Techniques, methods and tools used in the project life cycle The WritePass Journal

Techniques, methods and tools used in the project life cycle Introduction Techniques, methods and tools used in the project life cycle Introduction1) Initiation2) Planning3) Execution and controlling4) ClosureReference ListRelated Introduction A Project is the combination of organizational resources pulled together to create something that did not previously exist and that will provide a performance capability in the design and execution of organizational strategies (Cleland and Ireland, 2006). Projects have a distinct life cycle, starting with an idea and progressing through design, engineering and manufacturing or construction through use by a project owner. For a project to be successful there are main things which are to be considered always, like the cost of the whole project, time that it’s going to take for it to be complete, the technical performance capability that it’s going to provide and be able to match the results with the design and execution of organizational strategies. This whole process in the other name it’s called Project Management. Project management is an important management tool to implement strategy and achieve an organization’s strategic goals. Organizations are using projects to adapt to changes in the competitive environment including increasing cost pressures, scarce available resources, global competition, new technologies and a race to get products to customers first (Hyvari, 2006). Projects deliver the most benefit when they are directly linked to corporate strategy (Crawford, 2006, Srivannaboon, 2006). Also, Project Management is a continuing process of controlling the development of a project from initial planning, to monitoring progress and finally to seeing the successful completion of the project. Every program, project, or product has certain phases of development known as life cycle phases. A clear understanding of these phases permits managers and executives to better control resources to achieve organizational goals (Kerzner, 2003). As a result, the project manager must learn to deal with a wide range of problems and opportunities, each in a different stage of evolution and each having different relationships with the evolving project (Cleland and Ireland, 2002). In this assignment, I’m going to discuss all the activities that are required and analyse some of the techniques, methods and tools used on the project life cycle. Also, I will discuss the skills and competences that project managers’ needs to possess. At the end, I will talk about the roles played by the stakeholders and the contribution of the computer packages towards the successful running of a major project. a) The Project Life Cycle refers to a logical sequence of activities to accomplish the project’s goals or objectives. Regardless of scope or complexity, any project goes through a series of stages during its life. There is first an Initiation or Birth phase, in which the outputs and critical success factors are defined, followed by a Planning phase, characterized by breaking down the project into smaller parts/tasks, an Execution phase, in which the project plan is executed, and lastly a Closure or Exit phase, that marks the completion of the project. Project activities must be grouped into phases because by doing so, the project manager and the core team can efficiently plan and organize resources for each activity, and also objectively measure achievement of goals and justify their decisions to move ahead, correct, or terminate. It is of great importance to organize project phases into industry-specific project cycles. Why? Not only because each industry sector involves specifi c requirements, tasks, and procedures when it comes to projects, but also because different industry sectors have different needs for life cycle management methodology. And paying close attention to such details is the difference between doing things well and excelling as project managers. Diverse project management tools and methodologies prevail in the different project cycle phases. Let’s take a closer look at what’s important in each one of these stages: 1) Initiation In this first stage, the scope of the project is defined along with the approach to be taken to deliver the desired outputs. The project manager is appointed and in turn, he selects the team members based on their skills and experience. The most common tools or methodologies used in the initiation stage are Project Charter, Business Plan, Project Framework (or Overview), Business Case Justification, and Milestones Reviews. 2) Planning The second phase should include a detailed identification and assignment of each task until the end of the project. It should also include a risk analysis and a definition of a criteria for the successful completion of each deliverable. The governance process is defined, stake holders identified and reporting frequency and channels agreed. The most common tools or methodologies used in the planning stage are Business Plan and Milestones Reviews. 3) Execution and controlling The most important issue in this phase is to ensure project activities are properly executed and controlled. During the execution phase, the planned solution is implemented to solve the problem specified in the projects requirements. In product and system development, a design resulting in a specific set of product requirements is created. This convergence is measured by prototypes, testing, and reviews. As the execution phase progresses, groups across the organization become more deeply involved in planning for the final testing, production, and support. The most common tools or methodologies used in the execution phase are an update of Risk Analysis and Score Cards, in addition to Business Plan and Milestones Reviews. 4) Closure In this last stage, the project manager must ensure that the project is brought to its proper completion. The closure phase is characterized by a written formal project review report containing the following components: a formal acceptance of the final product by the client, Weighted Critical Measurements (matching the initial requirements specified by the client with the final delivered product), rewarding the team, a list of lessons learned, releasing project resources, and a formal project closure notification to higher management. No special tool or methodology is needed during the closure phase. Reference List Kerzner, H. (2003). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling (8th ed.). New Jersey: John wiley Sons Inc. Cleland, D.I, Ireland, L.R. (2006). Project Management: Strategic Design and Implementation (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 26 Cleland, D.I, Ireland, L.R. (2002). Project Management: Strategic Design and Implementation (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 32 Crawford, L., Hobbs, B. Turner, J.R. (2006), Aligning capability with strategy: Categorizing projects to do the right projects and to do them right,  Project Management Journal; Jun. 37, 2; ABI/INFORM Global, pp.38-50 Hyvari, I. (2006), Project management effectiveness in project oriented business organisations,  International Journal of Project Management,  24 pp. 216-225 Srivannaboon, S. (2006), Linking project management with business strategy,  Project Management Journal, Dec; 37, 5; ABI/Inform Global, pp.88-96

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Case Study Example Each medical practitioner and service provider has a different recordkeeping system in place, each of these systems has a cost of its own, having a free system in place would cut down costs remarkably. According estimates the cost reduction would be to the tune of S80 to $240 billion dollars (Laudon & Laudon, 2009). The recordkeeping systems are not interconnected with one another. An individual may have one record with their dentist, another with their general family practitioner and yet another with their gynecologist. In case one medical service provider needs to see the records from another medical service provider, the patient has to lug around the physical files. In case the patient goes to a practitioner in an emergency, they may not be able to give them a full picture of the various illnesses, sensitivities or allergies they may have, leading to a wrong diagnosis. With a central system of records in place all medical practitioners that a person visits would have access to all their medical records and would be able to get a complete picture of the persons state of health. Electronic recordkeeping will reduce the costs related to recordkeeping for each medical service provider. There may be some cost for transferring existing records to the online system. The management would have to make sure that misuse and leakage of information does not occur. The implementation of this technology would make it easier to organize and access medical records. There should be laws in place restricting the use of medical information in profiling especially through methods such as non-obvious relationship awareness which have the potential of causing trouble for law abiding citizens. HIPAA guarantees should be extended to online records. Once such guarantees are in place, medical service providers and patients will be more likely to adopt electronic medical recordkeeping. There should be a single format for all medical recordkeeping. Rival systems should be able to

Survey about CWsandbox tool which used for dynamic malware analysis Research Paper

Survey about CWsandbox tool which used for dynamic malware analysis - Research Paper Example General Sandbox Architecture: A sandbox is deployed to secure a computer system from external attacks that are attempted through malware (malicious program). According to Hoopes (2009), the approaches used are either to block the critical accessibility of a malware or to introduce a simulated environment with completely virtual computing resources like CPU, file system and the memory. This virtual environment enables the program to get executed in a completely isolated environment which is disconnected from the real execution environment within which it resides. The main idea is to monitor the accessibility of program (under observation) to system resources. This way the system can be brought back into the safe state after complete behavioral analysis of the suspected program. The fringe benefit of this approach is the usage of a lighter security protocol for the underlying system that improves its working efficiency. The behavioral analysis keeps the execution environment intact. Th is gives it an edge over instruction level analysis (basically done using debuggers or dis-assemblers). CWSandbox architecture and functioning: CW sandbox is one the sandbox applications that are in use. Every sandbox application has its own mechanism to secure the computer system environment. CWSandbox comprise of two executable files namely cwsandbox.exe and cwmonitor.dll. The former is the central application that initiates the malware and manages the complete process of analysis. The latter on the other hand is a DLL (Dynamic Link Library). This library is introduced into all processes in the malware that are under observation. This way the malware is actually executed and being interacted by the sandbox along with its own execution. The function of the DLL file is to catch each API critical call from malware and to inform the central application (cwsandbox.exe) about it. The sandbox (main application) then takes some time to analyze the call in order to either delegate the cont rol to the required API (in case of safe conclusion) or to answer the call with a virtual error message (in opposite case). Along with the keeping an eye on every malware call, the DLL also makes it certain that the sandbox is kept informed about other malware activities like injecting a code into an already executing process or creating a child process. In both cases the DLL is instantiated again to be injected into the child process or the already running process. Figure 1.0 below, elaborates the described functioning. The CWSandbox uses the native execution environment unlike other sandbox schemes. This in turn reduces the delay caused by the analysis mechanism. Enormous communication exists between the main application (executable) and planted instances of DLLs. Each notification call from a DLL to sandbox contains a lot of information that requires a formal and reliable mechanism of communication between processes. In order to fulfill this requirement the sandbox is usually equ ipped with high efficiency IPC (Inter Process Communication) mechanism. Figure 1.0. Sandbox Instance using CWSandbox (Source: Hoopes J. 2009. Virtualization for Security) CWSandbox Malware Handling and Analysis Mechanism: The mechanisms that are performed by a sandbox can be distinguished into three parts. These parts may

Social Historical Bacground Essay Example for Free

Social Historical Bacground Essay A Dolls House was first published in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 1879. The first edition of the play flew of the shelves with 8000 copies sold within the first month. The play was then staged at Copenhagens Royal Theatre on the 21st of December of the same year. This allowed people who had read the manuscript (men), as well as those people who could not read (women), the chance to see Ibsens visual representation of his play. Women were less likely to read as they were less likely to attend school. Therefore, when men and women attended theatres a difference of opinion arose. Women were for the independence of Nora whilst men found it scandalous. However, both genders found elements of the play scandalous such as the lack of a happy ending, a sign of naturalistic drama of which Ibsen was a master. Most other playwrights of the time were still writing plays which adhered to the conventions laid out by Ancient Greek tragedy: the play must be in verse and about people of high social status. A Dolls House featured simple prose and was about people of different statutory. The Royal Theatre was frequented by both people of high status and low status. This only scandalised audiences even more as the higher status audiences were disgusted whilst lower status audience members applauded Ibsen. A Dolls House was the centre of conversations in Copenhagen and soon news of the scandalous play travelled across Denmark and beyond. By the following year the play had reached audiences in Europe whilst by 1990 the play had appeared in most continents of the world. The shocking nature of the play meant that not all conversations related to A Dolls House were good. This can be seen in the array of critical commentary the play has received. Such commentary was fuelled by Ibsen when in 1898 he denounced that he wrote the play with the womens rights movement in mind: To me it has seemed a problem of mankind in general. Others believed this too, such as Zelda Fichandler working for the Washington Post who wrote: Womens rightsis too limited a subject to be the stuff of art. With the freedom of women now dismissed as Ibsens goal, critics began to draw up their own conclusions as to what the play was about. Michael Meyer wrote: Its theme is the need of every individual to find out the kind of person he or she really is and to strive to become that person. This comment is regarded in todays world as quite valid. Modern audiences can accept that Ibsens focus was not just on women, but that the play could be applied to both sexes. Meanwhile, audiences of the past could not accept this which lead to some alteration of the text and its production. The play was altered by directors and producers for two main reasons: either the producers were disturbed by its content or they were trying to stage the play in a new way. The ending of the play was changed in Germany when the actress cast as Nora said that she could never leave her children. Ibsen saw the changes as a barbaric outrage on the play but could not do anything due to the lack of copyright. The changing of the end brought about public outcry and the ending was reverted to its original. Another person to change the script because of children was Eleonora Duse but she changed the script as she found it difficult to bring child actors on tour from Italy. The play was also staged in several different ways. Meyerholds set of the play was changed from comfortable to cramped. He included rickety furniture with a long red drape hanging over the window to express his idea that everything was collapsing going to the devil. This view is, in my opinion, very true. It is not only Nora who is collapsing under the strain of her lies; the relationships and trust is collapsing too. The play was again staged differently by director Peter Ashmore who placed rooms mentioned in the stage directions and areas beside the living room and master bedroom in his production. Not everything associated with the play was altered; some characters were representations of real life people. Nora is actually based upon a friend of Ibsen called Laura Kieler. Lauras husband, like Torvald, became ill forcing the couple abroad. Nora arranged a loan with the help of a friend so that her husband did not know anything. Once her husband got better she wrote about her ordeal and tried to sell the story in the form of a novel to pay for the debt. She asked Ibsen for his assistance with this but he wrote back to Laura and advised her to take up the matter with her husband. Ibsen believed that Laura was hiding something from the husband and believed that the husband should take responsibility for her troubles. Laura had not told her husband anything about the loan as she was too scared. When she received the letter from Ibsen saying he would not publish the novel she forged a check to pay back the loan. However, the forgery was discovered and Laura was forced to tell her husband everything. Lauras husband was enraged and filed for separation. As a result, Nora suffered a mental breakdown and had to go to a mental hospital. When she was released from the institution she begged her husband to take her back. I believe that there are obvious parallels here between Nora and Laura

UML and its fit in the business community :: essays research papers

UML in the Business Community In the modern world, business analysts use UML as a communication tool to relay business needs to the IT professionals. What is the Unified Modeling Language (UML)? Here is a definition of UML according to the Object Management Group (OMG) specification. â€Å"The Unified Modeling Language is a graphical language for visualizing, specifying, constructing, and documenting the artifacts of a software-intensive system. The UML offers a standard way to write systems blueprints, including conceptual things such as programming language statements, database schemas, and reusable software components.† First I will start out with a brief discussion on the history of UML. I will then briefly go over the different modeling aspects. Last, I will cover the different UML diagram types. What do you get when you take the different concepts of Booch, OMT, OOSE and Class-Relation then integrate them all into one single modeling language? Do you give up? You create a common and widely usable modeling language such as UML. UML strives to be the standard modeling language which can monitor both concurrent and distributed systems. According to Wikipedia, the OMG has in fact made UML into an industry standard by calling for information on object-orientated (OO) methodologies that might create a rigorous software modeling language. Many industry leaders answered this calling to help create the standard. There are three different aspects of the modeled system which are handled by UML. These three modeling aspects are the functional model, object model and the dynamic model. The functional model is concerned with how the system functions from the user’s point of view. This model includes use case diagrams. The object model deals with the structure and substructure of the system using objects, operations, associations, and attributes. This model includes class diagrams. The dynamic model deals with the internal behavior of the system. This model includes sequence diagrams, activity diagrams and statechart diagrams. There are many types of UML diagram types. These diagram types consist of use case diagrams, class diagrams, collaboration diagrams, sequence diagrams, statechart diagrams, activity diagrams, and deployment diagrams. Use case diagrams are used to obtain system requirements from a user’s perspective. The use case diagram can be thought of as an interaction that a user has with a system to achieve a goal. Class diagrams represent static structure of the classes and their relationships in a system. Interaction diagrams consist of both sequence diagrams and collaboration diagrams.

Banneker Argument Essay

Banneker Rough Draft #2 Decades before the Civil War, even when the nation was but a few years old, slavery played quite a controversial role in the United States. While writing the Declaration of Independence, exclusions of all references made to slavery avoided conflict in an attempt to hold the fragile young nation together during the critical period leading up to its independence. However, the leaders of the country knew the subject would pop up again. Just a few short years later, as the country began to envision its future, the issue of slavery made another appearance.Many people, including free African-Americans such as Benjamin Banneker, argued against slavery. In his letter to Thomas Jefferson, Banneker argues in favor of abolition with respect and passion through his mastery of powerful diction, impassioned and reverent tone, and emotional appeal. Throughout the piece, Banneker reminds Jefferson of the struggle for independence. He recalls for Jefferson how discontented the colonies felt with King George’s tyranny. He supports his argument with key words from the Revolution, speaking of the â€Å"rights and privileges† bestowed upon the former colonists.He quotes Jefferson himself, pulling an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence which states that â€Å"all men are created equal. † However, many thought slaves simply property and not men, so did not seem applicable to the situation in their eyes. Banneker warns against hypocrisy, stating with loaded words such as â€Å"groaning captivity and cruel oppression† that Jefferson and the others would be just as tyrannical as King George should they just stand by and let slavery continue. Banneker feels quite passionately about this, something reflected by his tone.He feels obligated to act, because â€Å"so numerous a part of [his] brethren† were experiencing carnal treatment and abhorrent horrors and all he could do to help included sending a strongly-worded, yet m ost likely ineffective, letter to a political official. Banneker knows that unfortunately, despite his pedantic diction due to his extensive education, he holds less credibility than a white man during this point in time. So despite his passionate argument, the letter as a whole reflects respect.Banneker addresses Jefferson as â€Å"sir,† uses panegyrics, and towards the end of the letter he attempts flattery by stating â€Å"your knowledge of the situation†¦ is†¦ extensive. † This respect played a key role in Banneker’s letter being seriously considered. Banneker’s tone fuels his use of the appeal pathos. Banneker speaks of the times when â€Å"human aid appeared unavailable† to the colonies, when they seemed to have no hope. He attempts to evoke feelings of altruism from Jefferson by insisting that he possesses the ability to do what the French did for the colonies- help win the fight for freedom.Banneker reminds Jefferson how much he e njoys his freedom from England, something undeniable and labeled by Banneker as a â€Å"blessing of Heaven. † Banneker uses Jefferson’s intense value and love for liberty and equality to point out the urgency with which his brethren should be given rights and privileges â€Å"equal and impartial† to those of white men. Banneker’s fervent desperation for the freedom of his brethren seems almost tangible. The hypocrisy of the situation must have been understandably frustrating, but eventually, despite almost a century of waiting, slaves became emancipated in the United States. Word count: 536

The New Knowledge Of Psychoanalysis - 813 Words

In this paper, I will reflect the new knowledge of psychoanalysis, that I gained recently, on my former clients including Zahra, Kam, Morgan, Sandra and Caroline. I begin with a short review on the clients’ history. Zahra, a 28 years old married woman and mother of three daughters, was referred to counseling by her general physician. Zahra was suffering from periodic severe headaches and obsessive thoughts. She generally did not have a good relationship with her mother whom she described as an uneducated and submissive woman. In addition, Zahra had a feeling of losing her father. It might be probably because he had left Zahra’s mother and is living with his new wife. Morgan, who changed their name because their original name seems so feminine while they do not have such a feminine feeling, introduced themselves as a gender queer. They come from a problematic history including parents’ divorce, sexually and emotionally abused by their step-father, and drug and alcohol addict. 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