This document provides an overview for a discussion board assignment on project management tools. It describes a scenario where the student has been assigned as project manager for a major upgrade to their company's legacy billing system. The upgrade will involve both the mainframe and a new web-based version of the system. The student is asked to discuss tools they find helpful for managing projects like Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Project. They should also research other project management tools and how they differ. The document provides additional context on the project including budget, timelines, available resources and options around vendor involvement and training materials.

1. Assignment OverviewType:
Discussion Board
Unit:
Project Time, Cost and Scope Management
Due Date:
Tue, 1/30/18
Grading Type:
Numeric
Points Possible:
75
Points Earned:
0
Deliverable Length:
750–900 words
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Assignment Details
Assignment Description
Primary Discussion Response is due by Friday (11:59:59pm
Central), Peer Responses are due by Tuesday (11:59:59pm
Central).
What tools do you find most helpful for managing projects?
How can you use spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel,
within the various project management processes? How do you
use scheduling tools, such as Microsoft Project? Share some
tips for using either of these products. Then, using the library
and Internet, investigate other project management tools. How
do they differ from the tools you use?
Assignment Guidelines:
Address the following in 750-900 words:
What tools do you find most helpful for managing projects?
How can you use spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel,
within the various project management processes?
How can you use scheduling tools, such as Microsoft Project,

3. within the various project management processes?
What tips can you offer for using either of these types of
products?
Briefly describe 2 other types of project management tools.
How do these 2 types of tools differ from the tools you have
previously used?
Use correctly APA style formatted references of solid academic
quality for your resources and use correctly formatted APA
style in-text citations to your references to substantiate your
information and positions as well as to give credit to other
author’s work.
In your own words, please post a response to the Discussion
Board and comment on other postings. You will be graded on
the quality of your postings.
to view the expectations for this assignment.
For assistance with your assignment, please use your text, Web
resources, and all course materials.
Other Information
Your company, IRTC Manufacturing Enterprises, is upgrading
its legacy billing system. The system was installed originally
ten years ago, and has been upgraded according to the vendor's
schedule, each one taking 9-12 weeks in duration with a team of

4. 2 full time employees (FTE's).
IRTC will be doing a major upgrade for the new web-based
version of the system, in addition to the mainframe legacy
system update. It is anticipated that this upgrade will take 16-20
weeks in duration; however, everyone has agreed that a more
formal scheduling process should be completed which may
change the duration estimate. The project will involve
significant changes to existing business processes, changes to
existing jobs, as well as the creation of several new positions.
Customers will be able to view and pay their bills on-line,
accessing a billing customer service agent when needed. This
change, which will affect both the billing and customer service
departments, is expected to reduce costs, improve customer
satisfaction, and reduce the number of days for outstanding
accounts receivable. The existing customer service staff has
some proficiency with web applications, but the billing staff
does not.
To date, the Billing Department has owned the applications, and
the director of the department has been the sponsor for all
upgrade projects. For this upgrade, however, the chief
operations officer has indicated that the Customer Service
Department also needs to play a major role. It will be up to you
to determine the project sponsor and steering committee
structure and participants. You will do this during the initiation
phase.
You have been chosen to be the project manager; you will be on
the project 30 hours a week and your rate is $125 per hour. You
have significant experience with the system and have managed
previous upgrade projects. You have acted as a business analyst,
developer, and tester for projects on this package in the past.
You will select your team, which will consist of several IT
staff, supplemented by staff from the vendor. You have been
told you can have up to 2.5 IRTC FTEs, in addition to yourself,

5. for the duration of the project. (The list of available people is
described in the Phase Two task.)
The vendor's role is to be determined by you; their consultants
cost $140 an hour for business analysts, $120 an hour for
technical architects, $100 an hour for programmers or testers,
and $90 an hour for instructional designers, trainers, or
technical writers. You have a budget of $100,000 for vendor
resources. You may supplement your team with vendors based
on the holes in your IRTC team. For example, you may choose
to have the vendor provide programmers if you choose not to
have any of the internal staff provide programming resources, if
your budget permits.
You will follow your organization's standard methodology for a
package upgrade. Part of that process includes the development
and delivery of documentation and training materials--a
responsibility generally filled by the IRTC IT training group.
You have access to .5 FTE for the duration of the project to
develop and deliver the materials. The person with the most
experience on the package and current training/documentation
will be unavailable to the project due to other projects;
however, the vendor has adequate materials that can be
purchased for an additional $6,500. You will need to determine
the training needs, analyze the costs associated with each
option, and determine the project's scope.
With this version, the vendor also has another software add-on
that supports the integration of your existing customer service
system with the billing system's customer service functions.
There is not a decision yet as to which customer service system
will be used, whether or not they will be integrated, and the
extent to which customer databases will be integrated (if at all).
According to the vendor, the installation of the add-on will cost
$25,000 and take an additional four weeks.