DQ3

Discussion Question (DQ3)

3-1.  Describe a project scope document. Why is it important to clearly define the project scope?

• 3-2. What is a work breakdown structure? What is a responsibility assignment matrix? How are they related?


• 3.3.   What is an activity? Does it always require human effort? Refer to Figure 4.1. Provide a detailed list of activities needed to accomplish work package 3.3. Do the same for work package 4..2.

After posting your response to the questions above, please respond to at least two other postings of your classmates (Develop your response in nor less than 5 lines)

classmate 1:

1. Project scope is a part of the project planning process that documents specific goals, deliverables, features, and budgets. It is important because it ensures each step of defining and planning your project is done methodically, it will lead to a better result, and increase the chances of project success.

2. 

Work breakdown structure:

It refers to the process of decomposition of work items to be executed by the team members of the project inorder to accomplish the project objectives and goals.It is deliverable oriented and it creates required deliverables as per the requirements of the project.The whole work is decomposed into several parts and is assigned to various team members

Responsibility assignment matrix:

It illustrates who will be responsible for the work that is decomposed into work items.It is a tool used to designate the work items for the individuals in the work breakdown structure.It states who is responsible for each work item and each individual's responsibility in supporting the whole project.Every member of team is responsible for a work item to be accomplished

Relation:

RAM uses the WBS to assign the work items to the individuals.RAM uses the WBS to link the deliverables or activities to the resources.RAM provides a realistic picture of the resources needed for the project and it helps WBS to decompose the work items based on the resources and allocate to individuals 

3.  An activity, also referred to as a task,is a defined piece of work that consumes time. It does not necessarily require the expenditure of effort by people for example, waiting for concrete to paint to dry can take minutes but does not require any human effort.  

4. 

Activities to complete work package 3.3 : prizes

• Identify the types of prizes


• Cost of the prizes


• Quantity required


• Who is responsible for purchasing these prizes


• Contracting a supplier for supplies


• Wrapping them with gift wrappers


• Bring them to the festival site

5.

Activities to complete work package 4.2 : Permits

• Identify the required permits


• Find where it can be acquired from and the time it takes to be approved


• Fill out the appropriate permits


• Submit supplementary documentations


• Pay required fees


• Wait for approval

classmate 2 :

According to our text Successful Project Management, a project scope document is the basis for the Work Breakdown Structure. It describes what needs to be done in order to produce the deliverables, satisfy the sponsor/customer, meet requirements for the deliverables, and accomplish the objective. It includes the customer requirements, SOW, Deliverables, acceptance criteria, and the WBS. It is important to clearly define it because so that the stakeholders understand the scope of the project, and it also establishes the baseline for any changes that may be made to the scope during the performance of the project.

Also according to our text, a WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of the project work scope into work packages that produce the project deliverables.

A RAM illustrates who will be responsible for the work. it designates the individuals responsible for accomplishing the work items in the WBS. It emphasizes who is responsible for each work item and shows each individual’s role in supporting the overall project.

The WBS and the RAM are related because the  RAM shows all the work items associated with each work item in the WBS, as well as all the work items associated with each individual.

Our text explains that an activity is a piece of work that consumes time.  It does not necessarily require human effort; for example, waiting for the building paint to dry.

The following list of activities would be involved in accomplishing work package 3.3 in Figure 4.1 :

• Find vendor for the prizes


• Purchase prizes


• Organize personnel to receive prices at the Festival


• Organize prizes and set them up at each Game booth


• Pickup leftover prizes at the end of festival


• Rent transportation to transport leftover prizes to charity


• Load leftover prizes onto rented method of transportation


• Deliver leftover prizes to charity location


• Return rented method of transportation

The following list of activities would be involved in accomplishing work package 3.3 in Figure 4.1

• Research what permits are needed to have the Festival


• Research what permits are required for the rides


• Apply for the permits


• Pick up the permits

All of the definitions and explanations presented here are found in our text, Successful Project Management, by Gido, Clements, and Baker, 7th edition.