Managing Risk
Order Instructions:
Managing Risk
To prepare for this Discussion, read the following project scenarios
Scenario 1
You are the project manager for the implementation of a new e-prescribing system at your health care organization. You and the rest of the team are actively engaged in project planning, working toward creation of the project charter. As part of this process, you need to first define how the team will conduct risk management activities for the project, then identify and plan for potential risks that could be encountered during the project. This high-profile project not only involves a significant financial investment from the organization, its successful implementation is also critical for the organization’s providers to be in compliance with federally mandated e-prescribing standards for Medicare patients.
QUESTIONS:
How would you approach risk management for the situation in the chosen scenario? Identify which scenario you selected, then explain the approach you would take and your reasoning for taking this approach.
What are two potential risks to the project that could be encountered in this scenario?
How might each of these risks potentially affect the project and/or impact the project objectives?
How would you mitigate these potential risks? What action(s) would you take as part of the planned response for each risk?
RESOURCES:
Course Text: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)
Chapter 2, “Project Life Cycle and Organization” (Read pp. 23-33, Sections 2.3 and 2.4.)
This reading selection discusses the influence of stakeholders and of organizational culture, style, structure, and process assets on an organization’s project management efforts.
Chapter 3, “Project Management Processes for a Project” (pp. 37-65)
This chapter provides an overview of the project management processes performed for a project by its team, including common process interactions and the five major process groups (initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing).
Chapter 4, “Project Integration Management” (Read pp. 71-82, Sections 4.1 and 4.2.)
This reading selection discusses development of the project charter and the project management plan.
Chapter 5, “Project Scope Management” (Read pp. 103-111, Section 5.1.)
This reading selection explains the process of collecting requirements to meet the project objectives.
Chapter 9, “Project Human Resource Management” (Read pp. 215-229, Sections 9.1 and 9.2.)
This reading selection details how to develop a project’s human resource plan and acquire the necessary team to complete project requirements.
Chapter 10, “Project Communications Management” (Read pp. 243-258, Sections 10.1 and 10.2.)
This reading selection delineates the processes for identifying a project’s stakeholders, then developing a plan for communicating with them.
Appendix G, “Interpersonal Skills” (pp. 417-421)
This reading selection outlines the interpersonal skills that are commonly associated with effective project managers.
Course Text: Project Management in Practice
Chapter 2, “The Manager, the Organization, and the Team” (pp. 44-78)
This chapter examines a project manager’s roles and responsibilities, identifies criteria for selecting a project manager, considers the characteristics of an effective project team, and explores the various ways in which projects can fit within a parent organization.
Case, “St. Dismas Assisted Living Facility—1” (pp. 111-113)
This case study about a hypothetical health care organization’s preliminary project development efforts will be the focus of the Week 2 Discussion.
Article: Anderson, B. (2010). Project leadership and the art of managing relationships. T+D, 64(3), 58-63. Retrieved from http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=48407697&site=ehost-live&scope=site
This article explores aspects of project leadership and relationship management.
Article: Dominguez, J. (2008, November 1). Adaptive project communication. Retrieved from http://www.pmhut.com/adaptive-project-communication
This article describes how to adapt project communication to keep it effective during the course of a project.
Article: Flynn, A. B., & Mangione, T. J. (2008). Five steps to a winning project team. Healthcare Executive, 23(1), 54-55. Retrieved from http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=28060837&site=ehost-live&scope=site
This article details the key characteristics of a successful project team.
Article: Gillard, S. (2005). Managing IT projects: Communication pitfalls and bridges. Journal of Information Science, 31(1), 37-43. Retrieved from http://jis.sagepub.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/content/31/1/37.full.pdf+html
This article examines communications challenges commonly encountered by information technology project managers and offers potential solutions to these challenges.
Presentation: Klinedinst, J. W. (2007, January 26). The project management discipline: An introduction. Retrieved from http://www.himss.org/content/files/PM_Discipline_Intro031307.pdf
This presentation offers an introductory perspective on the discipline of project management from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
Article: Severini, G. (2009, October 27). Top 10 project initiation questions—people change management. Retrieved from http://www.pmhut.com/top-10-project-initiation-questions-people-change-management
This article considers the application of people change management (the discipline of helping people change how they think about their work) at project initiation.
Article: Skulmoski, G. J., & Hartman, F. T. (2010). Information systems project manager soft competencies: A project-phase investigation. Project Management Journal, 41(1), 61-80. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/detail?sid=e09605be-1756-460f-aeec-d2ccbbc4bc00%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=119&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=bth&AN=48329758
This article explores the desirable soft competencies (at each project phase) of a successful information technology project manager.
Article: Taylor, M. D. (2010, January 21). Project communication plan. Retrieved from http://www.pmhut.com/project-communication-plan
This article provides an example of a project communication plan.
Websites
Stanford University Information Technology Services’ Project Manager Checklist
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/its/projects/PMO/files/pm_checklist.html
This site provides a detailed example of a project management checklist by project phase (including the steps needed to complete each phase and links to phase-specific supporting documentation)
