Project Management Skills for Coursework: A Practical Guide to Completing Bgcse Exam Coursework

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS FOR COURSEWORK

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO COMPLETING

BGCSE EXAM COURSEWORK

Copyright © 2013 Dorcas M. T. Cox MBA, PMP.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-0050-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-0051-8 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 11/02/2013

To my mother, Ena-mae T. Cox, Desiree Cox, and David Allens, as well as all others who dare to believe and have the courage to try.

Thank you Kim Bodie, Kmchell Dodge, and Astrid-Adjuah Cleare for your positive contributions in the areas of mentoring and youth empowerment.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1:   Starting the Project

Definition and Purpose of Coursework

Coursework as a Project

Projects, Programs, and Portfolios

Project Management Skills for Coursework

Ethics and Internal Control for Coursework

The Project Vision

Project Start up Checklist

Talk to the Right People

Chapter 2:   Project Planning

Collecting Requirements

Confirming the Topic, Aim, and Objectives

Using Data Collection Methodology

Creating the Outline

Estimating How Long it Will Take to Complete Each Task in the Outline

Creating a Schedule

Focusing on Quality

Communicating Effectively

Reducing the Risk

Managing The List of People to Talk to

Chapter 3:   Making It Happen

Gathering Data

Updating the People on Your List to Talk to

Managing Expectations

Monitoring and Controlling Schedule

Reporting Performance

Controlling Risks

Conducting Meetings

Chapter 4:   Celebrate

About the Author

Resources

Preface

When I began teaching project management certification classes in 2010, I focused on preparing adult learners to sit and successfully pass the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam and the Certified Associate in Project Management Exam (CAPM). These are globally recognized designations awarded by the Project Management Institute.

Astrid Adjuah Cleare, a student in my first cohort, quickly became my friend. My requirements were that students applied the project management processes to real-world projects.

During one Saturday class, Adjuah asked, What real-world project are you doing, Dorcas? How are you applying project management processes in ways that make a difference?

Her question stopped me in my track. I began thinking.

Adjuah shared her passion for youth empowerment with me, and I adopted it as my own. Our vision became the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (BGCSE). The BGCSE is a national examination that culminates in a three-year program intended to equip students with marketable skills upon completion. The examination generally consists of three components, one of which is called the coursework. Coursework is a research project. Coursework is compulsory and is a perfect avenue to apply project management processes to youth audiences and positively impact national test scores in the Bahamas. Others partnered with us. Our vision developed with support from Rochelle Lightbourne, Tanya McCartney, Kim Bodie, Miguel Pratt, Kmchell Dodge, David A. Brown, Antonio Butler Jr., Daniel Bayssassew, Rachael Brown, Jordan Peterson, Gwendolyn Johnson, Cheryl Bowe-Moss, Keyshan Cartwright-Bastian, Ross Smith, Michelle Sears to name a few. Special thank you to The Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald M.P., Minister of Education, Science, and Technology for giving us the opportunity to present this body of work to the business subject teachers.

For two weeks in the summer of 2011, we piloted our material to a group of tenth—and eleventh-grade students at Aquinas College in the Bahamas. These students applied project management processes to the BGCSE coursework requirements. We learned from the school’s principal (Mrs. Shona Knowles), subject teachers, and students. We continued working.

As I taught more sessions of my professional classes, read books, and interacted with others, I continued learning and developing techniques for breaking down concepts often described as quite technical in easy-to-understand ways that were applicable to everyday life.

My sister said, Simplifying the concepts broadens the audience appeal.

Adjuah says, Find ways of teaching people how to apply project management to everyday life.

My teenage son says, Make it interesting.

It’s a tall order.

Each of the four chapters of this book applies project management processes—from analyzing goals and identifying stakeholders to managing expectations, overcoming barriers, communicating effectively, and monitoring and evaluating progress and results.

This compelling saga introduces concepts that may mirror your experiences. In relating to the concepts and becoming engrossed in their application, you may experience elements of your life unfolding.

My teenage son will begin coursework in the upcoming school year. The contents of this book have supported him in successfully completing his requirements.

I have made a difference through the work that I do. This book contributes to that work.

Introduction

It can be a challenge to analyze information in ways that compares and contrasts, justifies a stand, supports and defends an argument, or creates a new product, outcome, or point of view. Coursework is an avenue to question, test, evaluate, and formulate. It is also an opportunity to innovate.

This book teaches you how to think through concepts and ideas. It shows how to develop greater skills in expecting and addressing change.

Who Should Read This Book?

Project Management Skills for Coursework is intended to captivate the interest of persons who are

•   writing BGCSE coursework for various subjects (particularly business subjects);

•   conducting and writing research papers;

•   new to the field of project management;

•   required to execute projects in accordance with a project plan;

•   aspiring to roles with increasing responsibilities that include, and are not limited to, project management;

•   focusing on real-world, practical applications of project management; and increasing

•   breadth and depth of project management knowledge.

How to Read This Book

Project Management Skills for Coursework is