Effective Project Planning for Entrepreneurs

This assignment explores the crucial role of project planning in entrepreneurial success. It emphasizes the importance of identifying viable project ideas, crafting comprehensive management plans, and continuously monitoring performance. The text delves into various aspects of project planning, including defining scope, setting realistic targets, managing resources, mitigating risks, and effectively communicating with stakeholders.

10/26/2017
Student Name
Project Plan – Concrete wasteland to Lush Green Oasis

Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Who Are The Project Stake Holders?..........................................................................................................2
What Your Role Will Be In Planning and Delivering the Project................................................................2
How Will You Enhance the Project to Meets Organization Objectives.......................................................3
What Sources Will You Need and How Will You Source Them.................................................................3
How and Why Should You Consult Your Team in the Planning Stage of the Project?...............................3
How Would You Monitor the Quality of the Outcomes?............................................................................4
How Would You Ensure You Meet Project Timelines................................................................................4
What Project Management Tools Will Be Used and Why Are They Useful...............................................4
Why and How Will You Delegate Roles and Tasks....................................................................................5
How and Why Would You Design and Develop Risk Management and Contingency Plans and Cater For
Any Health and Safety Issues......................................................................................................................5
What Methods Would You Used To Clarify Roles, Responsibilities, and Lines of Authority....................6
Describe In Detail How the Budget Would Be Prepared and Used As a Communication and Monitoring
Tool.............................................................................................................................................................6
Explain the Data Collection, Record Keeping and Reporting Process That Would Apply To the Project...6
When Legislation Would Apply To the Project and How You Ensure Compliance with It........................6
What Are You Project Deliverables............................................................................................................7
Why and How Should You Review Project Outcomes and Processes.........................................................7
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................7
Reference:...................................................................................................................................................9

Introduction
Global warming, Climate change, and pollution are major concerns facing the global community
today. Urban dwellers are the most affected due to them living in confined and densely populated
surroundings but only a few residents actually consider addressing the concern on a practical
scale? Studies show that urban city residents tend to also be among the most corporative and
law-abiding citizens and many do follow guidelines when provided. This project plan would
target fighting Global warming, Climate change, and pollution by setting up and managing
rooftop and balcony gardens to help reduce each citizen’s carbon footprint and deliver a more
pleasant living environment at affordable rates. The plan would focus on targeting apartment
block owners, societies and organisation with the objective of converting their rooftops from
cement jungles to lush green canopy covered rooftops which would improve the localities
appearance, help reduce summer temperatures naturally and deliver a natural and friendly
surrounding apartment residents can retreat to and enjoy. With research showing city dwellers
being corporative toward promoting environmental concerns, it is highly likely they will fully
support promoting these projects and contribute towards the project securing high rates of
success in a short period of time (Hobbs, 2009).
Who Are The Project Stake Holders?
To implement the project and achieved success in the shortest possible time from stakeholders
from different sectors would be involved (Jepsen & Eskerod, 2013). The business would require
to the apartment with marketing professionals, gardeners, and nurseries who will supply the
labour and plants. The business will also require partnering with gardening supply stores across
the city that can be approached regarding the supply of materials that would be required to
transform the concrete rooftops to the lush green oasis.
What Your Role Will Be In Planning and Delivering the Project
I would assume the role of project manager whereby I would be responsible for coordinating all
operations and stakeholders linked to the project. I would also be responsible for conducting
further research in the field which would allow the organization to deliver innovative ideas to the

consumer at all times. It’s also important to consider rivals and competitors who may show
interest in the field thus making it important to implement and expand the proposed business
rapidly to capitalize on the market before new entrepreneurs consider venturing into the business
(Ochieng et al., 2017). Brand name plays a major role in business today thus it’s important to
build a positive customer reputation in the market so as to win and retain consumer confidence.
These are all roles which I would be responsible for as the founder and project manager and
coordinator.
How Will You Enhance the Project to Meets Organization Objectives
Every project must have final benefits to the organization so as to be considered and approved.
The projects also require being unique and having a low or no competitors which will allow the
business to register success and high profits shortly after establishment. With a myriad of
experience, knowledge and a keen interest towards constantly performing research, I would be
able to collect accurate data linked to the proposed project and help the organization achieve a
high rate of success without needing to invest on additional professionals to manage specific
skills and who may have a particular experience (Harrison & Lock, 2004). Being a jack of many
trades I would be a valuable asset for the organization and one capable of researching,
monitoring and managing multiple operations.
What Sources Will You Need and How Will You Source Them
The main sources required for the implementation of the project marketing professionals,
landscapers, hardware suppliers and plant and flower nurseries. The operation would be heavily
dependent on smart digital technologies which would be used by the marketing and landscaping
and maintained teams to monitors and track the operations (Binder, 2016). It is critical to
developing a fully functions website where clients can register as well as suppliers and personal
thus allowing the business manage operations smoothly. Finances and capital would be requiring
establishing the business, registration, licensing and investment on the initial supplies but the
proposed project would depend on suppliers and skilled professionals on a contractual basis. This
would allow the business to manage its operational costs most effectively and also involve more
stakeholders towards promoting the brand.

Work-Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Work break down structure refers to the structure an organization or project is broken down so as
to ensure smooth flow. This is important requirement for every organization or project as it
ensures each stake holders is assigned a responsibility which they would have to monitor and
report on. For this project the work break down structure shall be make-up of the project general
manager, assistant managers, surveyors, landscapers, gardeners and a maintenance team.
Suppliers will also be associated to the project but they shall be independent contracted stake
holders which would reduce the management burden on the organization. Gradually as the
project expands, the work break down structure will also enlarge thus allowing the organization
reach out to a larger number of clients.
The work break down structure will follow a hierarchy matrix in which each staff and
department head will need to report to the higher management. There would also be direct lines
of communication between the different levels which would allow for the lower ranked staff to
raise queries and concerns which may be not addressed by senior staff thus allowing for
smoother flow or operations.
GM
Manager
Land Scapers land Scapers Garderners
Manger
Maintance
Team suppiers
Customer
Experience/
Reviews
Manager
Marketing
and Sales

How and Why Should You Consult Your Team in the Planning Stage of the Project?
Every project is heavily dependent on teamwork due to their being multiple operations that need
to be managers and performed making each team member a valuable asset towards the project’s
success. Each team member is a valued contributor towards the projects as they will have
accumulated considerable knowledge which can be used to improve performance (Cobb, 2011).
This makes it important to always involve the team and all involved stakeholders to the process
as they are likely to contribute important information, data and inside towards the projects past
and current operations which can be used to improve future operations.
How Would You Monitor the Quality of the Outcomes?
Every successful idea is bound to attract external investor interest but in most situation investors
would sit on the sidelines watching the projects progress and success rate and only begin
investing in similar projects after 24 months. This makes it important to focus on marketing and
winning consumer confidence as well as building clientele within the first 6 to 12 months after
which the business must then turn its attention to quality (Rose, 2014). Quality management
requires for strict guidelines and policies to be developed by the organization and distributed to
all suppliers. It’s also important to hire a quality manager that is focused and practices high
ethics and who will retain a follow a strict line of control related to quality management. In
addition to this the, I was the project coordinator and manager would also conduct spot and
random checks on all products, services and customer feedback to ensure the highest quality is
being delivered at all times.
How Would You Ensure You Meet Project Timelines
Every project would be planed using computers and smart technologies which would be able to
deliver an accurate timeline each project is expected to be completed. The different process
would be documented and a Gantt chart developed highlighting each processes start and
competition date. This data would be shared with all stakeholders before starting the project
(Brady, 2005). The progress of every project would be monitored on a weekly basis with each
stakeholder needing to report their achievement compared to the targets thus helping determine if
the project has is meeting the set timelines.

Gantt chart
The use of time management tools like the Gantt chart is critical towards ensuring the projects
need their deadline. Each project will be unique thus each will have a unique Gantt chart making
it important for the management to developed a project timeline immediately after survey so as
to determine the approximant duration the project will take to complete. It’s important to add so
flexibility to the time line which will allow for the business to completer the project within
specified deadline as well as address any issues which may develop between the projects
undertaking.
hand over
clean up
gardening
landscaping
Proparation
Sales
quotation
survay
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Start Date
Days
Addition services such as after delivery services and maintenance would fall under a different
contract thus attracting a new set of regulations and guidelines between the client and
organisation. Defining time lines using gnat charts s an important time management requirement
for any project thus is critical to learn to use the time line tools to help make work more efficient.
What Project Management Tools Will Be Used and Why Are They Useful
Every project consists of a team of professionals and skilled employees who come together with
the objective of driving the organization towards success. But this also requires for the project
managers and coordinators to put in place and used project management tools to improve project
performance. Some important project management tools which would contribute immensely
towards the proposed rooftop garden project include Strategic Planning, Customer Relationship

Management, and Employee Engagement Survey, project Benchmarking and Balanced
Scorecard tools (Carstens et al., 2016). Each of these tools contributes immensely towards the
management the performance of the project making it important to infuse them to the project so
as to maximize the project’s success rate.
Risk Assessment Matrix
Project risk assessment is a critical requirement to be performed on every project as it helps
categorize the different risks a project is likely to encounter as well as the severity of the
identified risks. This is an important risk management tools as it helps determine a wide verity of
risks as well as helps determine their severity which can then be used to help develop counter
measures to help avert or areas the risks before they occur. Once again each project will have a
unique rips matrix which includes input from all stake holders thus helping terming all risks the
project may encounter as well as their level of severity. Risk matrix outlines can be developed by
the senior management but must involve all project stake holders as they have direct information
and insight linked to the project processes and outcomes thus making them an important part of
developing the risk matrix.
Risk Matrix
Probability Rating
5 - Very High 5 10 20 35 50
4 - High 4 8 16 28 40
3 - Moderate 3 6 12 21 30
2 - Low 2 4 8 14 20
1 - Very Low 1 2 4 7 10
1 2 4 7 10
Very Low Lo
w Moderate Hig
h Very High
Impact Rating
The risk matrix will in help categorize the risk based on their severity and likelihood to affect the
project thus allowing the project management to focus on areas of risks which are likely to pose
a higher risk threat as opposed to risks which are present but posed a lower threat.

Why and How Will You Delegate Roles and Tasks
Delegation is critical towards promoting the projects independent management thus making it
important for senior managers to retain close control over the project initially and gradually hand
over responsibilities to junior members of staff. To achieve this I would initiate my role as being
a manager but also act as a mentor towards teams and junior staff members. This would allow
me to share my knowledge and experience thus helping speed up their understanding after which
I would begin selecting the most responsive members to begin taking up team lead and project
management roles. Gradually over time, I would glowingly withdraw from needing to visit
projects sites and clients meeting every time and pass the responsibility to the junior member
(Newell & Grashina, 2004). I would remain at close hand to offer assistance but placing some
distance will allow the junior members build their confidence and understand to take up the
responsibility freeing me to develop and manage other tasks and new projects with the goal of
building the overall origination market position.
How and Why Would You Design and Develop Risk Management and Contingency Plans
and Cater For Any Health and Safety Issues
The risk is part of every business and understanding the risks facing a project helps the project
develop countermeasures to protect from the risk. This makes risk management and contingency
plans and important requirement which must be addressed at the initial stakes of any projects
developed with the first sighting and discussion being addressed at the project proposal stage
itself. This will prevent the project from encountering a major unexpected risk or concern which
could result in disrupting the projects performance and mentation (Kendrick, 2015). Risk
management and a major concern every project manager must address and it’s also critical to
involve all stakeholders towards risk identification, management, and contingency planning so as
to minimize the threat of any risk a business may face.
What Methods Would You Used To Clarify Roles, Responsibilities, and Lines of Authority
Roles, responsibilities, and lines of control would the clarified by following a hierarchy approach
management structure in which staff members would be ranked as per their experience, work
knowledge and contributions to the process .the roles would then be distributed to the staff
accordingly and a team lead placed in charge of monitoring and reporting their performance.

Staff would also be held responsible for their performance and meeting deadlines as they would
be responsible for managing their individual workstations and lines of authority (Harrison &
Lock, 2014).
Describe In Detail How the Budget Would Be Prepared and Used As a Communication and
Monitoring Tool
Budgets are important towards monitoring businesses, teams or individual’s performance thus
it’s important to translate each individual’s performance effects on the budget. Financial gains
such as incentives and bonuses are important tools which can be used to communicate the
relationship of the budget to the individual employee’s performance (Mayne, 2017).
Funding and Budget Management
Due to this being a pilot project, it would be heavily dependent on self-financing and funding
thus making it important to involve partners who will provide funding for the initial project. To
help reduce the overhead costs incurred during the projects start up the maximum number of
staff and experts shall be hired on contractual and freelance basis which would help the project
managers manage the expenses incurred by the projects. Only the senior management, marketing
and sales teams shall be hired on a permanent basis as these departments constitute to the core of
the projects exposure and success thus require full dedication from the staff. All profits shall be
reinvested towards the projects expansion for a 6 month period which will help develop more
stability and allow the organisation to begin hiring more in-house staff as the work flow and
number of secured projects stabilizes. This will help reduce the costs incurred by contract hiring
thus allowing the project secure more profits and expand at a faster pace.
GRANT PROGRAM BUDGET MATRIX
Principal Investigator: [Name] Grant Project Title:
[Project Title]
Description Subtotal Salar
y
Fringe Travel Supplies Indirect
Costs

Totals
Explain the Data Collection, Record Keeping and Reporting Process That Would Apply To
the Project
Data collection recording keeping and reporting are important aspects of every businesses
development and growth. Each employee would be therefore expected to report on their
workstations performance and areas which can be improved (gudda, 2011). All importation must
be communicated via format communication such as emails and connected to management, team
leads and other team members thus helping demonstrate each employee’s contribution towards
building the organization and projects database.
When Legislation Would Apply To the Project and How You Ensure Compliance with It
The legislation is a critical requirement of every project as it helps protect the project as well as
all stakeholders’ interests. This makes it important that the legislation is application right from
the start of the establishment of the project and gradually be improved and increased to cover a
wider variety of concerns thus helping protect both the organization and all its stakeholders. In
addition to internal policies, the organization and project must also abide by government

legislation and guidelines thus which must form the base of the internal organization's legislation
(Barclay & Osei-Bryson, 2015).
What Are You Project Deliverables
The projects deliverable would be to focus on concerting the concrete jungle seen on most city
rooftops today into a lush green oasis. This would deliver a friendlier living area for people in the
cities, help address environmental concerns and help purify the air in many major cities. In
addition to this, the project would also assist many top floor flat owners to fight the summer heat
by creating a canopy on their roof tops. The proposed project would deliver financial gains and
profits for the investor who would be one of kind and a service provider many property owners
having to wait to consult for a long time (Miller, 2008).
Why and How Should You Review Project Outcomes and Processes
Project implementation and management is a basic necessity for every project but performing
reviewing and reporting on the project's processes and outcomes are also important. This is due
to it helping the business owners and managers secure important statistical information related to
the performance of the project thus allowing them to determine if the projects are meeting its
growth targets or have failed to meet the target (Wanna, 2007). This is critical towards
determining oval projects performance after which steps can be taken to determine areas which
may have caused the lapse or failure to achieve the targets goals and proposed improvements of
the concern.
Conclusion
Successful Project planning requires for entrepreneurs and project managers to first are able to
identify unique and high demand projects and services by the public. Once this information or
ideas has been identified the project manager can then develop an effective project management
plan covering the above points. Project planning and implementation also required for constant
follow up to be made with regard to the performance of the project thus helping report on
progress and development which can be used to further make an improvement to the project.

Reference:
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Strategies for Developing Economies. Boca Roton: CRC Press.
Binder, J., 2016. Global Project Management: Communication, Collaboration and Management Across
Borders. Oxon: CRC Press.

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Practical Guide. Boca Roton: CRC Press.
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Publishing, Ltd.
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