Project Management Assignment: Business Case and Planning

This project management assignment analyzes a business case study within the agriculture industry, focusing on project planning and execution. The assignment covers the business case study, different phases of a project life cycle, the importance of a project charter, and risk management. It also delves into project scope, project planning, work breakdown structure (WBS), and feedback from clients and teams. The solution includes an analysis of project activities, the critical path, Gantt charts, and a project closure report with recommendations for future projects. The assignment provides a comprehensive overview of project management principles and their application in the context of the agriculture sector, offering insights into the challenges and strategies involved in managing projects effectively, from initiation to completion.

Project Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
ASSIGNMENT 1.............................................................................................................................1
(i) Business case study................................................................................................................1
(ii) Different phases of a project life cycle and its importance. .................................................2
(iii) Importance a project charter and its development. .............................................................4
ASSIGNMENT 2.............................................................................................................................8
(i) Project scope ..........................................................................................................................8
(ii) Project plan............................................................................................................................9
(iii) Work breakdown structure (WBS).......................................................................................9
(iv) Feedback from the client and team for the identified project.............................................10
(v) Activities that are taken for success....................................................................................10
(vi) Clarify the critical path and show the project duration in days using activity numbers, and
explain the.................................................................................................................................12
benefits of using a Gantt chart.................................................................................................12
(vii) Prepare a project closure report based on the execution phase review of the identified
project. ......................................................................................................................................13
(vii) Recommend potential improvements for future projects based on the outcome of your
project........................................................................................................................................14
evaluation.................................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Business cannot start with proper project management as they assist in controlling
activities, planning and organising all the activities and resources in adequate manner. These are
things are assisted by project managers (Boud, Cohen and Sampson, 2014). All the activities that
are involved in the project management are for acquiring specific goals and objectives by
following the protocols and procedures involved in it. Current study describes all the activities
that are involved in the agriculture industry where their tools and techniques are discussed.
Furthermore, the study has also conducted to explain different phases and importance of a
project life cycle. After that, project charter will be prepared highlighting its importance. For the
first assignment at last, risk level that varies within the project life cycle stages are described.
For the second assignment, project scope, scope statement, steps, project plan, work
breakdown structure (WBS) are completed. After that feedback from the clients are taken.
Furthermore, project definition, scope, activity diagram and success rate of the diagram of the
stage are described. Moreover, full project Gantt chart from the beginning to end is drawn. At
last, purpose, major elements and recommendations are provided for the final and future projects.
ASSIGNMENT 1
(i) Business case study
There are many difficult and complex challenging situation faced by agricultural sector in
their daily routine life. Some people contribute to the success of the projects and provides
effective financial support to the company while other tries to manage these projects. The is
strong bonding between the agricultural and food industrial enterprises of Hungary and Faculty
of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development of the University of Debrecen (Doloi, 2012,
Bresnen, 2016). The project is executed with supportive action of both. They are available for
consulting and specialist training at fields. There are various regional enterprises that have
included candidates that have studied project-management. Furthermore, there are various
activities and training organized by project manager to provide opportunities and practice the
knowledge gained.
For this purpose, the research goals are made to identify and made developments as per
the needs to expand the teaching material. In order to complete it project management in the
agriculture field is made. The main aim is to identify the ability, skills and knowledge required
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by agricultural project manager. Further, to understand the range and effectiveness required by
them.
The project was started in summer 2008 through interview which is re initiated with the
help of Department of Management and Marketing. Main aim for the project is to examine the
agricultural and food industrial SMEs in Hungary. For this random SME's are selected and are
identifying the variability of their production profile. Financial estimation and time used for
analyses are mentioned in the report. The project is entirely different from the being
representative; the results are then compared with national data, that has provided another level
of examination opportunity in the region.
(ii) Different phases of a project life cycle and its importance.
Project-life-cycle develops the stages or separates into different phases which is
regardless of complexity and scope of project (Floricel and et. al., 2014, Bryde, Broquetas and
Volm, 2013). They must be grouped in phases so that team of project manager along with
him/her can effectively organize various activities. Further, it helps in identifying and resolving
issues regarding continuation, decision-making and termination of project. There are 4-stages of
it which starts with idea generation, project planing, implementation or execution and at last
termination phase (Gama, Rönnberg Sjödin and Frishammar, 2017, Calvo-Mora, Navarro-García
and Periañez-Cristobal, 2015, Chevrier, 2016).
Every project starts with new ideas which has its own deliverable to be produced
objectives, purpose and scope. For this project-manager build team, sets office, review about it
and take approval to move to next stage. These are the initiation phase of project undertaken:
 Project document: Defines characteristics of project.
 Project feasibility document: Restraint and secondary solutions comprise of 4-step study
areas which are issues-description, methodology used, alternative approach and
preliminary recommendations.
 Project concept document: Based on question of what, how and why project is done.
 Project charter: Activities such as scope, authorization and key success factors are
included in it.
During this period interviews are conducted, research is done and charter is prepared.
Project planning is done to identify project requirement, expenditure and scheduling and
search for resources. It comprise of scope, work-breakdown-structure, role assignment,
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scheduling, fund allocation. Along with this, it comprise of risk-management and procurement
planning. These are stages included in it final techno-economic feasibility, engineering and
process design, work-division, potential-vendors, final-cost estimation, capital-structure and at
last final-schedule of implementation where Gantt chart is prepared.
Project execution is about task-planned, actual-performance and taking corrective action.
It is team-work comprising of following activities, perform task in earlier phase, manager
maintains performance measurement and stakeholders. Stakeholder review variance and other
necessary action. Its basic process is execution, handle and project control. Moreover, key
activities are award contracts, monitoring-and-procuring goods and services, then erection of
equipment, controlling and monitoring expenditure, scheduling and scope and motivating project
team (Cicmi and et. al., 2017, Kutsch and et. al., 2015).
At last is termination stage which comprise of extinction, inclusion, or integration. For
this past experience is very beneficial.
Illu
stration 1: Phases of project
(Sources: Project Management in Agricultural Extension, 2013)
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(iii) Importance a project charter and its development.
Project charter is defined by Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) as
documentation that helps to describe the project authorization. It is the stage where authority to
project manager is provided so that they can take decision regarding the activities (Lagerström,
Baldwin and MacCormack, 2015, Martinell and Milosevic, 2016). It comprise of various
activities such as scope, deliverables, assumptions, etc. They comprise of following things:
 Organization's overall strategy and other business needs.
 Stakeholders and their needs.
 Key objectives that defines success level of projects.
 Scope definition and scope for the project
 Assumptions and constraints.
Project plan for the current case study
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Illustration 2: Expenditure and potential to add value during project life cycle
(Sources: Project Management in Agricultural Extension, 2013)

(iv) Risk Management.
Risk management is done by the managers where they have to identify the risk that are
associated with the business (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017). Traffic light theory business unit can be
used to identify the possible risk. It helps in developing the suitable risk that are needed for the
strategic motion. In addition to this, in risk control, manager makes evaluation of the potential
losses and thereby take strategic actions to eliminate the threats or risks which have high level of
impact upon the accomplishment of the project. There can be various sources of risk such as
unknown stakeholder, fuzzy projects, inappropriate staff etc. Force field analysis is another way
through which changes required can be analysed:
FORCES FOR
CHANGE
SCORES
(1-5)
CUSTOMER
RELATIONSHIP
MANAGEMENT
FORCES
AGAINST
CHANGE
SCORE
(1-5)
Customers 3 Legislation 2
Managements 4 Financial 3
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departments
Staff 5 Cost 3
Government 4
Total 16 Total 8
Risk control includes data used by manager through risk assessment to implement the
effective policies, standards and procedural changes in order to minimize errors. Down below is
the risk assessment
Risk Details Effect Probability Response Mitigation
Resignation of
project
manager
If managers
will resign
then all the
activities
cannot be
completed in
specified way
High level Low
probability
In this case,
project will be
assigned to the
assistant
project
manager.
By offering
attractive
salaries and
incentives.
Financial risk Limited
availability of
fund
Moderate level Higher
probability
Contingent
fund needs to
be made
during the
allocation of
budget.
Identify
stakeholders
that can donate
funds
Loss of data Cyber crime
or hacking of
data
High level Low
probability
Inculcating
cyber security
Assigning data
handling to the
specific
person.
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Changing
market
conditions
Dynamic
business arena
Moderate level Low
probability
Analysis of
trend rather
than taking
market
condition of
the particular
year.
Taking
standard
measures
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ASSIGNMENT 2
(i) Project scope
Various things such as project goals, deliverable, tasks, costs and deadlines are included
in it. In the present project, team members need to accomplish the project within the 2 months
with the budget of £10.2 million. They have to identify the different tools and techniques that are
required in agricultural areas by people of Hungary. Scope of the project facilitates timely
completion of the project by reducing the cost and time. Project scope provides deeper insight
into team’s member about the time within which they need to perform their tasks (Principles of
Project management. 2016). In addition to this, scope of the project act as a vision which
encourages member to make their best efforts which make contribution in attainment of goals
and objectives. Further, it also helps in establishing effective communication between the team
and stakeholders.
Key stages in project scope statements are:
 Templets that have guidelines about the previous project for the consultant. It can be used
as referral.
 Preliminary Scope Statement which provides chance for the project parameters. It details
about the question that includes why research was made, what will be effective outcomes,
project deliverables and scope.
 Information gathering is very necessary while writing the preliminary scope statement. It
is the helping statements that defines the project.
 Soliciting Input: These are the previous details that helps in familiarizing project.
 Formal scope statements: It is the specific, detailed information that is additionally added
along with references.
 Client Acceptance: Entire statement must be provided to the sponsor so that everyone can
contribute to the vision of project. It focus on this is not made there can be affect to cost,
outcomes or time.
 Statements Updates: It is the project progress where new information can be added.
These are used to revise about the project and should be labelled properly.
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(ii) Project plan
Project plan may be served as a document which is designed by the manager to
guide and control the members of team in the right direction. It includes and reflects coordination
between all the activities which team member needs to perform. It offers high level of benefit to
team by completing the task within the predetermined time period. It provides direction to the
member of the team. Through this, each member is able to perform his task more effectively
without any confusion. It also assists manager in making assessment of the time which is taken
by the members while performing the task as compared to the standard one. It enables managers
to undertake corrective measures or actions within the suitable time frame. Further, it also
encourages team members to accomplish the project with the budget provided to them.
Lack of coordination or alignment between the project objectives and organisation
strategies is one of the main factors which limit the effectiveness of the project plan. In addition
to this, project manager also needs to make changes in the plan in accordance with the market
conditions. This aspect negatively affects the budget and time duration of the project to the large
extent. Project plan prepared by the manager helps in assessing the resources which are needed
for the gas production project. By this, company is able to perform its business operations and
functions in the best possible manner and thereby helps in enhancing productivity as-well-as
profitability.
(iii) Work breakdown structure (WBS)
WBS are undertaken by managers so that they can breakdown various aspects that are
required to manageable parts (Sadgrove, 2016). Under this activities are sub-divided and the
efforts of achievements of purpose of the project are removed. Sub activities helps in detailing
about the whole projects. Due to this reason WBS project manager and team members are able
to perform the task or activities in the best possible manner.
It helps manager to define the project scope. Using the WBS the activities that are
involved in the project that are included or excluded must be written in the project. WBS
simplifies the approach and improves the performance of work. Moreover, it helps in
maintaining the project budget. They help to creates accountability in the context of the
performance of particular task and responsibility. Using it project completion can be assured
within the time limit mentioned. For the following project WBS is shown below:
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(iv) Feedback from the client and team for the identified project
The project restarted by the managers was effective. They are able to make new finding
which can be implemented in the Agriculture sector. They have greater knowledge about the
field of project management. For those who are ineffective must focus on the areas where
development or improvements are required. Further, they should keep in practise so that future
expectation and development in agricultural fields can be made.
(v) Activities that are taken for success
These are the steps that helped the manager to perform all the activities accordingly and step
wise. These are integration, scope, time, cost, quality, Human resource, communications, risk
and procurement management (Schenkelberg and et. al., 2015).
The project is about the agriculture industry where they are trying the new tools and
techniques that can help farmer to increase their production. Scope of the project is the
expectation that is required by project managers and team members.
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There are many ways through which project success can be determined. For example:
Deliverable Success actors may include the number of business requirements met and the quality
of the final solution. Another one is about the process success where project is managed,
including timeline, budget, communication, collaboration, change controls and adherence to
established project management processes. Stakeholder success determines subjective elements
like collaboration between team members, solution performance and the ability to solve stated
business problems.
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Illustration 3: Activity process

(vi) Clarify the critical path and show the project duration in days using activity numbers, and
explain the
benefits of using a Gantt chart.
Gantt chart is essential part of project management tools that helps to manage the
activities with respect to time (Stettina and Hörz, 2015, Turner, 2016). Using this managers can
manage all the activities from starting to end of the projects. Additionally, Gantt chart also
presents the activities of network which are highly interrelated with each other.
There are various benefits that are offered by Gantt Chart such as:
To manager they provide high level of assistance which assist them to monitor the
activities or task with respect to time allocated. Using this managers can make comparison
between actual taken for the monitor and can measure the project progress. They can take
corrective action in suitable time frame work. For the following project Gantt chart is shown
below:
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Analysing need of the
database management
system
6 days 11/20/17 11/27/17
Planning each and
every facet
5 days 11/28/17 12/4/17 1
Designing the system 3 days 12/5/17 12/7/17 2
Analyzing resources 5 days 12/8/17 12/14/17 1,3
Delegation of resources 7 days 12/8/17 12/18/17 3
Testing the system 6 days 12/15/17 12/22/17 4
Preparing action plan 6 days 12/19/17 12/26/17 4,5
Risk analysis 10 days 12/25/17 1/5/18 6
Final inspection 4 days 1/8/18 1/11/18 7,8
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(vii) Prepare a project closure report based on the execution phase review of the identified
project.
The projects closer report helps to deternime that goals and objectives of the report are gained.
They are used to illustrate that the adopted techniques and tools are effectively used.
Management has contributed in team for the completion of the report. They have shown better
understanding about the subject. Further, project methodology helped the manager to complete
the report in concise manner. It includes initiating, planning, execution, control and winding up
the work of a team. There are several types of methodology which is available to the project
team. Thus, such kind of methodology helps in getting desired level of outcome or success.
Communication also encompasses the role and responsibilities of the participants in relation to
the review, approval and dispatch of information about the project.
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(vii) Recommend potential improvements for future projects based on the outcome of your
project evaluation.
These are the strategies for making more effective project management at next time:
 Manager must have strategic leadership, oversight, quality assurance and systemic
approach.
 Project complexity and the number of stakeholders to be coordinated could be reviewed
at project design which makes it easy to develop.
 Encouraging user collaboration in refining answers, providing multiple points of view,
improving the exposition, and ensuring the veracity of the information would make the
system more valuable.
 Answers would support more in-depth study if they relied on and linked to existing
knowledge bases.
 Managers can use organic, collaborative, and interactive structure for the project.
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Online
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