Schedule and Budget Exercise
Leanne Batiste
Managing Human Resource Projects
Professor Kenneth Lewis
08/01/2021
KENNETH LEWIS
In addition to the class and library references mentioned in the instructions, be sure to always rely on and cite the official class textbook - Kloppenborg 4e.
Use the case provided and make use of the sources from the instructions and class materials.
Remember, we are talking about completing the centralization of the HR function. WorkSafe, Inc. is already a centralized organization. Be sure to incorporate the information provided in Instructor Insights. Apply the topics to the Case Study: Centralization of HR Project at WorkSafe, Inc. and write as if you are the project manager talking to your team preliminary to approval to start the project.
KENNETH LEWIS
HRM 517 Managing HR Projects
EXPECTATIONS
Week 4 Assignment - Activity: Schedule and Budgeting Exercise for Project Scenario
1. Write a one-page paper in which you outline the process you would use to move to a centralized HR structure.
• Go back to the Week 3 assignment, Organizing HR Projects, and consider the goal of the HR project.
• Conduct research on centralized and decentralized organizational structures and come up with three tasks that you would need to move to a centralized HR structure.
Consider methods for assigning costs to tasks and come up with the process (not the actual budget) that you would use to determine a budget for this project. Review, as needed, the following sites regarding cost estimation: The Ultimate Guide to Project Cost Estimating; Cost Estimation for Projects: How to Estimate Accurately.
2. (On the second page - using the three tasks) Create a WBS for this project and analyze each task using the Project Budget WBS Template [XLSX].
Follow these hints to insert the chart into the paper: Microsoft. (No date). Insert a Chart from an Excel Spreadsheet into Word. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-chart-from-an-excel-spreadsheet-into-word-0b4d40a5-3544-4dcd-b28f-ba82a9b9f1e1
Remember the cost estimating method you selected.
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course.
Your assignment must:
• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow SWS school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
Transitioning to a Centralized Structure
A centralized structure is a business or organizational structure whereby the top
management makes the business decisions of the business or organization, distributed
down the chain of command. On the other hand, a decentralized structure is a business
or organizational structure whereby the senior management of the business organization
shifts the decision-making to lower levels in the organization.
The goal of the HR project is to integrate the provision of the HR services
provided to the clients. To do that, the company has to adopt a centralized system. That
indicates that the company is currently using a decentralized system. Certain processes
should be adhered to when transitioning from a decentralized structure to a centralized
structure. The processes act as tips to ensure that the transition is effective. That is
because the transition is a stressful and extensive process. One of the things needed to
move to a centralized structure is selecting a system that will fit into the company
culture. Every company or business is different (Melick, 2020). That indicates that they
all have different cultures. Thus, it is crucial to maintain the company culture during the
transition. That ensures that the company becomes lean and efficient in decision making
within the company, thus increasing their ability to pursue strategic opportunities.
During the transition, communication should be promoted. Communication is
critical during the transitioning phase. Since all the parties involved in the transition to a
centralized system will need to adjust and adapt, effective communication should be
used to ensure that they all understand the need to transition and how things will work
after the transition (Melick, 2020). Additionally, through the promotion of effective
communication during the transitioning phase, the challenges faced will be mitigated
easily. The process should also be documented correctly and completely. That will
ensure that all the departments in the company will align to the central structure after
the transition. That will avoid the pitfalls that may exist if all the departments in the
KENNETH LEWIS
So the three project tasks you are addressing are: selecting a system which fits the culture at WorkSafe, Inc.; promoting communications; & documenting the process.
KENNETH LEWIS
Topic #1 / page 1. Narrative: Process to move to a centralized HR structure at WorkSafe, Inc. Describe at least three tasks necessary to carry out the Centralization of HR Project at WorkSafe, Inc.
These tasks could be some of the deliverables at different stages of the project life cycle.
Specifically tie the tasks to the Centralization of HR Project at WorkSafe, Inc.
PMBOK describes project management in terms of five (5) process groups, ten (10) knowledge areas, and forty-nine (49) processes. (Kloppenborg , 2019, p.10) The 5 project management process groups are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing. The tasks used in this scheduling and budget exercise may be from any of the process groups in the life cycle of the Centralization of HR Project at WorkSafe, Inc.
The research on centralization is to help envision how the change will be managed and to select three tasks for analysis.
KENNETH LEWIS
Apply these generalizations about centralization to the HR Dept only and, specifically, to this Centralization of HR Project at WorkSafe, Inc.
company have not adopted the new system after the transition.
Method for Assigning Costs
Various methods may be used to assign costs to a project. On-time and on-budget
completion of a project is one of the desired outcomes by project managers. To ensure
that a project is within the budget, the project's costs must be estimated. To accurately
assign the costs of a project, the work breakdown structure should be used. Formulating
the work breakdown structure entails breaking down a project into smaller tasks that
need to be achieved. That guides the project manager to identify all the tasks involved
when carrying out a project.
After the tasks have been broken down into the primary tasks that need to be done,
the project manager should then assign the costs to the tasks. Different methods of
assigning the costs to the tasks are used depending on the tasks involved. For instance,
if the equipment is to be purchased, the average market price of such equipment may be
used (Takano et al., 2017). The cost of the task can also be assigned using the hourly
rate in case of labor. Historical data from similar projects may also be used when
assigning the costs. After the costs of the various tasks have been assigned, the project
manager can go ahead and create the project budget. Due to a lack of verification of the
accuracy of the estimated costs, the project budget should include some funds set aside
to be used in case of miscellaneous spending.
KENNETH LEWIS
OMITTED
Topic #2 / page 2. Table: Use the Excel template provided to create a WBS and analyze the tasks. Base the WBS on the three tasks from page one. Enter some reasonable numbers under each heading for each task to illustrate how the project budget might look.
KENNETH LEWIS
Use and cite the Kloppenborg 4e textbook, too.
KENNETH LEWIS
Select a process to determine the project budget.
From Kloppenborg Exhibit 1.4 pp. 12-13 the Cost Knowledge Area contains: (Planning) 7.1 Plan Cost Management, 7.2 Estimate Costs, 7.3 Determine Budget (Monitoring & Controlling), and 7.4 Control Costs. Selecting the method to estimate the cost and developing the WBS chart with estimated costs for some tasks are both part of this activity.
Both Eby and Westland describe several cost estimating techniques (Eby, over a dozen while Westland focuses on a half dozen or so). Select one to use for this project.
Use the case provided and make use of the sources from the instructions and class materials.
These methods of estimating project cost are not from either the Eby or the Westland articles.
Eby:
Analogous, Bottom-up, Parametric, Cost of Quality, Delphi, Empirical, Expert, Reserve analysis, Three-point, GAO 12-Step, PM Software such as Monte Carlo, & Vendor bid analysis.
Eby uses smartsheet.
Westland:
Analogous, Bottom-up, Cost of quality, Reserve Analysis, Software (Dynamic Tools), & Three-point,
Westland uses Gantt chart.
References
Melick, J. V. (2020). Ethical infrastructure in a centralized organizational
structure.
Takano, Y., Ishii, N., & Muraki, M. (2017). Multi-period resource allocation for
estimating project costs in competitive bidding. Central European Journal of
Operations Research, 25(2), 303-323.
KENNETH LEWIS
References:
As an exercise, no set number of references is mandated. However, all source material used must be attributed to the sources and some items are essential - such as the Kloppenborg 4e textbook, the Eby and Westland references on cost estimating, and the instructions on how to insert the Excel chart into a Word document, etc.
Money3032
ManagingHRProjectAssignment2.pdf
