Posted by Huiqiang Zhao on
Thursday, April 15, 2010
I think all of us will have to handle projects soon or later in our lifetime. One of the reasons I like to take this class is that we need to work with local non-profit agencies near campus on light reconstruction/“make-over” projects to learn project management. This gives us hands on experience. It is definitely a win-win situation. We will be mastering skills such as problem definition, project scoping, client relations, time estimation, budgeting, scheduling, supply management, project team management, resource allocation, time/cost tradeoffs, risk assessment, task coordination, team-building, negotiation, progress monitoring, and post-project assessment. This time we are working with YouthCare’s Orion Center.
YouthCare’s Orion Center: Is a multi-service facility open to youth ages 13-22. It offers a safe, open place where youth can access a multitude of services from meals to case management. The Orion Center’s services include the Drop-in Center with showers, lockers, laundry and meals; Case Management; HIV Case Management; Street Outreach; the Orion Interagency School; the Working Zone pre-employment training program.
PROJECT: This center’ storage loft currently contains extra clothing, hygiene supplies, non-perishable food items, computer equipment, and maintenance supplies. Due to the wide variety and significant quantity of items, the approximately 10’x 25’ space (which is also infringed by air-ducts and pipes) is currently an over-crowded mess. The existing shelving is not adequate to store its ‘inventory’ and, as a result, boxes of coats and random clothing have piled up in the already narrow walkway, leading to an obstacle course and a treasure hunt whenever items must be retrieved. Our goal is to create a safer and more usable receiving and storing location.
I am so happy that all our team members are so excited about this project and trying to make it happen. At this early stage, we developed break down structures and high level of action plans. A complete reflection will be posted at the end of the quarter.
Written by Derek Zhao, Email: zhaoh@seattleu.edu