Landscaping and Decoration Project Management: A Business Management Report and Personal Reflection

This report examines the potential benefits of participating in the Glee Birmingham trade show for Octochicken, a company specializing in flooring and walling. It analyzes the rationale for exhibition, develops a project plan with milestones and budget, and assesses the potential return on investment. The report also includes a personal reflection on the author's development of key skills such as communication, numeracy, ICT, problem-solving, and teamwork through the creation of a PowerPoint presentation.

Assignment one Individual Report and
Reflection
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Table of Contents
Part 1........................................................................................................................................... 3
Business management report......................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 3
Rationale for exhibition................................................................................................................ 4
Project plan milestone................................................................................................................. 5
The potential return on investment..............................................................................................7
Project plan and budget............................................................................................................. 10
Gantt chart of plan..................................................................................................................... 12
Work break down the structure..................................................................................................13
Part 2......................................................................................................................................... 14
Personal Reflection.................................................................................................................... 14
Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 17
References................................................................................................................................ 18
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Part 1
Business management report
Introduction
This business management report is based on the Octochicken which working in the flooring
and walling. The organisation is working for the interior and exterior flooring, paving and walling
from different varieties of stone. Lowest price and highest quality is the value proposition of the
company. A large variety of flooring stone is the key attraction of the company for its targeted
customers. The company has established in the year of 2007 and it has provided its services
more than 100,000 customers. The Octochicken is working in the construction industry in which
they are just working on the walling, paving and flooring. It is essential for the company to
enlarge its branding and promotion to capture the large market in its grip to generate more
revenue and to make a position in the market. Glee Birmingham has a huge potential to enlarge
the branding and promotion as well as it has potential to enhance the sales of the products in
Birmingham to mark a presence in the marketplace. The core objective of this report is to
convince the Nustone to participant in the trade show by providing an example of a participant
of the Glee Birmingham trade show. This report will present the benefits of trade show and
potential return on investment to convince the Octochicken to mark their entry in this trade
show.
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Rationale for exhibition
It is effective for the Octochicken to participate in the Glee Birmingham trade show to enlarge
their market presence. Many of the companies are effective showing their products and services
in this trade show to promote and communicate about their products and services in the
targeted market. Some of the rationale are given in the below points for the Octochicken to
participate in the trade show:
A large number of visitors: Different types of shows and programmes are conducted by the
organisers in this trade show which attracts to visitors. The organisers have forecasted 58,000
visitors in the year of 2018 which is effective for the company to promote their large range and
variety of marbles and stones used in flooring (Glee, 2018.). The trade show has a potential to
enhance the number of customers of the company by converting a visitor into customers.
Landscaping and garden decoration: Many of the visitors visit the Glee Birmingham Trade
show to develop their garden area more decorative. Different types of garden decorative
products exhibitors come in this trade show to exhibit their products (Clarke, 2013). Octochicken
is also working in this area by paving which is essential in the garden area to convert and
decorate it.
Profits: This is the key objective of each and every trade exhibitor to participate in this trade
show. The Glee Birmingham has a large potential to produce benefits for exhibitors. Most of the
visitors which come in this exhibition are interested to buy products from the stands which are
used by the exhibitors to show and sell their products. So this trade show has potential
opportunities for the company to enlarge their market share and maximise their revenue and
profits.
Above given all of the points are some rationale to generate an interest in the owners of the
Octochicken to participate in the Glee Birmingham trade show.
4

Project plan milestone
It is essential to use project plan milestone to frame activities in different time frames. The
project plan milestones are the set deadlines for completing specific activities (Bishop-Clark and
Dietz-Uhler, 2012). A different milestone of this project is given for the Octochicken according to
which they can make a successful participation in the exhibition.
Project plan milestone
Activities Starting date Deadline Number of days to
complete
Registration 15/03/2018 15/03/2018 1
Analysis of market 16/03/2018 18/03/2018 2
Selection of the
product variety
19/03/2018 22/03/2018 4
Marketing strategy
development
23/03/2018 26/03/2018 3
Marketing and
promotions
27/03/2018 30/03/2018 4
Stand decoration
planning
31/03/2018 5/04/2018 6
Other strategy and
planning
6/04/2018 12/04/2018 8
The above-presented milestones are effective for the Octochicken to develop planning to
participate in the exhibition. In the first company have to make its registration in the Glee
Birmingham trade show after that they have work on the strategies and planning to make a
successful exhibition at the tradeshow. The company has to make a market analysis which can
help them to analyse the needs of the customers and visitors which comes to the tradeshow.
After the market analysis, it is effective for the company to determine the range of products
which are effective to take in the exhibition. It is essential for the company to use some
promotional strategy to promote the products into this exhibition which can help them to target
the main customers. Each and every exhibitor has allocated a stand in the Glee Birmingham
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trade show so it is essential for the Octochicken to use an effective design which has potential
to attract visitors towards them in the exhibition. Either than these strategies, it is also required
for the company to make a plan for the shipment of product to the exhibition to showcase their
products to targeted visitors.
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The potential return on investment
The Glee Birmingham trade show has a vast potential to produce the effective return on the
investment amount in it. Most of the companies which are participating in this exhibition are
effectively covering up their invested amount and either this they are making profits also on their
investment amount (Investopedia, 2018). A large number of visitors come in this exhibition
which enhances the opportunity for the company to enlarge their profits by investing in this trade
show. The trade show a large potential to deliver a better return on the expectations and also on
the invested amount. The key cost is the rent which has to be paid by the company in the
registration and for the stand which is £350 per day for two people with accommodation and
electricity facility. The Glee Birmingham exhibition is three days long so the total basic cost of
the company is £1050. Either then this, some additional cost also occurs in the participation of
the company. The potential return on investment is given in the below:
Cost assumption
Marketing
Leaflets £50
Roller banner £120
Brochures £60
230
Hiring
Stand for three days £1050
Speaker system £177
1227
Labour
75HRS of trade show £563
60HRS for 3days 10HR/PD £450
1013
Travel
Taxi £100
Train for 2 people £150
250
Others
Food for 3 days £180
The salary for a project manager for 6 months £3000
3180
Total assumed the cost of the project £5900
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Assumed sales of the company
 Average weekly sales in the Glee Tradeshow: £18000
 Average number of customers per week: 800
 Average spending of visitors: £18000/800= £22.50
It has been assumed that a number of visitors can be increased by 8% in the trade show so
which may impact on the sales also.
 8% increase in the number of visitors: 8/100×800=64
 Total number of visitors after the increase: 864
 Enhanced sales after an increase in the number of customers: Total number of
visitor × average spending of visitors 864×22.50=£19440
Return on investment is based on the cost assumption so calculation of return on investment is
given in the below:
Formula: Potential sales increase/Investment×100
Potential sales increase= 1440
Assumed cost/investment=5900
Potential return on investment= 1440/5900×100=24.40%
Octochicken can earn 24.40% return on investment so it is a profitable opportunity for the
company which have to be used by them.
Potential benefits for the company by this trade show are given in the below points:
Sales: This trade show has a large potential to maximise the sales of the company due to a
number of visitors comes in a short time period (Sasaka, 2012). The Octochicken has to provide
proper services to their visitor which can help them to make better sales in these visitors. It is
essential for the company to enhance their sales by capturing a large market.
Customer relation: Glee Birmingham Tradeshow has a huge opportunity for the company to
use them to develop direct relations with the targeted customers. Most of the people which
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comes in the exhibition come for the purchasing purposes so it is essential for the company to
develop a relationship with them which can provide them business in the future.
Market research: It is also a benefit for the company to conduct a market research while this
exhibition to analyse the expectation of the customers with them (Huang and Chung, 2016). The
company can also analyse the needs of the market according to which they can develop their
products and services.
Brand Exposure: The Company can expose itself as a brand in the new market by this trade
show. It is essential for the company to enlarge its name into the new market which can help
them to make better sales and compete with the customers.
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Project plan and budget
A project plan is an effective tool which helps in the implementation of the plan effectively. The
project plan is effective to analyse the significant aspects to accomplish this project effectively.
Some of the points are given in the below which are effective for the Octochicken to
successfully participate in the Glee Birmingham Tradeshow:
Stakeholders: It is essential for the company to determine the stakeholders of the project which
contribute their efforts in this project (Snyder, 2014). In the first Octochicken has to define a
project manager which has all responsibilities for planning and implementing the project in the
actual conditions. Visitors, project manager, supporter, supplier, transporter, marketing manager
etc. are the key stakeholders of this project.
Cost: It is a prior element which has to be mainly considered in implementing the project in the
actual conditions. Different activities will be conducted in this project plan which will consume
the cost. It is essential for the company to classify the financial resources in the identified
activities. The master budget for this project is given below:
Master Budget
The total amount of the project £7500
Salary of project manager £3000
Marketing £500
Rent on different services £1500
Labour charges £1000
Travelling expenditures £500
Other expenses £1000
The total cost of the project £7500
Scope: This project is focusing on the Glee Birmingham Exhibition so it does not have a
broader scope to deliver their services. The company have to be focused on the visitors which
will come in the exhibition. It is essential for the company to make a lead on these people to
convert them into the customers.
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Time: The Glee Birmingham trade show is organised for three days but it is essential for the
company to make a successful presence in this so the company is taking as a project
(Heagney, 2016). It is six months long project in which project manager has sufficient time to
design strategies which can help them to attract visitors to sell out their products. a large
number of customers will be entertained by the company in the trade show so it is essential for
the company to allocate a long duration for the preparation of the project.
Risk: It is essential for the company to analyse the liked risk within this project which can help
them to implement some precautions to eliminate the threats. Profits and cost are the two major
factors which are at the risk. The financial cost of the project can be increased according to the
assumed cost so it is essential for the project manager to work according to the master budget
which can help him to eliminate the risk.
Cost, stakeholders and time is the key factors to complete this project in an appropriate manner.
Profitability management is the key area which can effectively applied by measuring the cost of
the project for a proper budget is prepared.
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Gantt chart of plan
Figure 1: Gantt chart
Source: Author
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Work break down the structure
Landscaping and decoration project management
Figure 2: Work Breakdown Structure
Source: Author
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Part 2
Personal Reflection
This personal reflection is based on my class activity which is a power point presentation. This
reflection section is based on key skills which I have analysed and evaluated during this weekly
activity. Some of the key skills are given in the below which has evaluated:
Communication
Communication is an essential and significant factor in the attainment of the objectives
(Kissane, et. al., 2012). It is prior to communicating on the work and topics to develop an easier
process to complete the work. It is required for me during the classroom activity to communicate
with the classmates and teachers which has effectively helped me to resolve doubts. I have
analysed that I am a week to communicate on the core topic and making a clear sense of
sentences on the topic. It is required for me to make some improvement on the verbal
communication to share the core objective of the communication with the clear sense. I should
take advice or coaching from some experts to effectively communicate and remove this hinder
from my communication process. It is effective for my future to develop a better verbal two-way
communication on the key points which is making a clear sense of my conversation. Written
communication another area in which I have a need for development. I have analysed that it is
essential to use effective words in the writing which makes a clear sense of the sentences which
is must in the academic life for me. To make some development on the written communication I
have to enlarge my dictionary to use effective words in written communication.
Numeracy
I have a created a power point presentation in which I have used numerical calculations. It is
essential to maintain accuracy in the numerical calculations which can help to get appropriate
outcomes. I have calculated return on investment and potential return on investment of a
company which is participating in the exhibition. It is difficult to essential to use an accurate
formula to make a perfect calculation. Budgets, accounts and balance sheets are having a
specific format for the development so it is essential to remember the formats of these which
can help me to develop these. Budget is effective to allocate financial resources in the different
activities which have to be done in a year from an organisation (Barr and McClellan, 2018). It is
essential for me to learn master budget format and particulars. The master budget is an overall
budget which allocates finance to different teams of a company. All types of accounts and
balance sheet have to be learning to develop in future in a better manner. It is essential to add
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specific particulars in according to the account to calculate profit and loss of a company in an
effective manner. Here in this presentation, I have calculated return on investment and cost of
investment in which I have taken the support of Google to find out the formulas to calculate ROI.
ICT
In the weekly activity, I have developed a power point presentation to represent the investment
cost and return on investment of the company in the exhibition. It is essential to develop an
effective powerpoint presentation which has accurate and appropriate information about the
core topic. I have used specific information about the slides which shows the accurate values
and figures. It is a most appropriate way to design a powerpoint presentation because it just
specified the key information in the slides which has to be present. It is essential to use graphics
and images to use in the powerpoint slides which improve the impact of the information on the
people in which this PPT represents. I have faced fewer problems while developing the power
points presentation it is easier to develop a PPT according to my self-evaluation. Design and
format have a huge significance while developing a PPT which I have effectively used in the
developed PPT. I have used the black background of the PPT slides which is effective contrast
the words and figures which I have attached to the slides. All of the slides are having
information about the calculation in the slide notes which is effective to represent the PPT slides
in the front of targeted audiences.
Problem-solving
It is essential to use problem-solving techniques while working on a project and on a specific
activity (Brown and Chandrasekaran, 2014). This classroom activity is based on the
presentation in which I have to collect specific information about the exhibition in which
company have to participate. It is difficult for me to gather specific data and information for
return on investment in the Glee exhibition. It is essential for me to use a specific and
appropriate method for problem-solving. I have taken the support of Google to resolve all of my
problems while working on this weekly activity. It is most appropriate tool regarding finding out
the solutions to problems. It is essential to use root cause method while resolving a problem
which supports to work on the root cause of the problem. It decreases the potential to occur the
same problem in the future. I have to use this root cause method in the future which can help
me to eliminate and avoid the problems.
Teamwork
It is one of the most needed skills in a person to work on a project or group task (Gallie, et. al.,
2012). It is effective for me to improve my potentials to work in my future. Each and every
person contains some specific skills in him according to which a role is determined by a home in
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the teamwork. In the weekly activity in which a presentation is developed on the return on
investment of the company in the exhibition, I have effectively used the teamwork skill. I have
learned the Belbin team role theory earlier which helps me to divide role between the people to
develop an effective presentation on the specific topic. It has provided me with an opportunity to
maximise the contribution of the team members in the teamwork which is a most needed thing.
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Conclusion
On the basis of above report, it has been concluded that the Landscaping and decoration
project management has huge potential for the company to enlarge its market and sales. The
project plan is effective to divide a project into a plan to implement it into the actual condition.
The Gantt chart is effective to allocate time frames in the different activities of the plan which
supports to the implementer to implement it effectively. Work break down structure is also
effective in the implementation of the project. It classifies the activities and sub-activities into
parts work accordingly. It is effective to divide a project into subparts which supports to divide
objective into sub-objectives to attain.
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References
 Barr, M.J. and McClellan, G.S., 2018. Budgets and financial management in higher
education. John Wiley & Sons.
 Bishop-Clark, C. and Dietz-Uhler, B., 2012. Engaging in the scholarship of teaching and
learning: A guide to the process, and how to develop a project from start to finish. Stylus
Publishing, LLC..
 Brown, D.C. and Chandrasekaran, B., 2014. Design problem solving: knowledge
structures and control strategies. Morgan Kaufmann.
 Clarke, G., 2013. RAISING CONSUMER AWARENESS OF YOUR NURSERY'S
PRODUCTS©. Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators Society-2013 1055,
pp.145-148.
 Gallie, D., Zhou, Y., Felstead, A. and Green, F., 2012. Teamwork, skill development and
employee welfare. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 50(1), pp.23-46.
 Glee, 2018. [Online]. Available at: https://www.gleebirmingham.com/ [Accessed on 22
March 2018].
 Heagney, J., 2016. Fundamentals of project management. AMACOM Div American
Mgmt Assn.
 Huang, H.H. and Chung, T.T., 2016. Building competitive advantages and restructure
resources: A case of Taiwan's exhibition industry. International Journal of Organizational
Innovation (Online), 8(3), p.112.
 Investopedia, 2018. [Online]. Available at:
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/returnoninvestment.asp [Accessed on 22 March
2018].
 Kissane, D.W., Bylund, C.L., Banerjee, S.C., Bialer, P.A., Levin, T.T., Maloney, E.K. and
D'Agostino, T.A., 2012. Communication skills training for oncology professionals. Journal of
Clinical Oncology, 30(11), p.1242.
 Sasaka, P.S., 2012. The effectiveness of trade shows and exhibitions as organizational
marketing tool (Analysis of selected companies in Mombasa). International journal of
business and social science, 3(22).
 Snyder, C.S., 2014. A guide to the project management body of knowledge: PMBOK (®)
guide. Project Management Institute: Newtown Square, PA, USA.
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