Organization

TeamGantt, an online project management tool, will be used to create detailed project timelines, assign tasks to specific team members, track your progress, and stay on top of deadlines. This will also be a way for your sponsors to stay up to date with your project between design reviews.

1. Create an account

If you do not already have a TeamGantt account, visit their website and create an account using your Pitt email address.

2. Access your XProject Gantt chart

You should have received an email with an invitation to join your XProject TeamGantt. Follow this link to gain access to the Gantt chart that will be used to manage your project timeline.

3. Practice scheduling with TeamGantt

TeamGantt is a powerful project management tool. To learn the basics of how to use TeamGantt effectively, watch the following short video. Then create a new project on TeamGantt. Fill out this chart with tasks you would need to complete if you had two weeks to plan a birthday party (ex. make a cake, invite guests, etc.). When you are finished, take a screenshot of your practice Gantt chart. You will need to upload this during the benchmark quiz.

Set aside time during your first team meeting to fill out your TeamGantt in as much detail as possible. Planning out milestones, assigning weekly tasks, and coming up with a general plan of action is an extremely effective way to stay on top of your work. Make sure that your team keeps this chart updated each day! You will often be asked to present your TeamGantt and walk through your project plans at weekly meetings with your sponsors.

Your team will meet with XProject sponsors, Dan, Brandon, and Dr. Clark, once a week for the duration of your project. The purpose of each design review meeting is to inform the sponsors of what you have accomplished during that week, your plans for the week ahead, and to address any problems or questions you may have run into that week.

For each design review meeting, you will prepare a short slide deck presentation that can follow this general outline. This is a rough outline and can be adjusted to suit your needs. Include pictures and documentation of your work.

1. Title Slide

On the first slide of your presentation, include a title (ex. ‘Name of the XProject’ Design Review), the date, the week number, and names of your team members.

2. Accomplished this week

Use a slide (or more) to give a brief summary of the work done during the week leading up to the design review.

3. Plans for next week

These slides should provide a summary of what the team will be working on for the week to come. These plans should be consistent with the plans listed on your TeamGantt, which can and should be updated as the project progresses.

4. Questions

Keep track of non-urgent questions that you have throughout the week so that you can ask the sponsors during your design reviews.

Design reviews are a great opportunity to get feedback on your project as it progresses, so be sure to come prepared with questions and take notes at every meeting.