Angela C Benzies1 Project Management Angela C Benzies School of Engineering Napier University

Angela C Benzies2 Definition of Project zAn undertaking that has a beginning and an end and is carried out to meet established goals within cost, schedule and quality objectives za finite activity in use of resources - time, people, money, equipment zneeds resources on a part-time basis

Angela C Benzies3 What Sort of Project? zFocus is on academic projects ymainly MSc ycan be PgD projects, or other zTypical elements yacademic rigour ydemonstration of practical skills yuse of research skills

Angela C Benzies4 The Project Manager zBrings together and optimises the resources necessary to complete the project successfully zResponsible for whole of the project lifecycle zWorks across functional boundaries zKey resource for successful project completion

Angela C Benzies5 Key Players - MSc Projects zThe researcher zThe supervisor(s) yacademic yindustrial zThe examiners yinternal yexternal zThe client, if applicable

Angela C Benzies6 Project Parameters Quality SpecificationsBudget CostTime Schedule

Angela C Benzies7 Project Management Model zA five-step model may be considered: yDefine yPlan yImplement yControl yComplete

Angela C Benzies8 Project Selection Student and/or Institution’s Long-Term Goals Analysis of Resources Proposal Effort All the projects in the world Projects consistent with long-term goals Projects now addressable Solid proposals Filter Resources

Angela C Benzies9 Project Definition zWhy are you doing this project? zWho is involved? zWhat are the objectives and constraints? zWhat are the alternatives? zWrite it down, discuss and agree

Angela C Benzies10 Project Planning zEstablish objective zFormulate basic strategy zDevelop the work breakdown structure zProduce estimates yresources, schedules, budget zResource requirements planning zUse policies and procedures - School, Uni

Angela C Benzies11 Work Breakdown Structure zHierarchical chart of project’s structure zIdentifies activities and interrelationships zStart to examine the three parameters zHelpful to those less familiar with project details

Angela C Benzies12 MSc Project WBS Do MSc Project Select a topic Make a plan Gather & analyse data Perform literature search Write up Decide objectives Develop WBS Produce estimates Plan resources Create Gantt chart

Angela C Benzies13 Project Planning Techniques zCPM & PERT zGantt Charts yhorizontal bar chart ydisplays time relationship of project steps ysequence and concurrency shown yactual and planned progress may be charted zComputer-based tools yincorporates above techniques

Angela C Benzies14 Key Issues in Planning zTask framework zResource allocation yhuman yfinancial yother zTime budget zQuality standards

Angela C Benzies15 Planning for Quality zSpecify yperformance standards to be met yperformance measurement criteria ymeans of verifying quality zWrite specifications for each element yrefer to School publications for guidance zUse specifications to control project

Angela C Benzies16 Time Estimation and Planning zDecide shortest time necessary to complete project zEstimate time for each element of WBS zDecide task sequence and identify concurrency possibilities zOverall, aim to determine for each task: yduration, earliest and latest start time zNeed experience of same or similar tasks

Angela C Benzies17 Risk zCannot be eliminated but must be managed and resolved zThree steps for risk management: yidentify the risks yassess the likelihood of occurrence and impact ydevelop risk management plans

Angela C Benzies18 Project Implementation & Control zProject manager co-ordinates all aspects of work zKey activities are: ycontrolling work in progress yproviding feedback ynegotiating for resources (materials, services) zVariety of skills required

Angela C Benzies19 Helpful Techniques zChecklists zTo do lists zClear sense of priorities - yours and other people’s zCategories of time use zPareto analysis - the 80/20 rule zPersonal scheduling zTime logs

Angela C Benzies20 Providing Feedback zTo all involved in the project zTiming and frequency should be appropriate zBe accurate, specific, realistic zPerformance adjustment, if required

Angela C Benzies21 Project Completion & Handover zClient acceptance is main aim ybased on agreed specifications yneed objective and measurable criteria zSome aspects of project may follow after handover of main part zCompletion usually involves: yproject staff reassignment ydisposal of materials and supplies yrelease of facilities yfinal reporting and evaluation

Angela C Benzies22 Key Attributes of the Successful MSc Student zproblem solver zdecision-maker zintelligent zcompetent zmethodical zobservant z perceptive z positive z resilient z reliable z active z communicator

Angela C Benzies23 References zSharp, J and Howard, K The Management of a Student Research Project Gower, Aldershot, 1996 (2nd ed.) zHaynes, M E, Project Management Kogan Page, London, 1990 zLock, D Project Management Gower, Aldershot, 1992, 5th ed. zGash, S Effective Literature Searching for Research Gower, 2000, (2nd ed.)

Angela C Benzies24 The Management of a Student Research Project zPart A Preparation yResearch & the Research Student ySelecting and Justifying a Research Project yPlanning the Research Project yLiterature Searching

Angela C Benzies25 The Management of a Student Research Project zPart B Data Analysis and Gathering yAnalysing the Data yGathering the Data zPart C Producing the Research Results yExecuting the Research yPresentation of the Research Findings zEpilogue zAppendices