Project Initiation, Planning and Execution

This document provides information on project initiation, planning and execution. It includes details on milestone schedule, work breakdown structure, implications of changes on resource requirements, necessary adjustments to the schedule, and personal reflection. The subject is project management and the document type is a report.

Project Initiation, Planning and Execution
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................1
Milestone schedule..........................................................................................................................1
Work Breakdown structure..............................................................................................................1
Implications of any changes on the resource requirements.............................................................3
Details of necessary adjustments to the schedule............................................................................4
Personal reflection...........................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................................6
APPENDICES......................................................................................................................................7
Updated Milestone...........................................................................................................................7
Updated Tasks lists..........................................................................................................................7
Revised Gantt chart..........................................................................................................................9
2

INTRODUCTION
In this unpredictable world, generally, projects do not go according to the plan created
because any sudden fluctuation or occurrence of risks make it necessary for the project manager to
redesign or update the plan. The current project is based on a family who is relocating their place of
residence from Maroochydore to Perth. Currently, they are living in two bedroom rental apartment
but as Jeff got a new position as Marketing Director therefore, they decide to transfer to a four
bedroom rented house in Perth. The assignment aims to develop an updated milestone schedule,
work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for successful relocation.
Milestone schedule
Milestones are the significant events that are used in project management to mark certain
specific point along a timeline. It adds significant value to the project and when it is incorporated
with PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) and CPM (Critical Path Method) enable
project manager to accurately determine the project progress whether behind the schedule or ahead
of schedule (Heagney, 2016). For the house relocation plan, milestones are set below:
1. Vacant current place of residence at Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast, Qld
2. Completion of survey to choose target location
3. Designing well-organized movement schedule
4. Creating financial plan
5. Shifting to new location, Perth
Above are key events or milestones for the house relocation that is required to be achieved
within set time to successfully relocate to new house within stipulated time (Martinelli and
Milosevic, 2016).
Work Breakdown structure
Work breakdown structure (WBS) is extremely useful in project management to divide
complex tasks into simpler form by classification or segregation of main tasks with sub activities. It
is presents as hierarchical sub-division of the given project. It works as a foundation for all the
managerial work including planning, estimation of cost and efforts, allocation of resources and
scheduling (Steyn and et.al., 2016). The project of house relocation comprises various tasks such as
moving from current location, selecting new location, hiring people to shift to other place,
transition, set budgets and finally moving to new place. Thus, such segregation of the complicated
tasks into sub-sets helps to define total scope and establish a control baseline. It helps to clearly
establish the relationship among various activities, which in turn, assist project manager and staff to
coordinate with each other.
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Current location checklists: In order to shift to new place, at first stage, family needs to
vacant the existing place of residence. Thus, this stage consists of creation of plan for utilities and
floor arrangements for the house (Burek, 2013). Moreover, as goods and all the belongings need to
shift to new place therefore, it will require purchase of packaging material to shift the house.
Selecting target site: As in the case, Jeff joined a new position as a Marketing Director
Interstate and needs to move to Perth. Therefore, before leaving to a new place, family need to
select a target location where all the facilities are easily available at near locations. Here, initially,
building profile need to prepared including capacity and space requirements. Moreover, as family is
shifting from 2-bedroom rental property to 4-bedroom rental house therefore, they will definitely
require more furniture, hence, it must be identified. Besides this, layout, interior decoration set-up,
construction plan, permits and amenities plan must be design (Stoshikj, Kryvinska and Strauss,
2014).
Hiring staff for relocation: Every project requires a project team and for the given project,
family will require mover staff. Packers will be hire who owes accountability to pack or unpack all
the goods (Turner, 2016). Planner will be responsible to create plans whereas coordinators, as name
implies, will instruct others and maintain coordination among all the people. Movers will be
accountable to move all the items from existing place to new place and perform assigned tasks and
duties.
2

Plan for Transition: It assures that all the deliverables are properly implemented with least
disruption. In context to the relocation, this stage aims to appropriately manage all supplies as well
as infrastructural settings. Moreover, in the house, various settings will be require for
communication for network and connectivity like telephone settings, television, mobile and others
for the proper settlement. In addition, moving schedule will be design that will be following during
relocation.
Financial plan: As said in the scenario, the maximum cost of the house relocation will be
$5000, thus, family’s maximum budget spending limit is this in which, all the work must be
completed. This activity includes designing budget and its release so as to assure appropriate
allocation of monetary resources (Gao, Chen and Shi, 2017). All the tasks must be finished with the
allocated financial resources so as to avoid the possibility of over-usage.
Plan for new location at Perth: After arrival to the Perth, all the packing will be open and
goods will be settled to the new house in accordance with the plan including interior set-up,
lighting, decoration, floor and other infrastructure settings. Additional furniture will be purchase
and settled appropriately at the workplace. Finally, both the children and Jeff will join school
and office.
Implications of any changes on the resource requirements
In accordance with the case, if family decide to move to a new location and take a rental
house of 4 bedroom then definitely, the couple will require more resources to set up house at new
residence with sufficient facilities. Due to more availability of space, everyone will accommodate
very well and get extra space. Will and Lexie will be able to have their personal rooms and have
privacy. Moreover, guests can be accommodating well for overnight stay. Vacant place can be use
for keeping other items and decorative products. In order to set-up the new house, following
additional sources will be require, presented below:
Furniture: Couple needs to acquire additional furniture for all the 4 bedrooms like table,
bed and others. Thus, Jeff will need to spend money to purchase additional furniture, hence, incur
financial cost.
Availability of more space: New place of residence in Perth is just doubled to that of
existing place, thus, definitely, family members will have enough space available due to larger size
of the house. Extra room can be used for different purpose such as guest room, study room, library
and others (Marle and Vidal, 2016).
Interior decoration: Couple will modify interior decoration of the house as per their own
need and after consultation with the interior designer expert. They can place goods that are more
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decorative and create attractive surroundings (Stoshikj, Kryvinska and Strauss, 2014).
Details of necessary adjustments to the schedule
As per the plan, it is stated that Australian is currently hit by worst flu epidemic and
Unfortunately, Kelly becomes ill and cannot perform assigned work as doctor advised her to take
rest for 2 weeks starting from 15th January. Here, the project of relocation starts on 29th December
2017 and in the duration of 15/1/18 to 29/1/18, Kelly will not be assigned with any tasks. As during
this period, staff hiring and transition plans are performed by relocation team, Architect and Jeff.
Besides this, as Removalist advised that truck that is carrying Jeff and Kelly’s belongings broken
down in South Australia in a remote area near the border of Western Australia, hence, will take 3
more days to reach due to repairing requirement and delaying the arrival. Due to such occurrence, in
the planned schedule, delivery-receiving date of supplies has been increased by delaying period
from 2 days to 5 days. Finally, as said that due to Australia Day Celebration in Perth, there are
limited flights available and the place must be vacated by 27 January, 2018. Looking to the plan,
house in Australia is vacated on 24th January 2018 prior to the set date. As per the plan, the
relocation is expected to take a time of 43 days and cost of AUD 4,060.
Personal reflection
From the above project Plan, I improved my planning skills as I developed work breakdown
structure to create project management plan for the relocation project. Moreover, as I found the
requirement of different tasks and personnel requirements to hire relocation team, it enhances my
analytical and critical thinking skills to a great extent. Moreover, development of budget to estimate
cost of various project activities contributed towards improving my financial skills. In addition, use
of MS project to create Gantt chart makes myself familiar with its practical application for
managing projects. Although, no-doubt, during the process of constructing project management
plan, I was not confident as before that, I did not created any project myself but the assistance from
tutor, guidance and online learning material helped me to update the plan successfully.
CONCLUSION
From the findings, it becomes clear that WBS is a great tool that assists project team to
effectively manage the entire project through classification. Moreover, Gantt chart is a great tool
that clearly visualises every activity involved in the project with their duration, starting and ending
date. As per the plan designed, it is identified that relocation will be completed with 43 days at a
cost of AUD 4,060.
4

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Gao, S., Chen, W. and Shi, L., 2017. A new budget allocation framework for the expected
opportunity cost. Operations Research.
Heagney, J., 2016. Fundamentals of project management. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn.
Marle, F. and Vidal, L.A., 2016. Managing Complex, High Risk Projects. Springer.
Martinelli, R.J. and Milosevic, D.Z., 2016. Project management toolbox: tools and techniques for
the practicing project manager. John Wiley & Sons.
Steyn, H. and et.al., 2016. Project management: A multi-disciplinary approach. John Wiley & Sons
Stoshikj, M., Kryvinska, N. and Strauss, C., 2014. Efficient managing of complex programs with
project management services. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management. 15(1). pp.25-
38.
Turner, R., 2016. Gower handbook of project management. Routledge.
Online:
Burek, P. 2013. The ABC basics of the WBS Paul Burek. [Online]. Available through:
https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/work-breakdown-structure-basics-5919.
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APPENDICES
Updated Milestone
WB
S Task Name Duratio
n Start Finish Predecessor
s
Resource
Names Cost
1
Relocation of house
from Maroochydore to
Perth
43 days Fri
12/29/17
Tue
2/27/18 $4,060.00
1.1
Current Location
checklist
(Maroohydore)
4 days Fri
12/29/17
Wed
1/3/18 $124.00
1.2 Selection of target
site 7 days Fri 1/5/18 Mon
1/15/18 $991.00
1.3 Hiring staff 3 days Mon
1/15/18
Wed
1/17/18 $1,093.00
1.4 Transition 8 days Thu
1/18/18
Mon
1/29/18 $590.00
1.5 Financial plan 3 days Tue
1/30/18
Thu
2/1/18 $0.00
1.6 Plan for new
Location (Perth) 15 days Thu 2/8/18 Wed
2/28/18 $1,262.00
Updated Tasks lists
WBS Task Name Duratio
n Start Finish Predecessor
s
Resource
Names Cost
1
Relocation of house
from Maroochydore to
Perth
43 days Fri
12/29/17
Tue
2/27/18 $4,060.00
1.1
Current Location
checklist
(Maroohydore)
4 days Fri
12/29/17
Wed
1/3/18 $124.00
1.1.1 Making list of things
required to move 1 day Fri
12/29/17
Fri
12/29/17 Jeff $0.00
1.1.2 Flooring 2 days Tue
1/2/18
Wed
1/3/18 3 Architect $28.00
1.1.3 Utilities 2 days Tue
1/2/18
Wed
1/3/18 3 Jeff $0.00
1.1.4 Pack belongings 1 day Thu
1/4/18
Thu
1/4/18 3,4,5 Jeff $96.00
1.2 Selection of target site 7 days Fri 1/5/18 Mon
1/15/18 $991.00
1.2.1 Building Profile 2 days Fri 1/5/18 Mon
1/8/18 $32.00
1.2.1.
1 Capacity Planning 1 day Fri 1/5/18 Fri
1/5/18 6 Architect $12.00
6

1.2.1.
2
Finding space
requirements 1 day Mon
1/8/18
Mon
1/8/18 9,6 Jeff $20.00
1.2.2 Furniture setting 2 days Fri 1/5/18 Mon
1/8/18 6 Jeff $45.00
1.2.3 Layout settings 3 days Mon
1/8/18
Wed
1/10/18 $168.00
1.2.3.
1
Counselling with
Interior designer expert 3 days Mon
1/8/18
Wed
1/10/18 9 Jeff $108.00
1.2.3.
2 Layout plan 1 day Tue
1/9/18
Tue
1/9/18 10 Jeff $60.00
1.2.4 Construction plan 2 days Tue
1/9/18
Wed
1/10/18 10,11 Architect $300.00
1.2.5 Permits 2 days Thu
1/11/18
Fri
1/12/18 13 Architect $150.00
1.2.6 Amenities 3 days Thu
1/11/18
Mon
1/15/18 $296.00
1.2.6.
1
Visiting
surroundings places 3 days Thu
1/11/18
Mon
1/15/18 13,14,15 Kelly $80.00
1.2.6.
2
Search nearby
schools on internet 1 day Thu
1/11/18
Thu
1/11/18 15,13,14 Architect $160.00
1.2.6.
3
Visiting various
schools 2 days Thu
1/11/18
Fri
1/12/18 13,14,15 Jeff $56.00
1.3 Hiring staff 3 days Mon
1/15/18
Wed
1/17/18 $1,093.00
1.3.1 Planners 2 days Mon
1/15/18
Tue
1/16/18 20 Relocation
team $256.00
1.3.2 Coordinators 1 day Mon
1/15/18
Mon
1/15/18 20 Relocation
team $140.00
1.3.3 Packers 3 days Mon
1/15/18
Wed
1/17/18 20 Relocation
team $458.00
1.3.4 Movers 2 days Mon
1/15/18
Tue
1/16/18 20 Relocation
team $239.00
1.4 Transition 8 days Thu
1/18/18
Mon
1/29/18 $590.00
1.4.1 Getting delivery of
supplies 5 days Thu
1/18/18
Wed
1/24/18 22,23,24,25 Relocation
team $150.00
1.4.2 Transition of
Infrastructural settings 2 days Thu
1/25/18
Fri
1/26/18 27 Architect $90.00
1.4.3 Communication
plan 1 day Thu
1/25/18
Thu
1/25/18 27 Jeff $0.00
1.4.4 Designing move
schedule 1 day Mon
1/29/18
Mon
1/29/18 29,28 Jeff $350.00
1.5 Financial plan 3 days Tue
1/30/18
Thu
2/1/18 $0.00
1.5.1 Budget 2 days Tue
1/30/18
Wed
1/31/18 30 Jeff $0.00
1.5.2 Budget Release 1 day Thu Thu 32 Jeff $0.00
7

Schedule 2/1/18 2/1/18
1.6 Plan for new
Location (Perth) 15 days Thu
2/8/18
Wed
2/28/18 $1,262.00
1.6.1 Unloading and
unpacking all the stuff 2 days Thu
2/8/18
Fri
2/9/18 33 Relocation
team $142.00
1.6.2 Settlements &
decoration 8 days Mon
2/12/18
Wed
2/21/18 35 Relocation
team $485.00
1.6.3 Joining school at
perth 8 days Mon
2/12/18
Wed
2/21/18 35 Lexie,Will $0.00
1.6.4 Additional furniture 2 days Thu
2/22/18
Fri
2/23/18 36,37 Kelly $345.00
1.6.5 Utilities purchase 2 days Mon
2/26/18
Tue
2/27/18 36,37,38 Kelly $290.00
1.6.6 Beginning new job 1 day Wed
2/28/18
Wed
2/28/18 39 Jeff $0.00
Revised Gantt chart
ID WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish PredecessorsResource Names Cost
1 1 Relocation of house from
Maroochydore to Perth
43 days Fri 12/29/17 Tue
2/27/18
$4,060.00
2 1.1 Current Location
checklist
(Maroohydore)
4 days Fri 12/29/17 Wed
1/3/18
$124.00
3 1.1.1 Making list of things
required to move
1 day Fri 12/29/17 Fri
12/29/17
Jeff $0.00
4 1.1.2 Flooring 2 days Tue 1/2/18 Wed 1/3/183 Architect $28.00
5 1.1.3 Utilities 2 days Tue 1/2/18 Wed 1/3/183 Jeff $0.00
6 1.1.4 Pack belongings 1 day Thu 1/4/18 Thu 1/4/18 3,4,5 Jeff $96.00
7 1.2 Selection of target site 7 days Fri 1/5/18 Mon 1/15/18 $991.00
8 1.2.1 Building Profile 2 days Fri 1/5/18 Mon 1/8/18 $32.00
9 1.2.1.1 capacity Planning 1 day Fri 1/5/18 Fri 1/5/18 6 Architect $12.00
10 1.2.1.2 Finding space
requirements
1 day Mon 1/8/18 Mon
1/8/18
9,6 Jeff $20.00
11 1.2.2 Furniture setting 2 days Fri 1/5/18 Mon 1/8/186 Jeff $45.00
12 1.2.3 Layout settings 3 days Mon 1/8/18 Wed 1/10/18 $168.00
13 1.2.3.1 Counselling with
Interior designer
expert
3 days Mon 1/8/18 Wed
1/10/18
9 Jeff $108.00
14 1.2.3.2 Layout plan 1 day Tue 1/9/18 Tue 1/9/18 10 Jeff $60.00
15 1.2.4 Construction plan 2 days Tue 1/9/18 Wed 1/10/1810,11 Architect $300.00
16 1.2.5 Permits 2 days Thu 1/11/18 Fri 1/12/18 13 Architect $150.00
17 1.2.6 Amenities 3 days Thu 1/11/18 Mon 1/15/18 $296.00
18 1.2.6.1 Visiting
surroundings
places
3 days Thu 1/11/18 Mon
1/15/18
13,14,15Kelly $80.00
19 1.2.6.2 Search nearby
schools on
internet
1 day Thu 1/11/18 Thu
1/11/18
15,13,14Architect $160.00
20 1.2.6.3 Visiting various
schools
2 days Thu 1/11/18 Fri 1/12/18 13,14,15Jeff $56.00
21 1.3 Hiring staff 3 days Mon 1/15/18Wed 1/17/18 $1,093.00
22 1.3.1 Planners 2 days Mon 1/15/18 Tue 1/16/1820 Relocation team$256.00
23 1.3.2 Coordinators 1 day Mon 1/15/18 Mon 1/15/1820 Relocation team$140.00
Jeff
Architect
Jeff
1/4
Architect
Jeff
Jeff
Jeff
Jeff
Architect
Architect
Kelly
Architect
1/12
Relocation team
Relocation team
T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
Dec 24, '17 Dec 31, '17 Jan 7, '18 Jan 14, '18 Jan 21, '18
8

ID WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish PredecessorsResource Names Cost
22 1.3.1 Planners 2 days Mon 1/15/18 Tue 1/16/1820 Relocation team$256.00
23 1.3.2 Coordinators 1 day Mon 1/15/18 Mon 1/15/1820 Relocation team$140.00
24 1.3.3 Packers 3 days Mon 1/15/18 Wed 1/17/1820 Relocation team$458.00
25 1.3.4 Movers 2 days Mon 1/15/18 Tue 1/16/1820 Relocation team$239.00
26 1.4 Transition 8 days Thu 1/18/18 Mon 1/29/18 $590.00
27 1.4.1 Getting delivery of
supplies
5 days Thu 1/18/18 Wed
1/24/18
22,23,24,25Relocation
team
$150.00
28 1.4.2 Transition of
Infrastructural
settings
2 days Thu 1/25/18 Fri 1/26/1827 Architect $90.00
29 1.4.3 Communication plan 1 day Thu 1/25/18 Thu 1/25/1827 Jeff $0.00
30 1.4.4 Designing move
schedule
1 day Mon 1/29/18 Mon
1/29/18
29,28 Jeff $350.00
31 1.5 Financial plan 3 days Tue 1/30/18 Thu 2/1/18 $0.00
32 1.5.1 Budget 2 days Tue 1/30/18 Wed 1/31/1830 Jeff $0.00
33 1.5.2 Budget Release
Schedule
1 day Thu 2/1/18 Thu 2/1/18 32 Jeff $0.00
34 1.6 Plan for new Location
(Perth)
15 days Thu 2/8/18 Wed
2/28/18
$1,262.00
35 1.6.1 Unloading and
unpacking all the
stuff
2 days Thu 2/8/18 Fri 2/9/18 33 Relocation
team
$142.00
36 1.6.2 Settlements &
decoration
8 days Mon 2/12/18 Wed
2/21/18
35 Relocation
team
$485.00
37 1.6.3 Joining school at perth8 days Mon 2/12/18 Wed 2/21/1835 Lexie,Will $0.00
38 1.6.4 Additional furniture 2 days Thu 2/22/18 Fri 2/23/1836,37 Kelly $345.00
39 1.6.5 Utilities purchase 2 days Mon 2/26/18 Tue 2/27/1836,37,38Kelly $290.00
40 1.6.6 Beginning new job 1 day Wed 2/28/18Wed 2/28/1839 Jeff $0.00
Relocation team
Relocation team
Relocation team
Relocation team
Relocation team
Architect
Jeff
1/29
Jeff
2/1
Relocation team
Relocation team
Lexie,Will
Kelly
Kelly
2/28
S T M F T S W S T M F T S W S T M
Jan 14, '18 Jan 28, '18 Feb 11, '18 Feb 25, '18 Mar 11, '18
9