Project Management Training Manual

This paper allows you to use your critical thinking skills to create a Project Management Training Manual for Cool Widgets, Inc. (the fictional company we have been following throughout the class). This course covered project management— its tools, techniques, and their benefits to the organization. Now is your opportunity to explain these concepts to the rest of Cool Widgets, Inc. project management and teams and to provide guidelines for best practices. Be sure to cite your sources.

Use the linked Training Manual template for your training manual.

The Training Manual will include screenshot (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. examples and explanations of work breakdown structures (WBS), critical path analysis, and a weighted scoring module (WSM) that you have created in prior weeks. Be sure to update these examples based on any new criteria presented in these instructions. Prior to completing this final project, review Chapters 9 and 10 in your textbook. Include feedback you received on the previous assignments, knowledge you obtained in the class, and your research so that the training manual will reflect project management best practices.

The Project Management Training Manual must include the following elements:

1. Introduction
   • Explain what a project is and how project management improves an organization’s success.
   • Summarize the five process groups in the project management life cycle.
2. Initiating/Pre-Planning/Project Selection
   • Explain the pre-planning stage of the project management lifecycle.
     • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the pre planning/project selection stage.
   • Describe various approaches for selecting projects.
   • Describe the importance of project stakeholders, sponsors, and project teams to the success of the project.
3. Planning
   • Explain the planning stage of the project management lifecycle.
     • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the planning stage.
   • Using the WSM template from Week One and the criteria found in the Cool Widgets scenario, create a WSM model that will help select the appropriate training resource company to outsource the employee training in Cool Widgets’ NY branch. Be sure to incorporate any applicable instructor or peer feedback you may have received about your work on the WSM in Week Two. Using the criteria from the Cool Widgets scenario, create the WSM and insert it as a screenshot (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. into your manual. Explain the purpose of the WSM. Supply the rationale for the training resource you chose based on the WSM results.
   • Explain the WBS, project milestones, and the critical path and how these elements relate to the project’s status.
   • Create a WBS in Microsoft (MS) Project, or modify the example you created in Week Three, taking into account both instructor and peer feedback (as applicable), and include a screen shot of it as an example in your training manual. Make sure the example contains the appropriate level of detail so the reader understands the context.
4. Executing
   • Explain the executing stage of the project management lifecycle.
     • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the executing stage.
   • Create a status report, or modify the example you created in Week Two or Week Four, using your Cool Widgets training project plan and taking into account both instructor and peer feedback (as applicable). Your status report must contain a WBS, a critical path analysis, and a project cost management report. Make sure the status report is clear and succinct and contains the appropriate amount of detail that a reader would need to understand the context for the report. Copy and paste the status report into your training manual. Explain the importance of presenting a clear project status report to stakeholders.
5. Monitoring and Controlling
   • Explain the monitoring and controlling stage of the project management lifecycle.
     • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the monitoring and controlling stage.
   • Explain project cost management and how this relates to the project’s status.
     • Create a project cost management report using Microsoft (MS) Project and the data you’ve entered for your Cool Widgets training project. Include a screen capture of the cost management report in your training manual as an example.
6. Closing
   • Explain the closing stage of the project management lifecycle.
     • Explain project management terms, tools, and techniques that are applicable to the closing stage.
   • Explain what a lessons learned report is and its importance for future projects within the organization.

The Project Management Training Manual

• Must be 2500 to 3500 words in length (10 to 12 pages, not including title, screen captures, or references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external 
• Must use the Training Manual template.
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
• Title of paper
• Student’s name
• Course name and number
• Instructor’s name
• Date submitted
• Must use at least two peer reviewed, scholarly, and/or credible sources in addition to the course text.
  • The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.