1. Anatomy of a Project A project has a beginning and an end.
A.M. Ruskin and W.E. Estes (1995) What Every Engineer Should Know About Project Management, New York: Marcel Dekker.
A project has a beginning and an end.
The major phases of a project include:
Concept Phase
Definition or Proposal Phase
Planning and Organizing Phase
Plan Validation Phase
Performance or Work Accomplishment Phase
Post-Accomplishment Phase
EGR

2. Your Turn Work in groups of 3 or 4
You are a consulting team hired to design the structure of a calculus course. Your client would like to provide a calculus course that maximizes the learning of key concepts among engineering students. Your deliverables will include:
a set of learning objectives
a syllabus
lectures, instructional method, class activities, etc.
a set of assignments, tests, and other means of assessing learning
Project manager: ___________________
each group select a manager … (don’t worry, you’ll find out your responsibilities later!)
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3. Anatomy of a Project Concept Phase Initial idea is born.
Idea is stated as an objective (e.g. Need a means for 1,500 cars to cross a river each day.)
Defines what, but not how.
Need a new high-end front-load washer and dryer for the global market.
Take a couple of minutes. What is the one-sentence statement of your team’s objective?
EGR

4. Project Definition Phase
Anatomy of a Project
Project Definition Phase
Characterize the project in terms of assumptions about the situation, alternative ways of achieving the objectives, decision criteria and models for choosing among viable alternatives, practical constraints, significant potential obstacles, and resource budgets and schedules needed to implement the viable alternatives.
Clearly define the scope of the project.
Tentatively select the overall approach that will be used to achieve the objectives.
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5. Anatomy of a Project Project Definition Phase- cont.
Unambiguous project description including
How the work will be done
How the project will be organized
Who the key personnel are
A tentative schedule
A tentative budget
Duet – base product on the existing European front-load platform, engineering design, industrial design, & manufacturing shared between Europe and North America. Cross-functional core team, ambitious development schedule, and budget established.
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6. Your turn … Define your project What can you say right now?
What assumptions?
What else would you need to know?
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7. Anatomy of a Project Planning and Organizing Phase
Detailed plans are prepared by responsible parties
Tasks identified
Task milestones are determined
Detailed budgets are determined
Resource requirements are established for each task
Organization is established (personnel hired or assigned)
Duet – Team leaders assigned and tasked with defining detailed budgets & timing plans, and filling teams.
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8. Your turn … Plan the project Identify 3 tasks:
Define 1 or more milestones for each:
What resources and budget would be needed for each?
take 5 minutes – identify 3 tasks, set milestones, identify resource/budget needs
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9. Anatomy of a Project Plan Validation Phase
Validate the plan through various means
Literature searches
Field reconnaissance
Experiments
Interviews
Other
Duet – product development project based on established C2C process. Schedules and budgets based on past experience with similar platform development projects. New or OEM technology particulars researched through vendors, benchmarking, and other research. Revenue estimates through market research.
How would you validate your plan?
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10. Anatomy of a Project Performance of Work Accomplishment Phase
Doing the work
Reporting the results
Trouble shooting
Staying on time and within budget
Altering plans
Duet – design, development, and launch of product less than 2 years after project initiation.
What challenges might you see as you look ahead? How might you overcome them?
EGR

11. Anatomy of a Project Post- Accomplishment Phase
Confirming the customer is satisfied
Documenting successes and failures as reference for future projects
Close out project accounts
Re-assign personnel
Transition to on-going support and maintenance phase
Duet – post-launch audit. Rapid response to minor problems with product.
What’s the ‘end’ of your project? How will you know when you’re done? What follow-up will be needed?
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12. Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
Project management involves a set of duties that must be performed and are no one else’s prime responsibility.
Ensure customer satisfaction
Direct and control all day-to-day activities necessary to accomplish the project
Take initiatives as required in order to accomplish the project
Negotiate commitments with the customer
Ensure collection of the fee
Inherent duties
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13. Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
Ensure Customer Satisfaction
Often considered the most important responsibility of the project manager
Good customer service procedures:
Confirm key issues during the course of the project
Maintain good informal relationships with the customer
Reread project requirements on several occasions
Keep the customer informed so that they can help respond to or influence project results and timing (no surprises)
Not all customers are good customers
If all else fails, legally terminate relationship
What customer satisfaction issues might arise in your project?
How will you address them?
EGR

14. Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
Direct and Control all Day-to-Day Activities
Direction and control may vary depending on staff capability and motivation (set goals and deliverables for some and micro-manage others).
Constantly use foresight to predict if project is staying on time and within budget
Maintain appropriate back-up plans when necessary.
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15. Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
Take Initiatives as Required In Order to Accomplish The Project
Problems will occur, when they do, the project manager needs to initiate corrective action.
Do no hesitate to seek advice (from supervisor, peers, employees, consultants, other.)
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16. Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
Negotiate Commitments with the Customer
Ultimate responsibility for commitments to the customer resides with the project manager.
If assigned to a project after commitments have been made, evaluate if commitments can actually be achieved. You may have to negotiate new terms if un-achievable, or report to management if no resolution possible.
As project progresses, some give and take may be necessary with customer.
Take your neighbor’s plan – can you meet these milestones? If not, what needs to be renegotiated? How would you do this?
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17. Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
Ensure Collection of Fee
Ensure customer meets their obligation of delivering fees for service (this is often handled by other parts of an organization).
Ensure all obligations are met by project team so that customer has no reason to withhold payment.
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18. Roles and Responsibilities of the Project Manager
Inherent Duties
Interpret the statement of work to supporting elements.
Prepare and be responsible for an implementation plan.
Define, negotiate and secure resource commitments.
Manage and coordinate interfaces created by subdividing the project.
Alert management to difficulties beyond one’s control.
Maintain standards and conform to established policies and practices.
Monitor and report progress and problems (informal.)
Organize and present reports and reviews (formal.)
Develop personnel as needed to accomplish the project.
Motivate!!
Project Managers – do you still want the job?
EGR