A Multipart Project Planning and Tracking Exercise. (8th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robbins, Thomas R.
• Is Part Of: Decision sciences journal of innovative education. Volume 17:Number 2(2019:Apr.)
• Page Start: 104
• Page End: 125
• Publication Date: 2019-05-08
• Subjects: Action Learning -- Cases -- Content Areas -- Games and Simulations -- Pedagogical Approaches; Business education -- Periodicals; 658.00711
• DOI: 10.1111/dsji.12176
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1540-4595

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Project Management is an important skill for business students to develop. Although project‐oriented activity is very common, the success rate for projects is poor. Many projects fail due to poor planning. This article describes a multipart class exercise used to teach elements of a project management methodology to undergraduate and graduate business students. Over the course of the eight‐part exercise, student teams iteratively develop a project plan and Gantt chart, an initial and detailed project charter, a variance analysis model, and a status report. Students are taught an iterative top‐down planning process using a technique we term the ODW (Objectives–Deliverables–Workplan) model. Students are introduced to Microsoft Project and use the tool to develop a project plan that becomes part of a more detailed Project Charter. In the final stages of the exercise, students collect results, update their plan, and produce a project status report.