ICT352 Project Management Report: Australia Forestry Expansion Plan

This report outlines a project management plan for Australia Forestry International's expansion into Western Australia. The project encompasses surveying potential locations, acquiring land, constructing a field office, hiring staff, planting forestry crops, and managing the entire process. The report includes a detailed business case, scope overview, milestone schedule, risk assessment, stakeholder analysis, and a work breakdown structure. The project aims to establish a new plantation and field office in Western Australia to capitalize on increased demand and mitigate environmental risks faced in existing markets. The report details the timeline, budget, and key deliverables, including milestones for project approval, team building, market survey, land acquisition, field office establishment, crop planting, and project closure. Risks such as budget overruns, legal issues, and labor shortages are identified with mitigation strategies. The stakeholder list defines roles and responsibilities. The project is expected to be completed within three years with a budget of $10 million and the goal of achieving a 30% profit margin within two years.

Running Head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
ICT Project Management – Western Australia Expansion
Name of the Student
Name of the University

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Table of Contents
1. Background..................................................................................................................................2
2. Scope Overview...........................................................................................................................2
3. Business Case..............................................................................................................................3
4. Milestone Schedule......................................................................................................................5
5. Risks, Assumptions and Constraints............................................................................................7
6. Stakeholder List...........................................................................................................................9
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................10

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1. Background
Australia Forestry International is a company that mainly grows and sells forestry crops
in NSW and Queensland, Australia. From starting out from a small plantation, the company grew
significantly over the years to become one of the largest plantation crop sellers in Australia.
However, there are various risks and adverse impacts on business in the current market area
including reduced supply and demand as well as environmental factors like bushfire. As a result,
the company has decided to expand to a new location in Australia where the demand is still high
or increasing and the environmental factors are less adverse. The company has thus selected
Western Australia as the new market area where it will be expanded from the current market. As
a part of the expansion plan, a new plantation will be set up and a field office will be constructed
in WA.
2. Scope Overview
Based on the new business strategy of the company, the scope includes the following
aspects:
 Survey of various locations in WA
 Acquisition of new property in WA by fulfilling all legal and government
guidelines
 Construction of field office in the property
 Hiring of field office employees and workers
 Plantation of crops in the property
 Growing the crops and selling them in the market

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The scope does not include the following aspects.
 Development of wage structures for the new employees and workers
 Contract signing with vendors and sellers
 Export business
3. Business Case
As per the initial estimations, the project will be completed roughly within the time span
of 3 years and an estimated budget of $10 million. For the establishment of plantation and field
office, 50,000 ha of land will be purchased. The initial expectations are that once the business is
up and running, the revenue will grow with at least 30% profit margin in two years. Based on the
growth of the revenue, the company may consider export business in the near future.
Based on the work requirements of the project, the work breakdown structure is
developed as follows.
WBS Task Name
0 Project for Australia Forestry International
1 Board Meeting and Expansion Planning
1.1 Call the First Board Meeting for the Project
1.2 Discuss Possible Business Strategy
1.3 Form a Survey Team
1.4 Conduct Detailed Survey of the Current Business and Market
1.5 Identify Main Issues, Risks and Drawbacks
1.6 Prepare Survey Report
1.7 Call Second Board Meeting
1.8 Discuss the Findings from the Survey
1.9 Discuss Possible Expansion Plan

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1.10 Identify Target Area for the Expansion
1.11 Select Western Australia for the Target Expansion Plan
1.12 Develop Project Proposal
1.13 Milestone: Approval of the Project Proposal
2 Team Building
2.1 Develop a Team for the Expansion Project
2.2 Assign Stakeholder Roles to Various Selected Employees
2.3 Assign Specific Roles and Responsibilities for the Stakeholders
2.4 Develop Wage Structure for the Stakeholders in the Project
2.5 Milestone: Team Building Complete
3 Survey of the Target Market
3.1 Select a Specific Target Area in WA
3.2 Conduct Survey of the Market
3.3 Conduct Survey of Land Properties for the Expansion
3.4 Contact WA Government for Possible Purchase of Land and Business
3.5 Apply for Business License in WA
3.6 Milestone: Business License Approved
4 Land Acquisition
4.1 Select the Land Property to be Purchased
4.2 Contact WA Government for Property Acquisition
4.3 Fulfil Legal Procedures Regarding Land Acquisition
4.4 Detailed Documentation and Paperworks
4.5 Finish Payment for the Price of the Property
4.6 Milestone: Official Handover of the Property
5 Field Office Establishment
5.1 Hire Contractor for Construction
5.2 Study the Land Area for the Property
5.3 Construction of the Field Office
5.4 Installation of Amenities
5.5 Connecting the Office with the Nearest Highway
5.6 Installation of Boundary for the Entire Property

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5.7 Milestone: Field Office Establishment Complete
6 Initial Forestry Crop Planting
6.1 Develop Planting Team
6.2 Cultivation of the Soil in the Property
6.3 Application of Fertilisers and Insecticides
6.4 Planting of the Forestry Crop
6.5 Apply Water to Each Crop
6.6 Place Markers on Each Crop
6.7 Milestone: Forestry Crop Planting Complete
7 Final Activities and Closing
7.1 Purchase Transport Trucks
7.2 Recruitment of Workers for the Plantation
7.3 Documentation of the Entire Project
7.4 Conduct Detailed Post Project Review
7.5 Official Sign Off
7.6 Milestone: Project Closed
4. Milestone Schedule
The schedule of the project including the milestones are listed as follows.
WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish
0 Project for Australia Forestry International 786 days Tue 17-03-20 Tue 21-03-23
1 Board Meeting and Expansion Planning 137 days Tue 17-03-20 Wed 23-09-20
1.1 Call the First Board Meeting for the Project 1 day Tue 17-03-20 Tue 17-03-20
1.2 Discuss Possible Business Strategy 5 days Wed 18-03-20 Tue 24-03-20
1.3 Form a Survey Team 10 days Wed 25-03-20 Tue 07-04-20
1.4 Conduct Detailed Survey of the Current Business and
Market
20 days Wed 08-04-20 Tue 05-05-20
1.5 Identify Main Issues, Risks and Drawbacks 10 days Wed 06-05-20 Tue 19-05-20
1.6 Prepare Survey Report 15 days Wed 20-05-20 Tue 09-06-20

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1.7 Call Second Board Meeting 1 day Wed 10-06-20 Wed 10-06-20
1.8 Discuss the Findings from the Survey 10 days Thu 11-06-20 Wed 24-06-20
1.9 Discuss Possible Expansion Plan 20 days Thu 25-06-20 Wed 22-07-20
1.10 Identify Target Area for the Expansion 15 days Thu 23-07-20 Wed 12-08-20
1.11 Select Western Australia for the Target Expansion
Plan
10 days Thu 13-08-20 Wed 26-08-20
1.12 Develop Project Proposal 20 days Thu 27-08-20 Wed 23-09-20
1.13 Milestone: Approval of the Project Proposal 0 days Wed 23-09-20 Wed 23-09-20
2 Team Building 30 days Thu 24-09-20 Wed 04-11-20
2.1 Develop a Team for the Expansion Project 10 days Thu 24-09-20 Wed 07-10-20
2.2 Assign Stakeholder Roles to Various Selected
Employees
5 days Thu 08-10-20 Wed 14-10-20
2.3 Assign Specific Roles and Responsibilities for the
Stakeholders
5 days Thu 15-10-20 Wed 21-10-20
2.4 Develop Wage Structure for the Stakeholders in the
Project
10 days Thu 22-10-20 Wed 04-11-20
2.5 Milestone: Team Building Complete 0 days Wed 04-11-20 Wed 04-11-20
3 Survey of the Target Market 65 days Thu 05-11-20 Wed 03-02-21
3.1 Select a Specific Target Area in WA 10 days Thu 05-11-20 Wed 18-11-20
3.2 Conduct Survey of the Market 15 days Thu 19-11-20 Wed 09-12-20
3.3 Conduct Survey of Land Properties for the Expansion 15 days Thu 10-12-20 Wed 30-12-20
3.4 Contact WA Government for Possible Purchase of
Land and Business
10 days Thu 31-12-20 Wed 13-01-21
3.5 Apply for Business License in WA 15 days Thu 14-01-21 Wed 03-02-21
3.6 Milestone: Business License Approved 0 days Wed 03-02-21 Wed 03-02-21
4 Land Acquisition 140 days Thu 04-02-21 Wed 18-08-21
4.1 Select the Land Property to be Purchased 10 days Thu 04-02-21 Wed 17-02-21
4.2 Contact WA Government for Property Acquisition 15 days Thu 18-02-21 Wed 10-03-21
4.3 Fulfil Legal Procedures Regarding Land Acquisition 45 days Thu 11-03-21 Wed 12-05-21
4.4 Detailed Documentation and Paperwork 40 days Thu 13-05-21 Wed 07-07-21
4.5 Finish Payment for the Price of the Property 30 days Thu 08-07-21 Wed 18-08-21
4.6 Milestone: Official Handover of the Property 0 days Wed 18-08-21 Wed 18-08-21

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5 Field Office Establishment 310 days Thu 19-08-21 Wed 26-10-22
5.1 Hire Contractor for Construction 25 days Thu 19-08-21 Wed 22-09-21
5.2 Study the Land Area for the Property 25 days Thu 23-09-21 Wed 27-10-21
5.3 Construction of the Field Office 6 mons Thu 28-10-21 Wed 13-04-22
5.4 Installation of Amenities 45 days Thu 14-04-22 Wed 15-06-22
5.5 Connecting the Office with the Nearest Highway 60 days Thu 16-06-22 Wed 07-09-22
5.6 Installation of Boundary for the Entire Property 35 days Thu 08-09-22 Wed 26-10-22
5.7 Milestone: Field Office Establishment Complete 0 days Wed 26-10-22 Wed 26-10-22
6 Initial Forestry Crop Planting 67 days Thu 27-10-22 Fri 27-01-23
6.1 Develop Planting Team 15 days Thu 27-10-22 Wed 16-11-22
6.2 Cultivation of the Soil in the Property 15 days Thu 17-11-22 Wed 07-12-22
6.3 Application of Fertilisers and Insecticides 10 days Thu 08-12-22 Wed 21-12-22
6.4 Planting of the Forestry Crop 10 days Thu 22-12-22 Wed 04-01-23
6.5 Apply Water to Each Crop 2 days Thu 05-01-23 Fri 06-01-23
6.6 Place Markers on Each Crop 15 days Mon 09-01-23 Fri 27-01-23
6.7 Milestone: Forestry Crop Planting Complete 0 days Fri 27-01-23 Fri 27-01-23
7 Final Activities and Closing 37 days Mon 30-01-23 Tue 21-03-23
7.1 Purchase Transport Trucks 6 days Mon 30-01-23 Mon 06-02-23
7.2 Recruitment of Workers for the Plantation 15 days Tue 07-02-23 Mon 27-02-23
7.3 Documentation of the Entire Project 10 days Tue 28-02-23 Mon 13-03-23
7.4 Conduct Detailed Post Project Review 5 days Tue 14-03-23 Mon 20-03-23
7.5 Official Sign Off 1 day Tue 21-03-23 Tue 21-03-23
7.6 Milestone: Project Closed 0 days Tue 21-03-23 Tue 21-03-23
Apart from this, the specific milestone schedule for the project is as follows.
WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish
0 Project for Australia Forestry International 786 days Tue 17-03-20 Tue 21-03-23
1.13 Milestone: Approval of the Project Proposal 0 days Wed 23-09-20 Wed 23-09-20
2.5 Milestone: Team Building Complete 0 days Wed 04-11-20 Wed 04-11-20
3.6 Milestone: Business License Approved 0 days Wed 03-02-21 Wed 03-02-21
4.6 Milestone: Official Handover of the Property 0 days Wed 18-08-21 Wed 18-08-21
5.7 Milestone: Field Office Establishment Complete 0 days Wed 26-10-22 Wed 26-10-22
6.7 Milestone: Forestry Crop Planting Complete 0 days Fri 27-01-23 Fri 27-01-23
7.6 Milestone: Project Closed 0 days Tue 21-03-23 Tue 21-03-23

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Acceptance Criteria: The project will only be accepted when all parts of the project are
completed and the final milestone is fulfilled within specified budget and time. If some activities
are pending even after reaching final milestone, the project will restart and continue until all
activities are complete.
5. Risks, Assumptions and Constraints
There are some possible risks in the project that are listed as follows.
Risk Occurring Chance Possible Extent of
Impact
Mitigation Strategy
Significant budget
overshoot due to
unforeseen and / or
uncontrolled expenses
High High Keep contingency
budget for the project,
control spending by
weekly monitoring and
allocation of funds
No approval from WA
government
Medium High Before proceeding with
project work, contact
WA government
regarding the expansion
plan and submit all valid
and legal documents
regarding the
acquisition of land and
setting up the business
Legal issues arising due Low High Hire lawyer at the start

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to illegal acquisition and
other activities
of the project and ensure
all legal procedures are
followed in the project
Lack of skilled labour
might be a risk for the
project
Medium Medium Hire workers from other
parts of the country who
are willing to relocate
for the project work
Assumptions:
 Three years’ time is sufficient for completing the expansion process
 $10m budget is sufficient for the expansion process
 There will be no problem in gaining approval from WA government
Constraints:
Transportation of materials and goods from the current office to the new field
office is a major constraint.
Due to time difference between the current location and Western Australia, the
working hours will be different and it will be significant challenge to keep track
of the project from the current office.
Legal standards and guidelines may force the organisation to cut down certain
aspects of the project.
6. Stakeholder List
The list of stakeholders and their roles in the project are as follows.
Stakeholder Designation Stakeholder Roles

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Management Board Management supervision and approvals for the
project
Project Manager Handling the entire project including the team
members
Acquisition Manager Acquisition of land for the project
Construction Manager Construction of field office and other construction
related work
Plantation Manager Planting of the crops and managing workers
Other than these stakeholders, there are project team members like construction workers
who constitute the human resources required in the project. On the other hand, there will be
requirements for material resources that will require construction materials, construction vehicles
and other equipments.

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Bibliography
Fleming, Q.W. and Koppelman, J.M., 2016, December. Earned value project management.
Project Management Institute.
Kerzner, H., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Marchewka, J.T., 2016. Information technology project management: Providing measurable
organizational value. John Wiley & Sons.
Meredith, J.R., Mantel Jr, S.J. and Shafer, S.M., 2017. Project management: a managerial
approach. John Wiley & Sons.