Publisher's Synopsis
Chris Jones, editor of Family Life Magazine and four of his staff have been called in by the magazine's owner and summarily dismissed. You joined the staff of the magazine, as deputy editor, three months ago and are now presented with your big break. You have just three weeks (represented by 1 hour 45 minutes, in real time) in which to plan and prepare the next month's issue. Make a good job of it and the editorship is yours for the asking.' - - This is the scenario that opens Family Life, a simulation for developing project management skills. - - The simulation, which takes between three and four hours (including the debrief), can be run with one or more teams or as an exercise for individuals and explores a wide range of project management techniques and skills including: - - ò Agreeing goals - ò Analysing information - ò Breaking a project into phases - ò Planning a project - ò Project estimating - ò Optimum resource levels - ò Monitoring progress and re-planning - ò The impact of changes on the project team - ò Planning for contingencies and managing risk - ò Working as a team - ò Judging project success - - In order to make sure that the next issue of the magazine is a success, teams have three sessions of 1 hour 15 minutes, 15 minutes and 15 minutes, representing the three weeks before the magazine goes to print. During this time, they'll need to identify which articles and features to produce; what mix of internal and freelance staff to use; how to maximize advertising revenue; what marketing strategy to pursue to boost circulation; and how many copies to print. - - There are also a number of complications they'll need to wrestle with, such as whether to agree to the suggestions of the magazine's designer, to undertake a major redesign for the next edition. Plus of course, they'll need to balance their editorial and production expenses against their income; to reach or exceed the level of profit the magazine's owner has specified for the next edition. - - The simulation includes all of the material you need to brief and debrief the participants. There is also a CD ROM containing colour versions of the participants' materials, in case you have access to a colour photocopier, along with a pre-prepared Excel« spreadsheet into which you will enter the teams' decisions and which will provide you with a print-out of their results and their profit (or loss). - - Family Life is an enjoyable simulation that is simple to run and which puts project management skills into the realistic and tense context of the frantic preparations for the issue of a monthly magazine. You can use the simulation for training in the skills of project management, planning and decision making, budgeting and team-working.
