Project Charter Elements

 

When considering the elements of a project charter, project managers focus on the three vitally important elements of scope, cost, and time. Project managers call these elements the “triple constraint” and group them together, as modifying one will typically affect the remaining two. Although the “triple constraint” may serve as the backbone of a project charter, other elements can also prove to be important.

 

In this Discussion, you analyze how the “triple constraint” impacts the development of a project charter and describe two additional project charter elements that you believe to be influential.

 

To prepare:

 

• Review this week’s Learning Resources on the elements of a project charter.
• Think about the impact of SCOPE on the development of a project charter.
• By Day 1 of this week, your Instructor will assign you one element of the “triple constraint.”(SCOPE) Reflect on how SCOPE impacts the development of a project charter.
• Consider which project charter elements aside from the “triple constraint” are highly influential.

 

 

 

Post in 24 hours a minimum of 550 words in APA format with a minimum of 3 references which include:

 

1) An analysis of how the element of the “triple constraint” (SCOPE) that you were assigned impacts the development of a project charter.

 

2) Describe two additional elements of a project charter that you believe to be highly influential. Provide a rationale for your selections.

 

 

 

Required Readings

 

 

 

Biafore, B. (2010). Microsoft Project 2010: The missing manual. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.

 

• Chapter 1, “Projects: In the Beginning”
• “Publicizing a Project and Its Manager” (pp. 35–37)

 

 

 

In this section of Chapter 1, the author describes the typical elements of a project charter. The author also provides guidelines for generating stakeholder support using a project charter.

 

 

 

Coplan, S., & Masuda, D. (2011). Project management for healthcare information technology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

 

• Chapter 3, “Project Management”
• “Prepare Project Charter” (pp. 42–43)

 

 This section of Chapter 3 explains the basic principles of preparing a project charter. The authors summarize a project charter’s key elements.

 

 

 

Project Management Institute. (2013). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide) (5th ed.). Newtown Square, PA: Author.

 

• Chapter 3, “Project Management Processes” (pp. 47–61)

 

 Review this chapter, which supplies information on managing a single project that uses networked processes. The chapter describes project management processes related to each phase of a project. Chapter 4, “Project Integration Management”

 

• 4.1, “Develop Project Charter” (pp. 66–72)

 

 This section of Chapter 4 details the process of developing a project charter. The text focuses on the inputs, outputs, and tools and techniques of project chartering.

 

 

 

Patel, V. N. (2008). Project management [Ebrary version]. Jaipur, India: Oxford.

 

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

• Chapter 2, “Project Origination/Initiation” (pp. 22–74)

 

 This chapter explores the initiation phase of a project in great detail. The chapter focuses on the key tasks and performers of this phase.

 

 

 

Cortelyou-Ward, K., Noblin, A., & Martin, J. (2011). Electronic health record project initiation and early planning in a community health center. Health Care Manager, 30(2), 118–124. 

 

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

 

 

This article explores the application of project initiation and early planning in a community health center. The authors delve into the issues of quality improvement, planning, and finance.

 

 

 

Kloppenborg, T. (2012). Project selection and initiation questions leading to good risk management [Special section]. PM World Today, 14(1), 1–5.

 

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

 This article presents questions that project managers may ask to promote effective risk management. The author details questions applicable to the creation of a project charter and the selection of a project.

 

 

 

Eurorec.org. (n.d.). Project charter. Retrieved March 12, 2013, from http://www.eurorec.org/files/filesPublic/ehrworkshop/2007/Project%20Charter%20-%20CRFQ%20Pilot.ppt

 

 This is one of the three files for this week that are examples of project charters for health care organizations.

 

 

 

Hart, S. (2012, July 28). PM-foundations – the project charter [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://pm-foundations.com/2012/07/28/pm-foundations-the-project-charter/

 

 The author of this article reviews the basic elements and considerations of a project charter. In particular, the article explains project charter content, the assignment of charter responsibilities, and six attributes of a good project charter.

 

 

 

 

 

Karim, S. (2012, May 24). A project with no project charter? [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://blogs.pmi.org/blog/voices_on_project_management/2012/05/a-project-with-no-project-char.html

 

 This article focuses on cases in which projects have no corresponding project charter. The author specifies reasons for neglecting a charter and analyzes the potential negative repercussions.

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft Corporation. (2012c). Project management goal: Initiate a project. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/project-management-goal-initiate-a-project-HA102598143.aspx?CTT=5&origin=HA101978264

 

 This article describes the process of initiating a project. The article provides a large-scale overview of planning a project.

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft Corporation. (2012e). The project triangle. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/the-project-triangle-HA010351692.aspx?CTT=5&origin=HA010359477

 

 This article examines the impact of time, money, and scope on any project. The article suggests various strategies for balancing these three constraints.

 

 

 

 

 

Purdue University. (2006). Electronic health record project charter. Retrieved from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/136685338/EHR-Project-Charter

 

 

 

This is one of the three files for this week that are examples of project charters for health care organizations.

 

 

 

 

 

University of Wisconsin-Madison. (2006). Course guides on the web: Project charter (Version 2.2). Retrieved from http://psst.doit.wisc.edu/Uploads/258_Course%20Guide%20Charter%20V2.2%5B1%5D.doc

 

 This is one of the three files for this week that are examples of project charters for health care organizations.

 

 

 

 

 

Document: Team Project Scenario (PDF)

 

 This document contains the scenario you will use for your Team Project.

 

 

 

Document: Team Project Overview (PDF)

 

 This document provides an overview of the Team Project you will work on throughout this course.

 

 

 

Required Media

 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2013f). Project initiation [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

 

 

 

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 13 minutes.

 

 

 

In this video, roundtable participants Dr. Mimi Hassett, Dr. Judy Murphy, and Dr. Susan Newbold discuss how a project gets off the ground, who and what should be included in initial planning, the consideration of project risks, and the crucial role communication plays throughout the process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reimbursement for Services

 

There are a number of different options for determining how to charge for services provided at a health care organization. In the case-based service approach, one set fee covers an entire procedure. For example, if you needed knee replacement surgery, the fee would include preliminary visits, the surgery, and follow-up visits. However, in a fee-for-service approach, every different step would incur a separate cost. The reimbursement approach taken has significant ramifications for how care is provided.

 

To prepare:

 

Review the information in this week’s Learning Resources focusing on reimbursement for services. How are these approaches the same or different in your own setting?

Identify an example of a fee-for-service approach and a case-based service approach.

Reflect on the benefits and limitations of each approach.

Review the article, “Which Health care Payment System is Best?” and examine the additional reimbursement strategies described. Consider the viability of these alternative strategies within your own organization (or one with which you are familiar).

Examine how the nurse-to-patient ratio is affected by the payment approach used and consider how this can impact quality of service.

 

Post an example that illustrates the difference between a fee-for-service payment and a case-based service payment. Explain the benefits and limitations of each approach. Assess the viability of utilizing, within your own organization (or one with which you are familiar), the two alternative reimbursement strategies described in “Which Health care Payment System is Best?” Analyze how the nurse-to-patient ratio is affected by the payment approach selected and how these impact quality of service.

 

AND

 

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

 

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days. Expand on a colleague’s posting concerning the viabilities of the different reimbursement strategies. Suggest an alternative that might work within their organization and provide the reasoning behind your choice. Highlight any personal experiences with alternate strategies and how the strategy used impacted service.

(I will send the responses soon)

 

Required Readings

 

Baker, J., & Baker, R. W. (2014). Health care finance: Basic tools for nonfinancial managers (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.

Chapter 6, “Cost Classifications” (pp. 53–60)

 

In this chapter, you focus on the difference between direct and indirect costs and why it is crucial for financial managers to understand the difference.

 

Chapter 7, “Cost Behavior and Break-Even Analysis” (pp. 63–78)

 

This chapter continues the discussion on costs. It describes the differences between fixed, variable, and semivariable costs. It demonstrates how to compute the cost-volume-profit (CVP) ratio and the profit-volume (PV) ratio.

Zelman, W., McCue, M., & Glick, N. (2009). Financial management of health care organizations: An introduction to fundamental tools, concepts, and applications (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Chapter 3, “Principles and Practices of Health Care Accounting” (pp. 87–120)

 

Review: This chapter explores the accounting practices and principles of health care. The authors detail the rules for recording transactions and the process of recording and developing financial statements.

 

Chapter 4, “Financial Statement Analysis” (pp. 121–186)

 

Review: This chapter goes into detail about the three types of analysis used in financial statements of health care organizations: horizontal analysis, vertical (common-size) analysis, and ratio analysis. This chapter also explains the categories of ratios and how to apply them.

 

Chapter 9, “Using Cost Information to Make Special Decisions” (pp. 372–422)

 

This chapter specifies methods of computing price, fixed cost, and variable cost per unit and details the process of understanding and creating break-even charts. The chapter also discusses the decision making process involved in making special decisions such as make versus buy, add versus drop a program, and expansion versus reduction of a program.

 

Chapter 13, “Provider Payment Systems” (pp. 528–568)

 

This chapter explains the background, concept, and traits of the major types of payment systems in use today. The chapter also details the methods of financial risk reduction used by those that must cover the costs of health care.

Nurse to patient ratios impact burnout worldwide. (2012). Australian Nursing Journal, 19(10), 19.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

This article reports on research that highlights the relationship between adequate nurse to patient ratios and a decrease in burnout rates in nurses. The authors explain the impact of nurse to patient ratios on mortality rates and patient satisfaction.

Gillen, S. (2012). Most nurses are struggling with inadequate staffing, survey shows. Nursing Standard, 26(34), 9.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

This article examines the impact of nurse-to-patient ratios. The author details government resistance to changes that may alleviate the negative effects of current nurse-to-patient ratios.

Moore, A., & Waters, A. (2012). Getting ratios right, for the patients’ sake. Nursing Standard, 26(31), 16–19.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

This article challenges nurses to consider the quality of care they are able to give based on their patient load. The authors emphasize the priority of staffing with respect to the Nursing Standard’s Care campaign.

 Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. (n.d.). Which health care payment system is best? Retrieved from  http://www.chqpr.org/downloads/WhichPaymentSystemisBest.pdf

 

This report discusses the two major types of alternative payment systems in use today. The report also examines the applicability of each type of payment to a given situation. It highlights the differing cost versus quality issues to be resolved within each payment system.

 Week 5 Application Assignment Template

Required Media

 Laureate Education (Producer). (2015). Week 5 Application Assignment Tutorial: Cash Flow Scenario. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 Laureate Education (Producer). (2015). Week 5 Application Assignment Tutorial: Fixed Variable Scenario. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 Laureate Education (Producer). (2015). Week 5 Application Assignment Tutorial: Net Revenue Scenario. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 Laureate Education (Producer). (2015). Week 5 Application Assignment Tutorial: Staffing and Supply Budget Scenario. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 Laureate Education (Producer). (2015). Week 5 Application Assignment Tutorial: Volume Budget Scenario. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

 

Optional Resources

 

 Hurlock J. (2012). Get to know Excel 2010: Create your first spreadsheet. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/get-to-know-excel-2010-create-your-first-spreadsheet-RZ101773335.aspx

 Goodwill Community Foundation, Inc. (n.d.). Excel 2010. Retrieved from http://www.gcflearnfree.org/excel2010