GENTECH 3MT3 Group MS Project Assignment
GENTECH 3MT3 – Project Management
Email questions to Lucas Thung – [email protected] Teaching Assistant (TA): Amir Hoveida - [email protected]
When sending an email:
1) Only use your email for privacy and security reasons.
2) Subject Line = “ ”
3) Allocate a turnaround response time of two (2) business days.
@mcmaster.ca
3MT3 Group Assignment
Assignment Title
Project Management Case Study
Assignment Objectives
• Apply project management knowledge to a case study
• Form a project team with different assigned roles
• Prepare a project definition including project scope, objectives that
are SMART - Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, and Time related. Give consideration to stakeholders, milestones and success factors (Initiation)
• Produce project work schedules, budget and work breakdown structure (WBS) – a project plan
• Assign responsibilities based on a responsibility matrix linked to the WBS
Weight Marked out of 100 (Worth 10% of Final Grade)
Assignment Type
Group work
• Students will self-select / form their own groups
• Each group will be composed of 5 members in total
Assignment Instructions
1) Submit one (1) Microsoft Word document:
a. Include a cover page (with names and IDs/numbers)
b. Utilize APA report style / referencing
c. Must be between five (5) to six (6) pages of contents
d. Items not included in the above page count:
o Cover page
o References section
(i.e. list all references used) o Appendix section
(i.e. screenshots from MS Project) 2) Submit one (1) Microsoft Project file
Sunday, November 5th at 11:59 pm Due Date (
) titled
through A2L Drop Box
"Assessments" ➔ "Assignments"
“Project Assignment Due: Sun, Nov 5 @ 11:59 pm“
Page 1
GENTECH 3MT3 Group MS Project Assignment
CASE STUDY
You have been employed as a special Project Manager by McMaster University to organize a Summer Party to celebrate the end of exams for all university students. The event will take place on July 14, 2024. You are to organise all aspects of the event including, booking the entertainment, advertising and ticketing.
Important Notes:
• You need to define when the project will start. You may select the start date.
• Be sure that the ticket price you offer covers your costs.
• Any costs need to be justified. You may research costs from the Internet, but ensure that
you reference where you got them from in your report.
• You may determine the venue where the party will be held. If you cannot find a cost for
hiring a venue, assume that it will cost $5,000. This only includes the hiring of the building
and does not include, for example, the beverages, food and music costs.
• You can assume that the venue is available for you on 14th July. You do not need to contact
the venue directly.
• You may have access to the venue from 5 am on July 14th to 8 am on July 15th to set up and
take down the event.
• You must make a minimum of $20,000 contribution.
• The executive summary does not count towards the word count.
ASSESSMENT DELIVERABLES
Using the case study complete the following tasks:
Task 1 - Prepare a Project Definition (maximum 2 pages).
This is the “who, why, and what” part of the project. It defines all major aspects of the project and forms the basis for its planning and management and also the assessment of overall success. It MUST include the following:
Task
Stakeholders Major Milestones
Critical success factors
Description
Anybody who can contribute to the success of the project or influence the failure of the project.
Key achievements that can be used to monitor progress throughout the project and celebrate successes. These must include dates.
Measurements that will determine if key achievements have been achieved. The most important will be used to assess if the project can be judged a success.
Project description
and SMART objectives
This is the most important part and majority of the document that translates the requirements communicated by the sponsor into specific objectives. It explains why the project is being undertaken.
Page 2
GENTECH 3MT3 Group MS Project Assignment Task 2 - Produce a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
Aim at listing a minimum of 30 activities (there is no maximum number of tasks) and illustrate the breakdown with a tree diagram. The breakdown should have a clear logical basis, although technical details may vary. Create your own category names as required and remember that there can never be only one right way for a project of this nature, as long as you justify your choice. Explain what basis you use to create the categories and work packages (tasks beneath each category). You must make sure that the tasks are broken down in detail. For example, you would NOT have a task called ‘Invitations’, this should be broken down into ‘Design Invitations’, ‘Create Invitations’, ‘Print Invitations’ and ‘Distribute Invitations’.
Task 3 - Develop a Responsibility Matrix fully linked to your work breakdown structure (each activity should be linked to a person) clearly showing the assignment of each task.
Task 4 - Produce a Work Schedule using MS Project that uses the activities created in Task 2. Create your own time estimates, resource (e.g. people, materials) requirements and costs as required and remember that there can never be only one right way for a project of this nature, as long as you justify your choice. Save this project as PMProjectTask3.
MARKS BREAKDOWN
Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4
25% 30% 20% 25%
The paper must utilize APA report style / referencing and must be between 5 to 6 pages (excluding cover page➔include student names and student IDs/numbers).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Maylor, H (2010) Project Management. Fourth Edition. Pearson Education Limited.
Fuller, M. A., Valacich, J. S., George, J. F. (2008) Information Systems Project Management: A Process and Team Approach. Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Nokes, S & Kelly, S (2007) The Definitive Guide to Project Management: The Fast Track to Getting the Job Done on Time and on Budget. Second Edition. Casnus Limited.
Andersen, E. S. (2008) Rethinking Project Management: An Organisational Perspective. Pearson Education Limited.
Cadle, J & Yeates, D (2008) Project Management for Information Systems. Fifth Edition. Pearson Education Limited.
Brewer, J. L., Dittman, K. C. (2010) Methods of IT Project Management. Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Page 3
GENTECH 3MT3 Group MS Project Assignment
Recommended reading:
Gray, C and Larson, E (2021) Project Management: The Managerial Process, McGraw-
Hill, 8th Edition
Gordon J and Lockyer K (2005) Project Management and Project Planning, John Wiley & Sons, 7th Edition.
Kloppenborg TJ (2009) Project Management: A Contemporary Approach, South-Western Cengage Learning
Meredith JR and Mantel SJ (2006) Project Management: A Managerial Approach, John Wiley & Sons.
Shenar, A. J., & Dvir, D. (2007) Project Management Research: the challenge and opportunity. Project Management Journal. June 93 – 99.
Website:
Project Management Institute (PMI):
Page 4
GENTECH 3MT3 Group MS Project Assignment
Marking Rubric (Project Definition)
Professional (>=85%)
Experienced (75 – 84%)
Developing (60 – 74%)
Novice (<60%)
Accurately described the outcomes and expectations for the project
Accurately described most of the outcomes and expectations for the project
Accurately described less than half of the outcomes and expectations for the project
Did not describe the outcomes and expectations for the project
Compiled a comprehensive list of all project stakeholders
Compiled a list of most project stakeholders
Compiled a list of some project stakeholders
Did not compile a list of project stakeholders
Used all project initiation tools/templates correctly
Used all project initiation tools/templates, but some were completed incorrectly
Completed some project initiation tools/templates correctly, but others were missing
Did not use any project initiation tools/templates, or did not complete any correctly
Marking Rubric (Work Breakdown Structure)
Unacceptable (<60%)
Basic (60 – 74%)
Proficient (75 – 84%)
Distinguished (>=85%)
Work Breakdown Structure Components
Incomplete project steps and sequence.
Limited project steps and limited sequencing errors.
Project details identified on the charter by correct level of effort, WBS Code and descriptions to enable delivery of project to meet identified milestones.
The WBS is very accurate and complete with in depth levels and codes that clearly delineate all tasks to be completed. Descriptions are well thought out and clearly articulates tasks.
Completeness (quality of content)
Incomplete information provided.
WBS is completed, but lacks some key information or has errors such as inaccurate levels or WBS codes, Element Identification and definition.
WBS is properly completed but may have a few minor errors such as inaccurate levels or WBS codes, Element Identification and definition.
WBS is very well thought out in terms of sequence of events. Levels of work are very accurate and well thought out. The specific elements are very accurate in terms of major tasks to be completed in a measured block. Definitions are very clear and provide specific deliverables for each Element and Level.
Mechanics: spelling, grammar, punctuation
Paper has 7 or more errors.
Assignment has between 5 and 6 errors.
Assignment is proofread well, with only 3 or 4 errors.
Assignment has been thoroughly proof- read with no more than 2 errors.
Accuracy of Elements
Elements are vague and/or incomplete.
Elements are partially identified, but not stated.
Most elements are identified so that a developer could success- fully create the game.
Elements are clearly stated and are specific and sized right to escribe what a developer must to do to schedule and create the project.
Page 5
GENTECH 3MT3 Group MS Project Assignment
Marking Rubric (Responsibility Matrix and Work Schedule)
Professional (>=85%)
Experienced (75 – 84%)
Developing (60 – 74%)
Novice (<60%)
Identified all resources needed for the project
Identified most resources needed for the project
Identified some resources needed for the project
Did not identify resources needed for the project
Determined most or all specific activities/tasks required to complete the project
Determined approximately 75% of the specific activities/tasks required to complete the project
Determined approximately 50% of the specific activities/tasks required to complete the project
Determined less than 50% of the specific activities/tasks required to complete the project
Developed a comprehensive schedule of project activities/tasks with realistic due dates
Developed a comprehensive schedule of project activities/tasks but identified unrealistic due dates
Developed a schedule that omitted significant project activities/tasks
Did not develop a schedule of project activities/tasks
Divided all project roles and responsibilities evenly among team members
Divided most project roles and responsibilities evenly among team members
Divided project roles and responsibilities unevenly among team members
Did not divide project roles and responsibilities among team members
Used all project planning tools/templates correctly
Used all project planning tools/templates, but some were completed incorrectly
Completed some project planning tools/templates correctly, but others were missing
Did not use any project planning tools/templates, or did not complete any correctly
Page 6
