Task 3

Students starting C769 after 8/25/2024 will be automatically enrolled in the newest version, ROM3. The ROM3 requirements are very similar to ROM2. However, faculty could only review the new course after its release, and there may be some minor discrepancies between the latest course and our stated best practices.

Task 3#

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Write your conclusion report following the template, Task 3: The Conclusion:

Task 3 Template .docx format Task 3 Template .odt format

To gauge the level of detail evaluators typically expect, review these task 3 examples.

Writing Task 3 and Resusing Task 2#

Most of Task 3 will build on Task 2, updating it from the future to the past tense. So typically, Task 3 will be similar in length and detail to Task 2. Review the task 3 examples to understand what evaluators expect. Differences between tasks 2 and 3 are included in the task 3 template and covered in the sections below, but here is an overview:

A: From Task 2, combine A1, A2, and A3 and update to the past tense.

B and B.1: It is the same as Task 2, section B, except you need three works not referenced in Task 2.

C: Update Task 2 section D to discuss how your project advanced the client’s strategy OR culture.

D: Update Task 2 section E, to the past tense.

E: Choose one goal from Task 2 section F, then summarize the goal and how its objectives were met or not met.

F: Update the timeline from Task 2 and explain any changes.

G: New section. Explain any differences between Task 2 and Task 3.

H and H1: Discuss the results, the present and future impact, and use the metric(s) from Task 2 Outcomes to explain the project’s success.

I New Section. Explain and include three examples of artifacts.

Warning

Submissions with missing sections are automatically returned. If everything went as planned, explain why. The narrative following the Timeline and an Unanticipated Requirements section is still required.

A: Overview#

You can combine and revise Task 2 sections A1, A2, and A3, adjusting for any variances and providing a summary of the completed project. In addition, you can reuse any content from related task 3 sections C and D. As this section often combines and revises Task 2 Sections A1, A2, and A3; it is typically of similar length.

Tip

The required depth of detail is up to the subjectivity of the evaluator. Though summaries are typically short, there is no penalty for too much detail.

B: Other Works#

The requirements for this section are identical to that of task 2 section B -only you must have three works different from those in task 2 cited following APA guidelines, e.g., (Author year).

Cite the task 2 sources if needed elsewhere, but it is recommended to not include the task 2 sources in this section.

C: Changes to Project Environment#

Task 2 section D, Current Environment, discussed how your project will improve the client’s strategy and align with it’s culuture. Update this section to discuss how your project positively impacted the client’s strategy OR promotes its culture (you are requried to discuss one but not both). Providing examples will help paint the picture for the reader. For example:

Previously, customer support staff had one Excel spreadsheet to track customer issues. Frequently, data was lost or accidentally overwritten. It was difficult to easily find support tickets. After implementing ZenDesk, support tickets are entered into the system and saved in a database. Users can enter tickets and easily track them through the system.

D: Methodology#

Adding any variations, revise Task 2 section E, Methodology, from the future to the past tense.

E: Project Goals and Objectives#

Summarize how the implementation steps from sections A and D accomplished (or failed to accomplish) one goal and each of the goal’s objectives from Task 2 section F.

F: Project Timeline#

Update the timeline table from task 2 section G with columns for Planned Duration, Actual Duration, Actual Start Date, and Actual End Date.

Milestone or Deliverable	Planned Duration	Actual Duration	Actual Start Date	Actual End date
Some milestones	7 days	7 days	7/23/2022	7/30/2022
Some deliverables	14 days	10 days	7/18/2022	7/28/2022
\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)

Note

All dates must be in the past. Task 3 is a conclusion report. Write as if you recently completed the project -even if the dates do not align with the task 2 projected end dates. Evaluators understand this is a written exercise, and academic timelines rarely sync with real-world timelines. See the FAQ for more details.

Following the updated timeline, add a narrative (1-2 pargraphs) explaining any differences from the projected proposal timeline, task 2 section G. If there were no variances, explain why.

Warning

Do not leave this section blank. It is easy to overlook, but submissions with no timeline narrative will not be accepted.

G: Unanticipated Scope Creep#

Describe any unanticipated requirements and how you dealt with them. Include any varainces discussed in the previous section Task 3 section F or other sections. If everything went as planned, explain why. Do not leave this section blank.

H: Conclusion#

Summarize the results and potential effects of your completed project compared to the expected outcomes outlined in task 2 section H.

Summarize results and effects of the completed project.
Discuss immediate and potential future impacts of the completed project.
Using the metric(s) provided in Task 2 section H, Outcomes, explain why the project was or was not successful.

I: Appendices#

In the appendices you must include at least three things you created that demonstrate the project’s completion. The included items need only be examples of actual artifacts or deliverable. They can be fabricated entirely, examples, or parts of actual artifacts. For each appendix (there are three),

Provide a description of the artifact (1-2 paragraphs).
Provide an example of the described artifact.

Accepted items include the following:

Code or script samples
Screenshots of deliverable
Process diagrams such as flowcharts or UMLs
Visualizations such as charts, tables, or graphs
Network diagrams
Training certificates/questions
The technical IT product

Tip

If reusing materials from an open source or actual project, mask any identifying information.

An animated GIF showing how to modify images.

J and K: Sources and Professional Communication#

It’s easy to overlook them when focusing on content, but grammar, sources, and APA formatting are the most common reasons for rejected submissions! Check your grammar using Grammarly.com (it’s what the evaluators use). Get your FREE Gramamrly education license through WGU.

Style is not assessed (Grammarly marks these in blue, green, or purple), but even a few grammar errors (marked in red) can prevent competency in Professional Communication.

Warning

Grammar is now assessed using AI. Do not copy and paste from the Grammarly app into MS Word. It is best to make revisions directly in MS Word.

For more details, see:

-Help with Professionl Commnication

Sources and format should consistenely follow a recognized academic writing style. We recommend APA \(7^{\text{th}}\) edition guidelines. Outside of grammar mistakes, most style errors involve formatting of the sources or in-text citations. For APA, in-text citations should be of the form (Author, year). For more details, see APA guidelines for citations.

Avoid reference errors by using a referencing tool:

MS Word Reference Tool \(\leftarrow\) desktop version only.
JabRef \(\leftarrow\) free and works on most platforms.
LibreOffice Reference Tool. - Download LibreOffice for free.

Get the best help from the WGU Academic Coaching Center.

FAQ#

What are the most common reasons task 3 does not pass?#

The most common reasons for returned task 3’s:

Grammar
Sources
No narrative for part F, Project Timeline.
Insufficient details for section “X.”

1-3 is easily avoidable. Being cited for “insufficient details” is a matter of subjectivity, but it is also easy to fix -just add more details. Since task 3 mostly implements the already passed plan of task 2 -it is mostly already passed.

How long should task 3 be?#

Review the task 3 examples. As task 3 mainly rewrites task, task 3 is typically similar in length. They will assess task 3 independently of task 2. Don’t assume they’ll compare the two.

My capstone is not a real project. What do I do for the deliverables?#

See section I. You only need to provide examples of actual deliverables you might provide to clients demonstrating a project’s completion.

My task 2 timeline has projected end dates of 6 months (since this is what it would take), but I just submitted task 2 and need to complete task 3 now. What should I do?#

Evaluators understand this is a written exercise, and academic timelines rarely sync with real-world timelines. Write as if you recently completed the project -dates do not need to align with those in task 2, but the task 3 start and end dates must be in the past. For example, if task 2 had the following:

Milestone or Deliverable	Duration	Projected Start Date	Projected End date
Some milestones	7 days	7/23/2023	7/30/2023
Some deliverables	14 days	7/16/2023	7/30/2023
\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)

But task 3 was submitted on 4/28/2023, it might be adjusted by moving back dates such that the timeframes are preserved as follows:

Milestone or Deliverable	Planned Duration	Actual Duration	Actual Start Date	Actual End date
Some milestones	7 days	7 days	4/21/2023	4/28/2023
Some deliverables	14 days	14 days	4/14/2023	4/28/2023
\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)	\(\vdots\)

The narrative following the timeline can then explain that the project started earlier than expected (even if these dates preceded task 2’s submission).

I’ve completed task 3, but task 2 is still in the assessment queue. Should I wait until task 2 passes submitting task 3?#

If you’re nearing the end of your term, you should submit task 3 as soon as it’s ready. If task 2 gets returned, task 3 will also automatically be returned. However, if it passes, task 3 will keep its place in the assessment queue.

My task was returned for “In-text citations could not be found…”#

My task two was returned for sources stating:

“In-text citations could not be found for portions of the task that have been quoted or paraphrased… “ What does this comment mean?

This comment indicates they could not find a matching in-text citation for every source on your reference list. Check that each reference has a match following APA style, e.g., (Author, year), and remove any references without matches. Use a referencing tool to create, manage references, and avoid such errors. Follow the in-text citations and the reference page format of the tasks 2 and 3 examples.