Project Initiation and Preliminary Definition

Project Initiation and Preliminary Definition
Outcomes addressed in this activity:
Unit Outcomes:
Identify the components of the project management process.
Distinguish between poor and good project management practices.
Categorize the skills needed for successful project managers.
Identify some of the tools, techniques, and templates useful for managing projects effectively.
Define business goals and SMART objectives.
Identify and analyze user needs through the requirements gathering process.
Begin the concept, requirements definition, and scope phase of your technical solution.
Course Outcomes:
IT499-1: Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
IT499-2: Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
IT499-6: Use systemic approaches to select, develop, apply, integrate, and administer secure computing technologies to accomplish user goals.
Purpose
For this Assignment, you will initiate and document the project using the project concept phase, definition, and template.
Definition:
Project Concept: This document is the first template that we’ll talk about in the project’s Initiating process. Keep in mind that the information provided here should be high-level only. The intent of this document is to capture enough detail to initiate a project and determine whether its benefits are worth pursuing. Detailed descriptions and objectives will be required later in the project charter and scope statement.
Instructions:
Review the Capstone Project Guide, decide on a project, and complete the Project Concept Template.
Select a project that you have the ability and desire to implement. You will have the choice to implement a fully functional hands-on solution or a fully fleshed out and justified solution plan.
Ensure that your project is something that you will be able to accomplish in the next eight weeks. Scope it appropriately. If it is too easy, it will not provide much additional learning. If it is too large, you run the risk of stress due to overpromising and not being able to deliver.
You will need to clearly define the initial goals of the business; this represents what the business wants to accomplish and why. The why may include addressing problems, exploiting opportunities, and eliminating pain points.
Provide an initial definition of project objectives. Objectives are SMART statements that define what the project will need to be composed of in order to meet business goal.
Define each project objective, and show how it relates to a business goal.
Create each project objective using SMART methodology.
Supplemental Information:
In the next unit, you will further refine and expand on these objectives by going through a process of requirements gathering and analysis. You will also separate requirements into functional and non-functional groups.
Functional – What the system does relative to users.
Non-functional – Refers to system changes and upgrades made necessary in order to enable the functional requirements; often (but not always) they will address the performance requirements expressed in SMART objectives.
Further on in the course, you will break down each objective into a structured series of tasks.
Main Task
/Sub Task (1 or more), and
/work package Task level (1 person 3- 5 hours)
The Task breakdown (creation of a highly detailed WBS – Work Breakdown Structure) is the primary and most important activity of the project manager; it is used both for planning the project and for driving and monitoring the execution of the project. In any project, the accuracy and detail of the WBS is determined by the accuracy and detail of the SMART objectives. If they are not well done, the WBS will lack detail and will be of little value. The WBS will be submitted as a part of every assignment from Unit 3 onward; it is critically important to your evaluation for the course.
Assignment Requirements
The project documents are shown to and referenced at the highest level of the organization. In order for your project to be successful, these documents will need to be formatted in a business professional manner. They will be completely consistent, clear, and concise.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty. It violates the University Honor Code, and the offense is subject to disciplinary action. You are expected to be the sole author of your work. Use of another person’s work or ideas must be accompanied by specific citations and references. Whether the action is intentional or not, it still constitutes plagiarism.
For more information on University’s Plagiarism policy, refer to the current University Catalog.

 

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