Project Initiation, Planning, and Execution: Relocation Schedule

This report details a project schedule created for a family's relocation from Maroochydore to Perth. The assignment required the creation of a project schedule using project management tools, including a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), a Gantt chart, and a milestone plan. The scenario involved a family of four, two cars, and a dog, with a new job offer necessitating the move. The report outlines the criteria and assumptions used in developing the schedule, such as the budget of $15,000, the need to vacate the current rental by January 20, 2019, and the commencement of the new job on February 5, 2019. The WBS broke down the project into phases like project planning, shifting preparation, and shifting itself. The Gantt chart visually represented the tasks and their timelines. The report also includes adjustments made to the schedule based on the scenario's requirements and a personal reflection on the project management experience.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Initiation, Planning and Execution
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
1. Overview of the Scenario................................................................................................2
2. Criteria and Assumptions for preparation of WBS..........................................................3
3. Milestone Plan.................................................................................................................5
4. List of Tasks and associated Resources...........................................................................6
5. Gantt Chart and flow of Tasks.........................................................................................8
6. Details of the adjustments made......................................................................................8
7. Personal Reflection..........................................................................................................8
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................9
Bibliography......................................................................................................................10
Appendix............................................................................................................................11
Appendix 1: Milestone Plan..........................................................................................11
Appendix 2: List of Tasks..............................................................................................11
Appendix 3.....................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
The purpose of the report is to evaluate a given scenario of shifting of a family to a new
location. In this report, the appropriate use of different project management tools such as WBS,
Gantt chart and milestone plan is discussed. Relocation to a completely new location is
associated with a number of activities that are needed to be fulfilled. The report will be
evaluating the current scenario of the project along with the criteria and assumptions associated
with the development of the project schedule. The report is incorporated with a milestone plan
that symbolizes an achievement associated with the project. Along with the major milestones, the
list of tasks associated with the project is evaluated as well.
1. Overview of the Scenario
The aim of the assignment is to prepare a project schedule for relocation of a family of
two adults, two children, a dog and two cars to a new apartment in Perth. Jeff, one of the
members of the family has secured a new positing in his job and therefore needs to relocate
along with his family to a new location in Perth. Currently the family is residing in a rental
apartment of two bedrooms in Maroochydore. Although the new rental at Perth is secured
already, the family cannot move in to the new place before January 27th 2019. Along with that,
the current property at Maroochydore is needed to be vacated on 20th January 2019. Thus, the
family needs to make other arrangements for staying in some place prior to move in to the new
house. This is a problem, since the family has no relatives living on the Sunshine Coast. The
family needs to move and settle in the new location before 31st January as the school commences
from 31st January 2019, for which the entire family needs to be present at the school. A
relocation plan in terms of project schedule has been prepared to ensure that the relocation to

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Perth is completed without any issues. The family is needed to complete the relocation project
within $15,000. The new job of Jeff commences from 5th February 2019. The schedule has been
prepared considering the exceptions and the variances in the project. The report evaluates the
associated project criteria and assumptions.
2. Criteria and Assumptions for preparation of WBS
In order to ensure that the family relocates to Perth without any issues, a milestone plan
has been prepared. The major criteria and the assumptions associated with this project is
evaluated in this section. The criteria of developing the plan of the project and the related work
breakdown structure of the same are discussed in the paragraphs below.
One of the very first criteria associated with this shifting project is that the family needs
to shift to Perth in a maximum budget of $15,000. Accordingly, a packers and movers company
is hired who will provide the needed assistance to the family for moving to Perth.
Another criteria that the project needs to fulfil, includes vacating their current property on
or before 20th January. However, the family cannot move to the already secured new location
before 27th January. Therefore, alternative arrangements are to be made for the family as the
family has no relatives living in Sunshine Coast. The schedule incorporates this variance.
The Family needs to shift to Perth before 31st January 2019, which is another criteria of
this project implementation process. The schedule incorporates moving in to Perth on 27th
January and settling in the new rental prior to 31st January so that the entire family can be present
for school on that day.

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The last criteria that is considered while developing the project schedule is that Jeff will
be joining his new job on 5th February 2019.
Along with the above discussed project criteria, there are certain assumptions associated
with the scheduling of this relocation project and development of project plan. These
assumptions are as follows-
1. One assumption related to the project implementation is that the resources that are
assigned against each task will be readily available during the project implementation process.
2. The shifting project is needed to be completed within $15000. It is therefore assumed
that the allocated budget will be sufficient for efficient management of the project.
3. It is assumed that the packers and the movers that is hired for the shifting the essentials
of the family to Perth will be able to transfer the goods on time.
4. It is assumed that move in to the new house will not be delayed than 27th January 2019.
5. It is assumed that no problems will be faced by the family while moving to Perth.
These are the most significant assumptions associated with the implementation of the
project. All this assumptions are considered to be true for successful implementation of this
project and changes in any of these assumptions can result in change in the project schedule. The
work breakdown structure of the relocation project is indicated in the picture below-

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Relocation Project
Project Starts Project Planning
Understanding the
relocation needs
Development of a
relocation Plan
scheduling the
relocation Project
Preparing the List of
Inventory
Hiring a packers and
movers Compnay
M1: Completion of
Planning for
Relocation
Shifting Preparation
Packing the
essential items
Downsizing the
items to be taken
Packing Buddy's
essentials
Approaching suitable
buyers for certain
large belongings
such as furniture
Confirming the
packers and movers
for transfer of large
goods to Perth
Hiring a house in
Perth for staying for a
few days
Drafting application
forms for Will and
Lexie at Perth
M2: Completion of
Relocation
Preparation
Shifting
Cancellation of the
subscription of daily
essentials
Making payment to
relocation services
hired
Re-checking the
packed items and
documentation
Documentation
M3: Vacating the old
Apartment
Arriving at the
temporary apartment
at Perth
Staying in the
temporary place
M4: Moving into the
new house at Perth
Receving the goods
from packers and
movers
Unpacking and
shifting the required
goods
Commencement of
the School term in
Perth
Payment Completion
Arranging the
remaining Goods
Start of new Job
M5: Project ends
Figure 1: The Work Breakdown structure of the relocation Project
(Source: Created by Author using MS Project and MS Schedule Pro)
3. Milestone Plan

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A milestone plan indicates the major achievements of a project. The milestone plan is
prepared by aligning each task with the resources required to complete the task. The milestones
associated with this project are Completion of the planning for Relocation, Completion of
relocation preparation, Vacating the old apartment, moving in to the new house and closure of
the project (refer to appendix 1). A planned approach is considered for preparation of the
milestone plan which include identification of the vital tasks, identification of the activities of
each task, and assigning resources against each task.
4. List of Tasks and associated Resources
The schedule that is prepared for the project involves a number of tasks that are needed to
be successfully executed for relocation project (refer to appendix 2).
The resources responsible for each task is indicated in the figure below-

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Figure 2: Representing the Resources Responsible for each Task

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5. Gantt Chart and flow of Tasks
The flow of tasks and the interrelation of each task is indicated in the Gantt chart that is
prepared for the project (refer to appendix 3). It is vital to develop a Gantt chart for a project as it
provides a graphical representation of the project schedule that helps in appropriate planning, co-
ordinating and tracking the most important tasks in the project.
6. Details of the adjustments made
In order to fulfil the most essential criteria of the relocation project, certain required
adjustments are indicated in the project for preparing the project schedule. The details of the
adjustments that are made to the schedule will be discussed in this section of the report. It is
assumed that Jeff had an idea of the relocation well in advance and therefore, the start of the
project is considered to be 20th December 2018. The project schedule considers the key dates
related to the project and adjustments in the shifting process are made accordingly. Apart from
that, the entire project is completed before 5th February as Jeff needs to join his new job on 5th
February. The family will be moving in to the new location on 27th January so that the kids can
attend their school on 31st January. The adjustments are made while considering the assumptions
related to the project is true. However, in case of any chances in the project requirements or the
assumptions of the project, the adjustments made may not be effective for the project schedule.
7. Personal Reflection
This project is quite complex in terms of the various criteria that is related to its
implementation. There are certain constraints in line of project implementation which I needed to
incorporate in the schedule of the project. This project therefore has helped me to brush up my
project management knowledge and helped me in understanding the various approaches and

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needs of project management. This project has been quite interesting to work in. In have
understood that it is quite important to have a knowledge of various tools and management
techniques for efficiently manage any project.
Conclusion
The report takes into consideration a scenario of relocation to Perth for a family of 4,
with two children, a dog and two cars. The various complexities and the constraints related to the
project is discussed in the report. In order to ensure that the family relocates to the new location
without any issues, a project plan is developed. The criteria and the assumptions associated with
the development of project schedule is evaluated in this report. The report concludes with a
personal reflection. The schedule that has been developed, is aligned with the key dates related to
the project that is vacating the current property in 20th January, moving in to the new location on
27th January, commencement of school on 31st January and others. A Gantt chart and work
breakdown structure of the project schedule has been prepared for better understanding of the
relocation projects and the activities associated with the relocation project.

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Bibliography
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Heagney, J., 2016. Fundamentals of project management. Amacom.
Harrison, F. and Lock, D., 2017. Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge.
Leach, L.P., 2014. Critical chain project management. Artech House.
Mir, F.A. and Pinnington, A.H., 2014. Exploring the value of project management: linking
project management performance and project success. International journal of project
management, 32(2), pp.202-217.
Nicholas, J.M. and Steyn, H., 2017. Project management for engineering, business and
technology. Routledge.
Kerzner, H., 2018. Project management best practices: Achieving global excellence. John Wiley
& Sons.
Too, E.G. and Weaver, P., 2014. The management of project management: A conceptual
framework for project governance. International Journal of Project Management, 32(8),
pp.1382-1394.
Crawford, J.K., 2014. Project management maturity model. Auerbach Publications.
Lock, D., 2017. The essentials of project management. Routledge.
Martinelli, R.J. and Milosevic, D.Z., 2016. Project management toolbox: tools and techniques
for the practicing project manager. John Wiley & Sons.
Fleming, Q.W. and Koppelman, J.M., 2016, December. Earned value project management.
Project Management Institute.

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Appendix
Appendix 1: Milestone Plan
WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish
2.6
M1: Completion of Planning for
Relocation
0 days Tue 01-01-19 Tue 01-01-19
3.8
M2: Completion of Relocation
Preparation
0 days Fri 11-01-19 Fri 11-01-19
4.5 M3: Vacating the old Apartment 0 days Sun 20-01-19 Sun 20-01-19
4.8
M4: Moving into the new house
at Perth
0 days Sun 27-01-19 Sun 27-01-19
5 M5: Project ends 0 days Tue 05-02-19 Tue 05-02-19
Appendix 2: List of Tasks