Identify a project that is of interest to you. The best source would be through a general internet search and/or local media sources. This can be one of the projects identified in Problem Set #1, if it fits the criteria below. When selecting a project of interest to you, avoid picking one that is either too big or too small. For example, do not decide to build a new stadium for your local sports team (too big) or to plant your summer garden (too small). Select a project that you can relate to and have some experience with or that may be ongoing or recently completed in your hometown. Projects must be within the budget range of $500,000 to $5,000,000. Project time frame must be between 6 months and 3 years. To ensure you are on the right track, you can ask your instructor’s advice in selecting an appropriate project. You will be using this project throughout the course to complete future Problem Sets.

Part 1: Provide a brief overview of the selected project. This will include an explanation of how the project specifically fits the four (4) elements of the Kloppenborg definition. The specific definition to utilize is as follows: “A project is a 1) new, 2) time-bound effort that has a definite beginning and a definite ending with 3) several related and/or interdependent tasks to 4) create a unique product or service” (Kloppenborg 2019, p. 4). This essay should be five (5) paragraphs long with the first paragraph providing the project overview and then one paragraph each explaining specifically how your selection fits each of the four (4) identified elements of a project. Do not just state that it does fit these four (4) elements you must thoroughly demonstrate that it does. Use examples from the project. This essay should be single-spaced and each paragraph indented. Do not number the paragraphs.

Part 2: Upon completion of the essay, you will draft a descriptive title for your project. The Project Title should be a descriptive statement of your project. This is not like a book title which is usually short and very simple. For example, in 1985 the I-71/I-75 Brent Spence Bridge, which spans the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, had the emergency lanes removed to add traffic lanes due to an increase in traffic over this bridge (third busiest bridge in the US). So, to ensure a descriptive project title, a simple title like “Brent Spence Bridge Project” would not be sufficient. This provides no information on the project scope. A more descriptive title would be “I-71/I-75 Brent Spence Bridge project to expand northbound and southbound traffic lanes from three lanes to four lanes (1985)”.

After creating a descriptive title for your project, you will draft a Business Case for your project. Using exactly one hundred (100) words you will provide a brief overview of the project including important scope information. The Business Case is the “bridge” between the high-level and very general Background and the more specific Project Scope Statement. It will include both why the project is needed and what, specifically, is going to be completed during the project. This should incorporate what work (or Deliverables/sub-projects) are going to be done during the project and does not mean what objectives the project hopes to achieve. For example, a bridge renovation project would need to state “solidify bridge pier structure” (a deliverable/sub-project) and not “increase vehicle traffic” (an objective).

Also, it needs to provide some scope elements to allow the reader to “picture” the project in their head. This includes items such as budget, size, time frame, and other specific and measurable elements of the project.