Lebanese International University School of Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering Fall 2012 IENG300 – Engineering Project Management
Assignment # 1 Solution
Exercise 2.1 (10 Points): Projects may be classified as follows: Compliance: d., g., i. Operational: a., c., j. Strategic: b., e., f., h.
It was easy to classify the Compliance projects but not so easy to distinguish between Operational and Strategic projects. Given the limited information, we have to make judgment calls. In real life, such information will be available. Debates may occur around whether converting the heating system to solar polar was an operational necessity or to fit the ecofriendly image. Likewise, launching the promotional campaign with
…show more content…
If true, then the project may essentially be a manufacturing one and could be completed within the manufacturing department with minimal input from other functional areas.
Exercise 3.4 (10 Points): Results will vary depending upon which companies you choose to focus on. Below are corporate sites which contained information about corporate values and culture. Intel Corporation - http://www.intel.com/intel/index.htm?iid=HPAGE+header_aboutintel& Ford Motor Company - http://www.ford.com/en/company/about/overview.htm
General Electric Company - http://www.ge.com/company/culture/index.html Hewlett-Packard Development Company - http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/index.html Google - http://www.google.com/corporate/ Nokia - http://www.nokia.com/about-nokia/company IENG300 – Engineering Project Management Page 3
Using Figure 3.7 to evaluate Nokia for example, it can be clearly seen that the company has a strong project management structure; most probably a strong matrix structure. Case Study: A Day in the Life, Chapter 1 Page 19, (20 Points) This case shows a glimpse of what it is like to be a project manager. It also underscores that being a project manager is more social than technical and that project managers spend the majority of their time interacting with various people who impact a project.
1. How effectively do you think Rachel spent her day? Students will be divided in their evaluation of Rachel.
Hidan, L. (2011). Project management and engineering issues. Annals of the University Dunarea De Jos of Galati: Fascicle XIV, Mechanical Engineering. (1), pgs. 57-60
The paper is divided into three sections, the first of which will establish a timeline of events. This project background will serve as a case study for the analysis in the following section that will be structured such that each of the previously mentioned facets will be independently analyzed and contrasted with project management principles. Finally the paper will conclude with a summary of the analysis and recommendations based on
What is the culture's position on important issues facing the corporation (that is, on productivity, quality of performance, adaptability to
2. What is the business reason(s) for completing this project? How are they compelling for the improvement team and the management team? How are they tied to strategy?
In a matrix structure, each employee answers to two immediate supervisors: a department supervisor and a project manager. The department supervisor is charged with overseeing employees in a functional area such as marketing or engineering. Project supervisors manage a specific and often impermanent project. They absorb employees from various functional areas to complete their project teams. This kind of organizational structure has several advantages especially if the project managers identify their team strengths and weakness early. Directing the staff with effective leadership skills is a key role as a project manager. A clear direction of the project from start to completion is vital. Therefore, the project managers must carry top notch planning and organizational skills. To follow the WBS and have a clear understanding of the importance of remaining on budget throughout the entire project is mandatory. The experienced project manager must keep planning, staffing, budgeting and scheduling and other control techniques under wrap, by utilizing their administrative skill according to Project Management, (Kerzner, 2013). Although the administrative and other techniques are important, in this particular project, each project manager must work closely as a team member and example. Building the team and each departmental manager into a working cohesive team, could be the true
With the exceptional growth in technology, the present day projects are often large and complex involving a significant risk. So, a Project Management Methodology enables the delivery organization to handle these projects comprehensively, systematically and in an integrated manner, which results in strategic, tactical and operational benefits.
In the current business environment, the demand for project managers is ever growing. In short, project management is a provisional project constrained by time, cost and scope (A guide to the project management body of knowledge, 2013). Between the immense organization, optimization, and communication assets skilled project management brings to a project, it is easy to see why project management is a booming field of study. Furthermore, project management can be both financially and personally rewarding when long term milestones and goals come to fruition.
Successful organizations are always looking for ways to improve process and procedures, increase revenues and profits, while staying relevant in today’s business world. Strong leadership is the backbone of any organization and is the catalyst for driving a culture of innovation and change. Organizations looking to make small or large-scale changes typically do so through the implementation of work projects. Projects are collaborative efforts carefully planned and designed to achieve a specific goal. According to Young (2010), “projects take careful planning, and a successful project is one that is done on time and within budget” (p.344). Project management is the activity of planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling resources, while monitoring procedures and timelines, and usually has an assigned project manager (PM). Organizations such as Apple are known to have many projects in motion at any given time. This many projects happening simultaneously can be extremely complex, expensive, and taxing on resources, but somehow Apple has managed to implement project after project with huge success.
Projects are used today as a way of achieving a variety of outcomes in local or international locations for new constructions, new product development, product improvement, process design, process improvement, utility installation, theory and technology development, and many more. Bringing a project to a successful conclusion requires the integration of numerous management functions like controlling, directing, team building, communication and others. It also requires cost and schedule management, technical and risk management, conflict and stakeholder 's management, and life cycle management.
Project Management Institute. (2000). _A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (4th ed.)._
There is an old adage which insists “time is money.” While simple, in concept, it has been proven true, in fact. In a global, technologically driven society, however, the very idea of time has changed. Having once implied a spanning space between the hours of “nine to five” relative to the person or organization from whose vantage money was viewed, time is now irrespective of person, organization, or location; it is, literally, “24/7.” With this shift in perception, organizations, especially, have taken on the greater challenge of ensuring efficiency in their operations, allowing their customers the
Project management is the discipline of using policies and procedures to manage a project from creation to competition. The intent of this paper is to assess the role of a project manager and determine if I am well suited for a career in project management. To achieve this goal, I will be discussing the following areas: job description, general career path, education requirements, salary, career outlook, and the pros and cons. I will also be interviewing a colleague that currently working as a project manager to gain a better understanding of typical duties associated with the role.
This document is an annotated outline for a Project Management Plan, adapted from the PMI Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and IEEE Standard for Project Management Plans. The Project Management Plan is considered to be a “Best Practice” template by the ETS Enterprise Program Management Office (EPMO).
In order to achieve their business objective, project management and the used methodology are key factor which will be responsible for the success or failure of this project.
The culture of an organization is the set of values, beliefs, behaviors, customs, and attitudes that helps its members understand what the organization stands for, how it does things, and what it considers important"(Griffin, 49). In other words, "the way things work around here" (Dr. Williams). In order for any small business or large corporation to be successful, the employees must understand what is expected of them. While things might be slightly different in a large corporation versus a small "mom and pop shop", the goal of both is the same. MAKE THE BUSINESS MONEY. The topic of my paper will be on makes a good corporate culture.