Project Management for Business: Understanding Principles, Human Resource Management, Processes and Procedures, Termination and Post-Project Appraisals

PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR
BUSINESS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task 1: Understanding Project Management Principles..................................................................1
(a) 1.1 Describe the main principles of project management process and linked to the project
life cycle.......................................................................................................................................1
(b) 1.2 Suitable success and failure criteria for the new project..................................................3
(c) 1.3 Principles behind project management systems and procedures.....................................5
(d) 1. 4 Key elements involved in terminating projects and conducting post-project appraisals 6
Task 2 Be Able to Manage A Project’s Human Resource...............................................................7
(a) 2.1 Organizational structures, roles and responsibilities of participants within a project......7
(c) 2.3 Assessment of skills and qualities in project leader of ACME project............................9
(d) 2.4 Planning and specifications of human resources and requirements for the ACME new
facility project............................................................................................................................11
(e) 2.2 Work breakdown structure of ACME Project................................................................12
Task 3 Be Able to Apply Project Processes and Procedures.........................................................12
(a) 3.2 Final duration of the project...........................................................................................12
(b) 3.1/3.2 Delays in the activities.............................................................................................13
(c) 3.1 Use of Gantt chart and Resource histogram in order to improve the management of
ACME project............................................................................................................................13
(c) 3.2 Crash some activities in project to complete it more quickly........................................14
(d) 3.2 Analysis of cost and time performance for ACME project...........................................15
(e) 3.4 Methods of managing changes that are likely to be required during the life of ACME
project........................................................................................................................................15
(f) 3.1 Ways to close the project................................................................................................16
(g) 3.3/3.4 Evaluation of complete project................................................................................17
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................17
References......................................................................................................................................19

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Organisational Structure...................................................................................................8
Figure 2: WBS of ACME Project..................................................................................................12
Figure 3: Project change control procedures for the existing plan................................................17

INTRODUCTION
In general, project management can be defined as the process of planning and managing
the modifications within the organisation or a specific project. Project management is an
important skill for all managers, so the aim of this assignment is to allow readers and learners to
show a basic knowledge of project management principles, methodologies, tools, and techniques
as they may be used in any business. Further, with the help of this report, investigator will have
the opportunity to analyse and plan the activities needed to carry out the project, including how
to set up, how to control and execute the project, and to how to carry out their reviews ( Cheng
and Teizer, 2013). Thereafter, by undertaking ACME Products Plc. investigator will also have
the opportunity to explore the process of building a project team, so that desired project can be
conducted in an appropriate way. Herein, the business for which researchers will manage the
project (ACME Products PLC) wants to build a new facility for the manufacture of plastic
tableware suitable for outdoor dining and picnics. The range will include plates and bowls of
various sizes, cups, saucers and glasses. A building, production machinery, supply of raw
material, manufacturing and delivery of the finished products are included in the overall project
requirements.
TASK 1: UNDERSTANDING PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
(a) 1.1 Describe the main principles of project management process and linked to the project life
cycle
According to given scenario, implementing of new facility for ACME Products Ltd, it is
essential for the manager to consider project management process as well as the project life cycle
so as to ensure reliable execution. Further, there are several principles of process and life cycle of
project consist are as follows:
 Project Structure: While developing the outline or basic structure of the proposed project
of ACME Products Ltd, manager has to consider three main aspects, which are: goals of
the project, timeline and milestones. Therefore, during this phase, goals and deliverables
of the project are defined and on the basis of which different activities are defined with
the proper cost and outcomes (Reiss, 2013).
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 Definition phase: Under this principle, various inputs are presented by the stakeholders of
the cited firm. By the means of this, project manager can understand the expectations of
stakeholders and carry out entire project accordingly.
 Clear goals: According to this principle, it is essential for the project manager to define
the goals and deliverable of the project. Further, he/she should propose SMART
objectives so that the team members can be guided and directed in an appropriate
manner.
 Transparency about the project status: This is another major principle of project
management process because these manager has to prepare short status report at every
stage of the project and present it to the associates so that they can analyse and evaluate
the actual position of the cited project and if require potential measures can be employed
for the future contingency (Schwalbe, 2013).
 Risk Recognition: There are various risks and uncertainties associated with different
projects. However, it is the duty of the project manage to make sure that all the risk
assessment that were made at each stage so that uncertainties can be identified at early
stage and measures can be employed.
 Managing project disturbance: At the time of project execution there are several issues
and obstacles that creates disturbance. Therefore, project manager and team needs to
identify the disturbance and accordingly modify the approaches to generate the best
possible results (Gregory, 2003).
 Responsibility of project manager: There are several responsibilities and authorities that
project manager has to carry out. According to the current proposed project of ACME
Products Ltd, project manager has the role of managing alterations, integrating different
project management systems, reporting the actual status to the associates and delivering
the project on time and within cost.
 Project Success/Failure: In order to define the success and failure of the project, manager
has to set certain benchmark or criteria, on the basis of which deliverables can be
compared and decision can be made (Mallick and Prakash, 2006).
 Commitment: It is another important principle because, project manager and team should
ensure that all the commitments towards the project and its stakeholders need to be
fulfilled in effective way. Further, members should show adequate amount of dedication
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towards the work so as to achieve the desired deliverables of the project with quality, in
time and within overall cost etc.
 Tetrad-Trade off: The main purpose of this principle is that it assist in ensuring the
quality, cost, scope and time defined by the project manager are achievable and realistic
in nature. By the means of this, project manager can easily attain the goals and objectives
of the plan and meet the desired success level.
 Primary communication channels: Under this principle, there should be proper
communication between manager and client so that the transparency can be maintained at
each level of the project.
 Cultural environment: The selection of management team is based on the nature of the
project. However, with the help of suitable and reliable team management and strategies,
project manager can achieve the deliverables of the project.
 Process: Withthis principle, manager of the project should outline the process or
procedure of the implementation plan (Wright and Adviser-Gottwald, 2013). As well as,
they should define the role and responsibilities of each team member so that they can
carry out work in more appropriate way.
 Life cycle: This principle assist in showing all the steps that are indulged to successfully
carry out the entire course of project. Further, life cycle helps in providing clear image
from the initiation to project closure.
(b) 1.2 Suitable success and failure criteria for the new project
According to the given case, proposed project is related to the implementation of ACME
new facility. Therefore, it is important for the manager to define success and failure criteria so
that suitability and reliability of project can be measured. Further, through the means of this the
project manager can determine whether new facility should be developed as per the requirement
of ACME clients. Following are the success and failure criteria for the present proposed project:
 User involvement: It is important for the project manager to indulge clients and
stakeholders of the ACME new facility project in decision making process, in order to
ensure effective implementation of the entire project. However, lack of user involvement
will create obstacle for project manager in understanding and determining the needs of
project and may lead to failure of the project (Killen and et.al, 2012). While on the other
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