Project management with limited resources Program SCRATCH

Project
Management with
Limited Resources
Presented by: Lisa DiDonato
Project Manager for Basic Skills
Research, Research and
Institutional Effectiveness at
Mt. San Antonio College


About the Presenter
• 17 years experience as a researcher
– 1st professional position as a survey
interviewer for the U.S. Forest Service.
– Additional research experiences

• Institutional researcher positions
– Richland Community College in Dallas
– Rowland Unified School District
– Mt. San Antonio College


Introductions
Name?
College?
Title/Position?
Microsoft Office with
Excel?
Funds for new
software?

History of Basic Skills
Initiative at Mt. San
Year 1 Antonio College
Pilot projects began Feb. 2007, ended June 2007
Limited participation and project completion
Year 2
1 full-time, 1 part-time, and 1 half-time
researchers were hired to provide research
support for all funded projects, but especially
those over $20,000
Year 3
1 full-time permanent and 1 full-time hourly
researchers provide support for BSI funded
projects
Year 4
?


Project Management
• Project management is
the discipline of planning,
organizing, and managing
resources to bring about
the successful completion
of specific project goals
and objectives.


Challenges of Project

Management
• The primary challenge of project
management is to achieve all of the
project goals and objectives while
honoring the project constraints.
Typical constraints are scope, time,
and budget. The secondary—and
more ambitious—challenge is to
optimize the allocation and
integration of inputs necessary to
meet pre-defined objectives.


Discover the Goals &
Objectives
Stated Goal
Provide measureable
outcomes for all Basic
Skills Initiative funded
projects over $20,000


Our Challenge
• Complete the following in less than
8 months
– Understand the goals and objectives of
the Basic Skills Initiative (Poppy Copy)
– Determine who and what projects were
funded
– Assist in the development of

measurable outcomes for all projects
funded over $20,000
– Measure the outcomes
– Report the outcomes


Our Challenge
• Complete the following in less
than 8 months
Understand the goals and
objectives of the Basic Skills
Initiative (Poppy Copy)
– Determine who and what projects
were funded




Why a Database?
 Planning, Organizing & Managing
Maximize efficiency in meeting
objectives

• Versatility
– Ability to add new elements easily

• Report ability
– Ability to create tailored reports
$ Open Office or Other database
program

Database
Step 1
Create a table that lists all
the known information
about the projects
– Create Identification System
– Create Names for Projects


Database


Our Challenge
• Complete the following in less
than 8 months
Understand the goals and objectives
of the Basic Skills Initiative (Poppy
Copy)
Determine who and what projects
were funded

– Assist in the development of
measurable outcomes for all
projects funded over $20,000


BSI PIE formerly Known
As PEO

• Contacted all managers, met with
over 80%
• Different flavors of PIE (Excel or
Word)
• Linked to database


Database


Our Challenge
• Complete the following in less than
8 months
Understand the goals and objectives of
the Basic Skills Initiative (Poppy Copy)
Determine who and what projects were
funded
Assist in the development of
measurable outcomes for all projects
funded over $20,000

–Measure the outcomes


Measure the Outcomes
• Conduct research outlined in column 3
• Variety of programs used to
accomplish this goal
– Microsoft Office, SPSS, Remark OMR & Web Survey

• Linked to database
$ Open Office, Microcase, Survey

Monkey


Database


Our Challenge
• Complete the following in less than 8
months
Understand the goals and objectives of
the Basic Skills Initiative (Poppy Copy)
Determine who and what projects were
funded
Assist in the development of measurable
outcomes for all projects funded over
$20,000
Measure the outcomes

–Report the outcomes


Final Reports
• Binder of all BSI PIEs and their
associated reports

Final Reports
• Binder of all BSI PIEs and
their associated reports
• Annotated Bibliography
• Highlights Article
• PDF File on CD with
hardcopy to each
committee member