ACME Development Corporation (ADC), a developer of custom homes and apartment complexes, has decided to standardize its project management practices and processes across its national organization. The goal is to standardize with one single project-scheduling tool and to have the tool installed and be operational within 90 days.

To this end, the company is forming a central project management office (PMO). Until now, project managers (there are 40 presently on staff distributed all over the United States) have been able to use whatever scheduling tool they liked, within their budget constraints.

They have also been able to buy equipment and engage contractors at will. The PMO will be determining one scheduling tool that all PMs will be expected to use, exclusive of any other scheduling tools. The PMO will also develop and implement a standardized procurement process. Because the PMs are located across the United States, a Web-based solution seems likely to be the most successful tool.

As the project manager, you have been charged with implementing the procurement process, and you decide that your first project will be purchasing the scheduling tool for ACME Development Corporation.

PMI is one of the world's largest not-for-profit membership associations for the project management profession.

Our professional resources and research empower more than 700,000 members, credential holders, and volunteers in nearly every country in the world to enhance their careers, improve their organizations' success and further mature the profession.

PMI's worldwide advocacy for project management is reinforced by our globally recognized standards and certification program, extensive academic and market research programs, chapters and communities of practice, and professional development opportunities.

1000 words

Create a risk template by listing the risks that you think are appropriate for ADC.

You may need to make assumptions about the project. Just be sure to document them in the description of the risk.

When identifying your risks, be sure to consider the following:

Project and product risks

External and internal risks

Project budget risks

Scheduling risks

Resource risks

Product quality risks

Be sure to categorize and quantify all of the identified risks.

Click on the following link to download and view a copy of an example risk template.

When you have finished, upload your file to the Small Group Discussion Area for peer review.

Create a weighted scorecard list of functional requirements for the scheduling tool you need to purchase for ADC.