Project "Scope Creep"

I have been a part of a project that encountered scope creep.  While working on an internal project (software implementation) that was to be implemented company-wide, it was very important to keep the project focused, as it was a huge undertaking and we were on a tight timeline.  For my piece, I was the lead on training.  This meant conducting pilots to each of the training heads, designing and delivery training, and designing all of the documentation and training materials for the staff.  It was huge and I remember thinking I was in way over my head.  Because of the large scale of the project, I had to design my materials and training to accommodate each department.  As the project progressed,  it was discussed that I would design and deliver training customized to each staff’s role within the department.  While I agreed it would have been more effective training, it was way out of scope.  Fortunately, I had a manager that was able to nip it in the bud, knowing it would not be possible for me to do this without additional resources and time, two things we did not have.  Looking back, if I had been the project manager, I do not think I would have done anything different.  The PM I worked with was incredible, and managed all of the aspects of the project, with training being only a piece of it.  She trusted me and my opinion, thus with the support of my manager, I think the proper outcome took place.

Estimating Costs and Allocating Resources

There is a lot of information on the web that can be helpful resources for instructional designers when estimating costs, effort, and/or the activity durations associated with the projects. 

Recommended Resource #1: http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/costs.html#hours

This site was particularly useful because it offered advice on budgeting, training cost guidelines, estimating development hours, eLearning development time, and instructor preparation time.  There is even a tool available that is an Excel worksheet that helps you to estimate training costs.  I was actually really glad I came across this site, I think it will be an excellent resource for me in my occupation when having to perform tasks associated with estimating costs and budgets.

Recommended Resource #2: http://www.techrepublic.com/article/creating-your-project-budget-where-to-begin/1045600

This site contained an called “Creating your project budget.  Where to Begin?” This article offers guidelines on the basics of budgeting including identifying project costs.  It also includes a section on risk assessment and emphasizes the importance of including it for a successful budget.  I could relate to this article because it stresses the importance of coming in under budget for customers, rather than over.  As I have gained more experience in budgeting, training, and instructional design, I think my accuracy has improved with this component (estimating costs) of the project.

References

Clark, Don (n.d.) Estimating Costs and Time in Instructional Design. http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/costs.html#hours

Doll, S. (2002). Creating your project budget: Where to begin? Retrieved February 2, 2011, from http://www.builderau.com.au/strategy/projectmanagement/soa/Creating-your-project-budget-Where-to-begin-/0,339028292,320265341,00.htm