project artifacts to effectively control project execution


 

  1. In month 9 your software development project is having issues with downtime, and while the problem is evident across your organization, you are concerned with your project. The following project information is available on the project you manage: actual cost is $2,000, earned value is $2,100, and planned cost is $2,400. Your customer has raised concerns that this project is over budget and behind schedule. You need to give an answer to the customer.
    • Compute the SV and CV for the project.
    • What is the status of this project?
    • Is it as bad as the customer thinks?
    • How do you answer the customer?
    • What are your actions regarding the project manager?
  2. Your VP understands you’ve graduated with a strong background in quality management as a result of your project management studies. She has requested a Cause-and-Effect Diagram from you to identify the causes of computer downtime in the organization by next Tuesday. Construct a Cause-and-Effect Diagram to identify the causes of computer downtime in your organization.

Project requirements:

For requirement #1:

  • Compute the SV and CV for the project.
  • What is the status of this project?
  • Is it as bad as the customer thinks?
  • How do you answer the customer?

For requirement #2:

  • Draw a horizontal arrow to the right, write the effect (computer downtime), and draw a box around it.
  • Identify the main causes contributing to the effect.
  • Draw boxes around the main categories and connect the boxes to the horizontal arrow with diagonal arrows to form the fishbone.
  • For each branch, identify specific factors which may be the causes of the effect.
  • Add increasingly detailed levels of causes.
  • Analyze the diagram and circle causes that you can take action on.