1. 1.Youhavebeenassignedtobetheprojectleaderforaplantclosureatacompanythatproducesmedicaldevicesforcorrectingcirculatoryailments.Althoughtheprojectisinpreliminaryplanningstages,thecompanystop-levelexecutiveshaveaskedyoutomakerecommendationsaboutwhethertoproceedwithitornot,andtosuggestchangesorguidelinesfortheprojectthatwillhelptoensureitssuccess.ThecompanyisclosingitsU.S.plantontheWestCoastandmovingproductiontoanexistingcompanyfacilityinCork,Ireland.Thiswillrequireyoutolayoff300employeesintheUnitedStates,documentallprocesses,transferprocesses,trainoperators,moveequipment,gainU.S.FoodandDrugAdministrationapprovalatthenewsiteinIreland,disposeofrealestate,andotheractivities.Createaforce-fieldanalysisforthisproject,includingatleastfivedrivingforcesandfiverestrainingforces.Makearatingforeachoneandcalculatetotals.Reflectonyouranalysisandrecommendwhethertheprojectshouldproceed.Whatactionswouldincreasethestrengthofdrivingforcesandreducethestrengthofrestrainingforces?
3. 2.Aftertheprojectmanagerandteamhaveestablishedthegoaloftheproject,furtheranalysisintothecausesthathavedrivingtheneedhelpsdetermineotherpotentialproblemsandopportunities.Experiencedprojectmanagersoftencallthiscausalanalysis.Identifyseveralteam-basedtoolsusedforcausalanalysisandexplainwhyandhowithelpsteamsandtheprojectmanager.
5. 3. Identify the key components used when creating a business case. Give an example of each.
7. 4. Project managers will need to evaluate options to meet the project goal. Identify at least five methods used and give an example of when the approach should be used.
9. 5. Mallard Saws produces table saws for the do-it-yourself (DIY) market and has been very successful financially. Lew Mallard, CEO, is working with his executive team, Hew, Dew, Don, and Daisy, on new-product development decisions. The group is considering the possibility of designing and launching four new products, which have been tentatively named Bubba, Butch, Brutus, and Buddy. A team of analysts has generated the following information about each product, based on market and technical studies:

Product	Market Life	Cost to Develop	Net Annual Income Expected
Bubba	5 years	$1,000,000	$300,000
Butch	4 years	$500,000	$200,000
Brutus	10 years	$2,000,000	$560,000
Buddy	3 years	$400,000	$150,000

Calculate net present value (NPV) for each potential project, assuming a discount rate of 18%. Use this present value table. Discuss the results and make a recommendation. What other factors should be considered in the selection decision?