Option #1: Develop Applications Relative to Course ObjectivesAs part of successfully completing this course, you should be able to master the eight course objectives: Demonstrate the need for project

Running head: APPLICATIONS RELATIVE TO COURSE OBJECTIVES 1

Applications Relative To Course Objectives

Woodrow Rowell

5/3/20

In this case, I am dealing with a construction project. Successful implementation of the project will demand the creation of effective project metrics. The metrics are useful in that they help in controlling project costs, evaluating project success, project status, possible risks, and assessing the productivity and the quality of the project team. Such elements are crucial in making sure that the project has been completed as planned. Time, costs, and scope have got limits, which are determined during the project planning stage. Project managers focus on completing the project within the scheduled time frame or less, incurring the planned cost or less, and working within the defined scope. Project metrics are useful in preventing adverse deviation from the expectation or plan.

Key characteristics of a metric that are properly designed are; first, the metric should be relevant to the project being undertaken. Secondly, the metric should be in proper alignment with the objectives and goals of the project. Third, it must be strategic. The formulation of the project should start from the identified goals and objectives, working backward. Fourth, the metric must be simple and easy to understand by the project team. Fifth, the metrics should be measurable to determine the extent to which they are being achieved.

In a metric-driven project, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) mainly focus on the costs, resource use, and scheduled time. Some of the common KPIs used are project schedule, estimate to project completion, resource allocation, development backlog, among others. The KPIs are evaluated from time to time to evaluate whether the project is on the right track.

Failure to consider value-based project management metrics leads to the selection of the wrong metrics and the inability to add value to the project as it continues, as the project team tends to focus more on the results and not the processes. Key factors to consider include; key performance indicators (current value) and Customer value management (maximizing the value of the customers) (EIRGASH et al., 2017). 

Project dashboards play a crucial role in evaluating project performance. They are supposed to be designed in accordance with the number of stakeholders and key activities being executed within the project. The design has to incorporate the activity and milestone tracking capability, production of progress reports, task status, resource allocation, teamwork status, etc. Limitations of the dashboards are that they have got a limited number of individuals accessing them, the maximum number of widgets is twelve, shared Dashboards per view reach 50 for every analytics account, and edit permission to share. Such limitations make it hard for the dashboards to accommodate a large number of project teams and widgets, as it offers limited access (Kerzner, 2017).

The visual project management tools ensure that all information related to the projected has been centralized for easy access, retrieval, and usage. It offers crucial platforms for collaborative management of the project, scheduling as well as effective resource management, facilitating the realization of the project goals and objectives. Project performance dashboards track the performance of individuals and teams within the project, thus making sure that the project is being completed as planned. It facilitates communication and reporting, among other practices.

Based on the nature of my project, performance indicators will include; Average Daily Attendance (ADA) of project team members, completion of activities with the assigned resources, completion of each with the planned time frame, and customer satisfaction per activity.

References

EIRGASH, M. A., TOĞAN, V., & KAZAZ, A. (2017). Application of Earned Value-Based Metrics to Enhance the Performance Measurement of Engineering Project Management. Digital Proceeding of ICOCEE–CAPPADOCIA.

Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management metrics, KPIs, and dashboards: a guide to measuring and monitoring project performance. John Wiley & Sons.