...CHAPTER 8 Evaluating and Terminating the Project We now come to the final stage in any project—evaluating the result and shutting down the project. As we will see, there are many ways to do both, some relatively formal, some quick and dirty, and some rather casual. We discuss evaluation first, in the generic sense, and then discuss a very specific and often formal type of evaluation known as the project audit. Following this we discuss termination of the project. 8.1 EVALUATION The term “evaluate” means to set the value of or appraise. A project evaluation appraises the progress and performance relative to the project’s initial or revised plan. The evaluation also appraises the project against the goals and objectives set for it during the selection process—amended, of course, by any changes in the goals and objectives made during the project’s life. In addition, evaluations are sometimes made relative to other similar projects. The project evaluation, however, should not be limited simply to an afterthe-fact analysis. Rather, it is useful to conduct an evaluation at a number of crucial points during the project life cycle. Because the primary purpose of a project evaluation is to give feedback to senior management for decision and control purposes, it is important for the evaluation to have credibility in the eyes of both senior management and the project team. The control purpose of evaluation is meant to improve the process of carrying out projects....
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...Week 6 Discussion For the Week 6 Discussion you will create a Gantt chart for one element of the St. Dismas case study project. Using a project management tool like MS Project is typically the easiest and fastest way to do this. However, it is not the only way. You can use MS Office products as well to create the Gantt Chart. Students often ask about the use of project management software applications in this course. In the past we required the use of MS Project for this course but removed it as a requirement when we rewrote the course. The reason we removed it was that MS Project has a very steep learning curve for all but the most basic functions. The software is very expensive and is not web-based so it requires installation on your computer. This posed many issues for our students. In this course the assignments were designed so that students could complete them without using any project management software at all. For example, the WBS can be done using MS Word, EXCEL, PowerPoint, or VISIO. The same is true of the Gantt chart and network diagram although it does take more time to do them this way than it would if you used software that automatically draws the Gantt and network diagram from the WBS. There are a number of free tools and helpful websites available for creating project Gantt Charts. Here is a sample you might want to explore. How to create a Gantt Chart in MS EXCEL http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/present-your-data-in-a-gantt-chart-in-excel-HA010238253...
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...CHAPTER 6 Allocating Resources to the Project In this chapter we consider the problem of allocating physical and human resources to projects.* The physical and human resources are granted to and used by the project in order to meet the project’s performance objectives. The amount of resources that can be allocated, of course, depends on the timing of the allocation as well as on the total supply of resources available for allocation. Mainly, resource allocation concerns how we allocate specific, limited resources to specific activities (or projects) when there are competing demands for the same limited resources. Projects compete with each other for the same resources in two different ways. First, consider a resource that is limited but is not consumed when used, the services of a specific technical specialist for instance. The problem here is which project gets to use the resource first and which must wait. Second, consider a resource that is limited and is consumed when used, a specific chemical reagent for instance. In this case, the second project may have to wait until more of the reagent can be purchased and delivered. In both cases, the project that must wait may suffer a schedule delay that makes it late. Just as projects may compete for resources, different activities of the same project may compete. Two or more concurrent activities might require the same personnel, or equipment, or even work space. One activity will be given priority, and the other(s) must wait. In...
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...highlights that by selectively choosing which activities to crash and by how much, we can determine the minimum cost for all possible project completion time. The use of Excel’s Solver optimization routine to facilitate this analysis is also presented. Next, the chapter moves on to the topic of resource loading and in particular highlights the problems of over scheduling resources. The topics of resource leveling and resource allocation naturally follow in the subsequent sections. Finally, the chapter concludes with an overview of several of the concepts Goldratt raises in his provocative book Critical Chain. Cases and Readings A case appropriate to the subject of this chapter is: Harvard: 9-613-020 Space Constructors, Inc. This 3-page case involves a simple project where partial crashing has already been planned but more, and less, crashing is also to be considered. The network has some special characteristics that offer some worthwhile lessons for the student. Answers to Review Questions 1. Given the fact that a project’s resource requirements are clearly spelled out in the project’s action plan, why are PMs so concerned with resource allocation? There can be a variety of reasons why resource allocation is of concern to the PM despite having a properly completed action plan. For example: o The action plan only lists general categories of resource requirements such as engineering, purchasing, marketing, and production. In these cases, the project...
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...highlights that by selectively choosing which activities to crash and by how much, we can determine the minimum cost for all possible project completion time. The use of Excel’s Solver optimization routine to facilitate this analysis is also presented. Next, the chapter moves on to the topic of resource loading and in particular highlights the problems of over scheduling resources. The topics of resource leveling and resource allocation naturally follow in the subsequent sections. Finally, the chapter concludes with an overview of several of the concepts Goldratt raises in his provocative book Critical Chain. Cases and Readings A case appropriate to the subject of this chapter is: Harvard: 9-613-020 Space Constructors, Inc. This 3-page case involves a simple project where partial crashing has already been planned but more, and less, crashing is also to be considered. The network has some special characteristics that offer some worthwhile lessons for the student. Answers to Review Questions 1. Given the fact that a project’s resource requirements are clearly spelled out in the project’s action plan, why are PMs so concerned with resource allocation? There can be a variety of reasons why resource allocation is of concern to the PM despite having a properly completed action plan. For example: o The action plan only lists general categories of resource requirements such as engineering, purchasing, marketing, and production. In these cases...
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...unique, high-quality references and tutorials on the programming languages and technologies they use in their daily work. All books in the Developer’s Library are written by expert technology practitioners who are especially skilled at organizing and presenting information in a way that’s useful for other programmers. Key titles include some of the best, most widely acclaimed books within their topic areas: PHP & MySQL Web Development Luke Welling & Laura Thomson ISBN 978-0-672-32916-6 Python Essential Reference David Beazley ISBN-13: 978-0-672-32978-4 MySQL Paul DuBois ISBN-13: 978-0-321-83387-7 PostgreSQL Korry Douglas ISBN-13: 978-0-672-32756-8 Linux Kernel Development Robert Love ISBN-13: 978-0-672-32946-3 C++ Primer Plus Stephen Prata ISBN-13: 978-0-321-77640-2 Developer’s Library books are available in print and in electronic formats at most retail and online bookstores, as well as by subscription from Safari Books Online at safari. informit.com Developer’s Library informit.com/devlibrary C Primer Plus Sixth Edition Stephen Prata Upper Saddle River, NJ • Boston • Indianapolis • San Francisco New York • Toronto • Montreal • London • Munich • Paris • Madrid Cape Town • Sydney • Tokyo • Singapore • Mexico City C Primer Plus Sixth Edition Acquisitions Editor Mark Taber Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc. Managing Editor Sandra Schroeder All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced...
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...Published by McGraw-Hill, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Copyright @ 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Previous editions © 2008 and 2005. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning. Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers outside the United States. This book is printed on acid-free paper. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 DOC/DOC 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 ISBN 978–0–07–338018–6 MHID 0–07–338018–0 Vice President & Editor-in-Chief: Martin Lange Vice President EDP & Central Publishing Services: Kimberly Meriwether David Global Publisher: Raghothaman Srinivasan s Sponsoring Editor: Debra B. Hash ma Tho Developmental Editor: Lora Neyens . f Dr...
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...Media History Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Mass media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 1.1.4 1.1.5 1.1.6 1.1.7 1.1.8 1.1.9 Issues with definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forms of mass media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professions involving mass media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Influence and sociology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethical issues and criticism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 2 6 6 7 8 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 19 20 21 21 21 1.1.10 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.11 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.12 Further reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.13 External links . . . . . . . . ....
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