What is Project Management?

Objectives
Students Will:
• Learn the basics of project management skills
• Work in small teams to complete a plan for a project using project management
skills and terms

Suggested Grade Level

8th – 12th

Subject Areas
Project Management, Communications, Language Arts

Timeline
45 minutes

Standards (Common Core)

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of
science and technical texts
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.5 Analyze the structure of the relationships among
concepts in a text, including relationships among key terms
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.8 Assess the extent to which the reasoning and
evidence in a text support the author’s claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific
or technical problem
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.5 Analyze how the text structures information or
ideas into categories or hierarchies, demonstrating understanding of the information or
ideas

21st Century Essential Skills

Collaboration and teamwork, communication, information literacy, flexibility, leadership,
initiative, social skills, organizing concepts, constructing explanations, designing solutions,
obtaining/evaluating/communicating ideas

Background
Project management focuses on planning and organizing a project and its resources. Through
proper project management, you can assure that the purpose/vision and goals of the project are

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maintained, all while supporting the audiences’ tasks and objectives. Additionally, you avoid
risks, failure, and effectively and efficiently use your available resources. It also helps the team
members to understand their responsibilities, the deliverables expected, and the schedule
everyone needs to follow to complete the project on time and within budget. Project
management begins with goal-setting based on the big picture idea of what they want to
accomplish. When setting a project goal, ask “What has to be done?”. This question leads to the
project structure plan.

The very basics of project management are as follows: a project is a temporary endeavor with a
defined beginning and end (usually time-constrained, and often constrained by funding or
deliverables) that an organization takes to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring
about beneficial change or add value.

The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all of the project goals and
objectives while honoring the pre-defined constraints. The primary constraints are scope, time,
quality, and budget. The secondary—and more ambitious—challenge is to optimize the
allocation of necessary inputs and integrate them to meet pre-defined objectives.

Milestones define certain phases of your project and the corresponding costs and results.
Milestones represent decisive steps during the project. They are set after a certain number of
work packages that belong together. This series of work packages leads to the achievement of
a sub-goal.

Projects are typically broken down into phases. Each phase outlines the work that needs to be
done and who is involved. Generally, in order for a phase to be considered complete, specific
deliverables need to have been completed and handed off for the next steps to be
completed. Some project teams, however, do choose to implement fast tracking, which is when
phases are overlapped. Phases may include, in the following order: Define the project
(identify problem and goal), plan the project (use timelines, set milestones and
deliverables), do the project, then review the project outcome.

When you set meaningful objectives and set targets to reach, you have the ability to measure
success. There are two types of goals/ objectives to consider. 1) User goals are users’ task
scenarios. They explore what users come to the website to achieve. 2) Usability goals should
measure your users’ ability to accomplish tasks on your site. This will tell you whether your site
is effective, efficient, and satisfying to your users.

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A stakeholder is anyone who is affected by the results of your project plan. That includes your
customers and end users. Make sure you identify all stakeholders and keep their interests in
mind when creating your project plan.

Once you have a list of stakeholder needs, prioritize them and set specific project goals. These
should outline project objectives, or the metrics and benefits you hope to achieve. Write your
goals and the stakeholder needs they address in your project plan so it's clearly communicated
and easily shareable.

Identify the deliverables and project planning steps required to meet the project's goals. What
are the specific outputs you're expected to produce?

The Project Manager develops the Project Plan with the team and manages the team’s
performance of project tasks. The Project Manager is also responsible for securing acceptance
and approval of deliverables from the Project Sponsor and Stakeholders. The Project Manager
is responsible for communication, including status reporting, risk management, and escalation
of issues that cannot be resolved in the team—and generally ensuring the project is delivered
within budget, on schedule, and within scope.

Next, estimate due dates for each deliverable in your project plan. (You can finalize these dates
when you sit down to define your project schedule in the next step.)

Look at each deliverable and define the series of tasks that must be completed to accomplish
each one. For each task, determine the amount of time it will take, the resources necessary,
and who will be responsible for execution.

It’s the duty of the project manager to evaluate risks regularly. You should come into every
project with the knowledge that all projects come with a variety of risks. This is normal. Always
keep in mind that your project is a unique endeavor with strict goals concerning costs,
appointments, and performance. The sooner you identify these risks, the sooner you can
address negative developments.

Vocabulary
Goal, scope, deliverable, task, risk, stakeholder, project manager, milestone, activity, timeline,
problem statement, requirements, time management, communication, role

Materials
• Student vocabulary reference sheet (one per student)
• Project management organizational chart (one per group)

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 • Activity cutouts (one set per group)

Teacher Preparations
• Review organization chart, become familiar with terms
• Review student vocabulary reference sheet
• Check resources for further understanding of project management skills
• Prepare activity cutouts

Lesson
1. Divide students into groups of 4 or 5.
2. Explain the final goal of the activity is to “launch a rocket” into space. Groups will be
given a set of cutouts which state project deliverables with accompanying
milestones, activities, and tasks. It is their job to place the cutouts in order of
completion to achieve the overall goal.
3. Give each student a vocabulary reference sheet to keep and follow along with terms
as they are taught.
4. Use direct instruction to teach students (whole-class instruction) about project
management and its various components (incorporate resources listed below if
desired).
5. Give each group a set of activity cutouts (optional: laminate cutouts).
6. Instruct students to organize the cutouts in the order that best makes sense to their
team.
7. Set a time limit for the activity.
8. When time limit is reached, have each group select a project manager. This decision
should be based on who they feel would make the best leader for their group (Who
took charge during the activity? Who had the best initiative?).
9. Have project managers share with the class the thought process their group used
when organizing the cutouts as well as the order in which their cutouts were placed.
10. As a class, discuss the differences between each groups’ final products and thought
processes.
11. Have students think about a particular school project when project management
skills would have been or will be useful.

Extensions
1) Have students come up with their own project and create cutouts. Activity must have two
deliverables, two activities per deliverable, and some tasks.

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 2) Have students begin learning about and using online project management resources
such as Trello.
3) Have students use project management roles and skills for a long-term project
throughout the semester.

Resources
Five Structures for Helping Students Learn Project Management. (2019, March 06). Retrieved
from http://www.spencerauthor.com/project-management/

Kshama. (2018, July 04). The Basic Principles of Project Management. Retrieved from
https://www.simplilearn.com/project-management-basic-principles-article

Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/empowering-kids-through-

project-skills-7220

Project Management Basics. (2013, December 16). Retrieved from

https://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/project-management.html

Project Management Basics: 6 Steps to a Foolproof Project Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.wrike.com/blog/foolproof-project-plan/

The Complete Glossary of Project Management Terminology. (2019, June 19). Retrieved from
https://www.smartsheet.com/complete-glossary-project-management-terminology

Revised: 05/2020
Confidential and Proprietary to the Space Foundation
 Student Vocabulary Reference Sheet

Term Definition
Goal The object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result
Scope The scope of a project constitutes everything it is supposed to accomplish in
order to be deemed successful.
Deliverable A deliverable is a tangible action item within a project. It is an element of
output within the scope of a project. There can be one or several deliverables
within a single project. When a deliverable is ready, that means a milestone
has been met. Often deliverables are dependent on another deliverable being
completed first.
Task A unit of work or activity needed for progress towards project goals. Typically,
a task must be completed by a set deadline.
Risk The probability of occurrence of a specific event that affects the pursuit of
objectives. Risks are not negative by definition. Opportunities may also be
considered risks.
Stakeholder Any party with an interest in the successful completion of a project. More
generally, the term refers to anyone who is affected by a project.
Project Manager The person tasked with initiating, planning, executing, and closing a project,
and with managing all aspects of project performance through these phases.
The term is typically used for a project management professional. Project
managers are able to use organizational resources for projects. They serve as
contact points for sponsors, program managers, and other stakeholders.
Milestone Milestones indicate specific progress points or events in project timelines.
They mark progress needed to complete projects successfully.
Activity The smallest unit of work necessary to complete a project work package
(which includes multiple activities). Time, resources, and finances are required
to complete each activity. Tasks may be added to further distribute an activity.
Timeline A graphical, sequential representation of project activities.
Problem A problem statement concisely states and describes an issue that needs to be
Statement solved. It is used to focus and direct problem-solving efforts.
Requirements A problem statement concisely states and describes an issue that needs to be
solved. It is used to focus and direct problem-solving efforts.
Time The ability to use one’s time effectively or productively.
Management
Communication The imparting or exchanging of information or news.
Role The function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular
situation.

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Confidential and Proprietary to the Space Foundation
 Project Management Organizational Chart

GOAL

DELIVERABLE DELIVERABLE

MILESTONE MILESTONE

ACTIVITY ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY

TASK TASK
 Activity cutouts (cut into strips along the rows, give one set to each group. Optional: laminate)

Cut along
these lines
Rocket Build crew cabin Activity

Rocket Design crew cabin Task

Research new developments regarding

Rocket safe materials and equipment for human Task
space flight

Rocket Build rocket body Activity

Rocket Decide height of rocket Task

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 Rocket Build rocket engines Activity

Rocket Test rocket engine parts Task

Rocket Build fuel tank Activity

Research inexpensive and efficient

Rocket Task
fuel options
Rocket fully assembled and ready
Rocket Milestone
for transfer to launchpad
Launch Decide launch date Activity

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 Research orbital periods of desired
Launch Task
destination in relation to Earth
Launch Decide launch location Activity

Research current active launch

Launch Task
location availability
Launch Select astronaut crew Activity

Assign roles and responsibilities to

Launch Task
astronaut crew
Launch Astronaut crew training Task

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 Rocket is at launchpad, crew is in
Launch Milestone
cabin, all systems go
Mission
Decide purpose of the mission Activity
Details
Research what would be important to the
Mission
scientific community to learn from the Task
Details mission
Mission Obtain budget details to help guide Task
Details purpose of the mission
Mission
Decide where rocket is going Activity
Details
Mission
Decide length of mission Activity
Details
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 Mission Research effects of microgravity on Task
Details the human body
Mission
All mission details confirmed Milestone
Details

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