Project Management Essential

This report focuses on the Smart City OS project and discusses the essential project management skills required for the project manager. It also covers the significance of different project triangle parameters, problem-solving and decision-making, risk management, conflicts and negotiation, teamwork, and managing finances. The report also includes a PEST analysis tool for analysing macro-environmental key factors.

BPP Coursework Cover Sheet
Programme MSc in Project Management with PDP
Module name Project Management Essentials
Schedule Term August 2021
Student Reference Number (SRN) BP0236720
Report/ Title
Date of Submission
(Please attach the confirmation of any
extension received)
20th September,2021
Declaration of Original Work:
I hereby declare that I have read and understood
BPP’s regulations on plagiarism and that this is
my original work, researched, undertaken,
completed, and submitted in accordance with
the requirements of BPP School of Business and
Technology.
The word count, excluding contents table,
bibliography, and appendices, is 4350 words.
Student Reference Number: BP0236720
Date: 20th September,2021

Contents
1Introduction........................................................................................................................................5
2Body ...................................................................................................................................................5
3The Project Manager...........................................................................................................................6
3.1Risk management Skills................................................................................................................6
3.2Leadership Skills...........................................................................................................................7
3.3Time Management Skills..............................................................................................................7
3.4Problem Solving Skills...................................................................................................................7
3.5Communication Skills...................................................................................................................7
3.6Team Management Skills.............................................................................................................7
3.7Coaching and Training Skills.........................................................................................................7
3.8Project Management Environment Tool for Manager..................................................................7
4Problem Solving & Decision Making....................................................................................................8
4.1 Governance ................................................................................................................................8
4.2Culture..........................................................................................................................................9
4.3Data Security Issue.......................................................................................................................9
4.4Analytical Problem Solving Process for Project Manager...........................................................10
5The Project Triangle..........................................................................................................................10
5.1Human Capital............................................................................................................................11
5.2International Outreach...............................................................................................................11
5.3Environment...............................................................................................................................12
5.4Technology.................................................................................................................................12
5.5Urban Planning...........................................................................................................................12
5.6Governance................................................................................................................................12
5.7Social cohesion...........................................................................................................................12
5.8Infrastructures............................................................................................................................12
6Managing Finances............................................................................................................................12
Financing from these sources have important consequences on project's overall cost, cash flow,
ultimate liability and claims to project incomes and assets. There is need to complete all tasks in the
given amount or fund. ........................................................................................................................12
6.1Tax..............................................................................................................................................12
Tax...................................................................................................................................................12
6.2 Private Debt...............................................................................................................................13
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6.3 Public Debt................................................................................................................................13
6.4 Equity Financing........................................................................................................................13
7Risk Management within the Project................................................................................................15
7.1Governance Risk ........................................................................................................................15
7.2Strategic Risk..............................................................................................................................15
7.3Operational Risk ........................................................................................................................15
7.4Market Risks ..............................................................................................................................15
7.5Legal Risks .................................................................................................................................15
8Conflicts and Negotiation..................................................................................................................16
8.1Group Differences......................................................................................................................16
8.2Lack of Communication..............................................................................................................17
8.3Poor Leadership..........................................................................................................................17
8.4Conflict Disagreements..............................................................................................................17
9Teamwork.........................................................................................................................................18
9.1Idea Generation..........................................................................................................................18
9.2Share the Workload....................................................................................................................18
9.3Gaining New Perspective............................................................................................................18
9.4Makes Work More Fun...............................................................................................................19
9.5Problem Solving..........................................................................................................................19
9.6Greater Risk-Taking....................................................................................................................19
10Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................19
12References Books .........................20
Bibliography........................................................................................................................................21
Journal Articles....................................................................................................................................21
Website...............................................................................................................................................22
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Introduction
In today’s faced paced business environment, project management skills are vital in order to
complete any project successfully in due time, as a result, the manager of the project must be
knowledgeable, organized, effective communicator or have the capabilities to overcome
various challenges or obstacles that might arise while running any particular scheme.
According to Whetten & Cameron, (2016); project management behaviours are important to
promote the success of the project, for examples teamwork, problem-solving, leadership or
negotiations skills are vital towards achieving the overall objectives of the projects. A team
will be moving without direction, control, vison mission or purpose. if there are lacking in
project management skills. Leadership give access and actualize team members to do their
respective work. Every project has its own specific obstacles and requirement. A project
management deals with this requirement by providing leadership, mission & vision, coaching
and inspiring the team to find the best solution for their work.
This report will focus in regards to the Smart City OS Project where the skills of the project
manager will be discussed which are essential to complete the projects successfully.
Moreover, this report will also discuss the significance of different project triangle
parameters that are essential to manage the Smart City OS project.
Body
It can be concluded that when city is populated there are several factors including
technological, financial, political, economic and financial power that can be increased in a
unique manner. It is analysed from the history that today’s world is facing lot of challenges
like technological advancement and facing global crisis. When there is usage of various non-
renewable sources like petroleum, coal, natural gas, etc. then there is development of pattern
of city. There is a pattern used for creating enhancement of pollution and this makes difficult
for individuals to manage the working in different areas. Smart city is developed when there
is management of the company. IBM has started the concept of smart city and government
has provided funds for working upon such projects.
 People: They are benefited by shifting into smart cities. They will get more facilities
here and they can lead to a more convenient life. They can use technologies properly
and manage the daily activities.
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 Land: The land is used for developing smart city. There is conventional usage for
smart cities and it requires land. There is need to have piece of land on which smart
cities can be build.
 Government: Government has an essential role in the development of technology as
it provides funds for the development of smart cities.
 Infrastructure: There is need to have a proper planning of infrastructure that has to
be used for developing smart cities. This provides a proper management to tackle
different situations which can be used for completing the operation in effective
manner.
According to IESE Cities in Motion in the year 2019, Top Cities in world consist London,
Amsterdam, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Reykjavik, Singapore, Berlin, Vienna and
Copenhagen. There are several countries which are looking for utilising the technology for
smart city and build one. This will provide technological advancement and process that can
be provided to people. In smart cities, there is possibility to have a more convenient and easy
life.
The Project Manager
In order to accomplish the objectives of any particular projects, manager skills play a
significant part to balance prioritise, oversee resources, overcome challenges or track the
progress of the projects towards achieving the common goals of the projects. Following are
the skills are required for the project manager of the Smart City OS project to achieve the
overall objectives of the project:
Risk management Skills
One of the key skills that project manager required is the risk management skills where it will
assist to deal with the challenges or risks that might arise during any stage of the project and
risks management skills will help to address these challenges in an efficient manager.
Leadership Skills
Every project manager must lead from the front to run the Smart City OS project
successfully, as a result, leadership skills are vital to inspire, encourage or motivate the
workforces those are working towards a common goal.
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Time Management Skills
Project manager of Smart City OS project must have time management skills which are
essential to utilize the time efficiently and productively as the project manager must plan and
organize to divide the time between particular tasks to get the job done.
Problem Solving Skills
In order to complete the project successfully, a project manager has to gather different data or
information, as a result, the manager must weigh the pro and cons in order to formulate the
right solution to accomplish the project effectively.
Communication Skills
Communication is one of the most essential skill for project management. Successful project
managers has know-how skills of exactly what needs to be communicated. To build great
relationship every project managers needs great communication skill.
Team Management Skills
Teamwork plays a significant part to achieve the overall objectives of the team and project
manager must have team management skills to bring everyone under one umbrella by
handling conflicts, delegating responsibilities or motivating the team.
Coaching and Training Skills
Coaching and training is known as one of the most essential foundation level of project
management skills. In most cases, organizations enrol their employees to develop their
couching and training skill. This help them become and find out a better version of
themselves.
Project Management Environment Tool for Manager
For the Smart City OS project, a project manager must have a good awareness of the business
environment as it will assist to mitigate any risks which might influence to achieve the
overall objectives of the project (Gido, Clements & Baker, 2018). One of the useful tools to
analyse and monitor macro-environmental key factors is PEST analysis which is discussed
below:
Political
Political factors can influence the Smart
City OS project, as a result, a project
manger must aware of different political
factors such as foreign trade policy, political
Economic
Economic factors also could affect on Smart
City OS project success. Some of the
economic factors which can impact the
Smart City OS project are inflation, GDP or
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instability or bureaucracy etc. interest rate.
Social
It is vital to examine the social factors
which could affect the project at various
levels. Factors such as lifestyle trends,
culture or religion are vital factors that
could affect the project's overall success or
decision-making process
Technology
Technological factors such as intellectual
property regulations, automation or
emerging technologies can affect the project
as identifying the factors as earliest as
possible will help a manager develop
initiatives to mitigate any potential risks.
Problem Solving & Decision Making
For smart city, it is important for each area of service in local authority to explore its own
smart use related to case study. It helps to improve each provision of service to reduce costs
and also provide more informed communications along with customers. For instance, within
Street scene Department smart litter bin trial can be introduced. More cases can be studied by
data capture CCTV, smart security, smart parking, smart water butts that assist with urban
drainage, real time bus information and air quality sensors.
Governance
Governance refers to institutional factor which exceeds data analysis as well as management
to comprise proper change. It plays central role to connect people with organisations and
living environment for adopting a culture of innovation as well as sustainable development of
economy. Pryce and Pereira focused on essential dimension which is added by smart
governance for Smart City paradigm. The outline above the implications of smart governance
on the Smart City paradigm.
Culture
There are two types of culture in context of house which includes urban cultural heritage or
urban creative industries. There are several people who are involved in promoting
convenience for smart city. Cultural heritage is providing contribution to economic growth
and development.
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Metabolism
This is required for managing traces of how materials are managed for completing the work.
It is an essentially a biological term which traces ways in which materials as well as energy
flow with a living system that create all activities of life in order to convert materials into
waste along with energy into waste heat.
Data Security Issue
This is concluded that data security issues can be faced in smart city. That is why it is taken
care that all rights, beliefs and culture are properly followed for conducting the operations
effectively.
Analytical Problem Solving Process for Project Manager
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The Project Triangle
5. Economy
There is need to consider economy while implementing smart city. The reason behind this is
that it is related to the working of public sector.
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Human Capital
Skilled professionals are needed for completing the project of smart city.
International Outreach
Traffic index, metro stations, flights, metro length, high-speed trains along with gas stations
are the parameters of smart cities mobility and transport.
Environment
Smart city can be developed in an appropriate manner. This is taken care that all activities are
eco-friendly and they are not harming environment.
Technology
Different new technologies provided in smart city to people are social media, Wi-Fi
accessibility, usage of smart phone, etcs.
Urban Planning
There are advanced facilities like railway lines, airports and seaports which are used in smart
city.
Governance
Quality of governance is the most essential factor in the development of smart city.
Social cohesion
Social cohesion means happiness and satisfaction level of people.
Infrastructures
Building structures, the eco-friendly material used during the construction and after
destruction, Reusable waste for other construction purpose etc are the parts of smart city
infrastructure.
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Managing Finances
Financing is an important aspect for completing any project and raising finance from all
these sources create impact on cost of project, ultimate liability, cash flow as well as
claims on income as well as assets of project. There is need to complete all tasks in the
given amount or fund.
Tax
Tax
In the taxation system for a given city local authority of the region plays an important role in
defining various aspects and derivates. In general such tax funds are utilised with respect to
development and regulating annual expenditure of the given city.
6.2 Private Debt
 Investment banks raises debts.
 Less cost of capital can be ensured since debt holders will be repaid first.
6.3 Public Debt
 Advertisement of an investment bank or a corporate might help to raise suitable debt.
 Cheaper cost of capital.
6.4 Equity Financing
 Equity amount raised by developer or provide equity funds.
 High cost of capital.
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Risk Management within the Project
Risk management is known as the act of identification, evaluation and prevention refers to
practice of identifying, preventing, evaluating and mitigating risks for a specific project
which may negatively impact a project's timetable and wanted outcomes. Project managers
are liable for directing risk management process with period of a given project. Any
unpredicted experience which might alter the people,resources, processes and technology
consist in project is known as Risk. It includes events which take place and it is uncertain
when it might occur. Because of this uncertainty, project risk requires serious preparation in
order to manage them efficiently. Types of risk in project management:
Governance Risk
There is need to have proper governance or regulation to complete the project activities
properly.
Strategic Risk
There is need to manage the strategy properly as it is associated with the completion of
project.
Operational Risk
Poor operations must be avoided while completing the project activity.
Market Risks
There are several market risks that hinder in the completion of project work. These include
competition, commodity markets, foreign exchange, interest rate risk, etc.
Legal Risks
Legal risks arise from legal and regulatory obligations. Risks such as contract risks and
litigation brought against the organization.
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Conflicts and Negotiation
For a provided construction project
variety of strategies plans and goals are
being formulated for ensuring better
operations of project tasks. It is believed
that while working in a project firm and
getting exposure to external environment
there are multiple situations in which
project institute can face conflicts or
related issues and challenges. One of the
greatest attribute for a project manager is
to solve such conflicts with engaging
organisational activities with ensuring
effective use of resources. For the given
purpose several considerations of
conflicts are to be taken into
consideration. In general such conflicts
are due to lack of communication skills,
group differences, poor leadership or
disagreement to conflicts. Some of the
conflicts that have high frequency to be
arise are mentioned below;
Group Differences
The construction activity refers to as a teamwork in which collaborative activities of workers
are coordinated and dedicated towards achievement of desired goals and objectives of a
construction or project industry. There are various possibilities that while approaching to a
collaborative task there could be arise in conflict between two or more then two workers.
This could possibly lower down the overall productivity for a given construction project. The
most probable cause is identified due to lack of effective communication which further leads
to miss-communication on the present site. Therefore, any conflicts due to group differences
should be resolved by project manager as soon as possible.
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Lack of Communication
Another type of conflict that could be arise in the construction firm could be due to lack of
communication skill from top level management. Due to this there are higher chances which
could result in wrong delivering or incorrect interpretation of information from workers or
supervisors operating on the construction site. Being a project manager at the construction
site, it become foremost objective to overcome such conflicting situation as this could
possibly lead to wastages of resources as well as efforts being produced by respective
workers at the construction site
Project manager could implement various communication strategies or take into use several
communication technique in which effective working at the site can be produced. The
provided technique would enable cost effective techniques and will also provide with better
opportunity for the given project industry in terms of its future projects.
Poor Leadership
Being a project manager undergoing effective leadership skill plays a crucial role in
managing operational affairs of the construction firm. Poor leadership technique adopted in
the construction industry can possibly give rise to conflicts in the given firm. An effective
project manager can produce better operational techniques at the provided construction
industry. This could disrupt effective operations being produced at the corporate firm and
also can lead to stressful working environment in the given organisation.
Conflicts due to poor leadership can lower down the productivity of the operational
firm and could also lead to increase in employee turnover ratio of the given firm. Further, this
could also result in lowering down the good pace of the business project which might hamper
overall growth opportunity for the given construction firm.
Conflict Disagreements
In the general way of working in a construction firm individuals working together should
come together and came up with one solution. Working together for a given operational
objective of a business firm this might prove to be an effective technique to resolve provided
conflicts in the given organisational firm. Out of the all the conflicts mentioned the frequency
of happening of such type of conflict have lower chances of arising as, due to presence of on-
site supervisor there are low probability of personalisation while working on the construction
site (Schwalbe, 2012).
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Teamwork
Teamwork is an attribute that is helpful in deriving better efficiency of the work being
produced at the construction industry. Such technique is an inclusion of combination of
individual efforts and arranging better creative techniques to perform a given task.
Approaching to a given organisational task in an organisational firm creates true value of
success for a project firm in which various derivations with respect to effectiveness of
operations being produced in the corporate firm can be developed. Through technique of
teamwork in the construction firm better approach towards respective conflicts or disputes in
an organisational firm can be examined and followed with gaining effective organisational
affairs in the given corporate firm.
Idea Generation
By working together in a team leads to better generation of ideas. As a result of team
discussion activities various ideas and through obtaining prospective or vision of various
individuals at the group can be utilised and used in the greatest of their utilisation.
Share the Workload
While working in a team various tasks or activities can be divided so that less pressure in
working environment of the construction field can be ensured. Through technique of team-
working enjoyable working environment can be formulated which could further develop
better understandings of tasks requirements and gain better competitive edge for the given
construction firm. However, an effective management team is required to bind all the
operations being produced from different individuals being working towards one common
objectives along with some of their personal goals.
Gaining New Perspective
When an organisational task is proceeded with team working spirit there are various activities
through which several new prospective of individuals can be gathered while pursuing desired
objective being shared in the corporate firm. Deriving an organisational task in a team-
oriented method a project manager could produce an effective collaborative work in which
different methods or ways of performing or approaching to a given objective of a business
firm. In addition to this, it might promote more innovative ways of working in the corporate
firm which would further develop better competitiveness of the given corporate organisation.
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Makes Work More Fun
By adopting technique of making a working environment friendly team-work will contribute
a valuable hand towards it. Working in a team inspire individuals to follow a given task in
less stressful environment and also develop spirit of togetherness in the operational firm. This
could be done through appreciating on little achievement and appraising individual
employees on performing a specific task as per the desired standards (Gido, Clements &
Baker, 2018).
Problem Solving
A good team working environment will promote effective problem solving techniques. As in
the process being better alternative for a given problem or challenge can be discussed.
Greater Risk-Taking
With a believe that risk taking is the secret aspect through which provided organisational
firm can maximise its growth opportunity. While working in a group an individual can
develop better understandings of identified risk and through presentation of various
prospective coordinative actions can be produced.
Conclusion
Overall it can be said that this presented project report highlights on transformation of city
into different path for developing standards of smart city objectives. Local and public sector
will carry its full responsibility for creating and providing to actual and desired standards for
forming a full digitalised city. Smart cities concept which is developed by IoT will connect
more sensor then it. However, it is a one of new concept for a city which is traditionally
functioning. A Smart city needs information in huge quantities so that they needs to collect as
well as use that data in order to deliver more effective services. IoT work as foundation onto
which these services are developed. This project will comprise innovative technological
solutions which helps to enhance data sharing along with decision making, that will assist us
to present more effective services, like everything from traffic management to health as well
as social care.
IoT hold different types of technologies which are essential for delivering smart city. Data
collected from different sources are required to evaluate and understood. AI as well as
machine learning are also used. Edge computing allow transport systems and future
autonomous vehicles to become a reality. (Whetten & Cameron, 2016). Security can become
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important component in smart cities when various key infrastructure services are attached
together and personal data of people living in that city is collected. With keeping security in
mind, various standards as well as interoperable devices are developed.
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 Schwalbe, K., 2012. An Introduction to Project Management, Fourth Edition. LLC
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