1186243 - McGraw Hill Education © 154 154 Chapter Chapter 5 5 Estimating Estimating Project Project Times Times and and CostsCosts Post Post Graduation Graduation AdventureAdventure JJosh osh and and Mike Mike met met each each other other as as rroommates oommates during during freshmen freshmen yyear ear at at MacAlister MacAlister College College in in St. St. Paul, Paul, Minnesota. Minnesota. Despite Despite a a rrockocky y start start they they became became best best friendsfriends. . They They are are planning planning on on going going on on a a twtwo o week week adadventure venture totogether gether to to celebracelebrate te their their graduagraduation tion in in JuneJune. . JJosh osh has has never never been been to to EurEurope ope and and wants wants to to visit visit FFrance rance or or Spain. Spain. MikMike e spent spent a a semester semester aabroad broad in in AarhusAarhus, , Denmark, Denmark, and and tratraveled veled extensivextensively ely in in Northern Northern EurEuropeope. . Even Even though though he he nenever ver went went to to FFrance rance or or Spain, Spain, MikMike e wants wants to to go go to to some some place place more more eexotic xotic liklike e South South Africa Africa or or Vietnam. Vietnam. FFor or the the past past week week they they hahave ve been been arguing arguing back back and and fforth orth ovover er wherwhere e they they should should gogo. . JJosh osh argues argues thathat t it it will will cost cost too too much much to to flfly y to to South South Africa Africa or or Vietnam, Vietnam, wwhile hile Mike Mike counters counters thathat t it it will will be be much much cheacheaper per to to tratravel vel in in Vietnam Vietnam or or South South Africa Africa once once they they arare e therethere. . Each Each ofof them them agreed agreed thathat t they they can can spend spend no no more more than than $3,500 $3,500 each each on on the the trip trip and and could could be be gone gone ffor or only only twtwo o weeksweeks.. One One evening evening wwhen hen they they were were ararguing guing with with each each other other oover ver beers beers with with friendsfriends, , Sara Sara said, said, “W“Whhy y dondon’’t t you you use use wwhat hat yyou ou learned learned in in yyour our project project manamanagement gement class class to to decide decide whawhat t to to do?”do?” J Josh osh and and MikMike e looked looked aat t each each other other and and agragreed eed that that made made perfect perfect sensesense.. 1. 1. Assume Assume yyou ou are are either either MikMike e or or JJosh; osh; how how wwould ould yyou ou go go aabout bout making making a a decisiondecision using using prproject oject management management methodolomethodology?gy? CaseCase stakstakeholders eholders to to check check the the estimates estimates and and to to brainstorm brainstorm ffor or alternatialternative ve solutions; solutions; the the cost cost and and time time estimaestim ...

1. 1186243 - McGraw Hill Education ©
154 154 Chapter Chapter 5 5 Estimating Estimating Project
Project Times Times and and CostsCosts
Post Post Graduation Graduation AdventureAdventure
JJosh osh and and Mike Mike met met each each other other as
as rroommates oommates during during freshmen freshmen
yyear ear at at MacAlister MacAlister
College College in in St. St. Paul, Paul, Minnesota. Minnesota.
Despite Despite a a rrockocky y start start they they became
became best best friendsfriends. .
They They are are planning planning on on going going on on a
a twtwo o week week adadventure venture totogether gether to
to celebracelebrate te their their
graduagraduation tion in in JuneJune. . JJosh osh has has never
never been been to to EurEurope ope and and wants wants to to
visit visit FFrance rance or or
Spain. Spain. MikMike e spent spent a a semester semester
aabroad broad in in AarhusAarhus, , Denmark, Denmark, and
and tratraveled veled extensivextensively ely
in in Northern Northern EurEuropeope. . Even Even though
though he he nenever ver went went to to FFrance rance or or
Spain, Spain, MikMike e wants wants
to to go go to to some some place place more more eexotic xotic
liklike e South South Africa Africa or or Vietnam. Vietnam.
FFor or the the past past week week
they they hahave ve been been arguing arguing back back and
and fforth orth ovover er wherwhere e they they should should
gogo. . JJosh osh argues argues thathat t
it it will will cost cost too too much much to to flfly y to to
South South Africa Africa or or Vietnam, Vietnam, wwhile hile

2. Mike Mike counters counters thathat t
it it will will be be much much cheacheaper per to to tratravel
vel in in Vietnam Vietnam or or South South Africa Africa once
once they they arare e therethere. .
Each Each ofof them them agreed agreed thathat t they they
can can spend spend no no more more than than $3,500 $3,500
each each on on the the trip trip
and and could could be be gone gone ffor or only only twtwo o
weeksweeks..
One One evening evening wwhen hen they they were were
ararguing guing with with each each other other oover ver beers
beers with with friendsfriends, ,
Sara Sara said, said, “W“Whhy y dondon’’t t you you use use
wwhat hat yyou ou learned learned in in yyour our project
project manamanagement gement class class
to to decide decide whawhat t to to do?”do?” J Josh osh and and
MikMike e looked looked aat t each each other other and and
agragreed eed that that made made
perfect perfect sensesense..
1. 1. Assume Assume yyou ou are are either either MikMike e
or or JJosh; osh; how how wwould ould yyou ou go go aabout
bout making making a a decisiondecision
using using prproject oject management managemen t
methodolomethodology?gy?
CaseCase
stakstakeholders eholders to to check check the the estimates
estimates and and to to brainstorm brainstorm ffor or
alternatialternative ve solutions; solutions;
the the cost cost and and time time estimaestimates tes appeared
appeared to to be be rreasonaeasonableble. . Some Some ofof
the the suggestions suggestions
ffor or the the brainstorming brainstorming session session are

3. are listed listed belowbelow..
•• Change Change scopescope..
•• Outsource Outsource technolotechnology gy design.design.
•• Use Use the the priority priority mamatrix trix (found
(found in in ChaChapter pter 4) 4) to to get get top top
management management to to clarify clarify
their their prioritiespriorities..
•• Partner Partner with with another another
organizaorganization tion or or build build a a researresearch ch
consortium consortium to to share share
costs costs and and to to share share the the nenewly wly
devdeveloped eloped technology technology and and
prproduction oduction methodsmethods..
•• CaCancel ncel the the prproject.oject.
• • Commission Commission a a break-ebreak-even ven study
study ffor or the the laser laser printerprinter..
VVery ery little little in in the the waway y ofof concrete
concrete sasavings vings was was identified, identified,
although although therthere e waswas
consensus consensus thathat t time time could could be be
compressed compressed to to the the markmarket et launch
launch dadatete, , but but aat t
additional additional costscosts..
Lauren Lauren met met with with the the markmarketing
eting (Connor), (Connor), prproduction oduction (Kim), (Kim),
and and design design (Gage) (Gage)
managers managers wwho ho yielded yielded some some ideas
ideas ffor or cutting cutting costscosts, , but but nothing nothing
significant significant enough enough
to to hahave ve a a large large impact. impact. GaGage ge
remarkremarked, ed, “I “I wouldnwouldn’’t t want want to to be

4. be the the one one to to delivdeliver er
the the message message to to top top manamanagement gement
thathat t their their cost cost estimate estimate is is $1,250,000
$1,250,000 ofofff! ! Good Good
luck, luck, Lauren.”Lauren.”
1. 1. At At this this point, point, whawhat t would would yyou
ou do do ifif y you ou were were the the prproject oject
manager?manager?
2. 2. WWas as top top management management acting acting
corrcorrectly ectly in in devdeveloping eloping an an
estimate?estimate?
3. 3. WhaWhat t estimaestimating ting techniques techniques
should should be be used used for for a a mission mission
critical critical prproject oject such such
Running Head: COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS
1
COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS 2
Communication: Patton Fuller Community Hospital
University of Phoenix
BSCOM/485
Professor Turner
May 4, 2021

5. Descriptive Framework: Organizational Communication
Analysis
Good communication is a prerequisite for the success of
the companies. From the animated video, the company's success
depends on how it communicates its business to investors,
consumers, employees, the government, and the media. Further,
communication within an organization must be whole-round.
The organization should listen, learn, and build a good
reputation with everyone because its success depends much on
its reputation.
Patton-Community Fuller Hospital
I use Patton community Fuller Hospital as my virtual
organization. With increasing technology, organizations are
developing the easiest ways to operationalize while using the
minimum effort. With increased information technology, and
improved communication, numerous virtual organizations have
sprouted up, and Patton-Community Fuller Hospital is among
these organizations. Patton hospital was established in 1975 and
has been successful in providing quality healthcare to its
patients.
Description of the different aspects at Patton Fuller
The organization is constituted of different people who have
different roles at the organizations. Among the key stakeholders
at the company are the employees, clients, medical suppliers,
the board directors, and the vendors. The employees at the
company are the healthcare professionals who provide
healthcare services to the clients who visit the hospital. Other

6. employees work in accounting and finance departments and
knowledge management systems. Patton Fuller employees are
core to its success since it was founded in 1975. The clients are
all the patients who visit the hospital with different healthcare
needs. As employees, the clients have been pivotal in marketing
the organization through referrals. The suppliers provide key
critical medical equipment required to operationalize medical
activities at the organization. Lastly, the board of directors is
responsible for providing the direction for the company. They
stipulate what policies should be used at the organization,
which helps create focus and direction at the company.
Structural Characteristics of formal communication
The Patton Fuller communication structure is simplistic. The
organizational website hosts seven different network levels: the
top view, logical, administrative, radiology and radiology
systems, and information technology data center. All these
distinct levels of communication facilitate communication
between the organizational employees, management, and
clients. The communication network is extended to the floors,
the operating room, and the ICUs so that the patient informatio n
can be fed into the overall Patton Fuller communication
network. Each of the seven network levels at the organization
has roles it plays. For instance, the Top View communication
network defines the structure of the hospital in terms of how the
information technology infrastructure is applied. Therefore, the
network level has two components that perform clinical and
administrative roles. The clinical components are constituted of
operational rooms, the pharmacy, radiology, and other clinical
essentials. At the same time, the administrative department of
the Top View level of network diagram performs administrative
roles like admitting the patients to the hospitals.
From the network diagram, one of the characteristics of the
communication network diagram at the hospital is that it is
hierarchical or functional. The communication duties are
assigned at the company based on the roles each employee play
at the organization. For example, at the top of communication is

7. the top view level categorized into clinical and administrative
roles. In connection to functionalism network structure, the
clinicians at the organization share information on patients in
labor, ICU, and wards. This illuminates the fact that employees
working in the same healthcare department at the Patton Fuller
hospital have to share a communication level in the network
level diagram.
Apart from the communication network's formal communication
processes, communication at the Patton Fuller community can
be done informally. The board of directors, the management,
and the employees can meet at the organization and discuss the
factors that affect the working environment. The employees can
hold a face-on-face conversation with clients who visit the
hospitals for various services. Also, informal communication
can be achieved through the use of text messages and e-mails.
The management can communicate with the employees about a
particular issue via e-mails or through the use of text messages
(van Woerkum and Aarts, 2008). Informal communications
often address minor issues which can be better communicated
informally. Video conferencing can also be utilized in
conducting communication, especially during an emergency that
makes face-face-communication difficult. An example of an
emergency that can push Patton Fuller to use video
conferencing communication is the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Structure of Internal and External Communication at Patton
Fuller
Communication within the virtual company gravitates around
processing and storing information. Various communication
systems are installed at the company to help in processing
information that is then secured and stored for future reference
(van Woerkum and Aarts, 2008). In terms of the communication
infrastructure used at the organization, a telephone
communication network is used. The telephony communication
system is most preferable because of the ease of communication
between the various departments. Also, telephony
communication is cost-effective compared to other forms of

8. communication. It is easier to communicate using phone calls to
patients and other employees working at the organization,
making it possible for Patton Fuller to save time. Not all
contemporary information uses telephone communication at the
organization. The few that use the telephone system include
accounting and finance systems, human resource information
systems, customer relationship management, and knowledge
management systems.
Patton Fuller Organizational Structure
Organizational structures stipulate the relationship between t
the organization, leading to a reliable working relationship
(Grossi et al., 2007). There several organizational structures
(Janicijevic, 2013). However, the Patton Fuller Community
hospital uses the functional organizational structure. At the
hospital, employees have different skills regarding treating the
patients who visit the hospital facility. The hospital provides a
myriad of healthcare services that include labor and delivery,
surgery, physical therapy, and radiology for all ages (Sawpan,
n.d). The different specialists who work at the organization suit
the functional organizational structure (Vanhaverbeke and
Torremans, 1999). They are divided into different groups
according to their specialties.
Conclusion
Communication drives success in an organization. Upon
realizing the importance of communication, the Patton hospital
has developed a robust communication system to facilitate
information sharing. The hospital facility uses the telephony
communication network because of ease of use and the reduced
costs. Further, there is a seven-level network communication
diagram that defines the formal communication that takes place
at the organization. Besides formal communication, informal
communication can also occur at the organization through
emails, calls, and video conferencing. For continuity in
communication, backup communication has to be developed to
aid communication during emergencies.
A Recommendation of Back-Up Communication Systems

9. Communication at hospital facilities is crucial. However,
studies have shown that communication between hospitals and
employees is greatly destroyed (NLM in Focus, 2013).
Consequently, hospitals have to develop a back-communication
infrastructure that can be relied upon during an emergency. I
would recommend the Patton Fuller community hospital develop
an NLM communication infrastructure that can support the
exchange of information using the internet through Ethernet or
Wi-Fi (NLM in Focus, 2013). Also, an amateur or ham radio can
be used to relay information to employees or hospitals beyond
the disaster area.
References
Grossi, D., Royakkers, L., & Dignum, F. (2007). Organizational
structure and responsibility. Artificial Intelligence and Law,
15(3), 223–249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10506-007-9054-0
Janicijevic, N. (2013). The mutual impact of organizational
culture and structure. Ekonomski Anali, 58(198), 35–60.
https://doi.org/10.2298/eka1398035j
NLM in Focus. (2013, January 10). Emergency Backup
Communications: The Old Meets the New | NLM in Focus. U.S.
National Library of Medicine.

10. https://infocus.nlm.nih.gov/2013/01/10/emergency_backup_com
munication/.
Sawpan. (n.d.). sawpan. Saw Pan. https://sawpan.com/patton-
fuller-community-hospitals-structure-and-functional-
relationships-contribute-to-its-success/.
Vanhaverbeke, W., & Torremans, H. (1999). Organizational
structure in process-based organizations. Knowledge and
Process Management, 6(1), 41–52.
https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1441(199903)6:1<41::aid-
kpm47>3.0.co;2-4
van Woerkum, C., & Aarts, N. (2008). Staying connected.
Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 13(2),
197–211. https://doi.org/10.1108/13563280810869613
1186243 - McGraw Hill Education ©
Chapter Chapter 5 5 Estimating Estimating Project Project
Times Times and and CostsCosts 155155
Appendix Appendix 5.15.1

11. Learning Learning Curves Curves for for EstimatingEstimating
A A fforecast orecast estimaestimate te ofof the the time time
requirrequired ed to to perform perform a a wwork ork package
package or or task task is is a a
basic basic necessity necessity ffor or scheduling scheduling the
the prproject. oject. In In some some casescases, , the the
manager manager simplsimply y uses uses
judgment judgment and and past past experience experience to
to estimaestimate te wwork ork package package timetime, , or
or mamay y use use histori-histori-
cal cal recorrecords ds ofof similar similar taskstasks..
Most Most manamanagers gers and and worworkers kers
intuitiintuitively vely knoknow w thathat t improimprov ement
vement in in thethe
amount amount ofof time time required required to to
perfperfororm m a a task task or or grgroup oup ofof tasks
tasks occurs occurs with with repe-repe-
tition. tition. A A wworkorker er can can perfperfororm m a a
task task better/quicker better/quicker the the second second
time time and and eacheach
succeeding succeeding time time she/he she/he perfperfororms
ms it it (without (without anany y technological technological
change). change). It It is is thisthis
papattern ttern ofof impr improvovement ement that that is is
important important to to the the prproject oject manager
manager and and prproject oject
schedulerscheduler..
This This imprimprovovement ement from from rrepetition
epetition generally generally rresults esults in in a a reduction
reduction ofof la labor bor
hours hours ffor or the the accomplishment accomplishment
ofof tasks tasks and and results results in in lolower wer
prproject oject costscosts. . FFrom rom
empirical empirical evidence evidence acracross oss allall

12. industries industries, , the the pattern pattern ofof this this
improimprovement vement has has been been
quantified quantified in in the the learning learning curvcurvee
(also (also known known as as imprimprovovement ement
curvecurve, , experience experience
curvecurve, , and and industrial industrial prprogress ogress
curvcurve), e), which which is is described described by by the
the ffollowingollowing
relarelationship:tionship:
Each Each time time the the output output quantity quantity
doubdoublesles, , the the unit unit labor labor hours hours arare
e reduced reduced at at a a constant constant rrate.ate.
FFor or exampleexample, , assume assume that that a a
manmanufacturer ufacturer has has a a new new contrcontract
act for for 16 16 prprototype ototype units units
and and a a total total ofof 800 800 labor labor hours hours
wwere ere requirrequired ed for for the the first first unit. unit.
PPast ast experience experience has has
indicaindicated ted that that on on similar similar types types
ofof units units the the improimprovement vement rarate te
was was 80 80 percent. percent. This This
relarelationship tionship ofof impr improovement vement in in
lalabor bor hours hours is is shown shown belobelow:w:
Unit Unit Labor Labor HoursHours
1 1 800 800
2 2 800 800 33 5 5 .80 .80 640 640
4 4 640 640 33 5 5 .80 .80 512 512
8 8 512 512 33 5 5 .80 .80 410 410
16 16 410 410 33 5 5 .80 .80 328 328
By By using using TTabable le A5.1 A5.1 unit unit

13. valuesvalues, , similar similar lalabor bor hours hours per per
unit unit can can be be deterdetermined. mined.
Looking Looking acracross oss the the 16 16 unit unit level
level and and dodown wn the the 80 80 percent percent column,
column, we we find find a a rratio atio ofof
.4096. .4096. By By multiplmultiplying ying this this raratio tio
times times the the lalabor bor hours hours for for the the first
first unit, unit, wwe e obtained obtained
the the per per unit unit value:value:
.4096 .4096 800 800 328 328 hours hours or or 327.68 327.68
33 55
ThaThat t isis, , the the 16th 16th unit unit should should
require require close close to to 328 328 lalabor bor hourshours,
, assuming assuming an an 80 80 per-per-
cent cent imprimprovovement ement ratioratio..
2. 2. Looking Looking first first at at onlonly y cost, cost,
whawhat t decision decision would would yyou ou makmake?e?
3. 3. After After cost, cost, whawhat t other other factors
factors should should be be considered considered befbefore ore
making making a a decision?decision?
Wk 2 - Post Graduation Adventure
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Assignment Content
Read the Post Graduation Adventure case on p. 154 in Ch. 5
of Project Management: The Managerial Process and submit an
APA paper for the following
Note:

14. - As a hint, you should have an intro paragraph, 3 sections in
the paper body (1 for each question) and a closing paragraph.
- In item 1 you must clearly state the project management
methodology (i.e Top down, waterfall, etc) you are using and
then apply it to the trip project. As another hint there are 4 trips
being looked at here originating from the USA....one to
Spain...one to France...one to South Africa...one to
Vietnam....do not ignore any of them in your discussion.
- When you discuss cost in item 2 I need to see real values...this
means you will do some research on costs. Not looking for you
to be a travel agent and provide costs to the penny but there
should be enough data to be able to make a decision of where to
go based on cost. Costs should include more than just an airline
ticket (think of when you go on a trip and all the other costs
involved in taking a trip like hotel, food, etc). As a hint, the
easiest way to show, compare, discuss the costs is to place them
in a matrix/table with the various locations you are going to and
show the total cost for an easy comparison.
- Item 3 asks for non-cost; I need to see at least 2 non-cost
items discussed and how they are impacting your decision on
where to go for each location (for example, Spain and France
weather are bad but Vietnam and South Africa have great
weather so they are scoring higher based on the non cost factor
of weather, etc, etc); only discuss non-cost items (you already
have discussed cost in question 2). For example do not discuss
money exchange rates here....that would be a cost
factor. Something like the weather would be a non-cost
item....and since I just gave you that one, weather cannot be one
of your 2 items discussed....if it is in your paper you earn no
points for it.
- In your paper conclusion I should see your recommendation of
where to go based on your paper discussion/findings. This is

15. where you have looked at both the cost and non cost factors to
make a decision. You may find that cost might outweigh the
non-cost items or possibly it is the other way around where non-
cost drives the decision or possibly a combination of them
both. The purpose of the assignment is to help you gain insight
that when you are working on a project you should consider all
factors involved and not rush to a decision based on one factor.
Bottom of Form