Project Management

This activity will provide you with an opportunity to engage in a discussion with this class on a project topic that you have selected to implement as the term project. The class interaction will foster a learning environment in which you will learn from each other’s experiences and opinions.

In addition, you will practice using project management jargon and expressing your opinions in a professional manner. The options available in this discussion have ethical considerations that are important to consider as a project manager.

Specifically, for this M1D1 discussion, you are required to:

  • Critically evaluate and recommend a term project for implementation. Place yourself in an organizational context. Understand the environment in which this organization functions.
    • Describe the real or fictitious strategic context for your project topic. You may:
      • Explain about the industry, the organization and other environmental factors. For example,IBM is a corporation that develops hardware, software and provider information technology services.
      • Write about its history, the way the company has changed, the evolution of the industry, current industry trends,
    • Present aSWOT analysis on the selected industry/organization.
    • Choose a business area for your project topic. Focus on, and explain a specific area within the organization such as marketing, information technology, finance, etc.
    • Analyze your options and recommend your project topic. This will be a project in the chosen business area.
    • Calculate and share theROI and payback period for the recommended project. You can click to download the ROI & Payback Period template  Download ROI & Payback Period template[XLS, file size 23.5 KB] for this calculation.
    • Finally, in a reflection of at least 30 words, describe the most interesting and challenging parts of preparing the project proposal, as well as any recommendations to your classmates for preparing the proposal.
  • Responses: Read the initial posts from your classmates. From the perspective of a project approver, critically analyze the project details provided by your classmates and share your opinions. The feedback must detail, clearly and specifically, what has been presented well and what can be improved upon. Your review can cover topics ranging from the mechanics of writing to the rational strength of the content. Other examples of your critical responses may include:
    • Queries to gain better understanding of the strategic context as well as the business area of focus.
    • Modifications to the SWOT analysis, based on the business scenario provided.
    • Opinions and justifications of alternative considerations.

Source:  see powerpoints uploaded

  • Schwalbe, K. (2017).An Introduction to Project Management (6th ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Schwalbe Publishing.