Project Plan Template for Desklib Online Library

This project plan template is designed for Desklib, an online library for study material with solved assignments, essays, dissertation, etc. The plan covers the scope, milestones, phases, activities, effort, and resources required to complete the project. The project aims to explore the positive effects of globalization on the marketing of MacDonald's. The plan includes a schedule, dependencies, assumptions, and constraints.

Project Plan
Template

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Table of Contents
TEMPLATE GUIDE.....................................................................................................................1
1 PLANNING BASIS...............................................................................................................2
1.1 SCOPE......................................................................................................................................................................2
1.2 MILESTONES............................................................................................................................................................2
1.3 PHASES....................................................................................................................................................................2
1.4 ACTIVITIES..............................................................................................................................................................3
1.5 TASKS......................................................................................................................................................................3
1.6 EFFORT....................................................................................................................................................................3
1.7 RESOURCES..............................................................................................................................................................4
2 PROJECT PLAN..................................................................................................................4
2.1 SCHEDULE...............................................................................................................................................................4
2.2 DEPENDENCIES........................................................................................................................................................5
2.3 ASSUMPTIONS..........................................................................................................................................................5
2.4 CONSTRAINTS..........................................................................................................................................................5
3 APPENDIX...........................................................................................................................5
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Template Guide
What is a Project Plan?
The Project Plan is the central document by which the project is formally managed. A
Project Plan is a document which lists the activities, tasks and resources required to
complete the project and realise the business benefits outlined in the Project
Business Case. A typical Project Plan includes:
 A description of the major phases undertaken to complete the project
 A schedule of the activities, tasks, durations, dependencies, resources and
timeframes
 A listing of the assumptions and constraints identified during the planning
process.
To create a Project Plan, the following steps are undertaken:
 Reiterate the project scope
 Identify the project milestones, phases, activities and tasks
 Quantify the effort required for each task
 Allocate project resource
 Construct a project schedule
 List any planning dependencies, assumptions, constraints
 Document the formal Project Plan for approval.
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When to use a Project Plan
Although a summarised Project Plan is identified early in the Project Start-up Phase
(within the Business Case), a detailed Project Plan is not usually created until the
project scope has been formally defined (within a Project Charter) and the project
team appointed. The Project Plan is completed early in the Project Planning Phase
and is, typically, prior to a Quality Plan and the formalisation of a Supplier's contract.
Unlike other documents in the Project Lifecycle, the Project Plan is referenced
constantly throughout the project. As the project is undertaken, the Project Manager
tracks the percentage of task completion and the task completion date (actual vs
planned) to assess overall project performance. These statistics are communicated
to the Project Sponsor/Board within a regular Project Status Report.
How to use this template
This document provides a guide on the topics usually included in a Project Plan.
Sections may be added, removed or redefined at your leisure to meet your particular
business circumstance. Example tables, diagrams and charts have been added
(where suitable) to provide further guidance on how to complete each relevant
section.
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1 Planning Basis
1.1 Scope (P2):
The project would aim to explore the positive effects of globalisation in terms of
economic, culture and ethical aspects on marketing of MacDonald’s. MacDonald’s is the
largest fast food chain the world headquartered in the United States of America. The fast food
chain operates in over a hundred countries across Europe, South America, Asia and Australia.
The fast food giant has succeeded in adopting to diverse economic, cultural and ethical
scenario existing in different host countries it operates. This is evident from the marketing of
products which reveals the culture of the respective host countries in which particular
branches operate. The project plan would find out how MacDonald’s adopts to these cultural,
economic and ethical diversities in its different host countries.
The project scope would cover the cost, time, quality, communication, risk management and
resources. The cost of the project would be immense and would be borne by MacDonald’s.
The resources required for the project as mentioned below would be franchisees and
marketing experts who would conduct the interview on behalf of MacDonald’s. The time
taken for the project would be 49 days. The project manager should maintain continuous
communication with the stakeholders like government, the management of MacDonald’s and
the franchisees. This would pave ways for risk management because smooth communication
enables prompt intimation about risks. For example, if there are chances of economic
disturbance in one market of MacDonald’s which is likely to effect the project, the
management body and the project management team can make alternative strategies, thus
reducing the impact of the economic risk on the project. The marketing experts and
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franchisee should ensure that the quality of data collected from the market is of sufficient
high quality for the fast food giant to conduct the project successfully.
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1.2 Milestones
The following are the milestones which the project would cover:
Milestone Description Delivery Date
Approval of the
business case to
proceed with the
project
The project sponsor has perused the project
documents submitted and approved the
project.
01/11/2018
Approval of the
feasibility study
The documents have been presented and
approval pending
01/12/2018
Project charter
approved
The project charter has been provided and
approval pending
01/01/2019
Establishment of the
project office
This step is yet to start 01/02/2019
1.3 Phases
List and describe the major project phases within the following table.
Phase Description© Sequence
Project Initiation The project manager recognises the
opportunities and/or challenges which the
project would explore. For example, the
project under study would explore the
opportunities which globalisation has
Phase # 1
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ushered on marketing of MacDonald’s in
its global market. The project owners
usually make a portion of project cost
payment to the project management firms.
Project planning This is second phase and starts once the base case
is approved by relevant approving authority(s).
The project manager breaks down the entire
project into activities which have to be completed
to ultimately complete the project. The project
manager form makes the work breakdown
structure and create project team(s).
Phase # 2
Project execution This phase consist of execution of the different
activities recognised according to the WBS.
Phase # 3
Project closure This is the last stage when the project is delivered
to the client, principle or the owner of the project.
The resources are released from the project and the
success rate of project is measured.
Phase # 4
1.4 Activities
List and describe the major project activities within the following table.
Phase Activity Description© Sequence
Project
Planning
Develop
Quality
Plan
The project manager or project leader
after securing the required approvals to
proceed with the project, makes plans
The step commences after
the approvals are obtained
but before the actual
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regarding the project. He breaks down
the plan into activities and decides the
resources which have to be allocated to
the different activities. He also prepares
a Gantt chart which shows the resource
allocation and cost the resources would
attract. This phase also consists of
gaining quotations from third party
firms which have to be involved in the
project and selecting of the parties.
project execution starts.
Project
execution
Signing of
contracts
with
suppliers,
consultants
and other
third party
firms like
security
firms
This stage is heralded by signing of the
contracts between the project execution
firm and these third party firms. This is
followed the initiation of the project
execution as per the project plan. The
projects usually make payments in part
at each specific stages as specified by
the project contract.
This phase comes after
project planning
Project
closure
Delivery
of the
project and
releasing
of
The project after completion is handed
over to the project owner
(MacDonald’s in this case). The project
again makes payments according to the
project contract.
This phase is the last
phase of the project.
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resources.
Payment
processes
starts
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1.5 Tasks
A ‘task’ is simply an item of work to be completed within the project. List all tasks
required to undertake each activity, within the following table:
Phase Activity Task Sequence
Project
Planning
Develop
Quality
Plan
Identify Quality Targets
Identify Quality Assurance Techniques
Identify Quality Control Techniques
Document Quality Plan
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Project
execution
Ensuring
quality
project
execution
Signing of contracts with the third
party firms. Since, the project
under question would be a
marketing project, it would
involve surveyor and marketing
research personnel. It would also
involve marketing experts. The
project management firm should
sign contracts with these parties.
1st
Project execution starts according
to the project plan
2nd
Continuous monitoring of the
different stages of the project plan
3rd
Recognising deviations from the
plan
4th
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Taking steps to minimise
deviations to the extent possible.
5th
Performing
project
closure
Ensuring
proper
project
closure
and
delivery
of the
project
Proper delivery of project 1st
Checking any defects 2nd
Releasing of resources 3rd
1.6 Effort
For each task listed above, quantify the likely ‘effort’ required to complete the task.
Task© Effort
Develop Quality Plan:
Identify Quality Targets
Identify Quality Assurance Techniques
Identify Quality Control Techniques
Document Quality Plan
15 days
15 days
15 days
15 days
Ensuring quality project execution:
Signing of contracts with the third party firms. Since, the
project under question would be a marketing project, it
would involve surveyor and marketing research personnel.
It would also involve marketing experts. The project
30 days
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management firm should sign contracts with these parties.
Project execution starts according to the project plan 30 days
Continuous monitoring of the different stages of the
project plan
30 days
Recognising deviations from the plan 30 days
Taking steps to minimise deviations to the extent
possible.
30 days
Ensuring proper project closure and delivery of the
project:
Proper delivery of project
30 days
Checking any defects 30 days
Releasing of resources 30 days
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1.7 Resources
For each task identified, list the resources allocated to complete the task.
Task© Resource
Conducting surveys of customers (Note: The surveys must
ensure to survey customers from different cultural and
socio-economic backgrounds
10
Interviewing business partners like franchisees of
MacDonald’s in selected countries at least two per
continent.( 6 countries * 2 outlets each)
North America: Canada and the USA
Europe: the UK and Germany
Asia: China and Singapore
Asia-Pacific: Australia and New Zealand
12
Marketing experts to analyse the business of MacDonald’s
in various markets
2
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2 Project Plan (P3):
Project showing effect of
globalisation on marketing
of MacDonald's
Project initiation
Approval of the
business case to
proceed with the
project
Approval of the
feasibility study
Project charter
approved
Establishment of the
project office
Project planning
Identify Quality
Targets
Identify Quality
Assurance
Techniques
Identify Quality
Control Techniques
Document Quality
Plan
Project execution
Signing of contracts
with the third party
firms. Since, the
project under
question would be a
marketing project, it
would involve
surveyor and
marketing research
personnel. It would
also involve
marketing experts.
The project
management firm
should sign c
Project execution
starts according to
the project plan
Continuous
monitoring of the
different stages of
the project plan
Recognising
deviations from the
plan
Taking steps to
minimise deviations
to the extent possible.
Performing project
closure
Proper delivery of
project
Checking any
defects
Releasing of
resources
(P4)As pointed out above in the WBS, MacDonald’s should use both quantitative and
qualitative research to conduct the small scale research on effect of globalisation on it. A
research into the global market shows that the emerging markets like Asia have booming
consumer base and are capable of driving the business of MacDonald’s. Again, an insight
into the preferences of the consumers shows that they expect food items reflecting their
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culture. MacDonald’s as an outcome of the research should form strategies to shift its focus
towards Asia and adapt to the preferences of customers in the market.
2.1 Schedule
Provide a summarised schedule for each of the phases and activities within the
project.
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Project showing effect of
globalisation on marketing of
MacDonald's
49 days Thu 11/1/18 Tue 1/8/19
Project initiation 49 days Thu 11/1/18 Tue 1/8/19
Approval of the business case to
proceed with the project 3 days Thu 11/1/18 Mon 11/5/18
Approval of the feasibility study 4 days Tue 11/6/18 Fri 11/9/18 3
Project charter approved 2 days Mon
11/12/18 Tue 11/13/18 4
Establishment of the project office 4 days Wed
11/14/18
Mon
11/19/18 5
Project planning 36 days Tue 11/20/18 Tue 1/8/19
Identify Quality Targets 2 days Tue 11/20/18 Wed
11/21/18 6
Identify Quality Assurance
Techniques 1 day Thu 11/22/18 Thu 11/22/18 8
Identify Quality Control
Techniques 1 day Fri 11/23/18 Fri 11/23/18 9
Document Quality Plan 1 day Mon
11/26/18
Mon
11/26/18 10
Project execution 31 days Tue 11/27/18 Tue 1/8/19
Signing of contracts with the
third party firms. Since, the project
under question would be a marketing
project, it would involve surveyor and
marketing research personnel. It
would also involve marketing experts.
The project management firm should
sign c
3 days Tue 11/27/18 Thu 11/29/18 11
Project execution starts
according to the project plan 2 days Fri 11/30/18 Mon 12/3/18 13
Continuous monitoring of the
different stages of the project plan 5 days Tue 12/4/18 Mon
12/10/18 14
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Recognising deviations from
the plan 3 days Tue 12/11/18 Thu 12/13/18 15
Taking steps to minimise
deviations to the extent possible. 5 days Fri 12/14/18 Thu 12/20/18 16
Performing project closure 13 days Fri 12/21/18 Tue 1/8/19
Proper delivery of project 3 days Fri 12/21/18 Tue 12/25/18 17
Checking any defects 3 days Wed
12/26/18 Fri 12/28/18 19
Releasing of resources 7 days Mon
12/31/18 Tue 1/8/19 20
Note: Refer to the Appendix for a detailed project schedule.
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2.2 Dependencies
The project would follow finish to start approach. This is because the previous of
the project must finish for the next step to begin.
List any key project dependencies identified by completing the following table:
Activity Depends on© Dependency Type
Project initiation NA Finish-to-start
Project planning Project initiation Finish-to-start
Project execution Project planning Finish-to-start
Performing project
closure
Project execution Finish-to-start
2.3 Assumptions
 The scope of the project would not change.
 The stakeholders like franchisees would provide full support to the project.
2.4 Constraints
 The project would face constraint of time.
 The project would face constraint of technology
3 Appendix
Detailed project schedule attached.
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Bibliography
Fleming, Q.W. and Koppelman, J.M., 2016, December. Earned value project management.
Project Management Institute.
Marchewka, J.T., 2014. Information technology project management. John Wiley & Sons.
Radujković, M. and Sjekavica, M., 2017. Project Management Success Factors. Procedia
Engineering, 196, pp.607-615.
Joslin, R. and Müller, R., 2015. Relationships between a project management methodology
and project success in different project governance contexts. International Journal of Project
Management, 33(6), pp.1377-1392.
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