Before starting with this final assignment, please (a) complete this week’s readings, (b) review the weekly lecture, (c) review grading rubric, (d) read the 8 Simple Rules of Good Writing, and (e) review the PRM300 Week 5 Final Paper Template from your class. It is highly recommended that you use grading rubric as your checklist to ensure every element is included in your final paper.
While a five-week course barely covers the full range of responsibilities of a project manager, it should have given you a solid perspective on what does it take to manage a project. Now that you have a basic understanding of the project management life cycle, it is your turn to share what you have learned.
The Project Management Final Paper needs to include screenshot examples and explanations of project selection form, project scope template, work breakdown structures (WBS), and the Gantt chart created in prior weeks. Be sure to update these examples based on: (a) any new criteria presented in these instructions, (b) any feedback you received on the previous assignments, (c) any knowledge you obtained in the class, and/or (d) any additional information you obtained during your research so that your final paper can reflect project management best practices.
Include the following elements in your paper:
Introduction
- Introduce the paper and highlight what the paper will include.
- Explain what a project is and how project management can contribute to an organization’s success.
- Briefly outline the five process groups in the project management life cycle.
Initiating
- Explain the pre-planning stage of the project management lifecycle.
- Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the pre-planning/project selection stage.
- Describe the elements of the project selection form.
- Provide an example of a project selection form.
- Explain the purpose of a project selection form.
- Insert an updated and corrected copy of the project selection form from week 1 to use as an example.
- Explain the elements of the project selection form and their importance.
Planning
- Explain the planning process of the project management lifecycle.
- Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the planning stage.
- Explain the purpose of the project scope statement and all the terms used in the project scope template.
- Project Basics:
- Project Name
- Project Sponsor
- Project Scope Statement
- Project Scope:
- Assumptions
- Milestones
- Out of Scope (Exclusions)
- Project Execution:
- Stakeholders
- Time estimate
- Cost estimate
- Project Acceptance Criteria
- Insert a corrected and updated screenshot of your project scope template from week 2 into your final paper.
- Be sure to use the feedback you received and what you learned in the class
- If you need help with obtaining a screenshot or embedding an image, then please review these tutorials: See How to Use the Snipping Tool in Windows 10 [Tutorial]. (Links to an external site.)
- Explain the work breakdown structure (WBS), project milestones, and the critical path.
- Explain how these elements relate to your project’s status.
- Create a work breakdown structure (WBS) in the ProjectLibre.
- Include a screenshot of the WBS as an example in your paper. (Make sure the example contains the appropriate level of details, so the reader understands the full context of the project without assuming anything.)
- Project Basics:
Executing
- Explain the executing process group of the project management lifecycle.
- Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to executing the project.
- Explain the change control process.
Monitoring and Controlling
- Explain the monitoring and controlling within the project management lifecycle.
- Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to monitoring and controlling the project.
Closing
- Explain the closing process within the project management lifecycle.
- Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to closing a project or phase.
- Explain what a “Lessons Learned” report is and highlight its importance for future projects within the organization.
Conclusion
- Conclude the paper by reiterating how project management improves an organization’s success and highlighting the importance of using the five process groups for accomplishing a project’s objectives. (Review the Writing Center’s page on Introductions and Conclusions (Links to an external site.)for more information.)
Your Project Management Final Paper
- The final paper must be 2,500 to 3,500 words in length (10 to 12 double-spaced pages, not including title page, screen captures, or references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s APA Style (Links to an external site.) resource.
- Must include a separate title page with the following:
- Title of paper
- Student’s name
- Course name and number
- Instructor’s name
- Date submitted
- For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Word 2013. (Links to an external site.)
- Must utilize academic tone in your final paper. See the Academic Voice (Links to an external site.)for additional guidance.
- Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
- For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions (Links to an external site.)as well as Writing a Thesis Statement (Links to an external site.)refer to the Ashford Writing Center resources.
- Must use at least four scholarly, peer-reviewed, or credible sources in addition to the course text.
- The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.)table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
- Must document any information used from sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s Citing Within Your Paper (Links to an external site.) guide.
- Refer to APA Style Elements (Links to an external site.)for the use of section headings throughout this paper.
- Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References List (Links to an external site.)resource in the Ashford Writing Center for specifications.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
Required Resources
Text
Schwalbe, K. (2017). An introduction to project management (6th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com
- Chapter 9: Closing Projects (read pages 339-353)
- Chapter 10: Best Practices in Project Management (read pages 361-380)
Article
Hogan, M. (2016, June 28). How to fix three of the biggest project management problems your business faces (Links to an external site.). Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2016/06/28/how-to-fix-three-of-the-biggest-project-management-problems-your-business-faces
- The article discusses several of the primary elements that can prevent the successful completion of projects on time and within budget. While the article is written from a business owner’s perspective, the points identified in the article are applicable to anyone who wants to be a project manager. The article will assist you with your Project Closing and Lessons Learned Reflection discussion forum this week.
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Supplemental Material
Project Management Institute. (n.d.). Code of ethics and professional conduct (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from http://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/ethics/pmi-code-of-ethics-american-english.pdf
- Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (Code) describes the expectations that PMI have of themselves and fellow practitioners in the project management community. The purpose of this Code is to make every project manager a better practitioner. Code is designed to assist project managers in making wise decisions, particularly when faced with difficult situations where project managers may be asked to compromise their integrity or values. This resource will assist you with your Ethical Decision Making discussion forum this week.
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Recommended Resources
Book
Project Management Institute (PMI). (2017). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com
- The full-text version of this book is available through the eBook Central database in the Ashford University Library. It provides detailed information about the PMI’s standards for project management. The PMBOK® Guide supports the text and the learning objectives in the course and is a useful resource for your weekly learning activities. Additionally, the PMBOK® Guide reflects the standards in the project management industry. This source may assist you with your Ethical Decision Making Reflection discussion forum this week.
Articles
Mind Tools. (n.d). How to be tactful: Responding with diplomacy and grace (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/tactful.htm
- Emotional intelligence is key in making ethical decisions in an ethical way. Here is another resource that provides some insight into some soft skills needed in the workplace. It may assist you with your Ethical Decision Making Reflection discussion forum this week.
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Rathinasamy, P. (2015, April 28). Three testing factors of integrity in project management and possible ways to manage them for success (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.projectmanagement.com/articles/294417/-Three-Testing-Factors-of-Integrity-in-Project-Management-and-Possible-Ways-to-Manage-Them-for-Success
- The objective of this article is to draw attention toward the three main factors that test the integrity of project management practitioners and sponsors which may assist you with your Ethical Decision Making discussion forum this week.
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Web Page
Ethics & Compliance Initiative (2018). The PLUS ethical decision making model (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.ethics.org/resources/free-toolkit/decision-making-model
- This web page provides information about guidelines for decision making and may assist you with your Ethical Decision Making Reflection discussion forum this week.
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Supplemental Material
Project Management Institute (PMI) (2012). PMI ethical decision making framework (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from https://www.mosaicprojects.com.au/PDF/PMI_Ethical_Decision_Making_Framework.pdf
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