Chapter 3 TC & Cases

1. Chapter 3 TC & Cases TC 2, 3, 5 Custom Load Trucking 1, 2, 3

2. TC 2 • Given the following narrative, make a list of system capabilities: The new direct sales and accounting system for Especially for You Jewelers is an important element in the future growth and success of the jewelry company. The direct sales portion of the system needs to track every sale and be able to link to the inventory system for cost data to provide a daily profit and loss report. The customer database needs to be able to produce purchase histories to assist management in preparing special mailings and special sales to existing customers. Detailed credit balances and aged accounts for each customer would help solve the problem with the high balance of accounts receivables. Special notice letters and credit history reports would help management reduce accounts receivable. • System Capabilities • Track individual sales • Report on cost data for inventory items • Produce daily profit and loss reports • Track purchase histories of individual customers • Produce special mailings • Maintain accounts aging with reporting

3. TC 3 • Build a Gantt chart using MS Project based on the table in Figure 3-23. Enter the tasks, dependencies, and durations. Print out both the PERT chart and the Gantt chart.

4. TC 5 • Enter your WBS from Problem 3 into MS Project. First enter the tasks, dependencies, and durations. Then add some appropriate human resources for the project and assign them to various tasks. Write a paragraph on your experience using MS Project.

5. Custom Load Trucking 1 • Do you think the decision by CLT to build its own project managers from the existing employee base is a good one? What advice would you give to CLT to make sure that it has strong project management skills in the company? • Reason for using employees might include: • Company loyalty of new project managers • Knowledge of internal procedures • Confidence of fellow employees • Provide career paths for employees • Familiarity with existing tools, languages, and environments • Advice to the company about strong project management should include the following topics: • Good analysts do not necessarily make good managers • The set of skills for technical work is not necessarily the same as for management • Project Management training will be required • Personnel Management training will be required

6. Custom Load Trucking 2 • What kind of criteria would you develop for Monica to use to measure whether Stewart (and other potential project manager) is ready for project management responsibility? • Prior to promoting an analyst to project manager, he/she should have some experience in each of the six categories identified in Appendix A. The company can identify some measure of relative performance in each category. Obviously a quantitative measure for management readiness is very difficult, but some measurement of experience, skill, and potential in each area can be qualitatively evaluated.

7. Project Management Knowledge • Project scope management • Project time management • Project cost management • Project quality management • Project human resource management • Project communication management • Project risk management • Project procurement management

8. Custom Load Trucking 3 • How would you structure the job for new project managers to ensure, or at least increase, a high-level of success? • The issue is that your answer should really provide a structure or mechanism that will increase the probability of success.