Week 6: Project Management

E1102 – Design Fundamental Using Advanced Computer TechnologiesSpring 2010

In Today’s Session Introduction to project management

Practicing Gantt Chart creation using PM software

Team advisor meetings

Modeling sequence

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The Design Process Is… Doomed for design failure without…

Information Organization Communication

Poor Project Management

Poor definition of requirements and objectives

Poor planning and review efforts

Inadequate work breakdown structure

Starting/completing activities out of sequence

No contingency plans for unforeseen technical problems (or non-technical issues)

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Managing Project Tasks Detailed list of tasks; Start with categories and then work down to sub task

level

Rationalize the task sequence

Identify deadlines

Identify critical path items; which tasks are going to take the most time within the whole sequence

There are many project management tools to address the above tasks including brainstorming, work breakdown structures, critical path analysis, and Gantt charts

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Project Management Tools

Brainstorming

Work breakdown structure (WBS)

Gantt chart

Critical path analysis

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Work Breakdown Structures A process that sets a project’s scope by breaking down its overall mission into

a cohesive set of synchronous, increasing specific tasks

WBS is a categorized list of project tasks with an estimate of time and resources required to complete the task

Create WBS by: Start with your committed deliverables (tasks) for the project (Highest Level

Category) Then decompose each high level item into subtasks

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What does WBS Accomplish? Echoes project objectives

Offers a logical structure for task identification/listing

Establishes a method of control

Communicates project status

Improves communication among project team and customers

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WBS Example

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WBS Process Write each task from design project - list on a sticky note

Group tasks in clusters that have common factors

Identify tasks and subtasks

Arrange them in hierarchical order

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WBS/Gantt in MS Project

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Milestone Analysis Milestones are events or stages of the project that represent a significant

accomplishment

Milestones Signal the team, suppliers, customers, etc. Can motivate the team Offer re-evaluation points Helps coordinate schedules Identify key review gates Delineate work packages

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Your Time Management Good project management starts with you!

Need a personal system of managing your goals, the associated tasks , as well as the time required for accomplishment

The system should be designed to allocate tasks by project, context, and required type of action

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Session Review What We Discussed Today

Basic design project management tools and techniques

Next Week’s Highlights Client Reports and Presentations with debrief sessions

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