BUS353e Project Management End-of-Course Assessment: FTL Project

This project management assessment, submitted by Mohammad Rashidi Bin Sulaiman for the BUS353e course at SUSS, evaluates the Food Test Laboratory (FTL) project. The assessment begins with establishing project priorities using a project priority matrix, defining time as constrained, scope as enhanceable, and cost as acceptable. It then identifies key attributes for project team members, including problem-solving ability, availability, and ambition. The project plan, including task dependencies, durations, and resource allocation, is presented along with the project schedule and cost analysis. The assessment addresses resource conflicts and proposes solutions using auto-resource levelling and other strategies. It analyzes the impact of schedule changes on cost and identifies key project accomplishments, including on-time completion and successful incorporation of Fipronil testing. The document concludes with a Gantt chart view, CPI calculation, and a summary of incidents and actions taken to manage the project.

BUS353e
Project Management
End-of-Course Assessment
January 2019 Presentation
Submission Date: 03 March 2019
Name SUSS PI No.
Mohammad Rashidi Bin Sulaiman E1571461

Question 1(a)
Establishment of the project priorities is an essential part of project management as it
helps in successful execution of a project. The project success is mainly dependent on the
ability of the project manager to manage the actual between the cost, time, scope and quality
of a project. Apart from that, establishing the project priority with the customer is considered
to be one of the most important aspects of the project definition stage. The project priority
matrix can be considered as tool for establishing the priorities of the project.
A project priority matrix is developed for Food Test Laboratory (FTL) project in
order to communicate the priorities across the project team members. The priorities of the
FTL project is needed to be set as it is a complex and an important project. The entire project
is needed to be launched on 1 July 2019 and the projects to start on 1 April 2019.
The project priority matrix for FTL project defines the major criteria of the project
which are constraint, accept and enhance. The project priority matrix defined for FTL is
indicated in the table below.
Time Scope Cost
Constraint X
Enhance X
Accept X
From the above matrix, it can be observed that the time allocated for the project comes under
constrained criteria while the scope of the project can be enhanced. The cost of the project on
the other hand is needed to be accepted.

Question 1(b)
It is an essential to develop a well skilled project management team for ensuring that the
project will be executed as per the project plan. The project team members play a significant
role in effective management and execution of a project. Recruitment of the project team
members is an important aspect of the project and it can be done internally or externally. The
team formation for the FTL project is based on choosing the team members based on certain
personal attributes. The attributes of the team members that are most critical for ensuring the
success of a project are as follows-
Ability of Problem Solving: The project team member of the FTL project is chosen
on basis of their problem-solving ability. In a complex project it is essential for the project
team members to have a strong program solving ability that will help in easier settling of the
disputes among the project team. Therefore, ability of problem solving can be considered one
of the most important attributes of the project team members in a project management team.
Availability: Easy availability is another significant attribute of a team member that is
mostly needed for management of a project. The launching of Food Test Laboratory project
is a high priority project and therefore, it needs people within the team who are not
overcommitted to various projects and the tasks. Thus, availability is considered to be one of
the major attributes that a project team member should possess.
Ambition, Initiative and Energy: Members of the FTL team should be filled with
ambition, initiative and energy to ensure that the assigned project work in completed in a
successful manner. A team member possessing these attributes is expected to work in a
collaborative environment, which is beneficial for project execution. Therefore, ambition,
attribute and energy is considered to be another significant attribute of the project team
members.

Section 2: Developing a Project Plan
Question 2 (a)
The FTL project is scheduled as per the start date and the end date of project. The figure below represents the task mode, task name,
duration, predecessors, star, finish date and the resource name allocated for the FTL project.
From the figure above, the completion date of the project is identified as Mon 01-07-19.

Question 2b
Along with the project scheduling, the cost associated with the project is identified as well. This section of the report will be identifying the state
of total project cost. The state of total project cost in the FTL project is represented in the figure below-
Task Name Fixed
Cost Fixed Cost Accrual Total Cost Baseline Variance Actual Remaining
Food Test Lab (FTL) Project $0.00 Prorated $182,860.00 $0.00 $182,860.00 $0.00 $182,860.00
Project kick off meeting $0.00 Prorated $1,440.00 $0.00 $1,440.00 $0.00 $1,440.00
Consult AVA $0.00 Prorated $2,600.00 $0.00 $2,600.00 $0.00 $2,600.00
Design food test programs $0.00 Prorated $6,760.00 $0.00 $6,760.00 $0.00 $6,760.00
Recruit lab technician $0.00 Prorated $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $4,800.00
Train lab technicians at AVA $0.00 Prorated $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00
Select lab contractor $0.00 Prorated $1,760.00 $0.00 $1,760.00 $0.00 $1,760.00
Construct lab $0.00 Prorated $56,160.00 $0.00 $56,160.00 $0.00 $56,160.00
Purchase computers $0.00 Prorated $13,200.00 $0.00 $13,200.00 $0.00 $13,200.00
Purchase test equipment $0.00 Prorated $65,600.00 $0.00 $65,600.00 $0.00 $65,600.00
Lay electrical cables $0.00 Prorated $3,320.00 $0.00 $3,320.00 $0.00 $3,320.00
Lay network cables $0.00 Prorated $3,260.00 $0.00 $3,260.00 $0.00 $3,260.00
Install computers and test
equipment $0.00 Prorated $2,200.00 $0.00 $2,200.00 $0.00 $2,200.00
Test overall system $0.00 Prorated $3,120.00 $0.00 $3,120.00 $0.00 $3,120.00
Certified by International
Authority $0.00 Prorated $4,160.00 $0.00 $4,160.00 $0.00 $4,160.00
Seek approval by AVA $0.00 Prorated $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Advertising to food industry $0.00 Prorated $4,840.00 $0.00 $4,840.00 $0.00 $4,840.00
Standby and support $0.00 Prorated $2,760.00 $0.00 $2,760.00 $0.00 $2,760.00
Launch Food Test Lab $0.00 Prorated $480.00 $0.00 $480.00 $0.00 $480.00

Question 2 (C)
A state of resource conflict is observed in the developed schedule. The resource conflict is observed mainly because of over-allocation of project
resources. The figure below indicates the resource conflict.
The resource conflict needs to be solved in order to eliminate the project risks and the issues in the project.

Question 2 (d)
The above section depicted the resource conflict associated with the implementation of a project. The problem of resource conflict can be solved
easily with the help of the auto resource levelling feature. The resource conflict problem is solved with the help of auto resource levelling option
of the MS project and it is indicated in the figure below:

The figure above indicates that the automatic levelling option in MS project could
solve a few resource conflicts. However, there are still two cases of resource conflict that is
needed to be addressed.
However, the problem of resource conflict can be solved by accelerating the project
completion. The two options for accelerating the project completion are as follows-
1. It is observed that the over-allocation of the resources is associated with the
working of PM. As it was within the scope of the project to appoint Ad hoc admin when
needed, the use of Ad hoc admin in both the cases can successfully solve the problem of
resource over-allocation or resource conflict.
2. The completion time of other task can be reduced by providing a helping hand to
Noriah in form of temp engineers. It is within the scope of the project.
The above two points discusses the options of solving the resource problems
associated with the project. Hiring the Ad-hoc Admin staff is $600 per day while the cost of
Temp Engineer is $700 per day. Therefore, it is more feasible for the FTL project team to
consider the first option to solve the problem of resource conflict.
The project status date is set as indicated in the figure below:

Along with the update of the status date of the project the project baseline is set as well. The
figure below represents the project baseline.
Section 3: Managing the Project
Question 3 (a)
The increase in the duration of the 4th activity has resulted in a schedule conflict which is
indicated in the figure below:

The change in the schedule indicates that the cost of the project will be increased as well. The change in the cost is represented in the cost table
below.
Task Name Fixed Cost Fixed Cost Accrual Total Cost Baseline Variance Actual Remaining
Food Test Lab (FTL) Project $0.00 Prorated $184,940.00 $182,860.00 $2,080.00 $0.00 $184,940.00
Project kick off meeting $0.00 Prorated $1,440.00 $1,440.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,440.00
Consult AVA $0.00 Prorated $2,600.00 $2,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,600.00
Design food test programs $0.00 Prorated $8,840.00 $6,760.00 $2,080.00 $0.00 $8,840.00
Recruit lab technician $0.00 Prorated $4,800.00 $4,800.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,800.00
Train lab technicians at AVA $0.00 Prorated $4,000.00 $4,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,000.00
Select lab contractor $0.00 Prorated $1,760.00 $1,760.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,760.00
Construct lab $0.00 Prorated $56,160.00 $56,160.00 $0.00 $0.00 $56,160.00
Purchase computers $0.00 Prorated $13,200.00 $13,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $13,200.00
Purchase test equipment $0.00 Prorated $65,600.00 $65,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $65,600.00
Lay electrical cables $0.00 Prorated $3,320.00 $3,320.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,320.00
Lay network cables $0.00 Prorated $3,260.00 $3,260.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,260.00
Install computers and test equipment $0.00 Prorated $2,200.00 $2,200.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,200.00
Test overall system $0.00 Prorated $3,120.00 $3,120.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,120.00
Certified by International Authority $0.00 Prorated $4,160.00 $4,160.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,160.00
Seek approval by AVA $0.00 Prorated $2,400.00 $2,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,400.00
Advertising to food industry $0.00 Prorated $4,840.00 $4,840.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,840.00
Standby and support $0.00 Prorated $2,760.00 $2,760.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,760.00
Launch Food Test Lab $0.00 Prorated $480.00 $480.00 $0.00 $0.00 $480.00
The table above indicates the slight change in the cost of the project as a result of the increase in the duration of the project.

Question 3 (b) The
The change incorporated in the project has a large effect on the plan and the schedule
of the project. The four important accomplishments associated with the FTL project are
discussed in the paragraphs below.
One of the most important achievements associated with the FTL project is that the
project could be completed within the scheduled project time. The l aunch date of the project
was set to be 1 July 2017 and it is successfully achieved.
The project is able to gain a full support from AVA as it could successfully
incorporate a change in the project in form of Fipronil Testing, which is another important
achievement of this project.
It has been observed that the project team was successful in appointing well
competent team member. Peter proved to be an efficient human resource in times of need
Section 4: Monitoring the Project Progress and Closing the Project
Question 4 (a)
The figure below indicates the Gantt chart View of the task after incorporation of certain
changes.

Question 4(b) Cost Performance Index (CPI)
The formula of cost performance index is Earned value/ Actual Cost. The calculated CPI of
this project is $182,860.00/$189,440.00 = .9652.
The cost performance index is calculated in MS project as well. The CPI as calculated from
MS project is represented in the figure below:
Question 4 (c) Incident and Actions
Incident Actions
Change in duration of project The effect of the change in the project could have been
eliminated with development of an effective project plan.
Resource conflict The problem of resource conflict could be eliminated if more
resources were available in the project.
Fipronil Testing The Fipronil testing although could not have been predicted
earlier, a more planned approach could have reduced its effect on
project schedule.