Critical Factors for Successful Project Management

This article discusses the critical factors that contribute to the successful management of a project, using the case study of the Waterloo and Derby rail project. It explores the importance of effective planning, communication, resource management, risk assessment, and project tracking. The role of the project manager in ensuring project success is also highlighted.

Project Management
System

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Describing the critical factor that contribute to the successful management of the project........1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Project management system refers to managing a project by proper planning, organizing
and managing all requirement. It also includes estimation activities, scheduling, cost control and
budget management. The chosen project scenario of this report is Waterloo and Derby successful
rail project which is a remodelling project that installed 65 new signals, 17 km new track and one
new platform. Thus, the report critically evaluate the success factor that leads a project towards
success.
MAIN BODY
Describing the critical factor that contribute to the successful management of the project
The project is based upon Waterloo and Derby which is a successful project, in response
to William Rail review, the Civil Engineer Contractor Association also identified a handful of
rail generation project which accomplish the perfect balance between cost, time frame, passenger
disruption and improved infrastructure. For this project, Matt Brown had chosen because he has
enough experience of rail project and know how to complete the project without physical barrier.
This, project is successful in UK because of many success factor which are as mention below:
 Effective planning: Planning requires that the project manager decide which people,
resource and budget is required in order to complete the project. In the same way, for
Waterloo and Derby project, project manager produce deliverable using Work
Breakdown Structure (Connor, 2018). Such that remodelling of the project is completed
within 79 days because the delegation of roles and responsibilities is proper and effective,
which further help to deliver the project on time. On the other side, it is critically
evaluated that the current project involved a prolonged period working alongside an
operational railway which may change, but, project manager did not implement the
strategy,
 Communication: The entire project planning is delivered to the staff members in an
effective manner such that every team members know about their roles and
responsibilities, which is the key success factor. The project manager explain all the key
facts of the rail project to an entire team and always keep providing new upgrades to
them so that they work accordingly (Turnock, 2016). Thus, this in turn assist to complete
the project with a specified deadline as well. On the other side, it is critically evaluated
that if project manager did not communicate the goals to its team then they are not able to
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deliver the project on time because of miscommunication. As a result, the project got
hamper and results leads towards failure.
 Better resource: Project Manager Matt Brown also hire trained engineer for this project
because he know to complete the project on time, he requires top human resource.
Further, around 600,000 hours of work went into the project which assist a huge
improvement to the track and signaling system (Waterloo and Derby: what can we learn
form the successful rail projects? 2019). Project manager also hire an effective team who
have enough capabilities to finished the work and keep communicating with the team to
determine new improvements. On the other side, it is critically evaluated that if the
project manager did not use effective resources such that best material for rail tracks,
highly skilled human resources, advance techniques then it leads to delay the project and
creates negative impact as well.
 Risk Hazard: It is critically analyzed that due to extremely hot weather in July aggravate
is another common hazard, therefore, the matter being delivered to site was extremely
dry. As a result, the team faces more dust than normal condition. This in turn posing extra
risk for the staff (Green, 2016). Moreover, entire staff members have to wear breathing
apparatus because dust suppression unit had to be used around the station which create
threat for staff life.
 Tracking and reporting the project progress: Another success factor which assist
project manager to deliver the project on time. Such that Matt Brown keep monitoring
and also comparing the actual progress with the planned progress. Such that project
manager needs report from the project team members and then record the variation
between actual and planned cost (Fisher, 2020). Then they take corrective action as well.
Such that due to hot weather, project manager analyze the it may cause negative impact
upon the staff member's health, then they take immediate action to solve this issue. Thus,
in this way, the project manager keep tracking the records and also report the progress of
the project.
On the other side, it is critically evaluated that while developing the Waterloo and Derby
rail project, Matt Brown also face issue related to managing expectation. Such that he hire the
best team for the completion of project but unfortunately, there are some places where the team
members did not meet the expectation. Though the management of project manager is quite
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appropriate such that he delegate the roles in better manner but, did not provide effective training
session to the selected team and sometimes due to non- availability of the resources may also
affect the expectation of the project manager.
Role of project manager: A project manager is the person who is responsible for
making all decision and also make sure that they control all the risk and minimize the uncertainty
as well. Therefore, the main role of project manager in Waterloo and Derby Rail Project is to
keep motivating a project team so that they will help to meet the defined aim and objectives
(Kerzner, 2017). Further, they are also responsible for effective planning related to resource and
also set time estimates and further evaluate the team and their capabilities as well. Further,
project manager is also responsible for cost estimating and developing budget so that they meet
client's expectation as well. Managing project risk is another key responsibility of the project
manager and they also make sure to take steps that helps to minimize the impact of risk.
At the initial stage of the project, project manager is also responsible for monitoring
progress and then set clear vision for their team as well. Therefore, by making proper reports and
necessary documentation, project manager also ensure that the work is in progress or not
(Harrison and Lock, 2017). In the same way, Matt Brown project manager of Waterloo and
Derby Rail Project make sure that he comply with all roles and responsibilities so that they
deliver the project on time.
Solution of complex problem: While implement new project, project manager faces
variety of issue such that poorly defined goals. In order t minimize this issue, project manager
should inclined towards developing a proposal and then define the objectives which help to attain
the goal. Also, to cope up the issue of unrealistic timelines, project manager should make sure
that have proper and effective communication of the real time progress and make sure that they
have alternatives so that it will not affect the project in negative manner.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above it has been concluded that there are many success factor who
contributed for leading a project towards success. Such that report concluded that for leading the
Waterloo and Derby Rail remodelling project towards success, effective communication with
team, effective planning of project manager, better use of resource, proper risk management
strategies are the key success factor. Further, report also concluded that roles and responsibilities
of project manager that assist to deliver the project by meet deadlines. Lastly, report also
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concluded that project manager has to take effective action in order to solve the problem related
to management of projects.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Connor, P. R., 2018. Managing Technical and Operational Change: How understanding a
railway’s historic evolution can guide future development: A London Underground case
study (Doctoral dissertation, University of Birmingham).
Fisher, F., 2020. Inside London’s Railway Termini, c. 1870–1939. The London Journal, pp.1-29.
Green, O., 2016. Rails in the Road: A History of Tramways in Britain and Ireland. Pen and
Sword.
Harrison, F. and Lock, D., 2017. Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge. Wiley & Sons.
Kerzner, H., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John
Turnock, D., 2016. An historical geography of railways in Great Britain and Ireland. Routledge.
Online
Waterloo and Derby: what can we learn form the successful rail projects? 2019. [online].
Available through: <https://www.railway-technology.com/features/successful-rail-
projects/>.
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