Project Management Analysis and Development of Skills

This assignment involves an in-depth analysis of project management practices, including the effectiveness of a project management plan in implementing activities. It also focuses on developing skills in creating a project management plan with various aspects such as managing integration, scope, time, cost, quality, procurement, human resources, communications, risk management, and stakeholder management. The assignment aims to enhance management skills, knowledge about cost and schedule variance, and observation skills related to project managers' roles. It also highlights the importance of project managers in conducting activities systematically.

Principles of Project
Management

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Project management is determined as an important element which ensures the proper
expectations are set around the implementation of the project activities in right manner. It also
refers as an appropriate path through which a person can organise or mange the resources that are
necessary to complete a project work. A project is based on some predetermined aims and
objectives which are needs to be considered by the project managers as to assisting the
operations and processes in right direction. A project manager is a person who is responsible for
all the activities that are conducted for completion of the project such as initiation, planning,
design, execution, monitoring and closure of the project. The major obligation of a project
manager is to ensure about controlling the risk and minimising the uncertainties. ProCon Service
Australia, is a project management consultancy firm which is founded in 1995. The firm starts its
business as a construction management company and operating as a smaller facility in
Perrysburg Ohio, the company majorly deals in filed services and steel fabrication. The
company has been engaged by Vella IT Office Fitouts, who are currently undertaking the fitout
of a medium-rise office building in a Sydney suburb. A team of company staff and contractors,
led by a Project Manager, have been performing the work. In a project work manager plays vast
role in completion of the work through managing all activities and resources that are necessary to
accomplish the objectives and aims of a project. The present report is based on analysing the
current status of the project and any correction that are required to be implemented for improving
the performance of project team.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................1
Current status of the project ..................................................................................................1
Additional Information the new project manager will needed. .............................................2
The leadership behaviour on the project................................................................................4
The team environment ...........................................................................................................5
Conclusion and Recommendation .........................................................................................5
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX .....................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Project management is considered as a way an individual organise and manages resources
which are required to complete a project. A project has some start and end goals which are not
determine as the process or operation (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). The goals and objectives are
effective in providing a clear direction to implement all the operations in right direction as to
completion of the work within a specified time duration. ProCon Service Australia is the
consultancy firm which provides assistance to other organisations in different issues. It is now
engaging with Vella IT Office Fitouts, to recommand it with the ongoing project. This report
contains the study about the status of the project through involving cost and schedule variance,
proper information will be given in regards to the source to complete the project, team behaviour
and team building which is required to be considered as to implementing the right source at right
place. Thus appropriate recommendation will also be provided to improving the project or its
operations.
TASK
Current status of the project
Project management is the key responsibility of a manager to complete the work within a
specified period of time. Project manager is responsible for each operation that are implemented
as to completion of the project. ProCon Service Australia, has been engaged by the Vella IT
office Fitouts, which is presently undertaking the fit-out of a medium rise office building in a
Sydney Suburb. In this project manager is the key element who assist the companies staff
member and constructor, to moving forward towards right direction (Verzuh, 2015). The fitout
project is partially completed and Tony Faultier, project manager has left the firm. The project is
based on constructing a building which comprises four levels and it is designed to house 200
people, with 50 on each floor. Each floor provides 500 m2 of office space. Vella Office Fitouts
are in charge of the entire fitout, including furnishings, plumbing, electrical and data and telecom
infrastructure. 200 staff of Ferrari Software, a computer software company, are to be relocated
into the building at the end of the fit-out. The current status of the project is the total fit-out
budget of the construction is $1.2M, in which all the activities and operations in regards to the
building construction are managed. The original schedule of completion of the project is around
four months, which commencing on 1 March, and completing on 30 June. As per the project
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evaluation it has been found that the work on the ground floor is not yet completed 25 percent
work is still remaining, the first floor is 25 percent completed and the second floor is around 25
percent complete. Also the top floor of the building is 50 percent complete, which is ahead of
schedule. So far the budget around $675K has been spent on the fit-out. The actual performance
status of the company is represented through cost and schedule variance (Mir and Pinnington,
2014).
Cost variance: It basically considered as the difference among the planned or budgeted
amount of cost that needs to be incurred or the cost actually incurred in completion of a project.
The total estimated fit-out budget is around $1.2M. And so far the total investment incurred in
the project is $675K.
Schedule Variance: Schedule Variance in project management is considered as an
indicator of whether a project programme is ahead or behind. This can be calculated through
subtracting the budgeted cost of work scheduled from the budgeted cost of work performance.
The schedule of the project was 4 months, which begins from 1 March and completing on 30
June. As per the planned schedule, the manager was estimated that at 1 May, the ground floor
should be completed, the first floor 50 percent completed and the second floor is also completed
around 50 percent. Thus due to commence the work of top floor yet not started. As per the
investigated estimation it is determined that the, work on the ground floor is only 75% complete,
the first floor is 25% complete and the second floor is 25% complete. Also, the top floor is 50%
complete.
TASK BCWS ACEP Schedule variance Cost variance
Preparation $1200000 $675000 - 525000
Ground floor $300000 $225000 25.00% 75000
First floor $300000 $75000 75.00% 225000
Second floor $300000 $75000 75.00% 225000
Top floor $300000 $225000 50.00% 750000
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Additional Information the new project manager will needed.
The project manager of Vella IT office Fitouts, Tony Faultier has just left the company
suddenly and moving towards overseas to take up a position in an another company. Now a new
project manager is required to manage the project in appropriate manner and for this it is
essential for the manager to have appropriate information in regards to providing proper
assistance to implementing the activities of project in well planned way (Rolstadås and et. al.,
2014). The informations are described as below: Managing Integration: It emphasis on developing the project charter, scope statement
and plan to direct, manage and control the project change. The new manager needs to
maintain the collective movement of each project activities. Managing Scope: The manager needs to have an idea about the work breakdown
structure as to managing the scope, planning, verification and control the change. Managing Time and Cost: The potential consideration of the manager is to completion
of the work within desired period of time. The major obligation of the manager is to
manage the budgeted time as per the desired project schedule. Managing Quality: Managing quality is based on quality planning, quality assurance,
and quality control which is the major consideration of manager to accomplishing project
objectives and standards (Svejvig and Andersen, 2015). Managing Procurement: It is needed for the manager to manage the resources and select
the right person to attempt the task. Managing procurement is based on acquisition and
contracting plans, response and selection of employees, contract administration, and
contract closure. Managing Human resources: It is the fundamental responsibility of the manager to
analyse all the available resources and put them at right place. Manager also fill the gaps
through hiring skilled and required talent within the project team. Managing Communications: Managing communication is depend on communications
planning, information distribution, performance reporting, and stakeholder management.
Manager have to concern on implementing effective communication channel within the
project team as to maintaining the flow of data and information in appropriate manner. Managing Risk management: The manager needs to have appropriate idea about the risk
factors that has huge influence on the operations of the project. Thus it is required for the
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manager to reduce the chances of risk so that operations can be implemented in effective
manner.
 Managing Stakeholder management: Stake holders has huge impact on the people ad
organisation's activities. Managers required to manager analyse its all stakeholders, their
interest and their potential to impact the project (Brones, de Carvalho and de Senzi
Zancul, 2014).
These all elements are needed by the manager as to manage the project activities and
produce a regular detailed status report on the project.
The leadership behaviour on the project.
(Source: Four leadership behaviours to drive change, 2017)
Leadership is considered as both a research and a practical skill which encompassing the
ability of a person or an organisation to lead or assist other individuals, teams, groups or entire
organisations. Organisational zoo model is refers as the key element which is used by the
organisations as to explore the behavioural aspect of leadership. The best metaphors describes
the complex behavioural capabilities that are required to inspired others to follow at the time
when the condition is ideal and organisation is performing well. The behaviour of Tony Faultier
was has assumed as hostile and aggressive (Ahern, Leavy and Byrne, 2014). He was using
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Illustration 1: Leadership Behaviour

autocratic leadership style and was unwilling to listen the ideas and concepts of team members.
He was taking his own decision without taking any kind of suggestions from the team members
and his careless attitude causing problem for him as some of the team members were aware that
work should not have commenced on the top floor, and attempted to tell Tony that this was
causing problems, with one case of accidental leakage from the plumbing creating damage to the
first-floor fitout which delaying the overall work; however, Tony advised them to continue with
the work. It was found that he was being paid a commission by a former senior manager at Vella
for completing the Board Room on the top floor early for a personal celebration. After the
leadership of Tony Faultier, the team members are not satisfied with the work and working
environment and after leaving him project needs a manager to handle the activities of the project
in appropriate manner. The new manager should have some unique skills and characteristics to
be like by each team member. Manager must have polite attitude and also keep friendly
behaviour with the project team members. The manager should have appropriate knowledge and
skills about the project management plan of building construction, so that he or she can be able
to assist the team members in right direction. Manager should have to use democratic leadership
style in order to providing appropriate chance to team members to taking effective participation
in the decision making process (Sánchez, 2015). This may lead the project towards right
direction. Manager should have to look into the issues which are faced by the team members in
regards to the tough operations or salary. Manager should have potential knowledge about the
policies and rules to provide appropriate idea to their team members to taking the benefits of
organisational offerings.
The team environment
The team environment is determined as the setting which focuses on everyone working
together at the place of individually particularly in the work place. The project team environment
was not good as in the leadership of Tony Faultier, team members are not feeling motivated or
comfortable due to his belligerent and bullying nature (Joslin and Müller, 2015). He was even
not concern about the collective working of team members. He was not following the flexible
team environment. It is required for the project team to make appropriate changes in their team
environment and policies in respect to completion of the work within the specified period of
time. The project team should follow flexible team environment in which each member is free to
provide suggestions and ideas to reduce the chance of conflicts and issues. Some new and
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effective policies are also created in respect to providing cooperative working environment to the
team members. Policies should be effective which are appropriate in rendering monetary and non
monetary benefits to the team members (Marcelino-Sádaba and et. al., 2015). Different kind of
policies like incentive, extra bones etc. should be created in respect to motivation team members
to contribute their significant efforts in completion of the work in effective and efficient manner.
(Source: Flexible working environment for business, 2015)
Conclusion and Recommendation
From the above given analysis it has been concluded that it is essential for an
organisation to manage their project in respect to reaching at the potential growth and success. In
a project work manager plays vast role in completion of the work through providing proper
assistance to the team members. The allocation of resources are also required to be assign in
right manner in respect to completion of the project in systematic manner. There are different
elements like Managing Integration, Managing Scope, Managing Time and Cost, Managing
Quality, Managing Procurement, Managing Human resources, Managing Communications,
Managing Risk management, Managing Stakeholder management etc. are needs to be effectively
implement for conducting a project work in appropriate manner as these activities are effective in
providing a significant way to complete the work in effective manner.
Form the given analysis it has been suggested that at the time of conducting a project a
manager or supervisor should have appropriate skills and knowledge in regards to the activities
of the project. Manager should have appropriate idea about the nature and behaviour of the team
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Illustration 2: Flexible working environment for business

members as to motivate them for completing the work in effective way. Management of the
project should use democratic leadership style as to providing a comfort zone to the team
members to give their suggestions to reduce risk and conflict. Manager should motivate their
employees by providing them friendly environment and various benefits to them. Appropriate
team environment helps the manager to accomplishing the target of the project in effective way.
The manager should have proper knowledge in regards to the principles of project management
like vision, mission, sources, objectives etc. in respect to assisting the project in systematic
direction so that target can be achieved.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ahern, T., Leavy, B. and Byrne, P. J., 2014. Complex project management as complex problem
solving: A distributed knowledge management perspective. International Journal of
Project Management. 32(8). pp.1371-1381.
Brones, F., de Carvalho, M. M. and de Senzi Zancul, E., 2014. Ecodesign in project
management: a missing link for the integration of sustainability in product
development?.Journal of Cleaner Production. 80. pp.106-118.
Bucero, A. and Englund, R.L., 2015, October. Project sponsorship: Achieving management
commitment for project success. Project Management Institute.
Calderón, A. and Ruiz, M., 2015. A systematic literature review on serious games evaluation: An
application to software project management. Computers & Education. 87. pp.396-422.
Jacobs, F.R., Chase, R.B. and Lummus, R. R., 2014. Operations and supply chain management
(pp. 533-535). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
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.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H. R., 2017.Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Marcelino-Sádaba and et. al., 2015. Using project management as a way to sustainability. From a
comprehensive review to a framework definition. Journal of cleaner production. 99.
pp.1-16.
Mir, F.A. and Pinnington, A. H., 2014. Exploring the value of project management: linking
project management performance and project success. International journal of project
management. 32(2). pp.202-217.
Ramazani, J. and Jergeas, G., 2015. Project managers and the journey from good to great: The
benefits of investment in project management training and education. International
Journal of Project Management. 33(1). pp.41-52.
Rolstadås, A and et. al., 2014. Understanding project success through analysis of project
management approach. International journal of managing projects in business. 7(4).
pp.638-660.
Sánchez, M. A., 2015. Integrating sustainability issues into project management. Journal of
Cleaner Production. 96. pp.319-330.
Svejvig, P. and Andersen, P., 2015. Rethinking project management: A structured literature
review with a critical look at the brave new world. International Journal of Project
Management. 33(2). pp.278-290.
Tomanek, M., Cermak, R. and Smutny, Z., 2015. A conceptual framework for web development
projects based on project management and agile development principles. arXiv preprint
arXiv:1502.04297.
Verzuh, E., 2015.The fast forward MBA in project management. John Wiley & Sons.
Online
Landau, P., 2017. 10 Essential Project Management Skills. [Online]. Available
through:.<https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/project-management-skills>.
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APPENDIX
From the above given analysis I have analysed that a project management plan is
effective to be considered while making a project as it is effective in providing proper guidance
to implement all the activities in effective manner. This analysis helps me in developing my
skills in create a project management plan with all the appropriate aspects such as Managing
Integration, Managing Scope, Managing Time and Cost, Managing Quality, Managing
Procurement, Managing Human resources, Managing Communications, Managing Risk
management, Managing Stakeholder management etc. my management skills are also improved,
which helps me in attaining my future goals in effective manner. I have also getting knowledge
about creating cost and schedule variance which is effective in providing details of appropriate
cost and time to complete a task. I have learn various observation skills in which I got to know
about the importance of a project manager who are liable for conducting the project activities in
systematic manner. This present practice helps me in attaining growth and development in my
future aspects and analysing this I am able to work as a manager in a construction firm, as I have
attained proper knowledge in reads to the activities that are involved in the project management
practices of building construction.
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