Managing Projects

Managing Projects

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1. Key characteristics of any project......................................................................................1
1b. Importance of integration management in Project Management setting..........................2
2. Scope Statement for a project along with role of WBS in such a statement......................2
3. Approaches to generate a budget for a specific project budget..........................................2
4. Project risks and responses to overcome risks within project management settings.........3
5. Quality methods to ensure successful project completion.................................................3
6. Gantt Chart.........................................................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
Overview of project................................................................................................................4
Project life cycle stages..........................................................................................................4
Initiation.................................................................................................................................5
Planning..................................................................................................................................5
Objectives...............................................................................................................................6
Timescale................................................................................................................................6
Budget.....................................................................................................................................6
Approaches.............................................................................................................................7
Key Staff.................................................................................................................................7
Execution................................................................................................................................7
Work break structure..............................................................................................................8
Control....................................................................................................................................8
Risk.........................................................................................................................................9
Closure..................................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Project management is defined as the procedure involving initiation, planning, implementation,
controlling and completion of a work for the purpose of attaining predefined goals in due course
of time (Owusu, Chan and Shan, 2019). The primary purpose of the present report is
summarisation as well as analysis of all the aspects pertaining to a project. The project is
categorised into two tasks. The first task is concerned with crucial information related to project
management such as core characteristics of a project, project scope, risk assessment &
management, Gantt chart & critical path, methods of generating budget and quality management.
The second task is based upon a project of Project- Xperts-20 (PX20) of refurbishing the library
and all the lecture theatres and the classrooms from the ground floor to the second floor (3
floors only) of University of Sunderland London Campus to up-to- the-minute learning campus.
This section includes all aspects of the project from Initiation, Planning, Execution, Control and
Closing of the project. The analysis within this part would be done as per Project Life Cycle
stages, processes, management and control issues linked to or expected to emerge as a result of
managing the lifecycle of Sun-Project 20X20.
TASK 1
1. Key characteristics of any project.
A project can be referred to as a temporal undertaking which has a definite start and closure, and
it is conducted for creation of a new product / service / result or altering an old one. Each project
may have its distinct set of characteristics; however there are certain key characteristics that are
common to all projects (Lenfle, 2019). Such key characteristics are briefly discussed as follows:-
Defined Objectives: The whole of the project circumscribes the pre defined objectives from the
beginning to the end. The objectives laid down in the project tend to provide a direction to
personnel in conducting project operations.
Definite end point: As every project has a fixed start and end point, it is said to be a temporary
activity or task (Ershadi, Edrisabadi and Shakouri, 2019).
Uncertainty: A project involves several elements of uncertainties which pose the project to the
probability of failure if not handled in an effective manner.
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Cross functionality: A project is a composite of multiple tasks that tend to need help from the
other departments. Thus, cross functionality is a common characteristic of any project.
1b. Importance of integration management in Project Management setting
Integration management can be referred to as a collaborative system whereby all the elements of
a project are integrated, such as cost, scope, risks, resources, quality, changes, stakeholders,
schedule etc. (Poston. and Richardson, 2019) This is central to each and every project and lays
down the foundation to success of a project. Further, the importance of integration management
within project management settings is enlisted beneath:-
It ensures the smooth running of a project.
It tends to provide sync as well as coordination across the lifecycle of the project.
It ensures proper alignment of due dates, outcomes, project life cycle and benefit
management.
It ensures that all stakeholders have clear information about their roles as well as duties.
2. Scope Statement for a project along with role of WBS in such a statement
 Scope Statement: The scope statement of a project is the summary of a researcher’s
expectations from project in terms of tasks, goals, cost, timeline and deliverables
(Akkermans, and et. al., 2020). It consists of the boundaries of any project which
provides an overview of the overall procedure for conducting a task together with its
evaluation, duties of every project team member etc.
 Role of WBS in scope statement: A WBS provides assistance in defining the project
scope by taking scope statement and subdividing the major project deliverables in to
small as well as manageable set of activities.
3. Approaches to generate a budget for a specific project budget
There are mainly two approaches that are used for generation of budget. These are recognised to
be top bottom approach along with bottom up approach (Mathiaszyk, Volkmann and Read,
2019). The former is concerned with making decision regarding the costing of project along with
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