Project Management Assessment: A Comprehensive Report

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Managing Project Assessments
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................4
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................7
Project Life Cycle........................................................................................................................7
Leadership..................................................................................................................................13
Problems related to Administration and Control.......................................................................13
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................14
Reference List................................................................................................................................15
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Introduction
Project management can be defined as the process of initiating or implementing, devising plans
or strategies, controlling or administering, and terminating the task or the job that a team does so
that it can achieve its goals and objectives and make sure that its success criteria is met. Project
management also involves the completion of the project within the stipulated period. However,
the major issue that arises in terms of project management is with respect to the achievement of
every goals or target of the project provided the constraints or hurdles are present. In this
assignment, the characteristics of a project have been described along with the description of PID
along with the illustration of WBS. The scope statement of a project has been described in the
assignment along with it the case study provided have been read carefully and a report has been
written corresponding to it.
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Task 1
Q1 a) Define the key characteristics of any project.
A project can be defined as a task or an activity that is executed in order to create a commodity
or service that is unique. The activities that are performed or undertaken in order to manufacture
a service or product is known as project however the activities that are performed on a daily
basis are not projects. A project has seven characteristics that have been described below:
 A project has a single purpose so that proper results can be obtained accordingly.
 The project that is undertaken or done is unique in its own way.
 The projects that are done are temporary, as they do not last long (Meredith et al., 2018).
 In order to accomplish a project, it is required people having different skills or belonging to
different professions are employed.
 A project that is undertaken is mostly different from previous projects that are undertaken.
 Any organisation that takes upon a project is at risk or stake.
 A project is a procedure of operation so that the goals that have been set with respect to it can
be achieved.
b) What is the purpose of the Project Initiation Document (PID)
The purpose of PID is to confine and record general data or information that is required for the
correct definition of the project and the strategies that are devised with respect to it. It is required
that PID is expanded based on the requirement of the project and its state with respect to the aim
and goals of the project (Økland et al., 2018).
2 a) What is the Scope Statement for a project?
The scope statement of a project can be defined as the statement that the managers of a project
use in order to make sure that the result that is expected from the project is achieved provided the
hurdles are present. The scope statement of a project needs it to be confirmed by every person
who is involved in the project like the clients, project team, and the stakeholders.
b) What role does the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) have in such a statement?
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The WBS or Work breakdown structure in a project is used in order to reduce the complication
of the activities with respect to the set of tasks. It aids the manager of a project to concentrate on
the tasks of the project more as compared to the activities that are complicated in the project. It is
necessary that the tasks with respect to a project are independent as well as measurable.
3) Using the information below, plot out a full project Gantt chart and identify the critical
path. How many days does it take to complete the project?
Figure 1: Gantt chart
(Source: Created by the learner)
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Figure 2: Critical path
(Source: Created by the learner)
Around 174 days will be taken in order to finish the project.
4) What approaches exist to generate a budget for a specific project budget?
Several techniques are used in order to create a budget with respect to the execution of a project.
The techniques with respect to the execution of a project have been described below:
 Top-down budgeting approach: This approach involves making decision with respect to the
cost that will be incurred with respect to the project and dividing the quantity or the amount
that has been decided among the various packages of work (Liu et al., 2019).
 Bottom-up budgeting approach: This approach involves the estimation of total expenditure
on the project by estimating the cost of packages of lowest-level task and commence.
5) How can project risk arise? Outline the various responses to risk that may be taken
within project management.
A risk can have adverse effect on the quality of the result or the outcome that a project generates.
The risks that can emerge with respect to the administration and operation of a project have been
described below:
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 Scope risk that involves scope creep or slither, issues of integration, defects in software and
hardware associated with the project, and modifications in dependencies of the project.
 Scheduling risk is also a threat for a project because it might lead to unforeseen delays. RACI
matrix, Gantt Chart, and WBS can be used in order to deal with scheduling risks (Project-
management.com, 2018).
 Resource risk that involves unavailability of adequate resources required for the project.
 Technology risks that involve defects or failures in hardware and software associated with
the project.
The tools that can be used to mitigate the risks are as follows:
 Jira for managing issues
 ProWorkflow for managing projects
6) What quality methods (project evaluation, monitoring, and control) would you introduce
to ensure a project is completed successfully?
A project can be completed in a successful manner by integrating the quality methods such as
Total Quality Management approach. TQM approach tends to bring about improvements within
the varied range of activities and services that occur in order to make the projects successful and
beneficial. According to Dale and Plunkett (2017), TQM approach would help in managing the
operational activities in a smooth and efficient manner in order to achieve the objectives and
goals laid down by the management of the company. The project will be executed in a smooth
and efficient manner to achieve the objectives and goals of the organisation. According to
Monczk et al., (2015), Just-In-Time strategy of setting up the operations management within the
organisation would prove to be beneficial in order to achieve the objectives smoothly within a
stipulated period. Just-In-Case strategy also helps in implementing the work by sticking to the
legal guidelines and norms of the company.
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Task 2
Project Life Cycle
A project that is developed in a standard manner involves four stages. According to Kerzner
(2017), the four stages are the phase of initiation, phase of planning, phase of implementation
and the closing phase when the project ends. The project manager and the team that is set up for
carrying out the project tend to have a common goal or objective. All the projects comprise of
three parts namely the starting or initial period, the mid part through which the project flows
through with its own speed and lastly, the ending period when the project comes to its end or
completion.
During the initiation phase, the project is started by following the specific objectives and
strategies. The varied range of operations and activities tend to give the project a different shape
in achieving the objectives and goals laid down by the management. According to Meredith et
al., (2017), the four phases that are included under the project life cycle tends to create a
difference within the organisation and provides the necessary support to the organisation to
achieve their objectives by successfully implementing the project. The project life cycle thus
gives a systematic idea about the ways followed by a project in moving forward to its
completion.
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Figure1: Stages of project life cycle
(Source: Mavenlink.com, 2019)
Initiation of the project: During the initiation phase of implementing the project, the specific
details about arranging the features of the project will be taken into account by the project
managers. The project managers would also devise ways to make the project feasible to be
delivered in a systematic manner. The laws and legislations of the workplace will be considered
in order to maintain the activities and services properly. The condition of the market is analysed
with the help of involving market analysis.
According to Grayson and Hodges (2017), the trends associated with the marketing analysis
would help in establishing the appropriate activities that have their relevance within the open
market. The project can be made efficient by following the newer methods and ways driven by
technology. The management must adopt the necessary steps by following the legal norms and
procedures. The sponsor related to the budget behind establishing the activities involved with the
project operations are selected carefully in order to make the project successful. The team or
group framed within the organisation provide the basic support in establishing the activities that
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have their relevance in the organisational sphere. The project deliverables have to be readied in
order to devise the steps of initiating the project successfully. The steps related to the deliverance
of the project activities are as follows:
 Deciding upon the feasibility of the project
The feasibility of the project is decided upon. The issues that create a problem would be
identified in order to improve the business and manufacturing operations. The different steps
of the project would provide the necessary support through solving the problematic issues
associated with the project. The project would be done by integrating the specific strategies
and policies that have their relevance within the social sphere.
 Identification of the scope of project
According to Marchewka (2016), the contents of the project including the details and
valuable facts associated with the project would be implemented in a proper manner within
the organisational objectives to execute the project properly. The basic insights about the
project will fall under the purview of project scope.
 Identification of deliverables
The deliverables involve the services and the operational activities that are related to
organising the project in an efficient manner. The products and services that shall be
designed in an appropriate manner must be made in an ideal manner to achieve the targets
and goals of the organisation.
 Identification of the relevant stakeholders
The relevant stakeholders are identified and their behavioural pattern is studied in order to
develop the appropriate strategies and policies that are relevant in executing the operations
successfully. The project can be implemented in a proper an efficient manner if the
stakeholders are identified properly and efficiently within the organisational sphere. The
demands and the various tastes of the stakeholders are developed.
 Establishing a proper business case
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The expenses and the budget that exists behind developing the business case is done in a
systematic manner while conducting the project properly. The advantages and the potential
expenses that is involved behind establishing the business case are decided upon by the
management of the companies.
Project planning: This phase of developing the project would involve the necessary steps and
measures that are helpful for planning the project properly by adhering to the systematic policies
and norms. This phase includes the two operational aspects of planning thoroughly about the
project and then executing the project with efficacy and accuracy. An individual is given the role
of a leader who helps the project to be planned and executed properly. The managers who are
made the heads of the projects play the role of supervising the projects and assessing the efficacy
and performance of the projects.
1) The planning of the project would be done by involving the necessary norms and policies of
the organisations.
2) The necessary and important documents would be involved in arranging the various steps and
procedures to implement the project successfully within the organisational sphere.
3) The goals and aims of the organisation are adhered to in order to implement the project
successfully without any obstacles.
4) The expenses and the cost involved in framing the budget behind developing the project tasks
and services have to be decided.
5) The project will be assessed by integrating the specific objectives that have their relevance
within the organisational sphere.
Project execution: This phase takes into account the various phases that have their relevance in
helping the project to be executed properly by sticking to the policies and laws of the
organisation. The execution of the project would help in implementation of the varied range of
steps and measures that brings about success to the project. Most of the resources and raw
materials are utilised during this phase of the project. According to Liedtka and Ogilvie (2019),
the varied range of activities and services related to the project are highlighted and they help in
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smooth execution of the project for future benefits. The execution of the project will be done by
following the steps namely:
1) Task creation: The creation of the tasks would help in implementing the activities in groups
or teams.
2) Briefing or informing the teams about the project work: The team members or members
of the groups are given a briefing about the project work that is being undertaken. The subject
matter is being provided to the teams or groups that are involved in it.
3) Proper communication with the team members: The team members have to be
communicated properly about the various aspects of the project so that they can implement the
project properly. The systems and laws have to be adhered to in order to conduct the business
operations related to the project efficiently. Various categories of communication need to be
established with the various team members in order to execute the work in a comfortable and
friendly atmosphere.
4) Supervision of the project: The supervision and monitoring associated with the project
would help the project to be delivered properly by the involvement of the talented and dedicated
employees working in the organisational sphere. The objectives and goals are thus achieved and
this helps in executing the project properly. The relevant aspects that would help in
demonstrating the features related to the project will be established in a proper and efficient
manner by adhering to the steps and policies associated with the project.
5) Managing the budget: According to DeCenzo et al., (2016), the expenses that are involved in
conducting the varied range of actions and tasks of the organisation are developed properly to
help in achieving the objectives and targets of the organisation. If the budget is controlled
properly, then the project can be operated smoothly and the organisation would reap benefits as a
result.
The project has to be completed by adhering to the specific steps and policies related to the
organisation. The completion of the project would involve the verification of the criteria
associated with developing the project. A closure report associated with the project will be
developed and the artefacts associated with the project are gathered at one place.
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