Simulation 06 New

7/30/2019 Simulation 06 New

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Applying ProjectManagement Skills

in a Simulation

Kathy Schwalbe, Ph.D., PMP

PDS 2006

Cincinnati, OH

[email protected] www.kathyschwalbe.com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Overview

Fissure project management simulation

Benefits and drawbacks of using simulations

Student reactions to simulation

Suggestions for using simulations to teachproject management

Note: I did not have all of the data when Icreated these slides (end of March 2006), sothere will be more info in my finalpresentation. Ill put final slides on my Website (www.kathyschwalbe.com) under My Bio
http://www.kathyschwalbe.com/http://www.kathyschwalbe.com/


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Fissure PMI REPSpecializing in PM Simulation


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Fissure Simulation

Demo version (CD) bundled with mytextbooks (IT PM, 4th edition andIntroduction to PM)Project involves developing a prototype

Web site

Demo version only includes 7 tasks and 10potential team members

Full version available from Fissure intheir courses


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Simulation Project Information

The Alliance Prototype project is a strategiceffort to augment the sales and marketing ofUniworld with an e-commerce equipped Web

site The budget for this 11-week project is

$40,000, and there cannot be more than 7known defects

After installing the application, users get aguided tour by Peedy the parrot


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Sample Screen Reference Information

Peedy


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Running the Simulation Read reference information

Plan each week resources, budget,schedule, risks/opportunities, training, andstakeholder relations

Make staffing decisions each week, such as

deciding who to hire, who to assign to whattasks and when, when to send people totraining, when to recognize/reward people

Determine the best way to have team and

stakeholder interactions (group meetings,individual conferences, individual or teamrecognition, etc.)

Run the simulation for the week, then review

the results in various report and chart formats


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Task Assignment Screen


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WBS and Budget Information


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Gantt Chart


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Network Diagram


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Risk Management


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Training


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Recognition and Rewards


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Team and StakeholderInteractions


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Summary After Running theSimulation for a Week


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Communications After Runningthe Simulation for that Week


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Earned Value Chart


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Quality Report


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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


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More Effective Than Just Lecture The experience is real, invoking real emotions and

real learning

Challenges are presented to the student as theymanage a project to get the work done on time andunder budget

The decisions the student makes while running the

simulation have consequences and an impact on thebottom line results of the project (time, cost, andquality)

The simulation teaches technical and soft skills in anintegrated way

There is no right answer, there are many paths tosuccess and just like on real projects, there is lots ofuncertainty (random events)

*From Fissure documentation of simulation available on textbook Web site


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Students Reactions to Fissure

Simulation

I assigned the simulation as an individual HWassignment in fall 2005

Mixed results

Some students, mostly male gamers, liked thesimulation and spent a lot of time on it

Some students, mostly female, hated thesimulation, couldnt get it to work right, andthought it was a waste of time

Changes for spring 2006 semester I madethe simulation a team assignment for myadult class and paired assignment for twotraditional classes


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Student Reactions

Adult Weekend College students atAugsburg had to run the simulation twiceas part of a team project

The four teams liked using the simulation;it took a while to figure it out, and most didnot finish the simulated project on time orbudget, even on the second try


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U. Of Minnesota StudentReactions

PM class there is mostly seniorengineering students, some graduate ITstudents

Suggested students do in pairs; made ahomework assignment

Most students thought it was a good

learning tool and didnt have muchtrouble loading or running it


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Rating as a Learning Tool U of M

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0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Respondent

Rating

1=low, 10 = high

Average = 7.0


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Teaching Assistants Summary of HWs

Bar charts (in the reportsection), Gantt charts, andearned value charts areuseful tools to see theoverall progress of theproject

"The PM is tasked withrealistic responsibilities inthe management of theschedule, budget, training,stakeholders,

communications, etc. The fact that the user knows

the individual characteristicsof each employee helps theuser to play the game.

The program has a steeplearning curve

The documentation is not clear,and learning and running the

simulation is time-consuming The feelings towards Peedy the

parrot are mixed; robot voicewas annoying

"It's like a video game and youcan't use all of your senses to

get a feel of what is truly goingon, like meeting people to seewhat their like or if they get alongwith someone else on the team.

The program does not havesome essential functions, suchas the ability to save or go-backeasily.

Pros Cons


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Student Quotes

One of the most challenging tasks is hiringand assigning the staff. Hiring an employeehas a two-week lead time (three-week leadtime for Lisa Derring).

"Meetings that are to the point and follow anagenda can be extremely productive."

You need to be cost-conscious as well as

keep in mind the morale of the workers andmanage time on top of it all. This simulationalso makes you realize the constant naggingof upper management.


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Sample Great Response

The following file is from one of myadult, virtual students

Scotts response
http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_5/simulation_review.dochttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_5/simulation_review.doc


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Augsburg Day Students Reactions

When I assigned the simulation in the fallsemester, several of the students hadproblems loading the software; most weremanagement majors

One student never figured out to assignpeople 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 projectWomen seemed to dislike the simulation

more than the guys


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Spring Semester Augsburg DayStudents Response

Better this time, but women still seemed tohave more problems getting the softwareloaded and understanding how the simulationworked

Guys treated it as a new game to figure out Several said it took too long to figure out and

run twiceMost who did complete it thought it was a

good learning experience but wanted morethorough instructions and a demo in classfirst


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My Personal Thoughts onFissure Simulation Overall, its a good learning tool It would be better if it were Web-based; some

students had trouble loading SW on their ownPCs and schools wont allow it

Should be able to assign all workers to tasks onweek 1 and just make changes as neededinstead of doing all assignments each week

Interface could be clearer; students and Ithought Peedy was more annoying than helpful;change the voice for sure!

Add an animation of running one week so itseasier to figure out

Explain final results of each decision at the end


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Suggestions for UsingSimulations to Teach PM

Make sure users understand basic PMconcepts first (WBS, Gantt chart, criticalpath, earned value, communications,

etc.)Have them run it at least in pairs

If possible, do a demo first

Have students write a papersummarizing their decisions andanalyzing their results from one run tothe next

Documents

Simulation 06 New