Consolidated Portfolio Assignment Evaluating Weekly Learning Outcomes

Question

Task: Prepare a consolidated portfolio to evaluate the learning outcomes of ten weeks.

Answer

Introduction and summary of outcomes
The following consolidated portfolio assignment is based on the ideas of a consolidated portfolio which intends to create a record of learning outcomes of the students. The portfolio helps to understand the knowledge and eligibility of the students on tackling the raised problems through their understanding regarding the study materials. It has been seen that a project manager is required to note down every outcome of the students and give it the form of a structure. It can be presented to the audience in a portfolio structure. In this study, the entire learning outcomes of the students would be presented in a consolidated portfolio structure. The following section would highlight the allover summary of every week’s learning outcome. Learning outcomes of ten weeks would be portrayed through this study.

In the first week, project management’s system thinking would be cleared to the students. The relation of the system thinking with the program manager and the portfolio manager would also be highlighted in the first week with the alignment of SEBoK.

In the second week, the students would be introduced to different kinds of tools along with techniques of the system thinking in project management in terms of solving many raised problems in the proposed project.

In the third week, the relation of the system engineering and its impacts on the project management would be discussed. The significance of system engineering would also be portrayed in accordance with project cases that are meant to be solved.

The fourth week would help the students to have a brief understanding on how the manager of a project can be able to organize a perfect project with the alignment of the concepts along with methodologies of system engineering.

The fifth week is about the significance and essentiality of selecting the appropriate and relevant application systems of project management aligned with the realisation of the proposed project.

The sixth week of consolidated portfolio assignment is concerning the discussion on how the knowledge management along with decision making process are being affected through the strong involvement of the selected application systems of project management.

Over a project and its life cycle, several electronic along with manual application systems of project management have been used. The advantages as well as the disadvantages of these application systems in accordance with each area of project management aligned with the inner comparison would be the learning outcome of the seventh week.

How the project managers can be eligible for monitoring the performance of the project and arrange the required changes in the project in accordance with the application systems of project management is the learning outcome of week eight.

The ninth week is all about the proposal on how the execution of successful projects are being done in several industries through the involvement of proper application systems of project management.

Both of the tenth week and eleventh week are discussing about the contemporary developments regarding the utilization of organized application systems of project management.

Learning outcomes
Learning outcome (Week 1)
Summary: Learning outcome of the first week discussed in this consolidated portfolio assignment was the understanding of project management’s system thinking to the students. The relation of the system thinking with the program manager and the portfolio manager was also the learning outcome of this week. For gaining the learning outcome, the used study materials were the introduction to SEBoK. It included the transformation of SEBoK for having a clear prospect regarding the topic (Al-Mamary, Shamsuddin & Aziati, (2013). ‘SEBoK users and user’ was also a part of this week. Project management’s knowledge area and the significance of system engineering were also included the study material of the first week. ‘Chapters 2.1; 2.6 -2.8; 2.21’ of Kerzner’s book of SEBoK were followed to provide better prospect and knowledge regarding the topic (Kerzner, 2013). A case study of ‘Chief Counsel’s report) has also been suggested in this week as a study material which would clear the confusions of the students in case of any query.
Evidence

• ‘Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;’ ‘AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;’
• ‘AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;’
• Moodle website

Learning outcome (Week 2)
Summary: Learning outcome of week two included different kinds of tools along with techniques of the system thinking in project management in terms of solving many raised problems in the proposed project. For achieving the learning outcome, the students were asked to revise the study materials of the last week. In addition, they were asked to gain knowledge on management system regarding portfolio, program and project management for having a better understanding regarding the topic. ‘Chapters 2.1; 2.6 -2.8; 2.21’ of Kerzner’s book of SEBoK were followed to provide better prospect and knowledge regarding the topic (Kerzner, 2013).  Project management’s knowledge area and the significance of system engineering were also included the study material of the second week.

Evidence

• Kerzner (2013) ‘Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21’; ‘AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;’
• ‘AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;’
• ‘Chief Counsel Report - Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB)’
• Moodle website

Learning outcome (Week 3)
Summary: Learning outcome of week three included the relation of the system engineering and its impacts on the project management. The significance of system engineering has also been portrayed in accordance with project cases that are meant to be solved. The study materials of this week firstly included the revision of the previous weeks. Then the students were asked to read the part 2 of SEBoK which included the system engineering’s foundations. The knowledge area included fundamentals of system engineering, system science, systems thinking and how the systems can be represented with model (Al-Mamary, Shamsuddin & Aziati, (2013). Part 6 was included in this week which consisted of the disciplines regarding the system thinking. The knowledge area of part 6 included system engineering along with industrial engineering and speciality engineering. Along with that, part 7 which consisted of the implementation of system thinking in the project through the system engineering, was also included in the study materials of this week. A case study on project management has been evaluated in this week for understanding the lack of shared information that has been jeopardized the ‘ESA Cassini/mission of Huyzen to Saturn or Nasa’. Along with that, Chapters 2.1; 2.6 -2.8; 2.21’ of Kerzner’s book of SEBoK were followed to provide better prospect and knowledge regarding the topic (Kerzner, 2013).

Evidence

• Kerzner (2013) Chapters 15.16- 15.23; 23.5-23.6;
• AS/NZS 15288:2015 Chapter 6.3-6.4;
• Raymond L., & Bergeron F., (2008) & Project Management Information systems: An empirical study of their impact on project managers and project success
• AS ISO 21504:2016 SWEBOK V3 Guide.
• Web Sites SAP, Oracle Primavera, IBM Maximo & BPM Microsoft Project.

Learning outcome (Week 4)
Summary: Learning outcome of week four discussed in this consolidated portfolio assignment included a brief understanding on how the manager of a project can be able to organize a perfect project with the alignment of the concepts along with methodologies of system engineering. The students were first suggested to have a revision of the learning outcomes of the previous weeks. Then part 2 of SEBoK was read out in the class which included the aspects of foundations that is aligned to system engineering. Besides that, part 5 was included in the study material that consisted the enablement of the system engineering. ‘Chapters 1.21; 2.16-2.18; 17.18’ of Kerzner’s book was also included in the study material (Kerzner, 2013). The article of Al-Mamary Y.H., Shamsuddin A, & Aziati N., (2013) also helped the students to gain knowledge (Al-Mamary, Shamsuddin & Aziati, (2013).

Evidence

• Kerzner (2013) Chapters 15.16- 15.23; 23.5-23.6;
• AS/NZS 15288:2015 Chapter 6.3-6.4;
• Raymond L., & Bergeron F., (2008) & Project Management Information systems: An empirical study of their impact on project managers and project success
• AS ISO 21504:2016 SWEBOK V3 Guide.
• Web Sites SAP, Oracle Primavera, IBM Maximo & BPM Microsoft Project.

Learning outcome (Week 5)
Summary: Learning outcome of week five discussed in this consolidated portfolio assignment included the significance and essentiality of selecting the appropriate and relevant application systems of project management aligned with the realisation of the proposed project. The knowledge area of system engineering and system management have been highlighted as a study material in this week aligned with SEBoK and its entire life cycle process. The models on the life cycles of the knowledge area of system engineering and system engineering have also been discussed in this week along with its concepts and ‘definitions’. Software engineering and its aspects also have been discussed. ‘Chapters 15.16-

15.23; 23.5-23.6;’ of Kerzner’s book has been discussed in this week as a study material. Along with that, ‘AS/NZS 15288:2015 Chapter 6.3-6.4;’ has also been studied in the class for developing the understanding. Raymond and Bergeron’s project management book also has been considered as the study material of the week. Websites such as ‘SAP, Microsoft project, Oracle Primavera and IBM Maximo and BPM’ have been visited to collect authentic information regarding the topic (Al-Mamary, Shamsuddin & Aziati, (2013).

Evidence

• Kerzner (2013) Chapters 15.16- 15.23; 23.5-23.6;
• AS/NZS 15288:2015 Chapter 6.3-6.4;
• Raymond L., & Bergeron F., (2008) & Project Management Information systems: An empirical study of their impact on project managers and project success
• AS ISO 21504:2016 SWEBOK V3 Guide.
• Web Sites SAP, Oracle Primavera, IBM Maximo & BPM Microsoft Project.

Learning outcome (Week 6)
Summary: Learning outcome of week six discussed in this consolidated portfolio assignment included the concern regarding the discussion on how the knowledge management along with decision making process are being affected through the strong involvement of the selected application systems of project management. The students were asked to revise the learning outcomes of the previous week. System realization has been considered as a knowledge area of the study materials of this week. Deployment of system along with the utilization of system has been made clear to the students. ‘System engineering management’ was also a vital part of this week’s study material. The knowledge area of this week also included ‘product management and service life management’. Along with that, the standards of ‘systems engineering’ was evaluated in the class for providing a better idea regarding the study material to the students. Chapter 23 of Kerzner’s book has helped the students to understand the significance of system engineering and its aspects on real life examples.

Evidence

• ‘AS/NZS 15288:2015 Annex E’
• ‘AS ISO 21504:2016’
• Web Sites ‘YouTube: What is Portfolio Management vs. Project Management?’

Learning outcome (Week 7) discussed in consolidated portfolio assignment
Summary: Learning outcome of week seven included the fact that over a project and its life cycle, several electronic along with manual application systems of project management have been used. The advantages as well as the disadvantages of these application systems in accordance with each area of project management aligned with the inner comparison would be the learning outcome of the seventh week. Part 4 of SEBoK has been read out this week which included the aspects and applications of the system engineering.

Evidence

• ‘SEBoK Part 4: Applications of Systems Engineering;’
• ‘AS/NZS 15288:2015 Annex F & G’
• ‘AS ISO 21504:2016 BP News Wrap-up’

Learning outcome (Week 8)
Summary: Learning outcome of week eight included how the project managers can be eligible for monitoring the performance of the project and arrange the required changes in the project in accordance with the application systems of project management. PMI’s book was read out in class for providing a clear conception regarding ‘program management standard’ which was in the 8th chapter of the third edition. Besides that, chapter 7 was also discussed in this consolidated portfolio assignment regarding the understanding of portfolio management.

Evidence

• ‘PMI (2013) The Standard for Program Management -- Third Edition Chapter 8’;
• ‘PMI (2013) The Standard for Portfolio Management -Third Edition Chapter 7’;

Learning outcome (Week 9)
Summary: Week nine didn’t have any particular study material as this week was considered to be the revision week of the learning outcomes of the previous weeks.

Evidence: No such evidence

Learning outcome (Week 10 and 11)
Summary: Learning outcome of week ten and eleven included discussion regarding contemporary developments of the utilization of organized application systems for project management. Chapter 1, 2, 13 and 15 of Sterman’s book was used as a study material this week for having a better conclusion of the entire course. Insight maker also has been used this week to provide proper guidance. Along with that, INCOSE has also been used this week.

Evidence

• ‘Sterman Chapters 1, 2, 13 and 15;’
• ‘Insight Maker’
• ‘INCOSE’

Discussion and conclusion
Week 1
The students got to know what the meaning of system thinking is and how it is aligned with project management in this consolidated portfolio assignment. The relation of the system thinking with the program manager and the portfolio manager was also understood by the students. The week aimed to discuss the fundamental objectives of the study materials such as system thinking along with system engineering. The management system regarding portfolio, program and project were cleared to the students this week. BP Deepwater horizon and the disasters of Texas city have also been evaluated in this week for making the confusions of the students clear through the strong involvement of case studies. The challenges that raised in the ways of BPDeepwater have also been discussed for providing real life example regarding the topic.

Week 2
The students were provided clear conception regarding the asked queries such as what is the aim and achievement of system thinking. It was also discussed what tools along with techniques are used for making the system thinking active in project management. How the system thinking can be implemented in a project through the efficient involvement of system engineering was also a part of this week’s learning outcome. Besides that, how the managemental system of project, portfolio and program management can help the manager of the project to solve the problems regarding the project, was also discussed in this week. The real life examples were revised again and the students were asked to think if they can relate the system thinking and the significance of the system engineering with the disaster of BP Deepwater horizon and its importance in accordance with project management. The suggested case study was also evaluated in this consolidated portfolio assignment and the students were also asked to relate the learning outcome of the case study with the BP Deepwater horizon aligned with system thinking.

Week 3
This week, the students were provided proper and efficient knowledge on the value and significance of system engineering in accordance with the project management. How the implementation of the system thinking can help to solve the raised problems in the project cases. The chosen case study is BP Deepwater horizon and Texas city for having a clear conception regarding the system engineering, management of project, portfolio and program management. How the system engineering along with managemental consequences could have prevented the accidents or how the managers could have been able to prevent the disasters. How the ‘project, portfolio and program management could have stopped the disasters through helping the changing of plans. ‘Chief counsel’s report’ also has been evaluated in this week for aligning the idea of BP Deepwater horizon with ‘portfolio, project and program management’ and their significances aligned with the learning outcomes.

Week 4
The students were provided proper knowledge on the concepts of system engineering aligned with the eligibility of a project manager of utilizing the methodology of system engineering. The revisions of the previous weeks have been revised in this week. How a project can be organized through the help of system engineering’s methodology has also been a part of this study. The students have been questioned on whether a concept and a methodology consist same meaning or not. It has also been asked whether a methodology is an axiom or a taxonomy. SEBoK has also been read out in class for having a better understanding regarding the topic. Kerzner’s book has helped the students to have a brief knowledge on the information alignment. The evaluation of project, portfolio and program management have also been evaluated in the study of consolidated portfolio assignment aligned with SEBoK.

Week 5
The students were provided proper knowledge on several applications systems and their significances in the aspects of project management. The revision of PMBOK methodology has been done in this week for having a better understanding regarding PMIS. PMIS stands for ‘project management information systems’. Decision making process of project management has also been cleared to the students. The software vendors such as ‘SAP, Microsoft project, Oracle Primavera and IBM Maximo and BPM’ have been discussed in the class. The advice and suggestions of  ‘AS/NZS 15288:2015 Chapter 6.3-6.4;’ has also been followed by the students (Raymond & Bergeron, 2008). Along with that, discussion on how the implementation of ‘project, program and portfolio management’ could have helped the disaster situation to be healed.

Week 6
Firstly, the students were asked to revise their previous lessons and ask questions if there was any query. Then, the identification of the problems regarding project realization was completed this week along with its significance on project management. The requirements and effects of application system were discussed in the class. The implications of knowledge management on the information alignment has also been in concern in this week’s study material of consolidated portfolio assignment. The criteria and implications of effective decision have also been evaluated in this week.

Week 7
The comprehensiveness of the application systems have been discussed this week. Different aspects of project management have been discussed in the study material of this week.

Week 8
The students were provided proper guidance on how the monitoring of the performances are getting influenced by the system application in project management. The changes that are made in the project are being managed by the system application which was also a part of learning outcome this week. ‘Portfolio communication management’ and its significance also has been a part of this week’s learning outcome.

Week 9
The requirements of the organizations regarding the system applications were made clear this week. PMIS was discussed this week briefly along with the significance and requirements of program, project and portfolio management. Communication process and its implication on solving problem were briefly discussed. The alignment of system information with the study material was briefly evaluated this week. The disaster of BP deepwater horizon and the implications of management system in BP at right time could have stopped the disaster to happen, has also been a part of study.

Week 10 and 11
This was the final week of the study of consolidated portfolio assignment. What is the concern and implications of system application and application management in project management have been understood through this week. Revision of every previous week’s learning outcomes have been done this week. The disaster of ‘BP deepwater horizon and Texas city’ has been discussed again this week and alignment with learning outcomes of every week was done. How the implications of the system application along with other crucial aspects could have stopped the disaster from taking place also have been discussed.

References
Al-Mamary Y.H., Shamsuddin A, & Aziati N., (2013) “The Impact of Management Information Systems Adoption in Managerial Decision Making: A Review”

Raymond L., & Bergeron F., (2008) Consolidated portfolio assignment Project Management Information systems: “An empirical study of their impact on project managers and project success”