Business Management: Managing Project Team, Developing Project Plan, Managing Project Progress

This report discusses the project management of Food Test Laboratory (FTL) project. It covers managing the project team, developing a project plan, managing the project progress, and monitoring the project progress and closing the project.

Running head: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Business Management
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Section 1: Managing the Project Team................................................................................2
1a) Project Priority and Project Priority Matrix..............................................................2
1b) Personal Attributes of the Team Members................................................................3
Section 2: Developing a Project Plan..................................................................................4
2a) Gantt chart View of the FTL Project.........................................................................4
2b) State of Total Project Cost.........................................................................................5
2c) Resource Conflict......................................................................................................6
2d) Levelling the Resource Conflict................................................................................7
Section 3: Managing the Project........................................................................................10
3a) Impact on Schedule and Cost..................................................................................10
3b) The Accomplishments in the Project.......................................................................12
Section 4: Monitoring the Project Progress and Closing the Project.................................12
4a) Gantt Chart View.....................................................................................................12
4b) Cost Performance Index (CPI)................................................................................13
4c) Incident and Actions................................................................................................14
Bibliography......................................................................................................................16

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Section A
Section 1: Managing the Project Team
1a) Project Priority and Project Priority Matrix
Establishment of the project priorities is an essential part of project management as it
helps in successful execution of a particular project. The project success is mainly dependent on
the ability of the project manager to manage the actual tradeoff between the cost, time, scope and
quality of a project. Apart from that, establishing the project priority with the customer is
considered to be one of the most important aspects of the project definition stage. The project
priority matrix can be considered as tool for establishing the priorities of the project. A project
priority matrix is developed for Food Test Laboratory (FTL) project in order to communicate the
priorities across the project team members.
The priorities of the FTL project is needed to be set as it is a complex and an important
project. The entire project is needed to be launched on 1 July 2019 and should start no earlier
than 1 April 2019.
The project priority matrix for FTL project defines the major criteria of the project which
are constraint, accept and enhance. The project priority matrix defined for FTL is indicated in the
table below.
Time Scope Cost
Constraint X
Enhance X
Accept X

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Table 1: Representing the Project Priority Matrix
From the above matrix, it can be observed that the time allocated for the project is a
constrained criteria while the scope of the project can be enhanced. The cost of the project on the
other hand is needed to be accepted.
1b) Personal Attributes of the Team Members
It is quite essential to develop a well skilled project management team for ensuring that
the project will be executed as per the project plan. The project team members play a significant
role in effective management and execution of a project. Recruitment of the project team
members is an important aspect of the project and it can be done internally or externally. The
Food Test Laboratory project is an important project that is needed to be implemented. For that
choosing well skilled team members becomes a necessity. The team formation for the FTL
project is based on choosing the team members based on certain personal attributes. The
attributes of the team members that are most critical for ensuring the success of a project are as
follows-
Ability of Problem Solving: The project team member of the FTL project is chosen on
basis of their problem solving ability. In a complex projects it is essential for the project team
members to have a strong program solving ability that will help in easier settling of the disputes
among the project team. Therefore, ability of problem solving can be considered one of the most
important attributes of the project team members in a project management team.
Availability: Easy availability is another significant attribute of a team member that is
mostly needed for management of a project. The launching of Food Test Laboratory project is a
high priority project and therefore, it needs people within the team who are not overcommitted to

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various projects and the tasks. Thus, availability is considered to be one of the major attributes
that a project team member should possess.
Ambition, Initiative and Energy: This is another personal attribute that is expected in a
project team. Members of the FTL team should be filled with ambition, initiative and energy to
ensure that the assigned project work in completed in a successful manner. A team member
possessing these attributes is expected to work in a collaborative environment, which is
beneficial for project execution. Therefore, ambition, attribute and energy is considered to be
another significant attribute of the project team members.
Section 2: Developing a Project Plan
2a) Gantt chart View of the FTL Project
The FTL project is scheduled as per the start date and the end date of project. The figure
below represents the task mode, task name, duration, predecessors, star, finish date and the
resource name allocated for the FTL project.
Figure 1: The Project Gantt Chart

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(Source: Generated by author using MS Project)
From the figure above, the completion date of the project is identified as Mon 01-07-19.
2b) State of Total Project Cost
Along with the project scheduling, the cost associated with the project is identified as
well. This section of the report will be identifying the state of total project cost. The state of total
project cost in the FTL project is represented in the figure below-
Task Name Fixed
Cost
Fixed Cost
Accrual Total Cost Baseline Variance Actual Remaining
Food Test Lab
(FTL) Project $0.00 Prorated $182,860.0
0 $0.00 $182,860.00 $0.00 $182,860.00
Project kick off
meeting $0.00 Prorated $1,440.00 $0.00 $1,440.00 $0.00 $1,440.00
Consult AVA $0.00 Prorated $2,600.00 $0.00 $2,600.00 $0.00 $2,600.00
Design food
test programs $0.00 Prorated $6,760.00 $0.00 $6,760.00 $0.00 $6,760.00
Recruit lab
technician $0.00 Prorated $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00
Train lab
technicians at
AVA
$0.00 Prorated $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00
Select lab
contractor $0.00 Prorated $1,760.00 $0.00 $1,760.00 $0.00 $1,760.00
Construct lab $0.00 Prorated $56,160.00 $0.00 $56,160.00 $0.00 $56,160.00
Purchase
computers $0.00 Prorated $13,200.00 $0.00 $13,200.00 $0.00 $13,200.00
Purchase test
equipment $0.00 Prorated $65,600.00 $0.00 $65,600.00 $0.00 $65,600.00
Lay electrical
cables $0.00 Prorated $3,320.00 $0.00 $3,320.00 $0.00 $3,320.00
Lay network
cables $0.00 Prorated $3,260.00 $0.00 $3,260.00 $0.00 $3,260.00
Install
computers and
test equipment
$0.00 Prorated $2,200.00 $0.00 $2,200.00 $0.00 $2,200.00
Test overall $0.00 Prorated $3,120.00 $0.00 $3,120.00 $0.00 $3,120.00

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system
Certified by
International
Authority
$0.00 Prorated $4,160.00 $0.00 $4,160.00 $0.00 $4,160.00
Seek approval
by AVA $0.00 Prorated $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Advertising to
food industry $0.00 Prorated $4,840.00 $0.00 $4,840.00 $0.00 $4,840.00
Standby and
support $0.00 Prorated $2,760.00 $0.00 $2,760.00 $0.00 $2,760.00
Launch Food
Test Lab $0.00 Prorated $480.00 $0.00 $480.00 $0.00 $480.00
Table 1: Representing the state of total Project Cost
(Source: Generated by Author using MS Project)
2c) Resource Conflict
A state of resource conflict is observed in the developed schedule. The resource conflict
is observed mainly because of over-allocation of project resources. The figure below indicates
the resource conflict.
Figure 2: Representing the Resource Conflict

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(Source: Created by author using MS Project)
The resource conflict needs to be solved in order to eliminate the project risks and the
issues in the project.
2d) Levelling the Resource Conflict
The above section depicted the resource conflict associated with the implementation of a
project. The problem of resource conflict can be solved easily with the help of the auto resource
levelling feature. The resource conflict problem is solved with the help of auto resource levelling
option of the MS project and it is indicated in the figure below-
Figure 3: Solving the Resource Conflict
(Source: Created by Author)

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The figure above indicates that the automatic levelling option in MS project could solve a
few resource conflicts. However, there are still two cases of resource conflict that is needed to be
addressed.
However, the problem of resource conflict can be solved by accelerating the project
completion. The two options for accelerating the project completion are as follows-
1. It is observed that the over-allocation of the resources is associated with the working
of PM. As it was within the scope of the project to appoint Ad hoc admin when needed, the use
of Ad hoc admin in both the cases can successfully solve the problem of resource over-allocation
or resource conflict.
2. The completion time of other task can be reduced by providing a helping hand to
Noriah in for of temp engineers. It is within the scope of the project.
The above two points discusses the options of solving the resource problems associated
with the project. Hiring the Ad-hoc Admin staff is $600 per day while the cost of Temp Engineer
is $700 per day. Therefore, it is more feasible for the FTL project team to consider the first
option to solve the problem of resource conflict.
The project status date is set as indicated in the figure below-

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Figure 4: Indicating the Project Status Date
(Source: Created by author using MS Project)
Along with the update of the status date of the project the project baseline is set as well.
The figure below represents the project baseline.

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Figure 5: Project Baseline is set as Entire Project
(Source: Created by author using MS Project)
Section 3: Managing the Project
3a) Impact on Schedule and Cost
The increase in the duration of the 4th activity has resulted in a schedule conflict which is
indicated in the figure below-
Figure 6: Representing Schedule Conflict
(Source: Created by author using MS Project)
The change in the schedule indicates that the cost of the project will be increased as well.
The change in the cost is represented in the cost table below.
Task Name Fixed
Cost
Fixed Cost
Accrual Total Cost Baseline Variance Actual Remaining
Food Test Lab
(FTL) Project $0.00 Prorated $184,940.00 $182,860.00 $2,080.00 $0.00 $184,940.00
Project kick
off meeting $0.00 Prorated $1,440.00 $1,440.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,440.00

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Consult AVA $0.00 Prorated $2,600.00 $2,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,600.00
Design food
test programs $0.00 Prorated $8,840.00 $6,760.00 $2,080.00 $0.00 $8,840.00
Recruit lab
technician $0.00 Prorated $4,800.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,800.00
Train lab
technicians at
AVA
$0.00 Prorated $4,000.00 $4,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,000.00
Select lab
contractor $0.00 Prorated $1,760.00 $1,760.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,760.00
Construct lab $0.00 Prorated $56,160.00 $56,160.00 $0.00 $0.00 $56,160.00
Purchase
computers $0.00 Prorated $13,200.00 $13,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $13,200.00
Purchase test
equipment $0.00 Prorated $65,600.00 $65,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $65,600.00
Lay electrical
cables $0.00 Prorated $3,320.00 $3,320.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,320.00
Lay network
cables $0.00 Prorated $3,260.00 $3,260.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,260.00
Install
computers and
test equipment
$0.00 Prorated $2,200.00 $2,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,200.00
Test overall
system $0.00 Prorated $3,120.00 $3,120.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,120.00
Certified by
International
Authority
$0.00 Prorated $4,160.00 $4,160.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,160.00
Seek approval
by AVA $0.00 Prorated $2,400.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Advertising to
food industry $0.00 Prorated $4,840.00 $4,840.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,840.00
Standby and
support $0.00 Prorated $2,760.00 $2,760.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,760.00
Launch Food
Test Lab $0.00 Prorated $480.00 $480.00 $0.00 $0.00 $480.00
Table 2: Representing the Project Cost
The table above indicates the slight change in the cost of the project as a result of the
increase in the duration of the project.

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3b) The Accomplishments in the Project
The change incorporated in the project has a large effect on the plan and the schedule of
the project. The four important accomplishments associated with the FTL project are discussed
in the paragraphs below.
One of the most important achievements associated with the FTL project is that the
project could be completed within the scheduled project time. The launch date of the project was
set to be 1 July 2017 and it is successfully achieved.
The project is able to gain a full support from AVA as it could successfully incorporate a
change in the project in form of Fipronil Testing, which is another important achievement of this
project.
It has been observed that the project team was successful in appointing well competent
team member. Peter proved to be an efficient human resource in times of need
Another significant achievement is that, since the project could incorporate Fipronil
testing, it is expected that it will have a full support of AV in form of project funding.
Section 4: Monitoring the Project Progress and Closing the Project
4a) Gantt Chart View
The figure below indicates the Gantt chart View of the task after incorporation of certain
changes.

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Figure 7: Representing the FTL project Gantt chart View
(Source: Created by author using MS Project)
From the above figure, it is identified that the project completion date is Tue 02-07-19.
4b) Cost Performance Index (CPI)
The formula of cost performance index is Earned value/ Actual Cost. The calculated CPI
of this project is $182,860.00/$189,440.00 = .9652.
The cost performance index is calculated in MS project as well. The CPI as calculated
from MS project is represented in the figure below-

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Figure 8: Representing the CPI
The figure above indicates that the cost performance index of the project is 0.97 that
approximately matches the calculated CPI.
4c) Incident and Actions
Incident Actions
Change in duration of project The effect of the change in the project could
have been eliminated with development of an
effective project plan.
Resource conflict The problem of resource conflict could be
eliminated if more resources were available in
the project.
Fipronil Testing The Fipronil testing although could not have
been predicted earlier, a more planned
approach could have reduced its effect on

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project schedule.

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