Project Charter for New Computer Science Lab Construction

This project charter outlines the strategic project management plan for constructing a new computer science lab at ABC University. The project encompasses the design, planning, and construction of a fully functional lab, including 50 laptops, necessary software, and infrastructure. It details the project's scope, objectives, stakeholder roles and responsibilities, work breakdown structure, schedule, resource allocation, Gantt chart, budget, quality assurance plan, and risk management plan. The project aims to enhance the learning environment for computer science and IT students by providing a dedicated lab space, addressing the current limitations of shared lab facilities. The charter covers all phases from initial survey and planning to project closing and sign-off, including tender processes, resource procurement, construction, system implementation, and final project handover to the university authority. The budget includes costs for materials, labor, and contingencies, with a detailed breakdown of expenses and resource rates. The project is designed to improve the quality of education and provide students with the necessary resources for practical sessions.

Running Head: STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Charter for New Computer Science Lab Construction
Name of the Student
Name of the University

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Executive Summary
ABC University wants increase facilities in the university building for the better learning
environment of the students. As a part of the plan, a new computer science lab will be developed
for the computer science and information technology students’ ease of learning during the
module. Furthermore, a suitable plan for the project will enable the management team to create a
project roadmap using which the project can be executed.

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................3
2.0 Project Charter...........................................................................................................................3
2.1 Background of the Project.....................................................................................................3
2.2 Scope of the Project...............................................................................................................4
2.3 Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities.................................................................................5
2.4 Work Breakdown Structure...................................................................................................6
2.5 Schedule.................................................................................................................................7
2.6 Project Resources.................................................................................................................15
2.7 Gantt Chart and Critical Path Analysis................................................................................16
2.8 Project Budget and Costs.....................................................................................................18
2.9 Quality Assurance Plan........................................................................................................19
2.10 Risk Management Plan......................................................................................................20
3.0 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................22
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................23

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1.0 Introduction
This project has been authorized in order to design and build a new computer science lab
in ABC University. The university provides courses for various streams of engineering and with
the increase in the number of students in the university, construction of a new computer science
lab has become the primary need to increase the quality of education for the computer science
and information technology engineering students. There are only two computer science labs in
the university building that are currently being used by 8 different departments of engineering.
As a result, overlaps of practical sessions of different departments occur frequently. Furthermore,
the computer science and IT students get much lesser time in the labs than they should have due
to this overlapping of practical sessions. Hence, the university authority has decided to build a
new computer science lab for the computer science and IT departments so that the other two labs
can be used by the other departments without having to worry about overlap of sessions.
This project has specifically been designed to plan, design and construct the new
computer science lab. According to the requirements of the project, a contractor will be hired
from a tender who will be responsible for executing the entire project according to the plan. In
this project charter, a detailed project has been developed that includes project scope, stakeholder
details, risks, schedule and work breakdown structure.
2.0 Project Charter
2.1 Background of the Project
The main background of the project is the development of a new computer science lab for
the university. This lab will be a fully functioning one, containing 50 laptops arranged in a

4STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT
specific pattern. Furthermore, the room should have sufficient space for interaction between
teachers and students, projector screen, air conditioning system as well as electrical connections
for running the laptops. In addition to the external requirements, there will be internal
requirements like computer hardware and software. The used hardwares should be such that they
will be able to run various IT-based computer applications and the software installed should
provide a suitable learning and development platform for the students. For the purpose of the
construction contract, a tender will be called from which, the lowest bidder will be chosen.
Furthermore, after the room is complete, a technical team will be deployed who will install the
laptops and develop the necessary softwares required for the practical sessions.
2.2 Scope of the Project
The scope of the project is determined as follows.
 Design and planning of the new lab room is within the scope of the project.
 Construction of the lab room is within the scope of the project.
 Purchase and implementation of 50 laptops in the room is within the scope of the
project.
 Implementation of suitable software for the learning course is within the scope of
the project.
The objectives of the project are developed accordingly as follows.
 To create a new room where the new computer lab will be set up
 To install facilities like projector, tables, chairs, laptops, electrical connections
and others in the room

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 To install suitable platform and development software for the computer science
and IT courses in the laptops
2.3 Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities
The stakeholder roles and responsibilities for this project are shown in the following
table.
Stakeholder Post Name of the Stakeholder Role of the Stakeholder
Project Manager Thomas Wells To plan, approve, supervise,
manage, monitor, change and
control the project
Project Supervisor Christian Sterling To supervise and control the
project, to report to project
manager regularly
Budget Manager Harrison Rudd To manage the entire project, to
allocate budget to the project
teams
Construction Contractor Jason Reeves, Jason Civil and
Electrical Works Ltd.
To design and construct the lab
room as per requirements, to
furnish the room with electrical
connections, air conditioner
device and others
Technical Contractor Wayne Harvey, Waresoft IT
Solutions
To install the laptops, projector
and implement suitable softwares
for the engineering course
sessions

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Procurement Manager Matt Grigg To procure resources as per the
requirements of the project
Human Resource Manager Alan Wilkinson To recruit human resources
2.4 Work Breakdown Structure
The work breakdown structure is shown in the following diagram.
Figure 1: WBS of the Project
(Source: Created by Author)

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2.5 Schedule
The estimated schedule for the project along with the allocated resources is shown in the
following table.
Task Name Duration Start Finish Resource Names
Design and Development of
Computer Lab
249 days
Mon 16-04-
18
Thu 28-03-
19
Initial Survey and
Findings
34 days
Mon 16-04-
18
Thu 31-05-
18
Analysis of Current
Situation
10 days
Mon 16-04-
18
Fri 27-04-18
Project Manager, Project
Supervisor
Analyze the Daily Lab
Usage Requirements
2 days
Mon 30-04-
18
Tue 01-05-
18
Project Supervisor
Analyze Course Modules 2 days
Wed 02-05-
18
Thu 03-05-
18
Project Supervisor
University Board
Meeting
1 day
Fri 04-05-
18
Fri 04-05-18
Budget Manager, Human
Resources Manager,
Project Manager, Project
Supervisor
Discussion Regarding
the Problem
1 day Mon 07-05-
18
Mon 07-05-
18
Budget Manager, Human
Resources Manager,

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Project Manager, Project
Supervisor
Selection of a Suitable
Solution
1 day
Tue 08-05-
18
Tue 08-05-
18
Budget Manager, Human
Resources Manager,
Project Manager, Project
Supervisor
Decision on Building a
New Computer Lab
1 day
Wed 09-05-
18
Wed 09-05-
18
Budget Manager, Human
Resources Manager,
Project Manager, Project
Supervisor
Checking Availability of
Land Space
2 days
Thu 10-05-
18
Fri 11-05-18 Project Supervisor
Analyzing Project
Feasibility
4 days
Mon 14-05-
18
Thu 17-05-
18
Project Manager, Project
Supervisor
Rough Outline of Project 10 days
Fri 18-05-
18
Thu 31-05-
18
Project Supervisor
Project Approval 0 days
Thu 31-05-
18
Thu 31-05-
18
Project Planning 35 days Fri 01-06- Thu 19-07-

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18 18
Preparation of Project
Charter
10 days
Fri 01-06-
18
Thu 14-06-
18
Project Supervisor
Budget Estimation 5 days
Fri 15-06-
18
Thu 21-06-
18
Budget Manager
Project Time Schedule
Estimation
1 day
Fri 22-06-
18
Fri 22-06-18 Project Supervisor
Listing of Project
Resources
1 day
Mon 25-06-
18
Mon 25-06-
18
Procurement Manager
Finding Project Scope 1 day
Tue 26-06-
18
Tue 26-06-
18
Project Supervisor
Determination of Project
Objectives
1 day
Wed 27-06-
18
Wed 27-06-
18
Project Supervisor
Appointment of Project
Stakeholders
5 days
Thu 28-06-
18
Wed 04-07-
18
Human Resources Manager
Allocation of Project
Duties
3 days
Thu 05-07-
18
Mon 09-07-
18
Project Supervisor
Assessment of Project
Risks
4 days
Tue 10-07-
18
Fri 13-07-18 Project Supervisor

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Addressing of Project
Risks
2 days
Mon 16-07-
18
Tue 17-07-
18
Project Supervisor
Quality Management
Plan
2 days
Wed 18-07-
18
Thu 19-07-
18
Project Supervisor
Project Start 0 days
Thu 19-07-
18
Thu 19-07-
18
Initiation of the Project 38 days
Fri 20-07-
18
Tue 11-09-
18
Preparation of Tender
Documents
10 days
Fri 20-07-
18
Thu 02-08-
18
Human Resources Manager
Start Tender 1 day
Fri 03-08-
18
Fri 03-08-18 Human Resources Manager
Selection of
Construction Company
2 days
Mon 06-08-
18
Tue 07-08-
18
Human Resources Manager
Background Check of
the Construction Company
2 days
Wed 08-08-
18
Thu 09-08-
18
Human Resources Manager
Selection of IT Solutions
Company
2 days
Mon 06-08-
18
Tue 07-08-
18
Human Resources Manager
Background Check of 2 days Wed 08-08- Thu 09-08- Human Resources Manager

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the IT Solutions Company 18 18
Recruit System
Development Team
5 days
Fri 10-08-
18
Thu 16-08-
18
Human Resources Manager
Handing Out Project
Charter to Teams
1 day
Fri 17-08-
18
Fri 17-08-18 Project Supervisor
Team Meetings 2 days
Mon 20-08-
18
Tue 21-08-
18
Construction Contractor,
Construction Team, Project
Manager, Project
Supervisor, Technical
Contractor, Technical
Team
Procurement of Project
Budget
5 days
Wed 22-08-
18
Tue 28-08-
18
Budget Manager
Handing Out Budget to
Teams
2 days
Wed 29-08-
18
Thu 30-08-
18
Budget Manager
Hire Vendor for
Resource Supply
2 days
Fri 31-08-
18
Mon 03-09-
18
Procurement Manager
Procure Resources for
Project
4 days
Tue 04-09-
18
Fri 07-09-18 Procurement Manager
Allocate Resources 2 days Mon 10-09- Tue 11-09- Procurement Manager