Instruction
#4: Project 2
UUsing MS Word, develop responses/answers to the following questions and exercises at the end of each chapter from the Schwalbe textbook:
1) Chapter 4 Exercise Question #1
Question 1: Write a short paper based on the chapter's opening case. Answer the following questions:
A. What do you think the real problem was in this case?
B. Does the case present a realistic scenario? Why or why not?
C. Was Nick Carson a good project manager? Why or why not?
D. What should top management have done to help Nick?
E. What could Nick have done to be a better project manager?
-----Text from book----- (used to answer question 1 above)
Nick Carson recently became project manager of a critical biotech enterprise at his Silicon Valley company. This project involved creating the hardware and software for a next generation (next-gen) DNA-sequencing instrument used in assembling and analyzing the human genome. Several companies were competing to build smaller, faster sequencing instruments that would reduce the cost and improve the quality of data analysis in this rapidly changing field. The biotech project was the company's largest endeavor and it had tremendous potential for future growth and revenue.
Unfortunately, there were problems managing this large project. It had been under way for three years and had already gone through three different project managers. Nick had been the lead software developer on the project before top management made him the project manager. The CEO told him to do whatever it took to deliver the first version of the product in four months and a production version in nine months. Negotiations for a potential corporate buyout with a larger company influenced top management's sense of urgency to complete the project.
Highly energetic and intelligent, Nick had the technical background to make the project a success. He delved into the technical problems and found some critical flaws that kept the next-gen DNA-sequencing instrument from working. Nevertheless, he was having difficulty in his new role as project manager. Although Nick and his team got the product out on time, top management was upset because Nick did not focus on managing all aspects of the project. He never provided them with accurate schedules or detailed plans of what was happening on the project. Instead of performing the work of project manager, Nick had taken on the role of software integrator and troubleshooter. Nick, however, did not understand top management's complaints- he delivered the product, didn't he? Didn't they realize how valuable he was?
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2) Chapter 5 Discussion Questions #2 AND #3
Question 2: What is involved in collecting requirements for a project? Why is it often difficult to do?
Question 3: Discuss the process of defining project scope in more detail as a project progresses, going from information in a project charter to a project scope statement, WBS, and WBS dictionary.
Compile all of your answers into one document, to include a Title page, at least two full pages of text in the body of your document, and a References page. Use the Sample APA Style Paper from Module 0 as your template. Do not retype each discussion or exercise question; label each section of your document with the item from the list above. For example, your first section would be labeled: Chapter 4 Exercise Question #1. Use proper APA style and your writing should be original. Include one reference from Google Scholar and one reference from one of the HCC online databases, as well as a reference to our class textbook. Be sure to identify each of your three references with the tags shown in the Sample APA Sytle Paper, namely, (Class Textbook), (HCC Online Databases), and (Google Scholar). If you need help with your writing, please visit the Writing Center on your campus (free service).
Save your document as Project2_YourName.docx (where "YourName" is the first letter of your first name concatenated with your last name. For example, if your name is Sally Jones, you would save your document as Project2_sjones.docx). Submit the Word file through the link above.