Project Management Report: ABC Ltd's Acquisition of DEF Ltd

This report analyzes project management principles within the context of ABC Ltd's acquisition of DEF Ltd, a UK-based food and drink retail company acquiring a high-street frozen food retailer. The report defines project characteristics, the purpose of a Project Initiation Document (PID), and the elements of project scope, including the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). It outlines approaches to project budgeting, risk management, and quality methods to ensure project success. Furthermore, the report delves into the skills and competencies essential for a project manager, such as leadership, time management, and negotiation, and describes the project management process, encompassing initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure. Cost analysis and project activities are also discussed, providing a comprehensive overview of the project management lifecycle in this corporate acquisition scenario.

Managing Projects

INTRODUCTION
Project is defined as clear or concise tasks or activities which is performed for common
purpose or to get solution of any critical issues or problems. Mainly, every project is based on
kind of universal law which means it is temporary and based on deliverables (Smyth and
Vanclay, 2017). Moreover, project and its management is essential & critical tasks both to arrive
at-least any of the defined results. To perform any project, its important to have correct idea,
concept along with techniques to do so. This project will highlighting on ABC Ltd which is one
of the UK largest food or drink retail. They are acquiring DEF Ltd which is well-known for high
street frozen food retailer. Further, project will try to cover discussion about elements of project
management which is needed to carry out project in an defined manner or way. In this report,
focus will be on making discussion about skills and competencies of a project manager, project
life cycle along with processes of a project evaluation.
TASK 1
1)
a. Define the key characteristics of any project
Project is defined as a temporary endeavour undertaken to develop a unique product,
service or accomplish any defined results or outcomes. Any project which is started with defined
purpose has capabilities to decides its direction or way to reach out at to the end point of project.
Moreover, purpose of the project is to achieve solution to any specified issue or problem. Project
is universally applicable to any context or issues whether technical, legal or activities based roles
or regulation (Salah and Moselhi, 2016). Characteristics of a project such as temporary, unique
deliverable along with the progressive elaboration helpful to determine its real value. Due to
project, an individual or group of people can apply their available resources to the project to
reach at a common benefits. Hence, utilisation of the resources is another characteristics of any
given projects or activities.
b. What is the purpose of the Project Initiation Document (PID)
PID is a set of documentation that is collected up creating a project rather than all kind of
an information into the system. The purpose of the project initiation document is to attain &
record basic information which is needed to correctly to define or plan any project. PID is also

useful to represents the concise version of any start-ups documents. Majorly, project initiation
document are used for two main purpose: based on the information of the PID and project which
gives it a clear & concise commitment (Sachdeva and et. al., 2016). PID is most important to
artefacts in a project, because it is helpful for foundation of the project. Also, purpose of PID is
to record legal preceding which gone to be happen in any project or work. Also, it will be made
with use of right ability or status along with role of ethical consideration.
2)
a. What is the Scope Statement for a project
In order to define scope for ant project, its three key components such as boundaries (an
identification what is included and what is not included in the project), deliverables (output that
project is expected to gain or produce) as well as requirements (such as interest or requirement of
a project stakeholders) need to be ascertained. In concise way, scope statement is helpful to
details the project deliverables or describe major objectives. Such objectives is necessary to
consists of certain measurable to gather the success of the project.
b. What role does the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) have in such a statement
Work breakdown structure (WBS) is one of the way to assign task, keep track of progress
along with ensuring completion of a project (Remington and Pollack, 2016). Project scope is
highly critical for project success and in response WBS is helpful to defines scope of your
project by consideration of statement of the scope and subdividing the major project deliverables
into smaller, deliverables and managing package of an activities. Also, role of WBS is to brings
awareness of project among team people and divides or delegated work among them.

3) Plot out a full project Gantt chart and identify the critical path

4) What approaches exist to generate a budget for a specific project?
For every project, its prominent to prepare budget whose aim must be to estimate cost of
real values or status. Before preparing of a budget, first clear identification of the task, activities
or deliverables is need to be identified along with identifying whether it would be cost per task or
time estimates (Budget Planning, 2019). There are several approaches with help of which budget
can be made such as determination of resources cost rates, cost of quality, reserve analysis,
vendor bid analysis which is termed as necessary tools to prepare a defined budgets. Mainly,
resource cost rates is mainly works, project is carrying out at a specific rates.
5) How can project risk arise? Outline various responses to risk that may be taken within project
management
Risk is any uncertain activities or act, which in reality appear without any prior necessary
information in advance. Risks are mainly due to lack of planning, estimation in advance process
along with controlling. Risk such as risk of image, financial loss, injury while undertaking any
project. To overcome all above, its important to do planning, pre-assessment of risk to develop
strategies or creates solution to overcome all such.
6) What quality methods would you introduce to ensure a project is completed successfully?
To ensure success of the project, it is prominent to ensure quality and positive or negative
aspects of the project to accomplish its defined aim or purpose into the right manner or way. To
ensure successful completion, use of quality tools given under:
Project Evaluation: Project evaluation is a systematic and objective assessment of a
project which is either ongoing or completed. It involves collecting and analysing information
about project activities, characteristics and their results.
Monitoring: Monitoring a project refers to process of collecting, analysing and using
that information to monitor and track the progress of a project.
Control: Controlling is one of the necessary step, which is mainly required to have check
or control on operation to ensure correctly that project is being completed on time. In this factor,
measures such as annual report of the project along with final procedural assessment is being
carried onto ensure effective control on the project.

TASK 2
Skills and competencies for the Project Manager
For the ABC Plc, project management is the necessary task, in which all process linked to
any project is performed. Also, it involves organising of an activity, time and cost management
to helps out the managers to accomplishes its pre-planned goals (Javani and Rwelamila, 2016).
To perform this project of DEF Ltd acquisition, project manager is need to pursues several skills
such as leadership, time management, negotiation etc., so that project manager should complete
its defined task in optimal time tenure. A well pro-founded skills for designated project manager
are as follows:
leadership: It is one of the actively used skills which is used to lead or manage people
and run any proposed group to effective stage. The focal purpose of leader is to gather right use
of skills or competencies in order to takes out decision making effectively. Leadership, in which
sharing of idea, opinion & view has pin place, that is termed as effective leadership. Key person
of this project must pursue democratic leadership style or Laissez faire leadership, where role of
dual understanding is exists. Using leadership, other team people would get advantage of perfect
relationship to complete own designated work or task.
Time management: It is one of the necessary skill to empower saving of time and cost to
perform other activities of the project. With use of this skill, planning process will be attain with
determining activities, where time will be invest more and in response, skill is to be applicable to
that area (Illiashenko and Strielkowski, 2016). Due to time management skills, project manager
would get an entire help to decide time for each and every work to be perform in ABC Ltd
acquisition project or work. This skill is necessary to build co-ordination among team people to
perform or do activity with developed sense of work.
Negotiation: Its essential skill to lead co-ordination among person to develop sense of
believe and trust among the people to do their work. For ABC Ltd acquisition project, manager
must have ability to deal with circumstances and negotiates with the shareholder, stakeholders
such as suppliers, investor etc. to get their approval about performance of acquisition with rise of
zero conflicts. Moreover, this skill is necessary to develop common understanding among people
and circumstances, while performing this project in clear or develop way.
Competencies:

Conflict Management: Its essential for project manager ABC Ltd acquisition to brings
harmony and sound culture to work (Görög, 2016). In case of absence of interaction and pure
communication among team people, it would led for rise in conflicts and disputes among team
person. Hence, it is prominent to manage conflicts or issues into the real time to continue project.
Role Model: This is another essential competency which may help project manager of
ABC Ltd to act as key person to go through acquisition of the DEF Ltd. Also, project manager is
need to be act as role model to carry out designated activities with support of team people to
attain defined project of acquisition with consistency.
Project management process
Initiation : This is the very first stage of any project, which will assist ABC Ltd to start
with identification of the project namely acquisition of DEF Ltd with purpose to achieve
strategic growth position into market. In this stage, project manager must go for identification of
the resources, ascertain time required along with development of future strategies to complete as
such task in given time (Dehdasht and et. al., 2017). Also, executives of the firm must document
all proceedings of project in form of the list.
Planning: Planning is second stage of the project management process, in which
planning of the tasks such as talks to board of director, shareholder etc., on their approval to
begins given project. Also, planning for effective techniques, resources, strategy such as in-house
expertise and guidance of industry expert will be taken to take decision step by step. Moreover,
time plan will also made during tenure or after starting of this project.
Execution: After planning stage, perfect execution of the project is another stage, in
which project manager would plan for policies or regulation such as asset valuation or condition
while settlement of the debts (Dao and et. al., 2016). When execution stage takes place, though
its necessary to recheck planning stage where techniques, resources, strategy etc., has already
undertaken to initiates legal proceedings of this project.
Monitor and Control: This is another important stage for any project to have control on
process of acquisition by ABC Ltd to take over DEF Ltd finally. Detailed checking will be put
down to check each and every transaction of acquisition project taking place such as meeting
with BOD, shareholder along with stakeholders profiling to gain proactive results or outcomes.
Close: Another step that is included in the project management is need to close project
work and have to wind up project after execution of planned work force. This stage only works,

when all expected results or outcomes are being attained. Also, evaluation and feedback is good
option to build effective results.
Cost analysis and activities
Its a kind of an analysis which deals with an ascertainment of the cost to be incur in any
defined project. For this project, cost analysis is as follows:
Activities: The activities for this project are as follows:
Particular Time
Meetings with corporative 1 week
Legal proceedings 3 week
Payment and dues 2 week
Final settlement 1 week
Budget: The budget for this project is as follows:
Particular Amount (In pounds)
Project idea implementation 2000
Holding meetings and call out seminar 5000
Collection of the data(employee of the company) 4000
Final findings 2500
Total 13500
Risk analysis and communication:
This section deals with assessment of the risk which may happens at time carrying out of
the project. For this project, risk such as failure of the project due to lack of resource, time along
with necessary strategy required at a same time. Also, risk of stoppage of work in between of its
actual performance and not reaching at the desired findings is the cause here. For this project, all
these risk will be communicated to the stakeholders of this project such as clients, investor,
shareholder etc., who keeps special interest in the project. Also, this communication will be
made using both verbal and non-verbal mode of communication.

Project Life Cycle stages, processes, leadership, administration and control problems associated
with managing the life cycle of this major project
Initiation phase: For project life cycle, its the first stage to decides elements such as
project objectives, aim or resources such as money, manpower, time etc., in order to achieve
proceedings of acquisition project. As project manager who is appointed for ABC Plc must go
for verification of a work to be performed and do planning for cost, time, skilled people etc. to
achieve desired results or outcomes (da Rocha and et. al., 2016). During this phase, use of the
democratic leadership style is useful here to gather support, opinion, idea or view to takes
decision in favour of acquisition of DEF Ltd. Also, discussion of policies or regulation must be
taken seriously to get support tactics for completing this project.
Planning Phase : This is the second stage of project life cycle, during which planning for
resources is to undertaken such as skilled peoples who are expertise of acquisition or merger of
company, techniques to undertaken legal proceedings and funds to pay off salaries of a project
team. As a project manager of the company it is been need that proper resources should by used
by the management team and workers. Skilled workers should be allocated correct work place.
Team leaders guide its workers and groups who all are working in the project so the management
team need to coordinate the work so that out put can be done in effective way. Leadership is
necessary here, to lead and effectively allocates all given resources.
Implementing phase: This is the third stage, in which implementation of an ascertained
plan will be brought into an action to carry out of a research proactively. The proper co-
ordination among teams will be identify or undertaken in this project to accomplishes desired
goals or objectives. Each activities and its related risk is identified here to takes necessary steps
to overcome risk such as failure of the project (Crowley and et. al., 2017). In role as a project
manager, authority will hands over decided budget to the project manager, so that each & every
activities would be achieved in decided time along with accomplishing defined results or goals.
Project manager is expecting co-operation & co-ordination during this stage. In this stage, assets
of the DEF Ltd has been takeover to pay off all debt. Moreover, the purpose of this stage is to
implements policies or regulation such as conducts meeting with BOD & shareholder to takes
their approval onto the defined project.
Closure: It is the last stage of project life cycle, in which final action will be taken by the
project manager and its entire team to acquire DEF Ltd to grow growth suitability of ABC Plc.

Also, report covers till now proceedings has been forward to stakeholders and BOD to keep time
to time info or data (Castro-Nova and Gransberg, 2017). Thus, its necessary for project manager
to communicate up to date info or data to the stakeholders to keep their interest or mind
positively. In this stage, acquisition is mostly done and final queries is about to be solved to
achieve perfect results. Also, evaluation of the work will be done with use of feedback, taking
opinions or guidance of stakeholders to review decision making during process of the
acquisition. Also, core purpose of the closure stage is to develop information after completed
project to check future development of the firm.
Control problems associated with management life cycle
This assessment is based on certain problem which project manager appointed by ABC
plc., to carry out an effective project in case of acquisition of the DEF Ltd to gain growth status
in the market. An essential discussion about control problems being faced during entire project
life cycle is as follows:
Time management factor: During this project, several issues such as lack of time, skills
by team people has been realised as major. Its not only satisfactory that project manager would
be equipped by time based skills, but team people must have time management skills to act
equally with the project manager. Also, training & development were not given to other team
peoples to do self work or assigned duties and task (Basu, 2018). Moreover, time plan was
missing, hence such type of negative factors has made ABC Ltd to achieve this project with
delay of time.
Resources factor: While carrying this project, ABC Plc has faced problem of lack of
skilled manpower, ineffective resources such as need of the funds, time, strategies etc. Also, key
person has not attained resource allocation or planning to brings about all material at one place to
work on & utilises all of the resources to conduct this project. One major need of resources is to
do clear practice of planning and allocation of the resources.
Technological factor: Technical aspects such as use of technology, technical resources
were planned effectively. Also, while communicating to the key people of the ABC plc, errors
related to technicality has found, during process of making interaction to the stakeholders over
about functioning of acquisition project. Thus, project manager has failed to set up advance
communication system to communicates to associated people of this project.

CONCLUSION
From the above report, its concluded that management of a project is the necessary
concept to develop techniques to manage or run projects in an effective manner. Project life
cycle is clear stage, with help of which identification of a project is use to be done along with
identification of a right strategies taken to complete into the defined manner. Also, role of the
leadership is necessary to led discussion on how senior will considered to takes out effective
decision making and how they will motivates its people to enhance skills to ensure completion of
a project on time.