Identify the questions you may need to ask the committee to gain clarity on their intentions for the picnic.

Project Management

Description

Instructions

Compose a 2 to 3 page paper (approximately 600-900 words) covering Parts 1, 2, and 3 below based on the following Initial Scenario and Scenario Update.

Initial Scenario

You have been assigned as project manager for the company picnic. The entertainment committee has decided that the event will be held outdoors at a nearby park from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm when all 500 employees will be permitted to go home with pay.

The menu will be hotdogs, hamburgers, fruit salad, and veggie trays with all the condiments. A volleyball court is available and is planned to be used for department vs. department challenges, and a baseball field at the park will be available for kickball for those who want to play. The company CEO will speak at noon to the employees to thank them for the great job for the first half of the year. You are to present the project plan to the committee in one week.

Part 1

Identify the agreed upon specifications for this project based on the scenario presented thus far.

Identify the questions you may need to ask the committee to gain clarity on their intentions for the picnic

What do you need to know about the menu items to make sure you will provide the appropriate items for consumption?

Scenario Update

It is two days before the picnic, and after presenting the plan to the committee, they have approved it with no follow-ups required. In that plan, you have the full schedule planned, the people lined up to provide assistance in grilling the hot dogs and hamburgers, the caterer lined up to deliver the fruit salad and veggie trays, and the sports equipment lined up from a local rental store. You are walking through the hallway, when you run into Mary and Roberto from the planning committee which has just met to make sure everything is on track. They are excited to see you and tell you that the committee has decided to make the following changes to the picnic day.

Two large tents are needed in case of rain (even though the forecast currently calls for zero precipitation that day)

The committee had assumed everyone would drink water from the fountains at the park for beverages but has now decided that a mix of fruit juices, soda, and bottled water will now be required

Shannon on the committee has volunteered to make balloon animals.

The VP of Human Resources now wants to update the employees at 1:45 pm about a new parking policy.

Part 2

What is your initial reaction as a project manager besides, “Are you kidding me?”

As project manager, what changes are going to have to be made to your plan?

What are you prepared to push back upon due to the scope creep from the addition of these new “enhancements”, and how do you plan to do that? Be very specific and identify at least two items you would push back upon.

Part 3

The SVP of Human Resources, Darby Hamilton, now wants to update the employees at 1:45 pm about a new parking policy.

Craft an email not to exceed three paragraphs (350 word maximum) to send to the Senior Vice-President of Human Resources (Darby Hamilton and the senior sponsor of the project) to provide her with an update on the state of the project and requesting her assistance in reducing specific scope creep elements. Include this email at the end of your paper.

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