You have been appointed as a project manager and tasked to develop and release a multi-function printer that will upstage the competitor's expected new printer announcement. The target schedule is shortened to allow you to ramp up manufacturing and marketing soon enough to preempt the competitor announcement with an announcement of your own. The budget will support a cost structure that permits a printer profit margin which is slightly better than that of the current printer. Your own analysis of the work required and subsequent work breakdown structure has led you to conclude that these targets are difficult but achievable. You're concerned, however, that the market intelligence gathered about your competitor's plans might not be reliable. Comparatively, you are pleased that your project is reasonably staffed because other Project Managers are struggling to complete their work with limited resources. Management has committed to providing stable access to resources during the project.

You need to write a report answering the following questions. Screenshots of your performance should also be included in the report:

1. As you play the simulation, try to discover how varying decision parameters (target scope, team size, team skill level, amount of outsourcing, target completion date, overtime allowed, time in meetings) affects project outcomes (tasks completed, cost incurred, productivity, new problems discovered, project completion date) and team attributes (morale, stress level, rates of mistakes). What causes each effect? What might explain the causal relationships you've discovered?

2. What strategies did you attempt in managing your projects? What worked? What didn't?

3. What assumptions underlie you emerging idea about managing projects in the simulation? In other words: What change would you prompt you to reconsider the approach you're discovering is best for managing projects?