Project Management Qualitative and Quantitative Techniques in Agile Environment

Submission details: Upload to Canvas by the stated deadline

Submission details:

Upload to Canvas by the stated deadline

Module Learning Outcomes assessed in this piece of coursework

•Critically analyse and explain the concepts, strengths, limitations and suitability of agile development techniques;

•Develop appropriate use of Project Management qualitative techniques within an Agile framework, such as Feasibility Study, Planning, Control and Estimating, Risk Management and Configuration Management and quantitative techniques such as PERT and CPN

•Apply management and team building techniques to appropriately managing an information systems development project

•Critically discuss social and professional issues associated with Information systems Project Management.

•Select and apply object-oriented development techniques within an agile development environment;

•Manage the development of a system by applying an agile framework.

Part A will take the form of a PROJECT INITIATION DOCUMENT (PID) for a specific project, using the PRINCE 2 approach

Part B will take the form of using AgilePM in the development of the specific project chosen

Part C Will be a research paper comparing, contrasting and discussing the strengths and limitations of Prince 2 and AgilePM in context to the project chosen

Technology and information technology in particular, can now provide help in many ways that were not possible in the past. However, as more and more information and business and personal transactions are delivered or managed online, so it is increasingly important to ensure that users are not disadvantaged by the technology. Indeed, there is legislation that now requires organizations to provide both physical and virtual access so that no special needs group is disadvantaged.

Your project should be a response to one of the issues identified on the next page, and should take advantage of some of your design and technical skills and should help a specific group or organization, for example, by raising awareness, increasing membership or activity, raising funds, or providing services, developing new products or interfaces, or training programs for users or their supporters or some combination of these. Interfaces to computer programs, or other IT tools are areas where there are many opportunities for small projects. It may also be possible for you to consider ways of developing these or exploiting new technological developments such as mobile computing, wireless communication, digital imaging, new media, or electronic business processes in appropriate ways. You should develop an application or website prototype that will allow users to benefit from your project.

Module Learning Outcomes assessed in this piece of coursework

You are invited to propose a project that will help a small organization, group of users, or people who support your users. For example, there are a large number of organizations that provide support or advice to people, attached to local or national health, educational or community establishments. You will need to do some research on your chosen organization or user group, but you are not required or expected to contact them directly.  

One of the project criteria is to decide the scope of the project. You may decide to limit your project to a specific local organization, a specific group of users, or a national organization. You must identify a specific area where such a project development would be useful and feasible and justify your choice.

You are required to submit a Project Proposal and Project Initiation Document (PID). You will get feedback on your initial proposals during the sessions during the taught module, and you will then be expected to work these up into a full Project Plan, with illustrative supporting material. In addition to your PID, you will be asked to submit a small “look and feel” prototype or walkthrough, and slides for boardroom presentation that describe the business case for your deliverables.

Any proposal will need to be constrained within a small budget for startup funds and development costs of a nominal (virtual) £100K. It is expected that the project, will be up and running within 6 months, and result in some sustainable benefit to the chosen users or organization within one year. It is expected that these startup funds, possibly with further funds from other identified sources, will enable any new long-term venture to become self-supporting after an initial period of up to 12 months. If you decide that your project will require additional funding beyond the £100K, you will need to show how this money might be raised and spent, and how it could be recovered over a two-year period. You can apply for further funding.

Consider a project related to ONE of the following issues:

(a)Changing UK demographics

“The population of the UK is ageing. Over the last 25 years the percentage of the population aged 65 and over increased. This trend is projected to continue. By 2034, 23 per cent of the population is projected to be aged 65 and over compared to 18 per cent aged under 16. The fastest population increase has been in the number of those aged 85 and over.

Part A: PROJECT INITIATION DOCUMENT (PID) for a specific project, using the PRINCE 2 approach

As people get older, many suffer from impairment in sensory, cognitive or motor skills – for example, from impaired hearing and vision, reduced dexterity or cognitive abilities, dementia or Alzheimer, and many other medical or psychological conditions that require specific support. In the current economic climate, a growing elderly population is also likely to experience, social isolation, and reduced access to local shops, libraries, health and social services.

(b)Graduate employment opportunities

In 2018-2019 there were 2.38 million students studying at UK higher education institutions, following a steady increase over the past decade. Identify a project to help these graduates find appropriate employment.

(e)Brexit

Will there be a smooth transition for the UK economy after Brexit. Will Brexit create the next UK recession or is there a way of benefiting from this and creating a time of prosperity for the UK. Could you develop some ideas to help the economy grow over the next few years.

(f)Student research funding and scholarships.  Identify a project to create funding opportunities to carry out research at universities taking into consideration venture capitalists and innovative ideas.

(g)Volunteering and charity work – you may have further ideas which you are free to suggest  

(h)Economic Recovery projects post COVID pandemic - Identify a project to get the nations economy back on track

You are required to produce a Project Initiation Document (PID) .

The PID document should contain information to be used as part of a business and project case to the chosen organization, plus any other potential partners who might support your venture. You should make a plausible and convincing case with a well-specified project plan.  

Aims and Objectives of Project: This should indicate the objectives, and the deliverables of this project  the expected sustainable benefits that will result from the project  any assumptions on which the plan is based.

What  measures that you might use to enable your you  to demonstrate the success of the project

Legal, Social and Ethical issues that might effect the project and how you would address these issues.

Reference to any relevant research performed and criteria used to select the project

A brief outline of how the results will be achieved, and explanation of the choice of approach.

A brief description of the methods to be used to develop the final applications. Detailed analysis or system design is not required.

Total Budget requested - This should explain briefly how funds would be allocated and scheduled over the lifetime of the project. Where other funding or resources are relevant, they should be mentioned in the bid.

Detailed Costs and Benefits You should identify main costs and benefits, showing development, start-up, and operational costs for the first year, with indications of where extra funding (if needed) will come from. You should also show any direct or indirect benefits. You may comment on any intangible benefits of the project.