable development methods.Relies heavily on individual programming, code-and-fix methods and pays little attention to quality management.Ineffective effort is made to use appropriate development methods or tools but generally relies on individual programming, code-and-fix methods and has some quality management practices in place.Reasonable effort is made to use appropriate development methods or tools but generally relies on individual programming, code-and-fix methods and has some quality management practices in place.Generally pays to attention to use of effective and appropriate development methods and tools and quality management practises.Exceptional use of effective and appropriate development methods and tools – which may include regular use of agile methods, pair design and programming, technical reviews.Effective use of software support tools and quality management practices.Correct Citation of key resources and evidence5%Demonstrates inconsistent use of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas.Demonstrates use of credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas, but these are not always explicit or well developed.Demonstrates use of high quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas.Demonstrates use of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and statements. Shows evidence of wide scope within the organisation for sourcing evidenceDemonstrates use of high-quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and position statements. Shows evidence of wide scope within and without the organisation for sourcing evidence.Effective Communication5%Difficult to understand for audience, no logical/clear structure, poor flow of ideas, argument lacks supporting evidence.No effort is made to keep audience engaged, audience cannot follow the line of reasoning.Little use of presentation aids, or the presentation aids and material used are irrelevant.Information, arguments and evidence are presented in a way that is not always clear and logical.Attempts are made to keep the audience engaged, but not always successful. Line of reasoning is often difficult to follow.Presentation aids are used more for effect than relevance.Information, arguments and evidence are well presented, mostly clear flow of ideas and arguments.The audience is mostly engaged, line of reasoning is easy to follow.Effective use of presentation aids.Information, arguments and evidence are very well presented; the presentation is logical, clear and well supported by evidence.Engages the audience, demonstrates cultural sensitivity.Carefully and well prepared presentations aids are used.Expertly presented; the presentation is logical, persuasive, and well supported by evidence, demonstrating a clear flow of ideas and arguments.Engages and sustains audience’s interest in the topic, demonstrates high levels of cultural sensitivityEffective use of diverse presentation aids, including graphics and multi-media.