MBAX6440 Project Management: CRM Software Development Schedule & Risk

This document presents a comprehensive project plan for CRM software development, including a detailed project schedule with network diagrams, critical path analysis, and recommendations for shortening the project duration. It evaluates a time-phased budget, ensuring the project remains within allocated resources. Furthermore, the document conducts a thorough risk assessment, identifying likely risk factors, assessing their probability and impact, and developing preliminary strategies for risk mitigation. The analysis includes a risk assessment form, a risk severity matrix, and a PERT analysis graph to provide a holistic view of potential challenges and their management. This project showcases a structured approach to project management, emphasizing proactive planning and risk management in software development.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Lecturer’s Name

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Table of Contents
Segment 3 – Project Schedule......................................................................................................................................................................................2
Network Diagram...................................................................................................................2
Critical Path Analysis.............................................................................................................4
Recommendations to shorten the duration of the project.......................................................5
To check whether the project is time-constrained..................................................................5
Evaluation of time-phased budget..........................................................................................6
Segment 4: Risk Assessment......................................................................................................................................................................................11
Likely risk factors associated with the CRM software development...................................11
Assessment of Probability and Impact of each risk.............................................................12
Risk Assessment Form.........................................................................................................14
Risk Severity Matrix............................................................................................................16
Preliminary Strategy for Risk Mitigation.............................................................................17
PERT Analysis Graph..........................................................................................................22
References..................................................................................................................................................................................................................24

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Segment 3 – Project Schedule
Network Diagram

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Gantt Chart

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Critical Path Analysis

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The red line in the diagram denotes the critical path. It can be concluded after analysing the critical path that the project will take 60 days
to complete. Considering the slack time of the project plan, it can be observed that there are some activities which can be delayed little further
and it will not delay the project. For example, in case of testing, the unit testing can be delayed until 29 days. The integration testing can be
delayed till 67 days. Likewise, the summary activities- documentation, deployment and pilot all have the slack time, and they can be delayed to a
certain extent.
Recommendations to shorten the duration of the project
The project manager has prepared the project plan for the CRM software development. The project will take 107 days to complete.
However, the duration of the project can be shortened by executing some project activities in parallel. In case of testing, the tester can carry out
the unit testing and the integration testing in parallel; it will save a lot of time. The documentation of the software project can be prepared right
after the testing. Therefore, the technical communicators can work on the documentation while the trainer is busy training the end users. Again,
the pilot and the deployment project activities can be executed in parallel. In this way, the project manager can optimise the duration of the
project by choosing the predecessor wisely.
To check whether the project is time-constrained
The table showcases a list of activities along with the resources. The resources have been distributed among the activities uniformly. The
project is not overloaded with resources and is not running out of the schedule. The project will take 107 days. The stakeholders will have to
complete the project within the fixed deadline that is 107 days.

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Management, project manager, developer, technical communicators, deployment team, analyst, testers and trainers have been allocated
for the project. The standard rate has been scheduled for the resources as well. Since the project is not overloaded with resources and is not
running out of schedule, no changes will be made in the resource sheet and in the project plan.
The project budget has been scheduled to $649, 200. Since the project is not over-allocated and is not running out of schedule, therefore
no changes have been made in the project. The project budget remains the same. The overall budget of the project is shown below in the table-
Evaluation of time-phased budget
Task Name Fixed
Cost Total Cost Baseline Variance Actual Remaining
CRM Software Development $0.00 $649,200.00 $0.00 $649,200.00 $0.00 $649,200.00
Scope $0.00 $24,800.00 $0.00 $24,800.00 $0.00 $24,800.00
Determine project scope $0.00 $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00
Secure project sponsorship $0.00 $8,000.00 $0.00 $8,000.00 $0.00 $8,000.00
Define preliminary resources $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Secure core resources $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Scope complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Analysis/Software Requirements $0.00 $74,000.00 $0.00 $74,000.00 $0.00 $74,000.00
Conduct needs analysis $0.00 $20,000.00 $0.00 $20,000.00 $0.00 $20,000.00
Draft preliminary software specifications $0.00 $12,000.00 $0.00 $12,000.00 $0.00 $12,000.00
Develop preliminary budget $0.00 $12,800.00 $0.00 $12,800.00 $0.00 $12,800.00
Review software specifications/budget with team $0.00 $5,200.00 $0.00 $5,200.00 $0.00 $5,200.00
Incorporate feedback on software specifications $0.00 $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00
Develop delivery timeline $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Obtain approvals to proceed (concept, timeline,
budget) $0.00 $7,200.00 $0.00 $7,200.00 $0.00 $7,200.00

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Secure required resources $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Analysis complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Design $0.00 $75,200.00 $0.00 $75,200.00 $0.00 $75,200.00
Review preliminary software specifications $0.00 $8,000.00 $0.00 $8,000.00 $0.00 $8,000.00
Develop functional specifications $0.00 $20,000.00 $0.00 $20,000.00 $0.00 $20,000.00
Develop prototype based on functional specifications $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00
Review functional specifications $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00
Incorporate feedback into functional specifications $0.00 $8,000.00 $0.00 $8,000.00 $0.00 $8,000.00
Obtain approval to proceed $0.00 $7,200.00 $0.00 $7,200.00 $0.00 $7,200.00
Design complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Development $0.00 $105,600.00 $0.00 $105,600.00 $0.00 $105,600.00
Review functional specifications $0.00 $3,200.00 $0.00 $3,200.00 $0.00 $3,200.00
Identify modular/tiered design parameters $0.00 $3,200.00 $0.00 $3,200.00 $0.00 $3,200.00
Assign development staff $0.00 $3,200.00 $0.00 $3,200.00 $0.00 $3,200.00
Develop code $0.00 $48,000.00 $0.00 $48,000.00 $0.00 $48,000.00
Developer testing (primary debugging) $0.00 $48,000.00 $0.00 $48,000.00 $0.00 $48,000.00
Development complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Testing $0.00 $112,000.00 $0.00 $112,000.00 $0.00 $112,000.00
Develop unit test plans using product specifications $0.00 $12,800.00 $0.00 $12,800.00 $0.00 $12,800.00
Develop integration test plans using product
specifications $0.00 $12,800.00 $0.00 $12,800.00 $0.00 $12,800.00
Unit Testing $0.00 $48,000.00 $0.00 $48,000.00 $0.00 $48,000.00
Review modular code $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00
Test component modules to product specifications $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Identify anomalies to product specifications $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00
Modify code $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00
Re-test modified code $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Unit testing complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Integration Testing $0.00 $38,400.00 $0.00 $38,400.00 $0.00 $38,400.00

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Test module integration $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $16,000.00
Identify anomalies to specifications $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Modify code $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00
Re-test modified code $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Integration testing complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Training $0.00 $102,400.00 $0.00 $102,400.00 $0.00 $102,400.00
Develop training specifications for end users $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00
Develop training specifications for helpdesk support
staff $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00
Identify training delivery methodology (computer
based training, classroom, etc.) $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Develop training materials $0.00 $48,000.00 $0.00 $48,000.00 $0.00 $48,000.00
Conduct training usability study $0.00 $12,800.00 $0.00 $12,800.00 $0.00 $12,800.00
Finalize training materials $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00 $0.00 $9,600.00
Develop training delivery mechanism $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Training materials complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Documentation $0.00 $100,800.00 $0.00 $100,800.00 $0.00 $100,800.00
Develop Help specification $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Develop Help system $0.00 $36,000.00 $0.00 $36,000.00 $0.00 $36,000.00
Review Help documentation $0.00 $7,200.00 $0.00 $7,200.00 $0.00 $7,200.00
Incorporate Help documentation feedback $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00
Develop user manuals specifications $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00
Develop user manuals $0.00 $36,000.00 $0.00 $36,000.00 $0.00 $36,000.00
Review all user documentation $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00
Incorporate user documentation feedback $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00
Documentation complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Pilot $0.00 $23,200.00 $0.00 $23,200.00 $0.00 $23,200.00
Identify test group $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Develop software delivery mechanism $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

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Install/deploy software $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Obtain user feedback $0.00 $12,000.00 $0.00 $12,000.00 $0.00 $12,000.00
Evaluate testing information $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Pilot complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Deployment $0.00 $12,000.00 $0.00 $12,000.00 $0.00 $12,000.00
Determine final deployment strategy $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Develop deployment methodology $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Secure deployment resources $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Train support staff $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Deploy software $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Deployment complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Post Implementation Review $0.00 $19,200.00 $0.00 $19,200.00 $0.00 $19,200.00
Document lessons learned $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Distribute to team members $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Create software maintenance team $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00 $0.00 $6,400.00
Post implementation review complete $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Software development Completion $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

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Segment 4: Risk Assessment
Likely risk factors associated with the CRM software development
Schedule Risk- The project manager fails to estimate the schedule of the entire project. The software developers fail to complete the
software development in time; it can delay the entire project. The project can fail.
Budget Risk- The project manager may fail to estimate the budget for the CRM software development. Cost overruns can lead to failure
of the project.
Operational Risk- Inappropriate process implementation can lead to failure, and this can lead to operational risks.
Technical Risk- the CRM software will mainly deal with the customers. The CRM software will evaluate the financial data of both the
company and the customers.
Programmatic Risk- The project can run out of the fund. The sponsor of the project can make minor alterations or can change the project
scope as a whole.
Gold Plating- The software developers focus on show off; they might add a flash at the login screen to make the software interface more
stylish. However, it is a waste of time.