WBS for Solara International eLearning CMS

Project Goal and Solution

Migrate CMS

Install Software

Install Courseware

Set up IT department

Network computers tCreate RIO

Install computers

Hardware InfrastructureCreate Course Modules Software system

Create RLO

Test CMS

TASKACTIVITY Christopher Thomas. IX.550

Solara International eLearning CMSPrecedence Diagramming Method (PDM)

format of a project network diagram (PND)

Set up IT department

Test CMS

Install computers

A

B

B

C

C

C

C

B

Create RIO

Create RLO

Install Courseware

Install Software

Network computers t

C

C

C

B

B

A

A

A

A

B

BA

A

B

A

D

PDS Solara International eLearning CMS

Project Description Statement (PDS)

According to Wysocki (2009) the Product Description Statement is a necessary

document containing the same content as the Project Overview Statement only

more detailed. The PDS will be used during the project to manage more

effectively the

• The success of the projects planning team

•To help clarify any misconception about the project to the PM team and

stakeholders

•As a reference guide and roadmap for keeping the project and team on track

•As guide for helping to new members to the project get and stay focused

•As a way to the PM team to discovery and raise question and best practices for

success

•The PDS will be more technical and expanded than the POS and will be geared

towards the internal PM team as opposed the external stakeholders and those of

just interest.

Problem/Opportunity

• Over the last year of starting Solara International has been receiving numerous request to host its Solar PV design and installations courses in other part of the country of Dominican Republic and its Caribbean neighboring islands.

• To date the institute has received twice as many request for our 32 week Solar Photovoltaic Design and Installation course. The institute has been unable to fill the request because they lack of funds for instructors to travel to other cities and host classes, In addition the class room size currently available at the home school is relatively small with a maximum capacity of only 20 students per course term.

• The building housing the course is being utilized in the daytime hours as a middle school and

• Because of lack of adequate funding the building also lacks up to date computers and an internet/WIFI connection.

Project goal• The Goals of Solara International institute are two-fold

• First the institute would like to service the increasing demand for 21st Job skills that increase the potentials for the learners to obtain good paying job while addressing the growth of renewable energy solutions.Solara International is committed to the understanding and promotion of renewable energy solutions in the Caribbean's.

• Knowledge - Prepare a highly skilled workforce which will drive economic development and prosperity in the Caribbean islands.

• Sustainability- Ensure that existing renewable energy assets are functioning and productive that future installations are completed according to the highest possible standards.

• Empowerment- Provide the opportunity for young adults to develop their business acumen and to cultivate relationship leading to employment and entrepreneur activities.

• Our Second Goal is • Identification of renewable energy opportunities.• Training and design of Renewable energy gardens and farms.• Installation of residential renewable energy plants.• Provide well customized training courses for renewable energy technicians ,designers and

entrepreneurs.• Business Management.• Partner with Established institutions and authorities on training ,energy transmission and

distribution.• Partner with government to meet local and international standards for electrical installations.• To invest in the manufacture of equipment & machines required in the renewable industries.

Project objectivesSolara Intenational 4-Core-Objectives

1. Over the course of the next nine months Solara International will implement a highly engaging and mobile online course which will drive vocational education in the area of renewable energy design, installation and maintenance in the carribeans.

2. Make Solar PV 101 an online vocational course will include best practices for content delivery, storage and sharing in this information age.

3. As learner become more complex and mobile employer demand a training course the is sophisticated, flexible and accessible addressing these needs will increase the economic development opportunities and prosperity in the Dominican Republic and its neighboring Caribbean countries through the education and certification of solar designers, technician and installers.

4. The institute would like to be known for offer blended Hybrid Solar design and Installation classes online with the final hands on portion done in our facilities or virtually via a 3D simulation portal like 2nd life to student in other parts of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean’s thus increasing the student body and alumni base for Solara International Institute.

As project manager leader and SME I will act as the liaison between Solara International institute and the CMS vendor team. The project will be completed over a period of nine-months.

Success criteriaThe project will be deemed a success when all of the follow are present.

• Solara International online course will be deemed a success when a blended professional PV installer training course designed to help learners get a PV Installer Certification is implemented and launched. The courses design and content material will prepare learners to enter the Solar Energy workforce and become a member of a rapidly growing sustainable energy industry, this industry is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. Our Solar Training will follow the recently updated NABCEP Solar PV Installer Job Task Analysis best practices.

• Solara International blended online course will be considered a success when learners and trainers with experienced in solar designers and professionals in an online virtual environment are able to meet discuss, collaborate and prove mastery.

• The course must provide a blended format with face to face virtually or on location and cover the necessary topics of present day industry standards for PV system design and installation including best practices for reducing cost and process design.

• The project will be considered a success when online learner you will have the opportunity to gain valuable industry knowledge.

• Online learners will be prepared to join the Solar Industry as: • Solar Designers • Solar Installers• The project will be deemed a success when prospective students are able to self-register online,

create user profiles which can be filled out with personal info, geographic data, etc. • Student will be able to pay online course deposit and fees, user email addresses and accounts will be

created automatically. The final step will allow the student to come to the school and take the final hands on portion of the course needed for certification.

Assumptions, risks, and obstaclesAssumptions

Are that every district and cultures will embrace the vision of Solara International and begin reducing their carbon footprint by aligning themselves with the vision of Solara International

• Many district throughout region are based and built around obsolete industrial standard and practices. These standards of fossil burring energy sources cause damage to the environment, yet have sustained many households with financial resources. Overcoming the objections of reducing fossil fuels for renewable sustainable sources will be a challenge. We are not to assume everyone will embrace the practice or the technology of an online blended format.

• The assumption the every instructor will embrace an online platform to teach is also of concern, some instructor will or may consider the new action an invasion or replacement to them.

RisksThere are several risks to contend with in this project• Technology Risk.

– There will be servers, The institute will have to install new servers as a result an IT professional will be needed to maintain it.– Hardware due to the recent request the previous hardware used by the institute is over 5-years old and obsolete. New hardware will

need to be purchased and installed– Software will need to be installed onto the new computers on way of saving money will be to install Google onto each unit also

synchronizing the software with the main server will need to be addressed. – Source code issues and concerns are who will write and own the source code? Will the code need to be upgraded and how soon after

implementation?– Browser support, contending with browser support and which brower will work best with the LMS is another concern that will be

address when a prototype is developed and tested– Security considerations to be addressed is access to the administration and editing functions of the online portion of the course.– General usability challenges, will the learner need compute applications and functions classes prior to starting the online course will

the course and scheduling be online then face to face or a reverse.Obstacles

Of all the obstacles needed to be addressed they are – The governmental regulations needed to secure installation permits, and internet cabling.– By in from building stakeholders involved the increased traffic into the building can be an obstacle if it is determined not suitible for the

volume.– By in from the community

Team Operating Rules

According to Wysocki, (2009) your teams operating rules provides a roadmap

for the team on how to address issues of concern, conflicts that may arise,

how the team will work together, if it’s a virtual team how communication

will flow, in addition to how reports will be made. In the section we will

outline the following rules :

• Problem solving strategies• Decision making strategies• Conflict resolution strategies• Consensus building approaches• Team meetings procedures and outputs

Problem solving strategies

• For this project we will use the J.Daniel Couger Creative Proble Solving (CPS) model shown in fig 5-1 on page 212 of Wysocki, (2009).

Stimulus Required learning style

Step one Delineate opportunity and define the problem

Assimilator

Step two Compile relevant information

Assimilator

Step three General Ideas Diverger

Step four Evaluate and prioritize ideas

Converger

Step five Develop implementation plan

Action

Decision making strategies

• According to Wysocki (2009) there are three major types of decision making model available

• Directive in this model I make all of the decisions. I alone hold all of the information, this model can harbor resistance among team members if there is disagreement we will not be using this model In our project.

• Participative model is when everyone on the team contributes to the process of making decisions. This model is known to create synergy because everyone has an opportunity to participate. Empowerment of everyone is the descriptive word here

• Consultative model is a in the middle approach of the other two models, I will make the final decisions, but only after I have consulted with the other members or a specifically selected member or group of members of the team for input and ideas. For our project this is the model we will use.

Conflict resolution strategies

• How will the team deal with conflicts? This can be handled in one of three ways and depending on the situation will dictate the rule

• Avoidant- cannot be tolerated on a PM team engage and seek out opinions for all members of the team.

• Combative- As PM it is my duty to seek out combative members and mitigate combative situations before they arise

• Collaborative- a win-win approach for the team by seeking a common ground and advancing on in the project, unlike the other approaches here opinions are embraced very constructive approach that we will be utilizing in our project.

Consensus building approaches

• This process is used by our PM to reach agreement on which way is better for the client, team and project when several options present themselves.

• In an effort to work in a harmonious environment that is proactive our team will use the following techniques borrow form the reading in our consensus building approach

• Brainstorming sessions- promotes creativity and solution driven methods

• Team meetings- how regular we will have them, how long they will be and the agenda of each, how will they be call Google calendar etc...

• Daily status meetings- will be virtual simple sending an update from the previous acknowledgement will suffice

Team meetings procedures and outputs

• Choosing an effective communication channel for our project we will be using the following communication channels

• Face to Face• E-mail and Google calendar• Cell phones and voice messaging • Instant messaging services

References• Wysocki, R. K. (2009). Effective project management: Traditional, agile, extreme.

Wiley publishing Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana