Project Management with Limited Resources

Presented by: Lisa DiDonatoProject 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

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

History of Basic Skills Initiative at Mt. San

Antonio CollegeYear 1 Pilot projects began Feb. 2007, ended June

2007Limited participation and project completionYear 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 31 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 & ObjectivesStated 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 monthsUnderstand the goals and

objectives of the Basic Skills Initiative (Poppy Copy)

– Determine who and what projects were funded

Why a Database? Planning, Organizing & ManagingMaximize efficiency in meeting

objectives•Versatility

–Ability to add new elements easily•Report ability

–Ability to create tailored reports $ Open Office or Other database

program

DatabaseStep 1Create 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 monthsUnderstand 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 monthsUnderstand 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

monthsUnderstand the goals and objectives of

the Basic Skills Initiative (Poppy Copy)Determine who and what projects were

fundedAssist 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

Modifications

• Entering the five column model data into tables

• Tracking contacts• AUO, SLO, SA tracking• Expected completion dates• Next year rubric for evaluation?

Programs Used with Free Counterparts

• Microsoft Office with Access• Open Office• Adobe Acrobat Professional• PDF Creator• SPSS• Free stats program• Remark Web Survey• Survey Monkey

Discussion