4-2 Final Project Milestone Two: Approach Selection – Decision Paper

QSO 435 Milestone Two Guidelines and Rubric

Using the scenario organization you selected for Milestone One, you will now develop an Approach Selection decision paper. The decision paper will be targeted for the senior program manager in the Program Management Office (PMO) of your scenario organization. The decision paper will build upon the information paper you developed for Milestone One in Module Two. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

• Analyze alternatives of various project management (PM) approaches. • Provide a project management approach selection with explanation and defense of decision. • Provide an approach analysis with detailed examples.

Guidelines for Submission: Your Milestone Two submission, Approach Selection decision paper, must be 1–2 pages in length (plus a cover page and references) and must be written in APA format. Use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Include at least three references cited in APA format.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

PM Approaches Meets “Proficient” criteria, and submission is well organized and detailed to a level that shows keen insight into the nuances, risks, and benefits

Compares and contrasts various types of project management approaches; addresses situation described in the information paper from Milestone One

Reviews various types of project management approaches, but does not address situation described in the information paper from Milestone One

Does not review types of project management approaches, or does not build on information paper from Milestone One

30

Approach Selection Meets “Proficient” criteria, and defense is well organized and detailed to a level that shows keen insight into the nuances, risks, and benefits of electing the PM approaches

Selects a PM approach type that is comprehensively defended based on specific references to the previous analysis and includes necessary detail

Selects a PM approach and defends the approach, but does not make specific references to previous analysis, or lacks necessary detail

Does not select and defend a PM approach type

30

Approach Analysis Meets “Proficient” criteria, and analysis professionally details the key principles of the selected PM approach and explains why the approach was selected, with detailed examples

Analyzes the key principles behind the selected PM approach and explains why the approach was selected, with detailed examples

Analyzes the key principles behind the selected PM approach and explains why the approach was selected, but does not provide detailed examples or misses key elements

Does not analyze the key principles of the selected PM approach and does not explain why the approach was selected, or does not select a PM approach

30

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

10

Earned Total 100%