Week 6: Project Management

E1102 – Design Fundamental Using Advanced Computer Technologies

Spring 2010

In Today’s Session

� Introduction to project management

� Practicing Gantt Chart creation using PM software

� Team advisor meetings

� Modeling sequence

Spring 2010 2

The Design Process Is…

� Doomed for design failure without…

� Information

� Organization

� Communication

Poor Project Management

� Poor definition of requirements and objectives

� Poor planning and review efforts

� Inadequate work breakdown structure

� Starting/completing activities out of sequence

� No contingency plans for unforeseen technical problems (or non-technical

issues)

Spring 2010 4

Managing Project Tasks

� Detailed list of tasks; Start with categories and then work down to sub task

level

� Rationalize the task sequence

� Identify deadlines

� Identify critical path items; which tasks are going to take the most time within

the whole sequence

� There are many project management tools to address the above tasks

including brainstorming, work breakdown structures, critical path analysis,

and Gantt charts

Spring 2010 5

Project Management Tools

� Brainstorming

� Work breakdown structure (WBS)

� Gantt chart

� Critical path analysis

Spring 2010 6

Work Breakdown Structures

� A process that sets a project’s scope by breaking down its overall mission into

a cohesive set of synchronous, increasing specific tasks

� WBS is a categorized list of project tasks with an estimate of time and

resources required to complete the task

� Create WBS by:

� Start with your committed deliverables (tasks) for the project (Highest Level

Category)

� Then decompose each high level item into subtasks

Spring 2010 7

What does WBS Accomplish?

� Echoes project objectives

� Offers a logical structure for task identification/listing

� Establishes a method of control

� Communicates project status

� Improves communication among project team and customers

Spring 2010 8

WBS Example

Spring 2010 9

WBS Process

� Write each task from design project - list on a sticky note

� Group tasks in clusters that have common factors

� Identify tasks and subtasks

� Arrange them in hierarchical order

Spring 2010 10

WBS/Gantt in MS Project

Spring 2010 11

Milestone Analysis

� Milestones are events or stages of the project that represent a significant

accomplishment

� Milestones

� Signal the team, suppliers, customers, etc.

� Can motivate the team

� Offer re-evaluation points

� Helps coordinate schedules

� Identify key review gates

� Delineate work packages

Spring 2010 12

Your Time Management

� Good project management starts with you!

� Need a personal system of managing your goals, the associated tasks , as well as the time required for accomplishment

� The system should be designed to allocate tasks by project, context, and required type of action

Spring 2010 13

Session Review

� What We Discussed Today

� Basic design project management tools and techniques

� Next Week’s Highlights

� Client Reports and Presentations with debrief sessions

Spring 2010 14