Week 7 Final Project BUSN 420

BUSN 420 Management Information Systems

Final Project

The following exercise will show you how to create a Gantt chart using Excel. Being able to

create a Gantt Chart from scratch in Excel will not only save your company or ministry money

they would have spent purchasing Microsoft Project, but it will also show your supervisor that

you have the data analysis and project management skills to bring great value to the company or

ministry.

Please read the information provided and complete each exercise. Once you have completed all

of the exercises below, submit your Excel and Word document using the final project assignment

link in Canvas. Please see the grading rubric at the end of these instructions for more

information.

• First, read the attached Tech Plug-In T11: Creating Gantt Charts with Excel and

Microsoft Project

• Then, review the “Creating Gantt Charts with Excel” section on pages T11-2 through

T11-4

• Create Figure T11.1 “Gantt Chart in Excel” on page T11-2 using the steps provided on

pages T11-2 through T11-4.

SOLVE A PROBLEM USING A GANTT CHART

Now that you have learned about Gantt charts, it is time to see how valuable they can be when

managing any project. Understanding every task (scope), each project member (resource), and

required time frames (time) is the most important piece of managing a project. If you can

understand these three components (scope, resource, time) and how they impact each other, you

can manage most projects.

You are ready to test your project management skills. Select a project of your choice and create a

Gantt chart to manage the project using Microsoft Excel. The project can be anything, including

reorganizing your house, cleaning your car, a renovation project, hosting an event, or even

decorating for a party/the holidays. It is essential that your Gantt chart include all of the

following:

1. All tasks associated with completing the project. (Must have at least 15 tasks.)

2. All resources involved in completing the project.

3. All time frames required to complete the project.

Once you have completed your Gantt chart, share it with your family/friends and actually

execute the project plan (if timeframe allows). Then answer the following questions:

• What happened when you discussed/followed the plan?

• Did everyone understand each task from your description well enough to perform it?

• Was the amount of time you allowed for each task appropriate?

• If you could rewrite the plan, what would you change and why?

• How can Gantt charts help you when you begin running real business or ministry

projects?

• What ethical issues might surface when putting processes into a Gantt chart where

specific resources are assigned tasks in tight timeframes that are dependent on previous

steps? How should a Christian Worldview inform these ethical dilemmas?

Please be brief and keep your essay responding to these questions to around 400-600 words. As

you analyze the above questions, please consult and include at least one peer-reviewed

scholarly journal reference to support your conclusions.

All 3 sections of the final project should be submitted in Canvas, including:

1.) A Gantt chart illustrating Figure T11.1 “Gantt Chart in Excel” in the assignment instructions

2.) A Gantt chart for the Solve a Problem exercise, including 15 tasks

3.) An essay addressing the questions outlined in the assignment instructions

The following rubric will be used to grade your submissions:

BUSN 420 Final Project Grading Rubric (100 points)

Gantt Chart Possible Points Actual Points

The data entered into the Excel worksheet matches the data presented in Figure T11.3

The data entered into the Excel worksheet does not match the data presented in Figure T11.3

10

10

The first legend entries (series) contains the Start Date for the series name and the Start Dates data for the series values.

The first legend entries (series) contains a different field other than the Start Date field for the series name and series data.

5

5

The second legend entries (series) contains the Duration (Days) for the series name and the Duration (Days) data for the series values.

The second legend entries (series) contains a different field other than the Duration (Days) field for the series name and the series data.

5

5

The horizontal (category) axis labels have been added from the task column.

The horizontal (category) axis labels do not represent the tasks listed in the task column.

5

5

The Gantt chart is in a 2-D stacked horizontal bar chart format.

The Gantt chart is not in a 2-D stacked horizontal bar chart format.

5

5

The legend has been deleted from the chart.

The legend appears in the chart. 5 5

The start date chart field has no fill and no border, as illustrated in Figure T11.5.

The start date chart field is filled in and has a border.

5

5

The task categories appear in reverse order on the y-axis of the Gantt chart, as illustrated in Figure T11.6.

The task categories do not appear in reverse order on the y-axis of the Gantt chart as illustrated in Figure T11.6.

5

5

Comments: 45 45

Using Gantt Charts to Solve a Problem Possible Points Actual Points

The Gantt Chart has been properly constructed.

The Gantt Chart has not been properly constructed. 10 10

The Gantt chart clearly identifies 15 or more steps involved in the process identified.

The Gantt chart does not clearly identify 15 or more steps involved in the process identified.

10

10

The Gantt chart clearly identifies the tasks, resources, and timeframes involved in completing the project.

The Gantt chart does not clearly identify the tasks, resources, and timeframes involved in completing the project.

5

5

The Gantt chart clearly identifies a clear and understandable solution for the project.

The Gantt chart does not clearly identify a clear and understandable solution for the project.

5

5

The student has provided a robust 400 to 600-word analysis of their Gantt chart experience with evidence that they had someone else review their Gantt chart.

The student has not provided a robust 400 to 600-word analysis of their Gantt chart experience with evidence that they had someone else review their Gantt chart.

10

10

The student has supported their text with at least one peer-reviewed scholarly journal reference.

The student has not supported their text with at least one peer-reviewed scholarly journal reference.

5

5

Spelling, punctuation, APA formatting, and grammar are stellar.

Spelling, punctuation, APA formatting, and grammar are poor.

10 10

Comments: 55 55

Late deductions (e.g., -10):

Final Score: 100 100 Overall Comments: