Computer Science Project Management

One of the most important documents within a project is the project charter. Review the research to learn more about what is commonly found within a project charter. Using your research, evaluate the project charter below.
Project Title: SIS Implementation Date: April 7, 2000
Scope and Objectives: Everywhere University is undergoing rapid growth resulting in an urgent need for a more efficient access to internal and external policies related to the student experience and programs. To this end, we are implementing a new p Student Information System Portal that will satisfy both these needs and will enhance communication across the organization.
Defining Conditions, Constraints, and Assumptions: The SIS must be operational on the last day of the Spring semester.
Staffing: The project manager will determine the skill requirements for the project and provide them, along with specific team member names, by June 1 to the appropriate functional managers. The project manager is authorized to have one clerical person to assist. Because of other campus priorities, the project team is limited to no more than 2 technical members without specific authority from the President.
Communications: Status reports will be provided to the President, the Deans, and the Project Sponsor bi-monthly.

What sections are missing from this document?
Why are they important?
Recreate this project charter to include those sections and offer suggested wording.
What are the remaining areas which may need to be refined to prevent “scope creep”?

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Sample Answer

 

 

The provided project charter has several crucial sections missing, potentially leading to issues during project execution. Here’s a breakdown of missing sections, their importance, and suggestions for improvement:

Missing Sections:

  1. Project Sponsor: While a “Project Sponsor” is mentioned, their name and contact information are absent.
  2. Budget: No mention of budget exists, raising concerns about cost management and potential for overruns.
  3. Acceptance Criteria: The document lacks clear criteria for defining project success, making evaluation and closure ambiguous.

Full Answer Section

 

 

 

  1. Risks and Mitigation Strategies: Identifying and addressing potential risks proactively is crucial for managing unexpected challenges.
  2. Stakeholder Management Plan: Engaging and managing stakeholder expectations throughout the project is essential for smooth execution.
  3. Change Management Plan: Transitioning to a new system often requires change management strategies to minimize disruptions and ensure user adoption.
  4. Timeline and Milestones: A detailed timeline with key milestones is missing, making progress tracking and timely completion difficult.

Importance of Missing Sections:

  • Sponsor: Provides leadership, visibility, and decision-making authority, ensuring project alignment with strategic goals.
  • Budget: Defines financial constraints, enables resource allocation, and helps identify potential resource shortfalls.
  • Acceptance Criteria: Creates clarity on project deliverables and completion standards, avoiding ambiguity and disputes.
  • Risks and Mitigation: Proactive risk identification and mitigation plans minimize disruptions and ensure project success.
  • Stakeholder Management: Addressing stakeholder concerns and managing expectations fosters collaboration and minimizes opposition.
  • Change Management: Planned communication and support strategies ease user transition and improve system adoption.
  • Timeline and Milestones: Provides a roadmap for progress tracking, identifies critical deadlines, and facilitates timely completion.

Improved Project Charter with Suggestions:

Project Title: SIS Implementation Date: April 7, 2000 Project Sponsor: Dr. [Name], Vice President of Academic Affairs (Contact Information)

Scope and Objectives:

Everywhere University is experiencing rapid growth, necessitating a more efficient system for accessing student-related policies (internal and external) and managing programs. Implementing a new Student Information System Portal (SIS) aims to:

  • Improve access to student-related policies for faculty, staff, and students.
  • Enhance communication and information sharing across the organization.
  • Streamline program management processes.

Defining Conditions, Constraints, and Assumptions:

  • The SIS must be fully operational by the last day of the Spring semester (date).
  • Budget limitations dictate a project team of no more than 2 technical members without Presidential approval.
  • Existing data from previous systems must be seamlessly integrated into the SIS.

Staffing:

  • The project manager will finalize the detailed skill requirements and team composition by June 1st, seeking approval from functional managers.
  • The project team will include:
    • Project Manager
    • [Number] Technical Team Members (approval needed for exceeding 2)
    • 1 Clerical Support Staff

Communications:

  • Bi-monthly status reports will be provided to the Project Sponsor, President, Deans, and key stakeholders.
  • Regular project meetings will be held to facilitate communication and collaboration.

Budget:

  • A detailed project budget outlining costs for software, hardware, implementation, training, and ongoing maintenance will be developed and submitted for approval by [date].

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Successful project completion signifies:
    • Full functionality of the SIS, meeting all agreed-upon features and requirements.
    • Successful data migration from previous systems.
    • User acceptance and satisfaction with the new system.
    • Achievement of defined performance metrics (e.g., access speed, response times).

Risks and Mitigation Strategies:

  • A comprehensive risk assessment will be conducted, identifying potential risks (e.g., budget overruns, data migration challenges, user resistance) and outlining mitigation strategies for each.

Stakeholder Management Plan:

  • A stakeholder identification and engagement plan will be developed, outlining communication strategies for each stakeholder group throughout the project lifecycle.

Change Management Plan:

  • A comprehensive change management plan will be formulated, addressing user training needs, communication strategies, and support mechanisms to ensure smooth system adoption.

Timeline and Milestones:

  • A detailed project timeline with key milestones (e.g., system selection, testing phases, user training, go-live date) will be created and shared with all stakeholders.

Scope Creep Prevention:

  • Clearly defined project scope documented in the charter.
  • Established change control process to manage any proposed scope changes.
  • Regular communication with stakeholders to ensure alignment with project goals.
  • Project sponsor actively involved in managing scope and expectations.

By incorporating these missing sections and suggested improvements, the project charter becomes a more comprehensive and effective document guiding successful SIS implementation while minimizing the risk of scope creep.

 

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