Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

BCS506 – Software Project Management

Assignment 1 of 1

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION CAREFULLY.

This is a group assignment. The work has to be submitted as a group. This assignment contributes 100%
to your final module mark.

The following learning outcomes will be assessed:

 Evaluate project management methods and techniques, and demonstrate an appreciation of the
legal and ethical issues, including sustainability.
 Demonstrate a critical awareness and systematic understanding of a range of contemporary
project management techniques while working as a member of a team.
 Monitor the progress of a project and to assess the risk of slippage, revising targets or counteract
drift.

Background

IUMW library is considering the implementation of a computer-based system to help administer book
loans at libraries. The system helps both students and library manager to keep a constant track of all the
books available in the library. It allows both the admin and the student to search for the desired book. It
becomes necessary for university to keep a continuous check on the books issued and returned and even
calculate fine. This task if carried out manually will be tedious and includes chances of mistakes. These
errors are avoided by allowing the system to keep track of information such as issue date, last date to
return the book and even fine information and thus there is no need to keep manual track of this
information which thereby avoids chances of mistakes. Thus, this system reduces manual work to a great
extent allows smooth flow of library activities by removing chances of errors in the details.

You have been hired as a consultant to work with a new client called IUMW. The objective of your
assignment is to define the project’s scope and it’s time to start the process of determining how the work
will be accomplished. Please provide a professional-looking document that include the following
components.

Part A. Project description [30 marks]

1. Give a name for the project and the project team. [2 marks]
2. Identify the main stakeholders for this project and describe their responsibilities. [6 marks]
3. Draw up objectives of this project. How might the success of the project be measured in practical
terms? [8 marks]
4. For each objective, write down sub-objectives or goals. [6 marks]

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5. Outline a plan for the development of the system which illustrates the application of your preferred
methodology for this project. [8 marks]

Part B. A detailed project plan [40 marks]

1. Create your work breakdown structure (WBS) by using project management tool. You may list all of
the project life cycle and system development life cycle and the associated deliverables. [10 marks]
2. By using Gantt chart, define a set of activities or tasks that must be completed to produce each
deliverable. [5 marks]
3. List the milestone for each phase and deliverable. Achieving a milestone will tell everyone associated
with the project that the phase or deliverable was completed satisfactorily. [5 marks]
4. Link the tasks. Look for opportunities for shortening the project schedule by performing tasks in
parallel. (i.e., start-to-start or finish-to-finish). [10 marks]
5. Answer the following questions: [10 marks]
a. What are beginning and end dates for your project? How many days will it take to
complete the project?
b. Does your project have a single critical path or multiple critical paths? What is the
importance of the critical path?

Part C. Resource allocation [15 marks]

1. Draw up a resource table showing the number of each type of resource needed on each phase of the
project. [5 marks]
2. Add and assign the resources that you identified to each activity or task in the Gantt chart. Be sure to
assign a cost for each resource. [5 marks]
3. In long term project planning, it is wise to assume that staff will be available for project work for less
than 100 per cent of the total available time. What factors will reduce staff availability and what
adjustments should be made for them? [5 marks]

Part D. Risk management [15 marks]

1. Using the IT Risk Framework as a basis, identify a total of five risks to your project. [5 marks]
2. For each of the five risks identified, describe a strategy for managing each particular risk. [10 marks]

Deliverables: An electronic copy of your project plan. Depending on what your instructor tells you,
submit your project plan on disk or electronically.

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Marking Criteria Sheet

A - 75% and above

 Thorough understanding of key theories and distinguishing features/factors and trends; 

 Overview of the field used as a basis for independent judgement; 

 Clear structure and good critical analysis; 




B - 60-74% 

 Accurate description and understanding of the distinguishing factors; 

 Reasonable interpretative analysis of the factors; 

 Evidence of use of background knowledge and reading; 

 Sound structure and good 'flow'; 

 Presence of reasonable critical evaluation; 

 Demonstration of knowledge across substantive areas; 


C - 50-59% 

 Clear understanding of processes and factors; 

 Adequate structure and evaluative conclusion; 

 Question analysed and material relevant; 

 Grasp of basic issues in substantive areas; 

 Attempt to relate material to the essay question; 

 Some reading in evidence and appropriately incorporated;

F - 49% or less 

 Long on description with little or no analysis or evaluation; 

 Theoretical positions (concepts) lacking or confused; 

 Little evidence of use of conceptual tools or of reading; 

 Irrelevant, unrelated and muddled material. 


Further Information

 Submit the softcopy.

 Any hand written material submitted will not be marked.
 Late submission will result in a late penalty mark, as follows: Up to four weeks late, maximum mark
of 40% for first attempts and 0% for resubmissions. (Academic Quality Handbook 2015/16 7.5 (5))
 Grade F will be awarded for No Submission case.

Submission Date and Time Week 12

Submission Location FSTEM office, IUMW