Project Management Discussion: Size, Life Cycle & Planning Stage

This assignment consists of two discussion posts related to project management. The first post discusses the impact of a project's size and complexity on its life cycle, emphasizing that larger and more complex projects have longer life cycles due to the increased number of steps involved from concept to execution. The post suggests that global projects require better design, development, and execution to manage the pressures of global competition. The second post focuses on the planning stage of a construction project, highlighting the importance of understanding the client's expectations regarding project completion, budget, and constraints. It also discusses how value management, which aims to improve project outcomes and performance by defining client objectives and ensuring the best value, can enhance project returns by focusing on increasing value rather than just cost-cutting. The discussion references the works of Kelly, Male, and Graham (2014) and Lock (2017) to support its points.

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Project Management Application
Name Of The Student:
Name Of The University:

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Discussion Post 1: Project Size and Life Cycle
In any sector, be it manufacturing or construction, the life cycle of a project is impacted
by the size of the project and the complexity of the project (Lock, 2017). With the development
of a concept every project is initiated or taken up. The process continues and finally the project
ends after the utilization takes place and the desired results are derived. Therefore, the project
length or life cycle will be shorter for a small or a medium sized project. For a larger project, the
life span of the project will be much longer. For instance, in a construction work of a house the
project life cycle is short while for construction of a bridge, the project life cycle is longer.
Complexity of a project also impacts its life cycle. The simpler and easier projects like
construction of a small cafeteria in an office building are much simpler than the construction of a
complete housing complex. Thus the more complex a project is, the longer it will take to
complete it as it involves many steps. The project concept has to be approved in the beginning.
Further, the project design needs to be developed. Finally the project can be completed after its
proper execution.
The project size and complexity has to be kept in mind while planning for a project. In
the global environment, the project needs better designing, development and execution as it has
the pressure of global competition to control all impact on the life cycle.

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Discussion Post 2: Planning Stage
The three parties, clients, contractors and consultant would sit for a planning of a
construction project. After knowing what the project is all about, the client needs to be asked the
three most important questions. Firstly, by when is the client expecting the project to be
completed. Secondly, what is the budget, which the client is allocating for the project. Finally,
what are the constraints in the way of completion of the project. It is very important to have clear
idea about the project objectives so that the best results can be delivered for the project.
According to Kelly, Male and Graham, (2014), value management is a way of improving
the project outcome and its performance. It helps in defining the objectives of the client and
ensuring the best value is provided to them. The concept of value management is not only cost
cutting but increasing the value of any project. The clients are able to get the best returns to the
projects when value management is applied to project performance.

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References
Kelly, J., Male, S., & Graham, D. (2014). Value management of construction projects. New
Jersey, United States: John Wiley & Sons.
Lock, D. (2017). The essentials of project management. Abingdon, Oxfordshire: Routledge.