University Project: EPM5600 Due Diligence Report on Master Class Event

This report presents a due diligence analysis of a proposed two-day Master Class event in Perth, Australia, organized by SCPM for AAPMP. It outlines the project's scope, objectives, and marketing strategies, including online and traditional methods. The report details the venue, format, speakers, and session schedules, along with the timing of key project phases. It identifies and assesses potential risks, providing a risk matrix and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, it explores potential sponsorship arrangements, advertising packages, and cost structuring, including expected revenues and expenditures. The report concludes with a summary of the project management methodology to be adopted, covering initiation, planning, execution, and closing phases, providing a complete overview of the event's feasibility and management plan.

EPM5600
Principles of Project Management
Due Diligence Report
Name of University
Student’s Name
Dated:

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................3
Scope and Background of the Project......................................................................................................3
Aims and objectives of the project..........................................................................................................3
Critical appraisal of Due Diligence Report...................................................................................................4
Marketing strategies for the event..........................................................................................................4
Optimum venue, format, duration, number of speakers and broad mud-map of the sessions...............4
Venue of the Master Class...................................................................................................................4
Format of the Master Class..................................................................................................................5
Duration, Speakers & broad mud-map of the Master Class................................................................5
Timing associated with the planning, delivery and post implementation review of the event...............7
Risks to be considered and the provision of a detailed risk matrix..........................................................8
Conference Risk...................................................................................................................................8
Venue Risk...........................................................................................................................................9
Project Management Risks..................................................................................................................9
Potential sponsorship arrangements and cost structuring for the event in terms of advertising
packages, ticket pricing and offers for international delegates...............................................................9
Sponsorship arrangements..................................................................................................................9
Cost Structuring.................................................................................................................................10
Costs associated with running the event and the provision of a cash-flow which links to the project
programme............................................................................................................................................10
Expected Expenditures:.....................................................................................................................10
Expected Generation of Revenue:.....................................................................................................11
Summary of Project Management Methodology shall be adopted if awarded.....................................11
Initiation............................................................................................................................................11
Planning.............................................................................................................................................11
Execution...........................................................................................................................................12
Closing...............................................................................................................................................12
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................12
References.................................................................................................................................................13
2 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Introduction
Executive Summary
This report (Waidley, 1999) is prepared to provide few key findings of the due diligence report
(Pinto, 2017) developed by SCPM (Southern Cross Project Management) for AAPMP
(Australian Association of Project Management Professionals) project to conduct a two days
session for the Master Class at Perth, Australia on 9th and 10th September. The session is planned
to add value to the attendees and also to make positive contribution towards development of
project management industry.
The session is targeting attendance of total 200 to 400 people of different sectors and categories.
Separate ticket pricing is designed to attract early registration. The project expenses shall be
taken care by the revenues generated from bookings and sponsorships. All different criteria and
features of the project are provided in this report starting from the marketing plan, project
management approach, sponsorship arrangement, cost structuring, risk identifications and
mitigations to closing of the project.
Scope and Background of the Project
AAPMP (Australian Institute of Project Management, 2017) is an individual body which works
towards the positive contribution to the project management industry. SCPM is the project
management organization for conducting the two days Master Class at Perth by AAPMP. Total
attendees shall be between 200 to 400 people. The overall scope of the project starts from the
arrival of the outside attendees, their transportation, accommodation, tea, lunch, dinner,
entertainment facilities and off course conducting the Master Class.
Aims and objectives of the project
The main aim and objective (Thomson, 2014) of the project is to conduct the Master Class event
of AAPMP with full satisfaction of AAPMP by increasing the number of members and
conducting the session as per plan by receiving more and more sponsors and generating enough
revenue to maintain the proper quality of the presentation.
3 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Critical appraisal of Due Diligence Report
Marketing strategies for the event
For explaining the strategy SCPM had conceptualized to successfully market and advertise the
occasion, we shall divide the whole strategy in to main four stages like objectives and different
stages of marketing (Markgraf, 2017):
Objective: the main objective was to attract more and more participants for attending the
Master Class event being organized by SCPM for AAPMP. Second objective is to earn
more revenue from the event with maintaining positive cash flow from the beginning of
the event itself. For gathering the maximum required number of attendees, SCPM shall
use all latest technology and old proven techniques of marketing.
Target Market: SCPM has targeted all possible attendees like AAPMP’s members, non-
members, corporate members, students, PMP professionals, non-PMP professionals and
software field executives from different sectors of industries like construction, defense,
mining, engineering, risk management and many more
Modern techniques of marketing: SCPM shall use a mix blend of all latest and old
techniques of marketing like a website shall be developed solely for the use of AAPMP’s
Master class only and all required information by the attendees must be provided in the
site. Even sending the e-mail notifications to registered members and other delegates
shall also be done to market the event.
Traditional techniques of marketing: SCPM shall use publications in newspaper, trade
publications, posters, banners display in public transports and universities as the
marketing strategies.
Optimum venue, format, duration, number of speakers and broad mud-map of
the sessions
Venue of the Master Class
Venue: Crown Event & Conference Centre, Perth.
The Centre is the entertainment complex located at banks of river Swan and is
very near to the national and international airports.
4 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Events in Functional Room 1
IT session in Functional Room 2
And Construction session in Functional Room 3
Facilities available: state-of-art gymnasium fitness center, day spa center, view of
wooden-grill kitchen, bar, VIP gaming facility, salon, gardens and botanicals.
Format of the Master Class
The basic format of the Master Class is to attend two days session with additional provision of
attending ancillary functions one evening before the start of the master class and one morning
after the completion of master class to facilitate the delegates of having many opportunities to
meet and develop networks among other industries.
Duration, Speakers & broad mud-map of the Master Class
Day One
5 | P a g e
Welcome session = 1.5 Hour by Mark Langley, President & CEO of PMI
Tea session = 0.5 Hour
Master class 1 = 1.5 hour by Callum Fraser, Architect at Elenberg Fraser OR
additional Ron Moir, Executive Chairman, WTP
Lunch session = 0.5 Hour
Master class 2 = 1.5 hour by Steve Wood, CEO, Tennis Australia
Tea session = 0.5 Hour
Master class 3 = 1.5 hour by David Grant, Event Director, DGSE

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Day Two
6 | P a g e
Conclusion = 0.5 Hour
Dinner = 3.0 hour by Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group
Arrival session = 0.5 hour by G. Michael Green, Chief of Staff, NASA
Tea session = 0.5 Hour
Master class 4 = 1.5 hour by Craig Lapsley, Fire Services Commissioner,
Department of Human Resource OR Dr. Kim Hames,
Deputy Premier, Minister of Health
Lunch session = 1 Hour
Master class 5 = 1.5 hour by Mary Miller-Furesh, Marketing Director, PMI
Arrival Tea = 0.5 Hour
Tea session = 0.5 Hour
Closing session = 1.5 hour by Brian Morris, CEO, Melbourne & Olympic Parks

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Timing associated with the planning, delivery and post implementation
review of the event
Like all the common stages of the project execution as described in any project management
techniques are Initiation, planning, execution & control and closing (Esposito, 2015). The event
of arranging the Master Class by SCPM is also scheduled accordingly by breaking the total
scope in mainly four heads the Planning, Marketing, Execution and Post Implementation of the
event.
Planning:
Start of project in May
Presentation of concept during May and June
Finalization of Concept Design by end of June
Document the development during May to August
Update Plan during May to September
Finalize the budget and venue in August
Plan marketing plans during May to August
Accommodation planning during May to August
Marketing:
Conduct promotional marketing during June to August
Receive registrations or event membership during June to August
Execution:
Transportation of goods & people in August and September
The Master Class event on 9th and 10th September
Post-Implementation:
7 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Receive client’s feedback during September and October
Evaluation of the project by SCPM during September to November
Close out the project and handover in November
Risks to be considered and the provision of a detailed risk matrix
It is the main action of the Project Manager to identify the risks at the very initial stage of the
project and then after analyzing and putting the ranks the mitigation plan is required to be
developed and monitored till the end of the project (Victoria State Government, 2016).
Accordingly the Project Manager of SCPM also identified few initial risks and divided them in
three main categories ‘Conference Risks’, ‘Venue Risks’ and ‘Project Management’, but the
good thing observed is there are no risk identified as ‘HIGH’ impact threat. Few risks are
mentioned below:
Conference Risk
Medium Risks
If the speaker or presenter falls ill, so the pre-recorded presentations are kept in stock
before the start of event
If the presentation gets lost during transit, so the presentations are required to be
submitted through e-mail or using the dedicated portal developed for the event
If the materials required for marketing purpose gets delayed by the vendors, so a regular
check on the shop progress and several review meetings should be done
Low Risks
If the financial problems occur at SCPM, so to avoid such miss happening the financial
status need to be reviewed on monthly basis
If low attendance of attendees happened, so we need to always keep checking the break-
even point and if required can sell tickets on cheaper rates
If high attendance of attendees happened, so we need to be always ready with more
occupancy planning
8 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
If some natural crisis happens and international travellers can’t reach, to avoid such
condition proper monitoring is required
Venue Risk
Medium Risks
If power loss happens, so to avoid back-up generators need to be installed in place
If some technical issue happens, then to avoid it proper skilled technicians and suppliers
are there
Low Risks
If some security threat happens, so proper evacuation plan needs to be present
If the crowd goes out of control, then proper arrangements need to be developed before
hand
Project Management Risks
Medium Risks
If the communication plan fails, so spot checks are advised to cross check the
functionality
If the progress reports are not published, so to avoid proper timing and quality of
reporting need to be ensured
Low Risks
If the important milestones get delayed, so to avoid it proper monitoring of the milestones
are required to be ensured
Potential sponsorship arrangements and cost structuring for the event in
terms of advertising packages, ticket pricing and offers for international
delegates
Sponsorship arrangements
The benefits which can be attained by getting the sponsorship are developing business networks,
getting high level people recruitment, Increase Company’s exposure by providing banners or
logos in different parts etc. Different sponsorship arrangements are developed to meet the budget
requirement for the event by adjusting pricing for the categories like:
9 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Major categories
Platinum sponsorship, the choice with maximum facility and rate of $ 35,000
Gold sponsorship with $ 25,000 and maximum two numbers
Silver sponsorship with $ 15,000 and maximum five numbers
Bronze sponsorship with $ 10,000 and maximum eight numbers
Other categories
Dinner, Meeting, Delegate’s bag, Water bottles and so on with different rates ranging
from $ 20,000 to $ 1,000
Cost Structuring
Advertising Package
Since this package is not considered inside the sponsorship calculation, so adding the revenues
which can be generated by advertising of outside organization can even add more profit.
Ticket pricing
Ticket pricing is designed in such a way that the attendee, who books early, can get more
discounts and it helps SCPM to maintain more positive cash flow at the beginning of the project
itself and receives early confirmation for the most of the seats from the beginning of the project.
By knowing the trend, advertisement can be further modified.
Offers for International Delegates
The international delegates can obtain their desired information like the visa procedure, flight to
Australia, accommodation in Australia and many more could be known from the web page itself
by dropping a query and further SCPM shall connect them to the local hotels and airlines to
provide solution and discounts for them.
Costs associated with running the event and the provision of a cash-flow which
links to the project programme
Expected Expenditures:
Registration package = $ 5,000
Bag with inserts = $ 13,000
Catering per day = $ 17,000
Exhibition & additional venue hire = $ 72,000 $ 255,594
Other expenses = $ 92,600
10 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Management fee @ 15% = $ 2,994
Project management fees = $ 53,000
Accommodation, flight & premium services = $ 10,800
Sponsorship & Gala cost = $ 17,892 $ 119,192
Separate charges for dinner, entertainment etc. = $ 37,500
Project management manpower charges = $ 53,000
Total expected expenditure = $ 321,786
Expected Generation of Revenue:
Sponsorship special four types = $ 164,000
Sponsorship of other various categories = $ 165,900 $ 339,900
Advertisement of outsiders during the session = $ 10,000
Target attendees of various categories:
Members = $ 115,000
Non-members = $ 67,500 $ 212,900
Daily = $ 26,000
Gala = $ 4,400
Total expected revenue = $ 552,800
So, the net present value (NPV) = revenue (552,800) – expenditure (321,786) =
$
231,014
Summary of Project Management Methodology shall be adopted if awarded
As per the above discussed processes and methods, the ideal techniques of project management
shall be adopted. The processes are Initiation, Planning, Marketing & Execution of project and
Post Implementation for Close-out (Duncan, 1993). So the further steps and deliverables of the
above processes are:
Initiation
In the stage of initiation, Project Brief, Business case, project charter and
preliminary project plan shall be developed
Planning
Under the stage of planning, SCPM shall develop and share the updated scope
document on the basis of the changes in different sectors while conducting the
11 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
initial study, cost estimate, quality plan, risk management plan, WBS, schedule,
communication matrix, resource allocation & updated business case.
Execution
During execution stage the marketing, executing the scope of work, monitoring
for proper adjustment in plan and finally holding the session on 9th and 10th
September.
Closing
After the session is completed, in the closing stage, SCPM shall gather the
feedbacks from the attendees and AAPMP to access the success rate and
document the lessons learnt and handover the documents to AAPMP and close the
project.
Conclusion
The objective (Soton, 2017) of doing the project for AAPMP is to keep away all the issues
related to the session like maintain the adequate skill level of the speakers and lecturers by
overcoming the dependencies on the external factors to avoid any delay in the happening of the
master class and the objective has been met properly. To ensure the event can happen without
any risk or threat the Project Manager of SCPM also identified few initial risks and divided them
in three main categories ‘Conference Risks’, ‘Venue Risks’ and ‘Project Management’ and
luckily there were no risk fell in to high risk zone and the proper mitigation plan were also
developed by the project manager. Different sponsorship arrangements are developed to meet the
budget requirement for the event by adjusting pricing for early booking and getting benefits or
discounts to ensure the availability of attendees and maintain positive cash flow from the
beginning of the project itself. The cost benefit analysis also revealed positive figures for going
ahead with the project and positive and good ROI. After the mega event is completed the project
manager even handed over the all related procurement documents and feedback report with
lessons learnt to AAPMP.
References
12 | P a g e

EPM5600 Principles of Project Management Due Diligence Report
Australian Institute of Project Management, 2017. Events. [Online] Available at:
https://www.aipm.com.au/events [Accessed 1 September 2017].
Duncan, W.R., 1993. The process of project management. Project Management Journal, 24(3),
pp.5-10.
Esposito, E., 2015. Demystifying the 5 Phases of Project Management. [Online] Smartsheet Inc.
Available at: https://www.smartsheet.com/blog/demystifying-5-phases-project-management
[Accessed 1 September 2017].
Markgraf, B., 2017. How to Write a Marketing Strategy Report. [Online] Hearst Newspapers
Available at: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/write-marketing-strategy-report-64160.html
[Accessed 1 September 2017].
Pinto, R., 2017. Sample Due diligence report. [Online] LinkedIn Corporation Available at:
https://www.slideshare.net/raptr20/sample-due-diligence-report-27565348 [Accessed 1
September 2017].
Soton, 2017. Aims and objectives. [Online] Available at:
http://www.erm.ecs.soton.ac.uk/theme4/aims_and_objectives.html [Accessed 1 September
2017].
Thomson, P., 2014. Aims and objectives – what’s the difference? [Online] Available at:
https://patthomson.net/2014/06/09/aims-and-objectives-whats-the-difference/ [Accessed 1
September 2017].
Victoria State Government, 2016. Victorian Government Risk Management Framework. Risk
Management –Principles and Guidelines.
Waidley, G., 1999. Tips for Writing an Executive Summary. [Online] Available at:
http://www.wistrans.org/cfire/documents/ExecutiveSummary_Tips.pdf [Accessed 1 September
2017].
13 | P a g e