This blog is where Oman Oil PMP Prep Candidates are posting examples where they demonstrate how they are using the tools & techniques they are learning about and are applying them to real life problems from their day to day working environments.
W1_Your Initials or Nickname_Your Topic
W1 Blog Posting Instructions-
BEFORE starting your blog postings, read over and UNDERSTAND the figure below. If you don’t understand something then ASK FOR HELP from your TEAM.
- Step 1- Problem or Opportunity Statement- Select a REAL problem from your work or personal environment that needs solving.
- The problem needs to be detailed or small enough that it can be analyzed in 250 – 500 words.
Your problem statement should be a REAL LIFE PROBLEM COMING FROM YOUR DAY TO DAY WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
- Example #1- There are too many lost time accidents on our projects.
- Example #2- Our projects are consistently finishing late and/or over budget
- Example #3-Our contractors or subcontractors are not performing per the baseline schedule
- Example #4- Our productivity on this project is higher/lower than originally estimated
- Conduct a ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS http://kscsma.ksc.nasa.gov/Reliability/Documents/Ganos_comparison_the_Root_Cause_Analysis_Methods.pdf or http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_80.htm
- Select the “root cause” which you want to fix or address. (In the real world, you would use a Pareto Analysis to determine this) (Reference Rita Mulcahy or Google on Pareto Analysis)
I am not seeing any indication that anyone has done a “root cause analysis using one of the many RCA tools/techniques
- Step 2- Based on the root cause, prioritized using Pareto or any one of the other root cause analysis or prioritization tools/techniques, develop the “FEASIBLE alternatives” that will fix or provide a solution to your chosen ROOT CAUSE of any problem/opportunity.
- At least in the beginning, “feasible alternatives” are which tools and techniques from PMBOK Guide, Rita Mulcahy, GAO “Best Practices”, PDG slides/handouts or appropriate on line references which will help you analyze and solve the root cause problem.
In order to make a COMPARISON between using one tool/technique over the other, there MUST BE more than one tool/technique you are comparing There CANNOT BE only one tool/technique.
- OR the feasible alternatives are the actions you could take to solve or fix the root cause problem.
In order to make a comparison between one alternative solution and the other, there MUST BE at least 2 and preferably 3 alternatives that you need to make the comparison. There CANNOT BE only a single alternative solution to your problem. There must be MORE than one and you are comparing which one is “better” or “best”.
- NOTE For the W1 Blog assignment, the feasible alternatives are the LEADERSHIP STYLES and NOT the Stage or Phases the project team is in!!!!
- Step 3- Develop the outcomes for each alternative (minimum 2) by applying the tools/techniques above to produce a QUANTITATIVE comparison of the alternatives.
- Create a comparison between the various alternatives, which usually takes the form of some calculations.
- Can be IRR, ERR, NPV, Break Even, or some other QUANTITATIVE analysis.
- OR can be QUALITATIVE or QUANTITATIVE using Multi-Attribute Decision Making tools/techniques)
- Apply one or more of the tools and techniques from PMBOK Guide, Rita Mulcahy,, GAO “Best Practices”, PDG slides/handouts or your on line references will help you analyze and solve the root cause problem.
- Create a comparison between the various alternatives, which usually takes the form of some calculations.
- Step 4- Selection of the acceptable criteria.
- What is the MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE CRITERIA to determine which of the feasible alternatives you want to select.
- Justify why or explain how you determined this value
- Step 5- Compare the outcomes from each alternative analysis done in Step 3 against the minimum acceptable criteria from Step 4.
- Summarize the alternatives (usually using a table) and rank-order them from most preferable to least preferable, identifying which one(s) meet the minimum acceptable criteria to be considered
- Step 6- From those which meet the minimum criteria, select the one which you believe to be the “best”.
- Justify or explain why you believe your choice was “better” than the others.
- Back it up with numerical support
- Step 7- Assuming that your choice will be accepted by management and implemented, explain how you plan on tracking/reporting on your recommended choice (intervention) to see if it is or is not delivering the improvements your analysis (from Step 3) indicated.
- Provide your REFERENCES (requires a MINIMUM of 3) formatted using APA Style.
- For Authors http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/06/
- For Online References http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/
- OR automatically generate your APA formatted citations- http://www.citefast.com/