Category: Project management

The team is well into the execution of the company luncheon. You are now about two weeks from the event, and there has been little to no management oversight on the performance of the project.

For this discussion, please address:

• Why is it necessary to track actual and committed costs once a project starts?
• What is the best technique to present project performance to management and why?

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

Working in a team: 1500

• respond to the below by showing In this class, we have learned about the project critical path. For the luncheon, what schedule task do you feel, if the delivery date is missed, puts the luncheon date at risk?

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

The two I found are Instagantt and Airtable. Instagantt integrates well with Asana, making it a good choice if your team uses Asana for tasks. It offers features like live syncing, task dependencies, and milestone setting, all within an easy-to-use interface (Forbes Advisor, 2026). On the other hand, Airtable is super flexible, allowing for extensive customization of Gantt charts. It has a clean and modern look, making it visually appealing, but it starts at $24 per user, which could be pricey for smaller teams (SelectHub, 2026).

When comparing the two, Instagantt is simpler and quicker to use, especially for teams already using Asana, while Airtable has more features but might take longer to learn. In terms of flexibility, Airtable wins, as it can be tailored to fit various project needs. Ultimately, I think Instagantt is the better option for teams looking for something straightforward, while Airtable is great for those who want more customization. It really comes down to whether your team values simplicity or a variety of features more.

References

Forbes Advisor. (2026). Instagantt Review: Features, Pros & Cons. Retrieved from [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/instagantt-review/?utm_source=openai)

SelectHub. (2026). Airtable Reviews 2026: Pricing, Features & More. Retrieved from [SelectHub](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/airtable/?utm_source=openai)

For this week, I chose to look into Monday and Click Up project management programs. They both appealed to me as they both have free user options, albeit with limited number of team members and functions- but for a singular project like this luncheon, or for a company just starting out, the free price can be extremely welcoming! In my research it appears both companies have very similar features with the ability to make customizable Gantt charts, load them onto a project dashboard that can make team collaboration a breeze, and have mobile app accessibility. Click Up appears to be a bit more customizable than Monday, however, and users report the latter being over simplistic and lacking in some critical features such as cost tracking. A downside of Click Up, though is that your Gantt charts can only be downloaded as PDFs, making it hard to integrate with other software programs. At their respective higher price tiers/subscriptions, however, both offer more extensive management tools like critical path identification, built-in project management reports, and team communication tools which can easily be worth the cost!

In all, I would say what project management program to choose varies greatly on what types/scopes of projects you or your team are managing. Factoring in items like project/task complexity, team size, available visual and analytical tools, and stakeholder accessibility are all crucial in determining what program will suit the team’s needs best and managers would be wise to be somewhat familiar with several different platforms.

References:

Landau, P. (2023, November 20). 14 Best Gantt Chart Software of 2024 (Free & Paid). ProjectManager.

• respond to the above by showing In this class, we have learned about the project critical path. For the luncheon, what schedule task do you feel, if the delivery date is missed, puts the luncheon date at risk?

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

Draw diagram using (PDM) Precedent Diagramming Method

Instructions

Based on the examples and content covered in class, develop a 2 to 3-page scheduling plan for your project. Which scheduling options will you select? Which tools will you use? Provide a rationale for your choices.

Tip: This plan can inform your final assessment project submission.

Formatting

• Style: Your plan can take a variety of forms (e.g., bullet points, short prose).
• Length: Your plan should be approximately 2-3 pages in length. Points will be deducted for plans that exceed the specified length (see rubric below for more details).

Only use the references in this class, no outside sources:

Chapter 3 (Keys 5 & 6, pp. 183-260) – The 7 Keys to Project Leadership

Madsen, S. (2019).

. In The power of project leadership: 7 keys to help you transform from project manager to project leader (2nd ed., pp. 183260). Kogan Page.

How to Use the Critical Path Method for Complete Beginners (With Examples)

Cohen, E. (2025, January 28).

. Workamajig. https://www.workamajig.com/blog/critical-path-method

Banishing Bottlenecks: When Logjams Slow Progress, Teams Must Target the Source to Break Through

Ingram, B. (2020, February 1).

. PM Network, 34(2), 4853. https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/banishing-bottlenecks-11887

Gantt Chart vs. PERT Chart Vs. Network Diagram: What Are the Differences?

Landau, P. (2024, January 26).

ProjectManager.com. https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/gantt-vs-pert-vs-network-diagram

2020 PMI Project of the Year Winner:…

Parsi, N., & Wilkinson, A. (2020).

. PM Network, 34(7), 3035. https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/2020-project-year-turkey-pipeline-12567

See attached pictures

Schedule compression is a term used to describe the methods and techniques a project manager uses to shorten the project timeline and preserve the existing project scope. Fast tracking and crashing are two common methods of schedule compression. If your project is behind schedule, one of these methods could help speed things up, but might also introduce risk. What tools and techniques would you implement to get the project back on track? How would you address the risk introduced by the method selected? Consider the culture, structure, stakeholders, and resource constraints of your company or an organization you are familiar with.

Support your response with references to the course content, media, and readings.

References:

Chapter 3 (Keys 5 & 6, pp. 183-260) – The 7 Keys to Project Leadership

Madsen, S. (2019).

. In The power of project leadership: 7 keys to help you transform from project manager to project leader (2nd ed., pp. 183260). Kogan Page.

How to Use the Critical Path Method for Complete Beginners (With Examples)

Cohen, E. (2025, January 28).

. Workamajig. https://www.workamajig.com/blog/critical-path-method

Banishing Bottlenecks: When Logjams Slow Progress, Teams Must Target the Source to Break Through

Ingram, B. (2020, February 1).

. PM Network, 34(2), 4853. https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/banishing-bottlenecks-11887

Gantt Chart vs. PERT Chart Vs. Network Diagram: What Are the Differences?

Landau, P. (2024, January 26).

ProjectManager.com. https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/gantt-vs-pert-vs-network-diagram

2020 PMI Project of the Year Winner:…

Parsi, N., & Wilkinson, A. (2020).

. PM Network, 34(7), 3035. https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/2020-project-year-turkey-pipeline-12567

Using the same project from week one students will produce a baseline risk management plan for their project. The risk analysis will identify and classify risks to the completion of the project. Based on the analysis, the student will develop controls, monitoring and processes to manage the identified risks.

The student will prepare and submit a risk management strategy and plan. As a part of the plan they should provide convincing arguments for management to accept any changes to the project to account for the risks assessed. Students can use a risk management template. Please use the PMI “Process Group: A Practice Guide” and outside credible resources (minimum 3).

Risk Management Plan –

A. Complete the plan using elements identified in the PMI “Process Group: A Practice Guide” pages 231-234. The outputs are the required elements in the plan. Ensure you include your scope statement, purpose, background from last week’s assignment at the beginning of the plan. Points are deducted if you do not include all elements.

B. After including the elements of the risk management plan – methodology, roles/responsibilities, budgeting, timing, etc. ensure you present your analysis of the actual risks you identify for your project. So you are completing the risk strategy as part A and risk analysis as part B.

This should be completed in MS Word document – APA style with a references page at the end.

Strategies for Balancing Detail and Adaptability

• Iterative Planning (Agile Approach): Instead of one rigid plan, break the luncheon planning into smaller, manageable, and iterative cycles (e.g., planning venue, then catering, then entertainment). This allows the team to pivot if, for instance, a venue falls through, without ruining the entire plan.
• Establish a Robust Risk Management Plan: Identify, analyze, and mitigate potential issues early, such as guest count changes or vendor cancellations, allowing for proactive adjustments.
• Establish Clear, High-Level Goals: Define the project scope, objectives, and deliverables clearly, but allow the team autonomy on how to achieve those tasks.

Tools and Best Practices

• Kanban Boards (e.g., Trello or Jira): Visualize workflow to see what is planned, in progress, and completed, allowing for quick re-prioritization.
• Project Management Software (e.g., Microsoft Project, Asana): Use tools that allow for easy updating of schedules and resource allocation, helping to maintain a “living document” approach to the project plan.
• Daily Stand-ups/Check-ins: Conduct short meetings to discuss progress, obstacles, and necessary changes, fostering immediate, flexible responses to uncertainties.
• Detailed Scope Statement: Document the initial, approved scope to prevent scope creep while building in “contingency buffers” in both time and budget for flexibility.

By using these methods, the team ensures all necessary details are covered for a successful event while retaining the agility to adjust to unforeseen changes.

• respond to post above by Explain two segments of the project plan that you feel are the most critical? Explain in detail your position.

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.