Operations and Project Management: Evaluation, Skills, and Risks

This article discusses the evaluation of different stages within project planning and its link to operations management. It also assesses the essential management skills and competencies required for managing operations and projects in the commercial sector. Additionally, it provides a project plan outlining potential risks and ways to overcome them.

Operations and
Project management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Evaluation of different stages within project planning as well as its lifecycle and the ways this
links to operations management..................................................................................................1
Critical assessment of essential management skills along with competencies that will be
required in management of operations addition to projects for meeting demands in commercial
sector............................................................................................................................................4
Producing project plan outlining potential risks as well as ways to overcome them..................6
Proposing a new operations strategy which meets organisational values...................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
In the world of complexities, operations and project management plays essential role in
administering entire project as well as operations involved in it. It is the business activity which
aids in dealing with day to day basis operations of business systematically for ensuring
accomplishment of determined objectives and goals promptly (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017). It is
the responsibility of project manager to apply knowledge, skill set and techniques for manage
situations and meeting defined objectives. Along with this, scheduling and management of
practices of human resource are also administered by the manager of project to align entire
operations with objectives. To understand about operations addition to project management,
Wetherspoons is the project that is taken into consideration for the report. It is the company
which operate functioning with more than 3500 human resource and have large number of pubs
within the provinces of UK. The report discusses highlights about project plan stages and
lifecycle along with linkage to operations management. It further includes assessment of
essential skill set and competencies which will be required to manage operations and project to
meet commercial sector demands. It also includes a project plan that outlines potential risks that
might be faced by the business and ways to overcome all. At last, a new operations strategy is
proposed which meets values of the business.
MAIN BODY
Evaluation of different stages within project planning as well as its lifecycle and the ways this
links to operations management
Overview of project
Wetherspoons is an establishment in provisions of UK. The entity operates its entire
functions with 3500 staff members and it operates around 900 pubs within the nation. It has
attained annual sales of more than £ 1.5 billion in past year. It is considering moving towards
globalisation strategy for expanding in global market. The bars of the company are situated
around passenger terminal of various airports railway stations and many other locations in
United Kingdom. Each pub of the entity has unique carpet, building, name and drawing on
location. Further, some of them also involves hotel as well as gift shops.
Project lifecycle and distinct stages of planning project
1

Project lifecycle is a framework that includes stages designed for assisting project
managers in guiding the project successfully at different phases from initiation to complete. The
major purpose of lifecycle is for devising a path for following frameworks in order to guide
projects. It majorly engrosses distinct change type which exhibits essential information related to
project. All the stages of project are clearly defined in the project lifecycle so that proper
understanding is created among team members and other supervisors with the purpose of
completing it on time (Project lifecycle phases, 2020). Following are some of the stages on life
cycle of the project that is Wetherspoons:
Figure 1: Project lifecycle phases. 2020
(Source: Project lifecycle phases. 2020)
Project Initiation: It is the project lifecycle stage that is known as starting point of the
project (AzariJafari, Yahia and Amor, 2016). The main objective at this stage is to develop
feasible as well as effective objectives in order to attain desired targets in most effective ways. In
case with Wetherspoons, project manager identifies and develops objectives and strategies for
2

the project. Herein, objectives and other deliverables related to the project are identified by
managers. In case with Wetherspoons, identified objective are to enhance sales performance by
15% till 2021 and capturing market share holding by 8% after launching activities in overseas
nation that is Australia. Along with this, all the related risks, constraints and priorities are
outlined by project manager. Moreover, scope of project as per deadlines addition to available
resources is established properly. The scope of expansion of Wetherspoons in Australia is broad
as the organisational managers are planning to introduce the business with wide quality of
services for influence interest and choices of customers. At last, proposal for the project is
submitted by managers in form of poster to get approval for initiating further activities.
Project planning: When top managers or government authorities approve the project
proposal, then the next is to move towards planning stages within project lifecycle (Saade and
Nijher, 2016). In this, managers of Wetherspoons creates comprehensive project plan through
following stages of planning:
 Translating proposal: In this project planning stage, managers of Wetherspoons
translates proposals into set of actionable tasks as well as schedules working in project
roadmap. It is high level visual which highlights where the business is and where it
wishes to be along with how it will reach there.
 Documenting workflows: Hereby, managers of project documents workflows addition to
processes which will be used by the team to complete working.
 Creating measurable goals: In this planning stage, various types of measurable goals
are created from high level objectives related to project.
 Addressing issues: In project planning, it is necessary for project managers of
Wetherspoons to address all types of issues that can become derail in the roadmap in
future.
Project Execution: It is true start of the project in which project manager along with the
team carry out entire tasks addition to activities that are mapped out in stage of planning. In this
stage, majority of work takes place and it needs constant monitoring of all operations (Slack and
Brandon-Jones, 2018). The major responsibilities of managers of Wetherspoons is to monitor
and control set procedures, review quality of output, adjust and update deadlines, tasks and so
forth for meeting changing conditions. Moreover, various communication modes are also used
for stimulating information translation in smooth and effective ways.
3

Project closure: Once project goals and objectives are attained, then the next is to analyse
results, summarising of learning and working towards further planning stages (Young, 2016). In
project closure phase, manager of Wetherspoons hand off deliverables and release project
resources addition to team members. Moreover, project performance is also analysed at this stage
in project retrospective manner.
As per the defined evaluation, it is analysed that project have distinct stages as well as
plays important function in operation management. Project lifecycle also allows managers of
Wetherspoons to conduct operations, tasks and activities in defined ways so to ensure attainment
on objectives within predetermined duration.
Critical assessment of essential management skills along with competencies that will be required
in management of operations addition to projects for meeting demands in commercial
sector
Management of project requires diverse types of skill set and competences among managers
who have lead role in operating organisational operations within commercial industry so that all
the workings are completed before deadline and objective are attained effectively. Effective
managerial skills act as significant element in the operations and project to attain
accomplishments (Kerzner, 2018). All projects are supervised or managed by a good manager
through certain skills that helps in fulfilling all the short term and long term objectives in best
possible manner, in context to Wetherspoons, some of managerial skills that are required to be
accessed by the project and operation manager are as evaluated:
Conceptual skills: It is the ability to think and act in creative manner. It includes knowledge
addition to potentials for formulating ideas, concepts and abstract thinking for the project and its
operations. In Wetherspoons, the skill is required to be accessed among project managers so that
they can diagnose complexities together with search creative solutions. With this skill, managers
of project and operations will look at the business as holistic one and will observe interrelations
among team members so to understand the ways in which the firm will fits into overall dynamic
environment (Delmon, 2017). Conceptual skills effectively benefits entire management of
operations and tasks of Wetherspoons in order to protect it through overcoming or dealing with
complexities, hurdles and other by using suitable measures.
Delegation skill: It is important skill which is required to be accessed among managers
and helps in allocating equitable responsibilities and accountability among team members. it
4

encourages growth together with development of workings of each team members and makes
them feel part of the project. In case with Wetherspoons, it is important skill that must be within
project managers as it will allow them to assign tasks to each member and distribute
responsibilities in equitable manner. Delegation skill will guide managers in dealing with general
processes along with principles that are applicable to teams, individuals and specialised groups
(Minnich, 2016). Effective delegation will benefits managers in the operations and project
management of Wetherspoons to reduce unproductive workload on human resources and assist
in facilitating quick fulfilment of objectives through avoiding wastage of machines, men,
material, money and methods for optimising productivity.
Technical skills: The knowledge, expertise addition to competence required for
accomplishing complex process, tasks together with actions associated with computational and
other techniques is defined to technical skill. With this skill, managers of Wetherspoons will be
able to work effectively, make valuable attempts and boost confidence for managing operations
related to entire project. Moreover, managers who have the skill are able to undertake utilisation
of various techniques for accomplishing identified objectives on time. It can benefit managers in
Wetherspoons to attain targets with huge number of efficiency and productivity in limited time
span.
Problem solving skill: It is the skill that is required among managers of Wetherspoons to
have understanding about underlying issues and development of solutions for the same. Strong
problem solving skills are essential in any project (Proctor, 2018). With this skill and
competence, project managers will be beneficial in tackling along with solving issues of
problems in effective ways through recognising and analysing problems in best possible ways.
Through problem solving skill, administrators of the project will be able to facilitate workings
fastly and apply best options to particular type of problem at workplace.
Cost controlling skill: In a project, abilities for maintaining organised approach towards
activities and tasks while having awareness about cost control is a typical skill. Although, it is
essential management skill that is prerequisite for managing projects and operations in order to
meet commercial sector demands. For managing operations of Wetherspoons to meet demand of
the industry, it is necessary to be required among managers so that they can identify and
eliminate expenses for enhancing profits as per set budgets. It will benefit the managers of the
5

project in controlling project costs, minimising deviation and complete the project with approved
budget.
With the help of evaluated management skill, the working of Wetherspoons will be
completed to time and all the demands or preferences of commercial sector will be meet
promptly.
Producing project plan outlining potential risks as well as ways to overcome them
Project plan is the formal document that involves information related to risks that can
occur while executing and complete the project as well as various ways to deal or mitigate them
promptly (Kerzner, 2019). The main objective of producing project plan in to enhance
probability together with impacts of positive risks addition to eliminate them certain negative
risks. It improves project success chances and eliminating any type of risk or problem that can
act as barrier in completing it timely. In context to Wetherspoons, project plan that outlines risks
and mitigating strategies is produced in form of risk register that is as follows:
Risk Respons
ible
person
Likeli
hood
Impacts Proposed action to overcome
risk
Target
time
Financial risk
(Risk that
Wetherspoons
can face due to
unavailable
funds and
other
financing
requirements)
Financial
manager
High High To overcome the financial risk,
finance manager of
Wetherspoons will evaluate
business operations, nurture
talents and outsource that makes
sense, create strong financial
foundation of practice, use
metrics for decisions and always
ready to cover up finance related
aspects (Shenai, 2018).
3 months
Schedule risk
(The risks that
might be faced
by
Wetherspoon
Project
manager
Mode
rate
Low For overcoming schedule risk,
project managers of
Wetherspoons are required to
focus on critical path numbers,
reduce activity dependencies,
1.5
Months
6

in which
activities are
not performed
as per set
schedules)
schedule and prioritise risky
activities earlier, manage due
dates along with key resources
and focus on regular schedules
to complete work on determined
dates (Wang and Yuan, 2017).
Operational
risk (The
uncertainty or
risk that can
be faced by
Wetherspoon
when makes
attempts for
daily activities
of project.)
Operatio
ns
manager
Mode
rate
Low In order to mitigate or overcome
operational risk in
Wetherspoons, operations
managers are required to manage
equipment failures, keep healthy
and strong business
relationships, have adequate
insurance, know the regulations
and manage things properly.
1.9
months
Technological
risk
(Wetherspoon
s may face
technology
risk due to any
type of
technological
equipment
failure or other
cyberattacks.)
Informati
on
technolo
gy
manager
Low Low For overcoming technological
risk, IT manager is required to
identify risk, measure
probability and its impacts.
Further, the manager will
analyse security threats, risk of
failures of hardware and
software, outsourcing risks,
identify controlled technology,
measure impact, rank potential
risks as well as specify desired
results (Lientz and Rea, 2016).
1 month
Reputational
risk (The risk
that might
Project
manager
Low High To overcome or mitigate
reputational risk, project
manager of Wetherspoons is
2.3 month
7

damage
reputation of
Wetherspoons
is reputational
risk that the
company can
face in future)
required to protect the company
against data breaches, becoming
vigilant for customer service
mishaps, keeping manpower
happy for preventing
reputational risk, make values
truly operational, becoming
mindful for ethical conduct and
manage external reputational
uncertainty (Fink, 2016).
With the help of produced action plan, all the managers of Wetherspoons will be able to
identify the risks that can impact the business in upcoming duration. Moreover, managers are
also required to follow the proposed actions so that they can mitigate or overcome the risk in best
possible ways.
Proposing a new operations strategy which meets organisational values
Operations strategy is one part of entire business as well as corporate strategy. Along with
this, it is crucial in attaining success along with competiveness in dynamic business environment.
It is defined as overall pattern of decisions that shape short term and long term capabilities of all
operational types and their contributions towards business strategy (Johnson, 2016). One of the
proposed operations strategy for Wetherspoons is deliberate innovation strategy that includes
set of consistent actions to unlock or meet hidden values as well as tapping opportunities
systematically. In this operations strategy, excellence in operations meets essential values of the
company in terms of planning, monitoring as well as managing resources. The operation strategy
can lead towards superior innovative planning and performances of resources for banging
towards valuable bucks.
With deliberate innovation strategy, project managers of Wetherspoons can unlock
organisational vale and meet them on ongoing basis. It will assist managers of the project
through planning and allocating resources in proper manner. The strategy majorly emphasis on
planning resources with innovative methods that meets values related to planning for effective
resource allocation in different operations (Meifort, 2016). Moreover, the strategy is also useful
8

in monitoring resources by using significant mechanisms that assist in avoiding issues related
with various operations. At the time of rapid changes in project, the strategy can be significant in
monitoring available resources so that targets are attained timely and values are meet effectively.
Managers plans to connect dots and develop ideas for managing all its resources in deliberate
manner to achieve determined targets and values for which the business is established in
competitive world.
Deliberate innovation strategy is useful in blind spot management of available resources
which are inevitable part of project. At same time, the strategy might assist managers of the
project in analysing opportunities for managing available resources in innovative manner. The
robust strategy includes certain process to manage resources that aids in meeting values to avoid
blind spots in resource management (Schönsleben, 2016). One of the processes encompasses
horizontal scanning mechanism that can permit active scanning and managing business resources
that can act as saver for the project. As businesses wades with streams of actions, various times
they faces complexities in meeting values. It is so because project managers misses diverse
opportunities due to paying less attention towards how to organise and manage resources from
innovations. The strategy may force the company to think about resources and tapping
opportunities systematically on continuous basis the manner that meet entire organisational
values.
With the proposed operations strategy, project managers of Wetherspoons can effectively
plan all its resources and their usage in innovative manner within distinct types of operations that
are involved in the project. Moreover, deliberate innovation strategy has potentials to meet
values of the company in context to planning, monitoring addition to managing resources
effectively and efficiently.
CONCLUSION
As per the discussion in the report, it is concluded that the concept of management of
operations and projects mainly deals with proper planning, organising, influencing, directing and
controlling available resources with the company for aligning all with business activities and
goals. Project lifecycle includes stages of initiation, planning, execution and closure in which
different workings are managed by project managers so that entire operations are performed as
per the set schedules to attain successful outcomes. Essential management skills that are
prerequisite for managing operations and projects with the aspect of meeting requirements of
9

commercial sector includes conceptual skill, delegation skill, technical skill, problem solving
skill and cost controlling skill. With all these, managers are able to identify upcoming challenges
as well as implement suitable actions to achieve identified objectives. Project action plan
includes list of risks that might be faced by the entity in future along with likelihoods, impacts
and additional information. It also includes strategies or actions to overcome the potential risks
effectively. Operations strategy is the plan that specifying the ways in which organisational
values are meets in terms of planning, monitoring together with managing resources in best
possible aspects.
10

REFERENCES
Books and journals:
AzariJafari, H., Yahia, A. and Amor, M. B., 2016. Life cycle assessment of pavements:
reviewing research challenges and opportunities. Journal of Cleaner Production. 112.
pp.2187-2197.
Delmon, J., 2017. Public-private partnership projects in infrastructure: an essential guide for
policy makers. Cambridge university press.
Fink, D., 2016. Project risk governance: Managing uncertainty and creating organisational
value. Routledge.
Johnson, G., 2016. Exploring strategy: text and cases. Pearson Education.
Kerzner, H., 2018. Project management best practices: Achieving global excellence. John Wiley
& Sons.
Kerzner, H., 2019. Using the project management maturity model: strategic planning for project
management. John Wiley & Sons.
Lientz, B. and Rea, K., 2016. Breakthrough technology project management. Routledge.
Meifort, A., 2016. Innovation portfolio management: A synthesis and research agenda. Creativity
and innovation management. 25 (2). pp.251-269.
Minnich, E. K., 2016. The evil of banality: On the life and death importance of thinking.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Nicholas, J. M. and Steyn, H., 2017. Project management for engineering, business and
technology. Taylor & Francis.
Proctor, T., 2018. Creative problem solving for managers: developing skills for decision making
and innovation. Routledge.
Saade, R.G. and Nijher, H., 2016. Critical success factors in enterprise resource planning
implementation. Journal of Enterprise Information Management.
Schönsleben, P., 2016. Integral logistics management: operations and supply chain management
within and across companies. CRC Press.
Shenai, N., 2018. Conventions and Financial Crises. In Social Finance (pp. 29-72). Palgrave
Macmillan, Cham.
Slack, N. and Brandon-Jones, A., 2018. Operations and process management: principles and
practice for strategic impact. Pearson UK.
Wang, J. and Yuan, H., 2017. System dynamics approach for investigating the risk effects on
schedule delay in infrastructure projects. Journal of Management in Engineering. 33
(1). p.04016029.
Young, T. L., 2016. Successful project management. Kogan Page Publishers.
Online:
Project lifecycle phases. 2020. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.mavenlink.com/resources/what-is-the-professional-services-project-life-
cycle1>
11