Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna
Project Management Mid-Term
Time: 75 Min.
At an international conference on technical and project management training (TPMT), it is
confirmed that conventional systems of offering TPMT are failing to cope with the demand to
train as many people as possible in survival skills in a world where formal employment is
becoming more and scarcer. There is a strong recommendation to countries attending the
conference that they should try distance education to develop vocational skills for citizens.
The following are some of the motivations raised at the conference to pursue TPMT through
the DE (Distance Education) mode:
The learner does not have to leave the job (losing a salary) in order to do studies.
What the learner studies has a direct bearing on career prospects, and that makes the
study more meaningful and holistic.
There is no worry about failing to get a vacancy as happens in conventional schools.
Normally there is no question of classes being full.
It is not necessary to stick to specific hours of study.
When studying at home the learner gets the support of family members.
Distance education fees are comparatively lower.
The head of your institution who attended the conference comes back inspired by the idea.
For some time the distance education institution you work for has been receiving requests to
offer courses in security management, tourism and hospitality, beauty therapy, management
of a lodge, and cell phone repair. The institution has not been able to respond to the requests
because there are no practical workshops and equipment to enable those doing the course
to do practical work.
The head calls a meeting to brainstorm ways of offering technical subjects by distance. You
are among the employees who suggest that it is possible to get experts to write the theory of
the proposed courses and cast it in Distance Education format. This idea is very welcome, but
it does not solve the issue of practical work. One member observes that in the community,
and in the different towns in any country there are security companies, hotels, lodges, hair
and beauty salons, cell phone repair shops that do practical work. She goes on to suggest that
the College could develop strategic alliances by forming partnerships with those companies
to get attachment vacancies for those who would be enrolled in the courses. There is instant
buy-in to the suggestions.
Two days later, the head of the institution invites you to his office and appoints you to manage
the project. He specifically wants you to establish: the popularity of the courses discussed
earlier; the extent to which companies are prepared to take learners who have done theory
to do attachment with them; and find out whether there are people in the community who
are qualified to write study materials in the areas identified. You should recommend a team
and work out a budget for this project to be completed in three months before the major
decision of developing the courses is made.
Questions:
1. What are the main tasks that make up the project and expected budget needed to
carry out the study;
2. How will you collect necessary information about core activities of the project;
3. What are the possible challenges you anticipate and how you are going to address
them when they arise;
4. Write comment on the expected success/ failure of this project.
Answer of question no. 1 should be sent as Ms-Project file. Write answers of other questions on a
plain A4 sheet (ONE SIDE ONLY). Take image of the sheet when you complete. Rename both files in
your ROLL NO (eg. 130001) and send both files as attachments to [email protected]
ONLY within stipulated time. Also mention your ROLL NO in subject line of the mail.
