Applying Project Management Skills in a Simulation

1
Applying Project Management Skillsin a
Simulation

• Kathy Schwalbe, Ph.D., PMP
• PDS 2006
• Cincinnati, OH

schwalbe_at_augsburg.edu www.kathyschwalbe.com
2
Overview

• Fissure project management simulation
• Benefits and drawbacks of using simulations
• Student reactions to simulation
• Suggestions for using simulations to teach
  project management
• Note I did not have all of the data when I
  created these slides (end of March 2006), so
  there will be more info in my final presentation.
  Ill put final slides on my Web site
  (www.kathyschwalbe.com) under My Bio

3
Fissure PMI REP Specializing in PM Simulation
4
Fissure Simulation

• Demo version (CD) bundled with my textbooks (IT
  PM, 4th edition and Introduction to PM)
• Project involves developing a prototype Web site
• Demo version only includes 7 tasks and 10
  potential team members
• Full version available from Fissure in their
  courses

5
Simulation Project Information

• The Alliance Prototype project is a strategic
  effort to augment the sales and marketing of
  Uniworld with an e-commerce equipped Web site
• The budget for this 11-week project is 40,000,
  and there cannot be more than 7 known defects
• After installing the application, users get a
  guided tour by Peedy the parrot

6
Sample Screen Reference Information
Peedy
7
Running the Simulation

• Read reference information
• Plan each week resources, budget, schedule,
  risks/opportunities, training, and stakeholder
  relations
• Make staffing decisions each week, such as
  deciding who to hire, who to assign to what tasks
  and when, when to send people to training, when
  to recognize/reward people
• Determine the best way to have team and
  stakeholder interactions (group meetings,
  individual conferences, individual or team
  recognition, etc.)
• Run the simulation for the week, then review the
  results in various report and chart formats

8
Task Assignment Screen
9
WBS and Budget Information
10
Gantt Chart
11
Network Diagram
12
Risk Management
13
Training
14
Recognition and Rewards
15
Team and Stakeholder Interactions
16
Summary After Running the Simulation for a Week
17
Communications After Running the Simulation for
that Week
18
Earned Value Chart
19
Quality Report
20
Benefits of Simulation

• Learn from mistakes with no risk
• Quick connection between cause and effect
• Build and test project mental models
• Build and test leadership mental models
• Try new techniques/approaches
• Push your performance boundaries
• Learn by doing
• Learn from others in a team setting

From Fissure documentation of simulation
available on textbook Web site
21
More Effective Than Just Lecture

• The experience is real, invoking real emotions
  and real learning
• Challenges are presented to the student as they
  manage a project to get the work done on time and
  under budget
• The decisions the student makes while running the
  simulation have consequences and an impact on the
  bottom line results of the project (time, cost,
  and quality)
• The simulation teaches technical and soft skills
  in an integrated way
• There is no right answer, there are many paths
  to success and just like on real projects, there
  is lots of uncertainty (random events)

From Fissure documentation of simulation
available on textbook Web site
22
Students Reactions to Fissure Simulation

• I assigned the simulation as an individual HW
  assignment in fall 2005
• Mixed results
• Some students, mostly male gamers, liked the
  simulation and spent a lot of time on it
• Some students, mostly female, hated the
  simulation, couldnt get it to work right, and
  thought it was a waste of time
• Changes for spring 2006 semester I made the
  simulation a team assignment for my adult class
  and paired assignment for two traditional classes

23
Student Reactions

• Adult Weekend College students at Augsburg had to
  run the simulation twice as part of a team
  project
• The four teams liked using the simulation it
  took a while to figure it out, and most did not
  finish the simulated project on time or budget,
  even on the second try

24
U. Of Minnesota Student Reactions

• PM class there is mostly senior engineering
  students, some graduate IT students
• Suggested students do in pairs made a homework
  assignment
• Most students thought it was a good learning tool
  and didnt have much trouble loading or running it

25
Rating as a Learning Tool U of M
Average 7.0
1low, 10 high
26
Teaching Assistants Summary of HWs
Pros
Cons

• Bar charts (in the report section), Gantt charts,
  and earned value charts are useful tools to see
  the overall progress of the project
• "The PM is tasked with realistic responsibilities
  in the management of the schedule, budget,
  training, stakeholders, communications, etc.
• The fact that the user knows the individual
  characteristics of each employee helps the user
  to play the game.

• The program has a steep learning curve
• The documentation is not clear, and learning and
  running the simulation is time-consuming
• The feelings towards Peedy the parrot are mixed
  robot voice was annoying
• "It's like a video game and you can't use all of
  your senses to get a feel of what is truly going
  on, like meeting people to see what their like or
  if they get along with someone else on the team.
• The program does not have some essential
  functions, such as the ability to save or go-back
  easily.

27
Student Quotes

• One of the most challenging tasks is hiring and
  assigning the staff. Hiring an employee has a
  two-week lead time (three-week lead time for Lisa
  Derring).
• "Meetings that are to the point and follow an
  agenda can be extremely productive."
• You need to be cost-conscious as well as keep in
  mind the morale of the workers and manage time on
  top of it all. This simulation also makes you
  realize the constant nagging of upper management.

28
Sample Great Response

• The following file is from one of my adult,
  virtual students
• Scotts response

29
Augsburg Day Students Reactions

• When I assigned the simulation in the fall
  semester, several of the students had problems
  loading the software most were management majors
• One student never figured out to assign people to
  tasks and never finished the project
• A few didnt get it and gave up
• One said it was too phony and much preferred
  doing a real project
• Women seemed to dislike the simulation more than
  the guys

30
Spring Semester Augsburg Day Students Response

• Better this time, but women still seemed to have
  more problems getting the software loaded and
  understanding how the simulation worked
• Guys treated it as a new game to figure out
• Several said it took too long to figure out and
  run twice
• Most who did complete it thought it was a good
  learning experience but wanted more thorough
  instructions and a demo in class first

31
My Personal Thoughts on Fissure Simulation

• Overall, its a good learning tool
• It would be better if it were Web-based some
  students had trouble loading SW on their own PCs
  and schools wont allow it
• Should be able to assign all workers to tasks on
  week 1 and just make changes as needed instead of
  doing all assignments each week
• Interface could be clearer students and I
  thought Peedy was more annoying than helpful
  change the voice for sure!
• Add an animation of running one week so its
  easier to figure out
• Explain final results of each decision at the end

32
Suggestions for Using Simulations to Teach PM

• Make sure users understand basic PM concepts
  first (WBS, Gantt chart, critical path, earned
  value, communications, etc.)
• Have them run it at least in pairs
• If possible, do a demo first
• Have students write a paper summarizing their
  decisions and analyzing their results from one
  run to the next