Project Management Report: Automation Futures PLC Case Study Analysis

This report presents a comprehensive project management consultancy report based on a case study of Automation Futures (AF) PLC. The report delves into vital aspects of project management, addressing the company's strategic goals within a defined timeframe. Part A of the report covers key areas such as the iron triangle parameters, risk register, network diagrams, Gantt charts, and net profit calculations. It further explores managing progress and spending, followed by earned value analysis and acceleration strategies. Part B includes a reflective essay evaluating the challenges encountered during the module and the complexities of the assessment. The report provides detailed analysis of project constraints, planning methodologies, and financial implications, offering valuable insights into effective project management practices.

Fundamentals of Project
Management

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report contains a comprehensive and detailed project-management consultancy
report which covers vital aspects of project management and related topics. The whole report is
based upon case study of Automation Futures (AF) PLC to assist company in achieving
strategics gaols within stipulated time-frame. Further this report involves a reflective essay in
order to evaluate challenges and obstacles faced within Module and complexities in producing
the entire assessment.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
PART A...........................................................................................................................................4
1. Parameters and Risk.....................................................................................................................4
(a) Iron Triangle Parameters..................................................................................................4
(b) Risk Register.....................................................................................................................5
2. Planning and Costs.....................................................................................................................10
(a) Network Diagram............................................................................................................10
(b) Gantt Chart......................................................................................................................11
(c) Net profit of the contract.................................................................................................13
3. Managing progress and spending:.............................................................................................14
(a.).........................................................................................................................................14
(b.)........................................................................................................................................16
4. Earned Value Analysis and Acceleration:.................................................................................19
(a.).........................................................................................................................................19
(b.)........................................................................................................................................21
(c.).........................................................................................................................................21
PART B..........................................................................................................................................21
Reflective Essay...................................................................................................................21
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................24

INTRODUCTION
Project management is a practice through which planning, initiating, executing,
controlling of all the activities which is required to be performed in the process of completion of
a project is conducted. In this project Automation Futures PLC is conducting a new project. It is
a technology contracting and software development organisation and is getting involved in new
project of TTF PLC for designing a project which helps in power saving. The project is initiated
and involves various terms and conditions (Agarwal and Kalmár, 2015). In this project report a
consultancy report of the project is prepared with reflective report for the project.
PART A
1. Parameters and Risk
(a) Iron Triangle Parameters
Iron Triangle and project management triangle is a model of the constraints of the project
management. Success of a project is highly related to how well a project possess ability to deal
with several constraints available (Iron Triangle Parameters, 2019). In the process of preparing
new technological project of TTF PLC scope, time, cost and quality are some constraints in the
project triangle. An act of balancing among these factors needs to be performed so that project is
accomplished as per plans. For example- quality of the project is a constrained by the budget,
time and features demanded in that project.
In the process of accomplishing the project of TTF PLC constrains of the project are cost,
time and scope.
Fixed cost: Projects when initiated on fixed cost and flexible on deliverable basis. In this
situation AF PLC needs to perform work on consumer priority basis. Performed in small parts to
be delivered on time and monitoring needs to be performed on time.
Fixed time: when consumers ask to deliver project on specific time then work needs to
be performed in absolute business value order. Fixed time duration is accessed to push the work
with final date (Chinowsky and Taylor, 2012).

Fixed Scope: When work needs to be performed as mentioned and time and cost for the
delivery is set flexible. In this quality of the work is maintained.
Fixed cost and scope: When fixed cost and fixed set of deliverable are expected then in
that case flexibility is provided to date of delivery. Risk is increased to minimize the unexpected
delays.
Fixed cost and time: When fixed cost and time is expected for the project then in this
situation set features are set flexible (Fabricius, 2013). Price and time become constraints for
such projects.
Fixed time and Scope: When fixed set of deliverable needs to be provided in fixed time
and cost is set free. Then amount spent is not a constrained for the project. A schedule is
prepared and care is taken in the process to unexpected cost can be minimized and controlled.
Scope: Iron Triangle Parameters, 2019
(b) Risk Register
Risk Management Register for XYZ Project
Risk Identification Assessment Response Monitoring and
Illustration 1: Iron Triangle Parameters, 2019

Control
Ref
eren
ce
Even
t Cause Effect
Pro
bab
ility
Im
pa
ct
P
x
L
St
ra
te
gy
Trigger Action
Resp
onsib
le
perso
n/s
Revi
ew
Freq
uenc
y
Status
date
and
general
notes
1 Lack
of
fundi
ng
Budget
Constra
ints-
allocati
on in
doubt
or
subject
to
change
Projec
t
delaye
d
4 5 20 Mi
tig
ate
Project's
sponsors
fail to
ensure
secure
funding
level
when
the plan
is
presente
d
Conduct
another
funding
round,
seeking
support from
key
stakeholder
groups,
including the
executive
sponsor
Proje
ct
Mana
ger,
Exec
utive
Spon
sor
Mon
thly
23.11.1
6
Registe
r
updated
.
Alternat
ive
funding
sources
identifi
ed
2 Unde
r
budge
ting
Unfore
seen
situatio
ns
which
leads to
high
amount
of loss.
Low
amoun
t of
profit
or
may
cause
loss.
5 6 30 Go
od
est
im
ati
on
Project
manager
estimati
on was
incompe
tent
Effective
analysis and
scope of
variations.
Proje
ct
mana
ger
and
empl
oyees
.
Mon
thly
27/11/1
6
3 Time
estim
ation
Non
compil
ation of
Delay
in the
proces
6 4 24 An
aly
Wrong
estimati
on is
Proper check
needs to be
made on each
Proje
ct
Mana
After
com
pleti
29/11/1
6

task as
planned
and
expecte
d.
s of
compl
etion
of the
project
.
sis made by
manager
for
activity
completi
on.
activity to be
performed on
time.
ger on of
an
activ
ity
4 Uncer
tain
event
s
Situatio
ns
which
is not
predict
ed
earlier
takes
place.
Distra
ction
of the
project
5 5 25 Mi
tig
ate
the
eff
ect
Project
manager
fails to
make
estimati
ons.
Take all the
corrective
actions to
minimise
negative
effect.
Proje
ct
mana
ger
and
team
mem
bers
Whe
n
requi
red
02/12/1
6
5 Uncle
ar
specif
icatio
ns
Becaus
e of
unclear
or
incorre
ct
project
intentio
n
Qualit
y of
work
is
compr
omise
d
4 5 20 De
vel
op
in
g
we
ll
sp
eci
fie
d
pr
oje
ct
Project
manager
fails to
develop
clear
specific
ations
for the
project
activitie
s.
Take review
at each stage
to reduce
such
circumstance
s.
Proje
ct
mana
geme
nt
team
With
each
activ
ity
02/12/1
6
6 Negli Lack of Failur 5 4 20 Re Team Each activity Team For 05/12/1

gence time
for
project
accomp
lishmen
t
e of
the
project
qu
ire
d
co
nsi
de
rat
io
n
ne
ed
s
to
be
pr
ov
ide
d
member
s do not
provide
a clear
concentr
ation on
their
activitie
s.
needs to be
performed as
planned and
set targets.
mem
bers
of the
proje
ct
each
activ
ity
6
7 Tech
nical
risk
Lack of
require
d
technol
ogy
Non
accom
plishm
ent or
enhan
cemen
t in
time
period
6 5 30 Ch
ec
ki
ng
tec
hn
ica
l
via
bil
ity
Risk
manager
of the
project
made
wrong
estimati
on for
technica
l risk
Completing
the project in
alternative
and possible
manner.
Risk
mana
ger
Mon
thly
07/12/1
6
8 Cost Inaccur High 4 4 16 Ac Manger Ensure funds Proje Quar 15/12/1

mana
geme
nt
ate cost
forecast
s
cost
and
requir
ement
of
more
funds.
cu
rac
y
of the
project
fails to
develop
correct
analysis
are available
and minimise
over
budgeting
ct
Mana
ger
terly 6
9 Chan
ge
mana
geme
nt
Inaccur
ate
estimati
on for
the
project
High
amoun
t of
variati
ons
6 5 30 M
an
agi
ng
ch
an
ge
Manage
ment
team
fails to
work as
planned
because
of
wrong
estimati
ons.
Ensuring
estimations
on the basis
of plans.
Mana
geme
nt
team
Mon
thly
25/12/1
6
10 Com
muni
cation
Non
establis
hment
of
commu
nicatio
n
channel
Variati
ons in
actual
and
requir
ed
perfor
mance
5 5 25 Ef
fec
tiv
e
co
m
m
un
ica
tio
n
ch
Manage
ment
fails to
establish
a clear
commun
ication
at each
stage of
project.
Take all
possible
actions to
make
effective
communicati
on network.
Mana
geme
nt
and
team
mem
bers
At
each
stage
of
the
proje
ct
25/12/1
6

an
nel
2. Planning and Costs
(a) Network Diagram
A network diagram is a graphical representation of all the activities that AF PLC will
perform in the process of accomplishing the project provided by TTF PLC. Through this
representation responsibilities and work flow of the project is allocated among different
activities. This chart is prepared with series of boxes in which activities are defined and through
arrows series in which these activities will be performed is mentioned (Fleming and Koppelman,
2016). Through this network diagram sequence of stages determining the minimum time taken
for the accomplishment of the project is determined.

(b) Gantt Chart
Gantt Chart of the project performed for TTF PLC will specify the time duration taken by
each activity to accomplish. Through this it will to identify that start period as targeted will help
in accomplishing the project on the deadline or not (Gauthier and Ika, 2012). As this technical
project will be initiated on 8th July 2019 by AF PLC and it will be accomplished on 6th July 2020.
This project is provided with a completion date of 25th September 2020 and which is later then its
actual completion date. This helps to determine that business will accomplished the project
before its time and will earn extra profits for early completion as mentioned in the project clause.