Project Management Final Paper

[WLO: 3] [CLOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Before starting with this final assignment, please (a) complete this week’s readings, (b) review the weekly lecture, (c) review grading rubric, (d) read the 8 Simple Rules of Good Writing download, and (e) review the PRM300 Week 5 Final Paper Template download from your class. It is highly recommended that you use grading rubric as your checklist to ensure every element is included in your final paper.

While a five-week course barely covers the full range of responsibilities of a project manager, it should have given you a solid perspective on what does it take to manage a project. Now that you have a basic understanding of the project management life cycle, it is your turn to share what you have learned.

The Project Management Final Paper needs to include screenshot examples and explanations of project selection form, project scope template, work breakdown structures (WBS), and the Gantt chart created in prior weeks. Be sure to update these examples based on: (a) any new criteria presented in these instructions, (b) any feedback you received on the previous assignments, (c) any knowledge you obtained in the class, and/or (d) any additional information you obtained during your research so that your final paper can reflect project management best practices.

Include the following elements in your paper:

Introduction

• Introduce the paper and highlight what the paper will include.
• Explain what a project is and how project management can contribute to an organization’s success.
• Briefly outline the five process groups in the project management life cycle.

Initiating

• Explain the pre-planning stage of the project management lifecycle.
  • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the pre-planning/project selection stage.
• Describe the elements of the project selection form.
  • Provide an example of a project selection form.
  • Explain the purpose of a project selection form.
  • Insert an updated and corrected copy of the project selection form from week 1 to use as an example.
  • Explain the elements of the project selection form and their importance.

Planning

• Explain the planning process of the project management lifecycle.
  • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the planning stage.
• Explain the purpose of the project scope statement and all the terms used in the project scope template.
  • Project Basics:
    • Project Name
    • Project Sponsor
    • Project Scope Statement
  • Project Scope:
    • Assumptions
    • Milestones
    • Out of Scope (Exclusions)
  • Project Execution:
    • Stakeholders
    • Time estimate
    • Cost estimate
    • Project Acceptance Criteria
  • Insert a corrected and updated screenshot of your project scope template from week 2 into your final paper.
  • Explain the work breakdown structure (WBS), project milestones, and the critical path.
    • Explain how these elements relate to your project’s status.
  • Create a work breakdown structure (WBS) in the ProjectLibre or modify the example you created in week 3, incorporating both instructor and peer feedback (as applicable).
    • Include a screenshot of the WBS as an example in your paper. (Make sure the example contains the appropriate level of details, so the reader understands the full context of the project without assuming anything.)

Executing 

• Explain the executing process group of the project management lifecycle.
  • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to executing the project.
• Explain the change control process.

Monitoring and Controlling 

• Explain the monitoring and controlling within the project management lifecycle.
  • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to monitoring and controlling the project.

Closing

• Explain the closing process within the project management lifecycle.
  • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to closing a project or phase.
• Explain what a “Lessons Learned” report is and highlight its importance for future projects within the organization.

Conclusion

• Conclude the paper by reiterating how project management improves an organization’s success and highlighting the importance of using the five process groups for accomplishing a project’s objectives. (Review the Writing Center’s page on Introductions and Conclusions  (Links to an external site.)for more information.)

Your Project Management Final Paper

• The final paper must be 2,500 to 3,500 words in length (10 to 12 double-spaced pages, not including title page, screen captures, or references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center’s APA Style (Links to an external site.) resource.
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Word 2013.  (Links to an external site.)
• Must utilize academic tone in your final paper. See the Academic Voice  (Links to an external site.)for additional guidance.
• Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
• Must use at least four scholarly, peer-reviewed, or credible sources in addition to the course text.
• Must document any information used from sources in APA style as outlined in the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center’s Citing Within Your Paper (Links to an external site.) guide.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References List  (Links to an external site.)resource in the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center for specifications.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.