homework replies

QSO 349 -Proj Contracting/Procurement

initial post :

Hello everyone,

my name is Mohammed Alshaghathirah and I'm from Saudi Arabia , and my major is Business Administration. with connections in Project Management. my goals is to starting my own wholesale food business. Now let’s discuss the case example please.

To map the activities of purchasing a car to the five project management process groups, we can use the following breakdown:

● Initiating: This would involve deciding to purchase a car, setting a budget, and determining the purpose of the car (e.g. commuting, family use, etc.)

● Planning: This would involve researching different car models and dealerships, comparing prices and features, and making a plan for financing the purchase.

● Executing: This would involve visiting dealerships, test-driving cars, and negotiating with salespeople to reach an agreement on price and terms.

● Monitoring and Controlling: This would involve keeping track of the purchase agreement and ensuring that all the terms and conditions are met.

● Closing: This would involve finalizing the purchase, taking delivery of the car, and completing any necessary paperwork.

As for the procurement requirements, they would include:

● Setting a budget for the purchase

● Researching different car models and dealerships

● Comparing prices and features

● Test driving the car

● Negotiating with salespeople

● Finalizing the purchase

● Taking delivery of the car

● Completing any necessary paperwork

Regarding using a different type of contract to purchase a car, one alternative could be a lease contract. A lease contract would allow the buyer to use the car for a specified period in exchange for regular payments. This could be a good option for someone who wants to use a car for a short period and doesn't want to commit to a long-term purchase. However, it's important to carefully review the terms of the lease contract, including the mileage allowance and any fees or penalties for early termination, as these can have a significant impact on the overall cost of the lease. So, there is a margin with that.

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Response posts :

In response to your peers' posts, comment on the characteristics of an effective procurement process and indicate what you may have done differently if you were making this purchase.

Peer 1:

Melissa McElroy

Hi class! I’m Melissa. I’m majoring in Business Administration w/ a concentration in Project Management. I’m on track to finish before the end of the year. I was partway through my degree when I stopped in 2017 and I am very proud that I started back up last year and am so close to finishing. I currently work for a homebuilder in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. I am a Project Coordinator and handle all contract negotiations. This class will align perfectly with my current duties, and I hope to learn more to elevate my skill in that department.

The shopping for a car prompt; I firstly have to say what great parents! Mine never considered buying new, which was probably the best choice, because it was totaled 2 years later by a drunk driver. Here is how I would map the activities from the prompt to the 5 project management process groups:

Initiating – The family decided that Abby needed a car.

Planning – Details were determined. They researched brands and styles of cars for safety and ran the pro’s and con’s of new vs. old.

Executing – They went to a dealership to drive a Prius, which was a top choice in mind. They loved it but did their due diligence by not pulling the trigger too early. Instead, they went to other dealerships and test drove other cars so they were more confident in their final decision.

Controlling – Once they decided the Prius was the way to go, they went to purchase but hit a speedbump when they couldn’t agree on the car style. Without actively initiating a controlling aspect of a project, they could have ended with no car because an agreement couldn’t be made. Instead, they talked through the features and options and made a final decision that still resulted in a new car.

Closing – They finalized on the C-2 that Abby wanted which meant paperwork / financing / and ordering that Prius.

The requirements of this procurement was to find Abby a safe and reliable vehicle at a cost that was comfortable and affordable for the parents. This was a successful procurement.

Rather than financing a car – their other options could have been to lease a car which would have meant they weren’t tied to it long term, or they could have researched further and lowered expectations by purchasing a used car instead.

I look forward to learning more in this course. Good luck everyone.

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Peer 2 :

Nicholas Cain

To break down buying a vehicle in terms of project management and would is needed for procurement would be as follows.

Initiation: Deciding that you need to purchase a car for a rational reason, which would include setting a budget for the purchase or understanding what would be needed to purchase the car.

Planning: Laying out what type of vehicle is needed, and where you could purchase the vehicle.

Executing: Seeking out a dealership to purchase the vehicle, test driving, and reviewing purchase terms.

Controlling: Making sure purchase terms are in agreement and worth the value of the vehicle that was selected, it could also mean comparing terms or financing from another dealer.

Closing: Finalizing the purchase, and getting possession of the car.

Another method of purchasing the car could be leasing, or even trading in. Depending on the long term goal of the vehicle could determine the best method of purchase.

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QSO 435 - Adaptive Project Mgmt

initial post :

Hello Everyone ,

my name is Mohammed Alshaghathirah, and I`m from Saudi Arabia , my major is Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management, and for our discussion this week :

The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a guidebook that outlines the standard practices for project management. It is published by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and is widely used in many industries. In traditional project management, the PMBOK identifies five key components:

1. Project Initiation

2. Project Planning

3. Project Execution

4. Project Monitoring and Control

5. Project Closure

Each of these components has its own roles and responsibilities. For example, during project initiation, the project manager is responsible for defining the project, identifying stakeholders, and obtaining approval to begin work on the project. During project planning, the project manager is responsible for creating a detailed project plan that outlines the scope, timeline, budget, and resources required for the project. During project execution, the project manager is responsible for overseeing the work of the project team and ensuring that the project is progressing according to plan. During project monitoring and control, the project manager is responsible for tracking progress, identifying and managing risks, and making adjustments as needed. Finally, during project closure, the project manager is responsible for formally closing out the project and obtaining approval from stakeholders.

Of all these components, I believe that project planning is the most important element of the PMBOK processes. This is because project planning sets the foundation for the entire project. Without a well-thought-out project plan, it becomes difficult to execute the project efficiently and effectively. A good project plan helps the project team to stay on track and enables the project manager to manage resources effectively. The project plan also serves as a communication tool between the project team and stakeholders, helping everyone involved to stay on the same page.

In summary, the PMBOK identifies five key components in traditional project management: project initiation, project planning, project execution, project monitoring and control, and project closure. Each of these components has its own roles and responsibilities. Of these components, I believe that project planning is the most important element because it sets the foundation for the entire project and enables efficient and effective execution.

References Project Team Roles and Responsibilities Explained. Villanovau.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from

https://www.villanovau.com/resources/project-management/project-team-roles-and-responsibiliti es/

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Response posts :

respond to at least two of your peers. When providing feedback to your peers, comment on what they posted as the most important element of PMBOK.

Peer 1 :

Kimberly Hart

Hello everyone,

I am Kimberly Hart and I currently work as an executive assistant at The TimKen Company

based in North Canton, Ohio, supporting four executives. I have worked over 25 years in office

management and director roles. I am that go to person in your office who wears many hats and

gets the job done. I also have extensive experience with Excel and various computer programs.

Program Management Office (PMO) plays a vital role in an organization within project

management activities. As Kerzner (2019) illustrates in their study, PMO is a department or a

group in a firm or business mandated with defining and standardizing project management. The

project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) is a set of aspects and guidelines that can be

applied in project management. PMBOK has been the currently utilized reference body in

performing roles and responsibilities within the traditional management approach. The PMBOK

describes traditional management to be grouped into five processes planning, initiation,

executing, controlling, and closing of processes (Martinsuo & Ahola, 2022). In each process,

there are specific roles and responsibilities that the project management team should follow to

attain success in an organization.

The initiation process in project management, as described within the PMBOK, involves the

integration of the project requirements. A project manager should read and understand what is

needed in a proposed project. Within the planning process, the project manager should set the

proposed project's scope, time, and cost (Martinsuo & Ahola, 2022). Then is the executing

process that entails putting the proposed project's plan into action. Some major activities

involved in the execution process are; team development, source selection, and quality

assurance. Controlling is another process within the traditional project management framework

which entails performance reporting, schedule control, quality control, and scope change control

(Kerzner, 2019). The proposed project ends within the closing process, as described in the

PMBOK. Quality assurance is one of the processes in the execution of a project that I think is

vital. Quality assurance is essential because it ensures all the required elements of a project are

combined to achieve unique output.

References

Kerzner, H. (2019). Using the project management maturity model: strategic planning for

project management. John Wiley & Sons.

https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=4vyGDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&

dq=project+management&ots=UbDmH4d1nR&sig=31rzSL4L5TuFjhAKImtpSGiICvg

Martinsuo, M., & Ahola, T. (2022). Multi-project management in inter-organizational

contexts. International Journal of Project Management, 40(7), 813–826.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2022.09.003

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Peer 2 :

Cassidy Fitzgerald

Hi everyone,

Good evening! My name is Cassidy Fitzgerald. I am from Greensboro, North Carolina, working for Schneider Electric, an electrical repair and manufacturing company. After this course, I have two classes left to complete to obtain my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Managment. Although I have not held any project management roles, I have assisted in many projects, including product line transfers to the SE Greensboro site. This course hopefully will provide me with better insight into Adaptive Management practices and how to apply and use them in my current supporting roles to project product transfers.

The key components, roles, and responsibilities found in traditional project management can be compiled in the five elements of project management found in the PMBOK, which consist of the key components of Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. Each component includes a part of the project management process that incorporates applying knowledge, skills, and methods to project deliverables to meet the project and organizational goals. If I were to lead a discussion by describing the key components, roles, and responsibilities of project management, I would go through each element to give a brief description in the meeting. I would finish by saying that all elements are essential to the success of a project, but the most crucial part is the planning stage, followed by the monitoring and controlling stage. The planning element consists of determining a defined project scope, estimating required resources, and creating a time and cost project estimate. All these are essential to defining the project goals, deadlines, and project deliverables. Monitoring and controlling ensure the project is on track and on budget. Without measurable performance goals, a project will be unsuccessful.

Have a great night!

References:

Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK(R) Guide–Sixth Edition / Agile Practice Guide Bundle: Vol. Sixth edition. Project Management Institute.

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QSO 355 -Resource Estimate & Schedule

initial post :

Hello everyone,

My name is Mohammed Alshaghathirah and I'm from Saudi Arabia. my major is Business Administration, with connections in Project Management. My goal is to start my own wholesale food business. I recently encountered an Electric vehicle and I had to manage the project. The project management relates my experience with the project design and managing team with project deadlines and providing the project objectives to the stakeholders and completing those project objectives with my team. These are the terms I have faced with project management recently and I think being an entrepreneur I will tackle these problems in my startup and later on as well. These things provide many aspiring experiences about how the project is managed and how you solve challenges facing the project.

I would like to work as a CAPM with inexperience to boost my career and then create the opportunity to learn about project management and utilise that skill to start my own career starting my own project. Using CAPM to start the career instead of making up for PMP will be easier to get in and it would provide me with more skills in less time to utilise those skills in my own goals and career I plan to.

I think with project management I would have more business management skills and I can use my marketing and business skills combined with project management skills to boost the career in

business. One such example is about the career opportunity in Business Analyst to have project management experience is really a good scope of growth in that field. As I have plans to boost my career in initiating my own startup, I think collaborating my business skills with software and web development would be really a handy line-up in the technical department if I have experience with my project management skills as well. One project management concept that is particularly relevant to my career is the Agile methodology. Agile is a project management approach that emphasises flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement. As a software developer, I work in a team with other developers, testers, and project managers to deliver software products in iterative cycles called sprints.

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Response posts : In response to your peers, comment on and add to their examples. Support your initial posts and response posts with scholarly sources cited in APA style.

All discussion posts will be graded using the Discussion Rubric, which can be found in the Assignment Guidelines and Rubrics section of the course.

Peer 1 :

Jackie Ardini

Good afternoon, class!

My name is Jackie, and I live just north of Boston, MA with my 5-year-old daughter. I work full-time as an Army Civilian, and I have also been in the Army Reserves for almost 15 years. I am pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management. Personally, I do not have a lot of formal experience with Project Management, but I have the aspiration to become a PM in the federal service. In my current position, we do have our own individual projects and group projects, but I do not have PM experience per say. I

did not realize that there was a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) until now, so I would definitely pursue the CAPM before I pursue the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (after I obtain more experience in the field).

Project Managers should have management and technical knowledge and they need to plan, coordinate, and their team(s) (Project management Institute, 2017). As an administrator, I have to wear many hats, and I also have to have a large, working knowledge in all areas and utilize a variety of resources in those areas within my industry. We do have sections or shops that have dedicated personnel to serve as the subject matter experts, and I believe that our roles get twisted/intertwined a lot. I think it is a constant uphill battle of putting the proper personnel in charge of tasks and in running into scope creep with our projects. I have a goal of creating standard operating procedures for my company and putting the idea in managements’ head to have the other companies/sections do the same. I think this would better assist us in properly utilizing our resources, staying organized, and prevent scope creep in all of our projects. With a proper layout of what we should be completing/handling, we will plan training and operations that our in our lane(s), and the other sectors can further add in more aspects that are related to their duties. Since it is within the Army, they more than likely would not call it the scope, Project Charter, or Work Breakdown Structure (Project management Institute, 2017), but I think it would be very beneficial for our battalion.

References

Project management Institute, (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK(R) Guide–Sixth Edition / Agile Practice Guide Bundle. https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/eds/ebookviewer/ebook?sid=4e9b02 49-0908-49c7-b2f9-b933e213775a%40redis&ppid=pp_Sec1_1&vid=0&format=E B

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Peer 2 :

Doug Zamboni

Hi all,

My name is Doug, and I currently reside in the Pacific Northwest splitting time between

Portland and Seattle. I am in my second to last term for completing my Bachelor’s in

Business Administration, and am looking forward to continuing my studies towards a

Masters in Organizational Leadership next year.

I work in the biopharmaceutical industry as a change manager in an enterprise strategy

office. My daily work has me work closely with project managers on enterprise level

projects and create change management strategies that help to increase project success.

Most projects I currently work on are on the larger scale (SAP integration, Organization

Design, etc.) but I have worked on all size and matter of projects. At this time, I am

undecided whether I will pursue the CAPM or PMP though if I were to it would be the

PMP as it will fit well with the Scrum Master Certification I am currently working on.

The scope of my current role means that the concepts and principles of project

management apply to my professional life (and with a wife who is a PMP my private as

well). The example I will use is not a specific project, but rather stakeholder

management. I utilize stakeholder management in every project that I work on, starting

with identification of impacted stakeholders. Next, we look at impact, communication,

whether they are supportive or opposed, possible resistance. Gather this information,

folding it into our stakeholder management plan and ensuring the plan is updated

throughout the project is crucial for adoption. Looking at the reading the statement

from the PMBOK, I was glad to see the move towards a broader view of stakeholders

when you are listing them. To often I have seen stakeholders identified as just those

immediately impacted by a project, this can lead to missing impacted groups and less

than optimal project success. There are multiple other close connections to change

management and project management including risk/resistance management,

communication, and scope but for me stakeholder management is one of the key ones

that I spend effort on with my PM counterpart.

Project management will continue to critical to my career growth and success even

though I am not currently following a project management career path. Due to the

nature of my role I need to be well versed in project management and its core principles,

so I can effectively work with my project manager colleagues and understand how to

continue to weave change management activities seamlessly into the project

management plan and process.

References

Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of

Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide – Sixth Edition/Agile Practice Guide Bundle: Vol. Sixth

edition. Project Management Institute