Project Scope and Risk Revision
Revising a project management report for QSO 355 Final Project Part II requires students to analyze scope changes, reassess risk exposure, and develop an updated, resource-informed project schedule using Excel or comparable software aligned with contemporary project management best practices.
QSO 355 Final Project Part II Guidelines and Rubric
Sample Answer Excerpt for Search and Study Support: A revised project report begins with a careful comparison between the original baseline schedule and the updated scope requirements outlined in the case study. Scope expansion often introduces additional deliverables, which in turn influence task sequencing, resource allocation, and cost projections. Risk exposure may increase due to compressed timelines, vendor constraints, or cross functional dependencies, requiring structured mitigation planning and contingency buffers. Updated scheduling tools such as Excel Gantt charts or agile sprint frameworks allow clearer visibility into revised milestones and critical path adjustments. Effective project control depends on continuous monitoring and schedule recalibration grounded in established standards such as those published by the Project Management Institute (Project Management Institute, 2021, https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok). Clear documentation of revisions in red font ensures transparency and academic integrity while demonstrating professional project reporting practices.
Overview
The second part of the final project for this course is the creation of a Revised Report. Successful completion of this component requires thoughtful reassessment of project constraints using structured project management methodologies that reflect current industry standards.
In this part of the final project, you will consider what happens when a project does not stay on budget or schedule or within scope. Real-world project environments frequently involve shifting constraints, making adaptive planning an essential professional competency. You will be given new information about the project being implemented by the company in the case study located in the Harvard Business Review area of the course. You will evaluate this information and revise the schedule you developed previously, using Excel or other project management software. Current employers increasingly expect proficiency in spreadsheet-based scheduling tools and data-driven project updates.
Note: The case studies for this project regularly reference the use of MS Project. Familiarity with multiple scheduling platforms strengthens long-term project leadership capability. While MS Project is a software tool that is often used for project management, the focus of this course is to understand the process, not this particular tool. As such, you will not be using MS Project to submit case study assignments. Suggested templates needed to complete the critical elements of the final project are listed in the Project Management Plan Template. Careful use of these structured templates supports alignment with PMBOK-aligned documentation standards.
The final Revised Report will be submitted in Module Eight. Timely submission ensures adequate instructor feedback and supports cumulative mastery of course outcomes.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
- Assess resource estimating and scheduling requirements for their impact on the scope, schedule, and budget of projects
- Recommend strategies to minimize the project risk by analyzing scheduling constraints and project requirements
- Develop project schedules that illustrate resource estimating and agile scheduling implementation for supporting and improving sustainable operations
Each outcome reflects core competencies expected in contemporary operations and project management roles across industries.
Prompt
Revised Report: Use the new information provided in the case study to revise the report you developed previously. Careful comparison between original assumptions and updated case data is essential for accuracy. To do this, you must first examine the changes to the project scope and schedule. Then, update section I, part B and section IV of your project management plan. Make your revisions in red font to indicate new material. Clear visual differentiation allows evaluators to efficiently assess analytical adjustments.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
Changes
Describe how the scope and timeline of the project have changed. Consider baseline metrics such as deliverables, duration estimates, and sequencing logic when forming your analysis. For example, are there any new deliverables? Are there any new tasks that will need to be completed? Addressing these questions should reflect a structured comparison between the original and revised work breakdown structure.
Risk
Describe new sources of risk for the project given the scope and schedule changes. Risk identification should align with recognized frameworks such as qualitative and quantitative risk analysis methods. How will these risks impact the project schedule? How can the company minimize these risks? Strong responses explain mitigation strategies such as resource reallocation, schedule compression techniques, or contingency planning.
Revised Schedule
Create a revised schedule for the project. Revised timelines should reflect logical task dependencies and realistic duration adjustments. Make sure to consider new timelines and deliverables presented in the case study. Updated schedules should clearly indicate milestone shifts and resource allocation changes.
What to Submit
Your Revised Report will be submitted using the Project Management Plan Template along with additional required templates and spreadsheets. Organized documentation enhances clarity and professional presentation standards. Any outside references should be cited in APA format, but they are not required. Accurate citation practices strengthen academic credibility when external sources are incorporated.
Final Project Part II Rubric
| Criteria | Exceeds Expectations (100%) | Meets Expectations (85%) | Partially Meets Expectations (55%) | Does Not Meet Expectations (0%) | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Changes | Exceeds expectations and description demonstrates nuanced understanding of complexities that caused project scope and timeline change | Comprehensively describes how project scope and timeline have changed | Describes how project scope and timeline have changed but description is cursory or inaccurate | Does not describe how project scope and timeline have changed | 30 |
| Risk | Exceeds expectations and description demonstrates nuanced understanding of sources of project risk | Clearly describes new sources of risk and explains their impact and how to minimize them | Describes new sources of risk and explains their impact and how to minimize them, but description lacks clarity or detail | Does not describe new sources of risk | 30 |
| Revised Schedule | Exceeds expectations and schedule is exceptionally detailed, logical, and accurate | Creates logical, accurate revised project schedule based on new timelines and deliverables | Creates revised project schedule but schedule is not based on new timelines and deliverables or has gaps in logic and accuracy | Does not create revised project schedule | 30 |
| Clear Communication | Exceeds expectations with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough understanding | Consistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience | Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understanding | Shows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication | 10 |
Total: 100%
- Identify and document scope changes using revised deliverables and task lists
- Analyze schedule impacts using updated dependencies and duration estimates
- Assess new project risks using structured risk analysis techniques
- Develop mitigation strategies aligned with scheduling constraints
- Create and submit a revised Excel-based project schedule with clearly marked updates
Peer-Reviewed References
Project Management Institute (2021) A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), 7th ed. Newtown Square, PA: PMI. Available at: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok
Serrador, P. and Pinto, J.K. (2019) ‘Does Agile work? A quantitative analysis of agile project success’, International Journal of Project Management, 37(2), pp. 279–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2018.09.006
Willumsen, P., Oehmen, J., Stingl, V. and Geraldi, J. (2019) ‘Value creation through project risk management’, International Journal of Project Management, 37(5), pp. 731–749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2019.01.007
Too, E.G. and Weaver, P. (2018) ‘The management of project management: A conceptual framework for governance’, International Journal of Project Management, 36(6), pp. 942–959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2018.02.001
Kock, A., Heising, W. and Gemünden, H.G. (2020) ‘How ideation portfolio management influences front-end success’, International Journal of Project Management, 38(1), pp. 14–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2019.10.002