Developing one's project management skills can be challenging, particularly when it

comes to managing complicated projects with lots of variables. The project management
simulation gives us a special chance to gain practical skills by simulating real-world scenarios. By
including essential project management components like scope, resources, and schedule, this
training tool presents learners with a challenge to strike a balance between these qualities while
taking into account cost, quality, and time restraints. We can improve our skills and deepen our
understanding of project management principles due to the immediate feedback we get from
the project management simulation. We will have a better understanding of the difficulties in
project management and how to handle circumstances like this in the real world by taking part
in this simulation. Our capacity for problem-solving and decision-making will likewise get better
thanks to the simulation. At the end of the simulation, we will have gained knowledge and
abilities that we can use to manage our own projects more effectively. The simulation is an
entertaining and helpful learning tool for anybody wishing to develop their project management
skills and deliver excellent project outcomes.
In Project Management Simulation B, my goal was to finish all tasks ahead of schedule,
by the end of week 11. As a result, the budget was consistently exceeded and an extreme
strategy was needed. I was aware that a staffing issue would arise in the midst of the project. I
thus intended to begin with 8 medium-skilled employees, and this plan held true until week 3.
After that, starting in week 4, the skill level was raised to medium-high. The staff crisis started
from week 6 and I lost only one member this time but as I planned before that I will continue
with 5 members during the staff crisis, I removed 2 members and continued with 5 members
with High skills. I was again able to hire members from week 9 and hired only 1 member in
week 9 and changed it when required. While everyone on the team had medium-high skills,
some primary tasks were outsourced to maintain efficiency. Although working overtime was not
actively encouraged, team members had the choice to do so if they wanted. I always paid close
attention to different kinds of team meetings and held them as suggested by the participants.
The scope of the project stayed at level 4 throughout.
Before I began Simulation B, I was confused about whether or not to utilize the same
strategy that I had used in simulation A. Because I saw the order that certain team members
would be removed for three weeks and I will be unable to employ any team members during
the staff crisis. Also, rating points are different from Simulation A. The highest point we could
get from scope, schedule and resources in Simulation A was 200 from each and 100 additional
bonuses. However, we may earn 175 from the project scope and project schedule in Simulation
B, which is less than in Simulation A. Yet, compared to Simulation A, Rating Points for Project
Resources increased from 200 to 250 in Simulation B. The bonus point ratings, however, remain
the same as before. Also, the goal of the team process was the same as it was in simulation A.
On the other hand, changes have also been made to the target schedule and target cost. In
Simulation B, the target schedule, which was previously 18 weeks, is shortened by 1 week. The
target cost is also lowered from $42,500 to $39,220.
Despite these adjustments, I wished to use the same procedure as the previous
simulation in simulation B. I set out to do all of the duties much earlier than expected. I only
wanted to maintain the spirits of my teammates. Working ahead of schedule is also usually
beneficial for maintaining a positive team spirit. Also, in my first two simulations using this
method, I received scores below 650. Then I made the decision to switch up the approach and
try to do every task within the budget while taking longer than the allotted time because I could
gain more points for the project resources if I could finish every task within the budget. I
achieved a better score than I had with my previous two methods using this method, but it was
still unsatisfactory. As a result, I went back to my original strategy and wanted to make a few
adjustments regarding the use of team members and team meetings.
In terms of team procedures, I felt it was essential to preserve strong team morale and
low-stress levels. So if a team member has a good spirit and is self-assured, the team is more
likely to produce maximum results. I attempted to spend longer in meetings so that team
members are happy with their duties and understand exactly what has to be done. Meetings
took up approximately one-fourth of my time, which helped me achieve more productivity from
the team. I steadily extended my meeting time, beginning with 4.5 hours the first week and
concluding with 8.5 hours the last week. Keeping a balanced work schedule for team members
was also important in maintaining strong morale. The workload was manageable by ensuring
that each member worked between 39 and 42 hours each week except last week, leading to a
healthy work atmosphere. Because I only utilized one prototype in my project, I spent 5 hours
on the prototype during the sixth week. Furthermore, approximately 75% of the overall time
was spent directly on tasks, with the remainder spent on different meetings and prototyping.
After completing all the processes, I obtained 747 scores out of 1000, the best result of
all of my attempts. I went over budget by $21,445, which cost me 103 points. On the other
hand, I finished tasks six weeks ahead of schedule, earning 70 bonus points. Furthermore, I
maintained a normal level of stress and morale throughout the project, which helped me earn
an 80 on the team process rating. I achieved the best result on my fourth attempt and
attempted another six times after that but couldn't score higher. My second-highest score is
only 720. I noticed comments and posts from my classmates demonstrating how they improved.
I tried a similar strategy to Philipp Haessner's such as changing the number of team members,
outsourcing some support tasks, not doing any prototypes etc. but failed to meet my
expectations. It indicates that everyone has their own success plan based on their individual
skills. I felt that I could enhance my score in the budget part a little bit.
In conclusion, the Project Management Simulation was an invaluable experience that
enabled us to build and refine our project management abilities. We learnt during the
simulation the necessity of achieving the correct balance between cost and schedule, while also
ensuring that the project plan was well-structured and effectively implemented. The simulation
also gave us great insights into how to handle staffing crises, which is an important backup plan
for any project manager. These insights can be used to achieve success in future project
management simulations and real-world initiatives. One significant message was the
significance of organizing a team with the appropriate number of people and skill sets to
guarantee good project management. Furthermore, we learned that managing team morale
and stress levels is vital to maintaining productivity and performance. Finally, this experience
has helped with the growth and refinement of our project management abilities, and the
information and expertise gained will be essential in future projects.