Project Start-Up

All team members will attend a Project Orientation before officially beginning the concept phase of a project. Orientation will be available during Week-1 and Week-14. Teams needing an orientation outside of posted scheduled times must notifiy the Senior Project Coordinator with a request for an appointment.

Your Orientation Syllabus Package includes necessary documents that describes the deliverables for both the project and the course.

The Orientation for week-1 is part of the three week in-class section. Class is conducted during the first three weeks of the course to provide instructions, course material and and team orientation.

The Orientation during mid-term and week-14 will include an introduction to the course materials contained on this web site, a general course outline, and notification of any course updates.

Project start-up efforts may begin at anytime after attendance of the required Project Orientation.

After the required Project Orientation, seniors can begin the concept phase of their project. The table below lists the basic high-level overview of the course. Refer to the TCM490 Course Deliverable Check-Off List for an ordered list of course deliverables.

Four Phases of a Project

Project Concept Phase

Team has formed and found a client with a project.
Class section (weeks 1-3) held for course instruction and project review.
Team presents project concept for approval with drafts of items for the next phase.

Project Development Phase

Team develops a well outlined project plan.
Team presents the developed project plan to the client for acceptance (go/no-go).

Project Implementation Phase

Team begins implementation of the project plan.
Team tracks and reports on progress and milestones.

Project Completion Phase

Team completes and/or terminates the project.
Team presents an overview of the project.
Team members are examined.

Concept Package Produced

Mentor for project
Client Request for project
Educational Justification memo of projet
Draft of Project Description
Draft of WBS
Draft of Learning Contracts
Status Report to Coordinator

Development Package Produced

Finished Project Description (Contract with Client)
Draft of Business/ Technology Analysis
Finished WBS
Finished project management file
Finished learning contracts
Data storage and backup site for project material
Resumes
Student License
Status Report to Coordinator

Implementation Items Produced

Project Status Reports
Project Management, tracking, and evaluation skills
Data collection and storage skills (FTP site)
Workshop (presentation skills)
Analysis skills (peer evaluations)
Completed Business/ Technology Analysis

Completion Items Produced

Presentation of Project Review
Individual senior oral exam of project and learning contract
Peer evaluation
Senior Assessment of program and course
Senior self evaluation
Client Assessment of Project
ALL project data on CDROM

The team will need to complete the bulleted items below when starting the Concept Phase. Refer to the TCM490 Course Deliverable Check-Off List for an ordered list of course deliverables.

Form a project team if not already done. Teams will have a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 7 members. NOTE: The Project Coordinator must be informed immediately once a team is formed and begins to search for a project.

Teams are encouraged to seek outside help and advice through all programs offered: CIS, BUSN, ACCT, ET, EET.

Begin Project Journals.

All members are required to join the course List Server, The email list server is for official communications related to course administration and project assistance. Participation is mandatory and students are responsible for ensuring they are properly subscribed. Important list traffic should be saved for later reference.

(BBS not yet available).

Select a Senior Project Faculty Mentor. (the course organizational chart {chain-of-command} is shown to the right).

Project Team can begin creating the Project Management File.

Project Team will prepare rough drafts of the Learning Contracts for the project.

Project Teams are responsible for maintaining all their own documentation.

NOTE: Each Team will maintain weekly contact with the Project Coordinator until a project is found and the team is instructed to report at phase completion points.

Do's and Don'ts

NOTE: As seniors, you are expected to be responsible for assembling your syllabus, reviewing your syllabus, and asking question in areas you have difficulty understanding. You are responsible for maintaining timely communications with your Mentor and Coordinator. Failure to do so can cause you problems that may delay your receipt of a grade. Remember, no news is bad news.

The following are some do's and do not's tips that have arisen from projects.

Do Not's

Do not agree to develop a project concept for a client before receiving approval from the Mentor and Coordinator. This is to prevent any verbal contracts with clients and projects that are outside of the student's or DeVry's best interest.

Do not present the Project Description (contract) to the Client without first discussing its scope and detail with the Mentor and Coordinator. This is to prevent teams from entering into project contracts that may extend their work beyond their abilities and time to complete a project in time for graduation.

Do not proceed from one phase to the next without proper review and approval from the necessary supervisors: Mentor, Coordinator, or Dean.

Do not add unnecessary tasks or sub-projects requests from the client to the Project Description without discussion with the Mentor. This is to prevent extending the scope of the project past your time frame that may endanger your timely completion.

Do's

Do communicate with your supervisors (Client, Mentor, and Coordinator) in a timely manner.

Do communicate with other project for cross-project problem solving.

Do use all internal (DeVry professors and seniors from all programs) and external (out sourced contractors paid by the client) resources to your advantage.

Do take all the necessary time to devote to the Concept and Development phase to clearly outline the scope of your project.