MGT5PMT Project Management: Handling Urgent Changes in WA Project

This assignment provides a response to an urgent requirement to expedite the readiness of a fuel storage tank in Western Australia, addressing a client's concern about a rescheduled oil shipment. The response outlines two potential options: compressing the work packages for the current tank (Tank One) or rearranging the project schedule to prioritize Tank Three, which is more accessible. The first option involves fast-tracking and crashing the work program by performing tasks concurrently and working overtime, aiming to complete the repairs on Tank One in 19 days. The second option focuses on Tank Three, compressing its work schedule by undertaking tasks simultaneously and adding more staff and equipment, with a target completion time of 17 days. Both options leverage the team's expertise and experience to ensure a tank is ready for the oil shipment within three weeks, with additional time for inspection. The assignment concludes by requesting the client's decision on the preferred approach and approval for the scope changes to commence work.

Response

Hi Kim
I have read your e-mail on the urgent requirement to have the storage tank currently being worked
on to be ready for an oil shipment within three weeks. I acknowledge this is a tough situation,
considering that missing that shipment will cost you $ two million in revenue and expose you to
Potential fines of $ three million monthly. As it is, we are behind schedule; however, we have the
expertise and wherewithal to get the storage tank ready for the rescheduled shipment within three
weeks, and I have two options for this: The first option is to compress the work packages currently
being done so that tasks in getting tank One ready are done concurrently rather than sequentially.
The second option is to rearrange the project schedule and start with tank Three and get it ready
within three weeks. In the first option, we will undertake the two main tasks simultaneously where
the four steel patch is put in place at the same time work on the four steel anchor on top of the tank.
The repair works will also be done over a shorter time period instead of the scheduled 28 days by
reassigning all staff to work on the repair of tank One. We will work overtime to achieve the
objectives by fast tracking the repair works so that they are completed within 14 days. Because
putting in place the four steel patches and the four steel anchor on top of the tank concurrently.
Essentially, we will attain the objectives by fast tracking the repair works and crashing the work
program. This approach should save us time and have the tank three ready within 19 days: repairs
will be fast tracked and crashed so they are completed in half the scheduled time. The steel patch
and anchor on top of the tank will be put in place concurrently, completing the tasks within two
days. Cleaning the tank will be done soon after for a day and repainting done in two days: bringing
the total time taken to complete the repairs on tank one to 19 days. This will leave an additional one
or two days to do last minute checks. However, this is a risky approach, but still very much
achievable, considering our expertise, experience, and technical knowhow in handling such risky
work in a compressed schedule. The other option is to rearrange the project work schedule
completely and get tank Three ready. Originally, we had scheduled tank Three to be done last after
completing tanks one and Two. Given the change in circumstances, we will rearrange the work
schedule and instead start by getting tank Three repaired. Tank Three is the most easily accessible,
and so will require less time and additional equipment, with reduced risks to get ready for the
shipment in three weeks. In working on tank Three, we will also compress the work schedule and
work packages to complete the repairs within a much shorter time period by undertaking tasks
concurrently, and working over time. This will fast track the repair works and in addition we will
crash the tasks involved in repairing tank Three by adding more staff and equipment to its repair.
With this approach, we will complete the works on tank Three in less time. The six steel patch will
be done concurrently with replacing the main water supply system for the tank. We will work an
additional half day on Saturday and overtime every day to complete these tasks in 6 days, rather

than ten days. The four steel anchor on top of the tank will then follow and be done within four
days, rather than the initial five days and cleaning of ready sections will be done as the four steel
anchor is being completed. Essentially, we will overlap the tasks, stating cleaning as we head
towards completing the tank top steel anchor and this will take a total of six days. The tank will then
be repainted within four days, even if it takes five days we will still have accomplished all the tasks
within 17 days at most. As such, the overall repair works on tank Three will take less than half the
initially allocated time. With our skills and expertise as well as experience, all the two options will
ensure we have a repaired tank in good condition to receive the scheduled deliver of oil after three
weeks, with some additional time left over for tasks such as inspection. Kindly decide on which
approach suits you best and approve the scope changes then we can get to work with the new
schedule in a day
Looking forward to hearing from you