Project Planning Projects
Project Components/Course Objectives
Project Components/Course Objectives
Course Objectives and Project Components
The components of the capstone course project map to the course objectives. Each course objective
is to be met by completing a specific part of the project. The objectives are included below. Each
objective is outlined in detailed in module 2, which explains the description and directions for each
portion of the project assignment and reveals the grading rubric for the peer review for each course
objective.
Upon completing this series, you will:
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Write a narrative charter statement
Create a work breakdown structure
Sequence project activities
Build a project schedule
Create a project budget
Create a responsibility assignment matrix
Identify project risks and define responses for those risks
The components created represent some of the critical planning deliverables that a project manager
creates with his or her team. Each student may use a project of their own or select a project from
the sample projects listed below in the next section. If a student desires to use his or her own
project, that project may be work related or personal. If work related, the student should ensure
that he or she has permission from their organization and does not divulge the name of the
organization unless he or she has specific permission to do so. Typically the best project is the
one that allows the student to really make use of what has been learned in the courses leading up
to this capstone. In a perfect world this project would be both fun, interesting to work on and
useful. Students are already aware of what makes a project a project. In the interest of helpfulness,
some ideas: implementation of new software or hardware or business processes. The creation of a
new product or service. A large event, such as a wedding, fund raising event or party or concert or
festival. The reorganization of a department or an entire company.
Project Planning Projects
Project Components/Course Objectives
Sample Projects for Use
If a student does not have access to a viable project to use for this capstone, then any one of the
ideas below may be used. Please note that students are meant to take these ideas and build upon
them. Each student is to take the idea and come up with his or her own full project scope and
boundaries.
1. A new CEO has arrived. She believes that the current company structure is ineffective. You are to
be the project manager who leads her executive team in a company-wide reorganization. This
reorganization includes some work to determine how the new structure will be identified, the work
to gain support for this new structure at the executive level, the communications about the new
structure to the entire company and a transition plan to take the company from the current structure
to the new one.
2. Your company is celebrating 50 years in business. The executive team would like to take an
opportunity to recognize this milestone. Their purpose is to reward employees, build morale and
also let customers; future customers and competitors know about the longevity of the company
and adopt a ‘we are here to stay’ type of campaign. This milestone is definitely a marketing event.
The celebration should include customers and employees. Definitely there should be a big
celebration, but the executive team wants more than that. They want events and announcements
and campaigns going throughout the entire year. You will project manage this effort.
3. You have joined a start up company whose goal is to create an iPhone knockoff or copy. The idea
is to out ‘iPhone’ the iPhone, but at 50% of the cost to the customer. You are the project manager
of the team who will identify what features will go into this iPhone copy, determine how to
manufacture the phones for less than the real iPhone and determine how to market this new copy.
The project ends once the idea has either been abandoned or the new copy phone has been available
for sale for 45 days.
Ended…..