University Project: Solar Energy System Construction and Management

This project management report details the construction of a solar energy system, addressing the need to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources. The project, scheduled for completion within 57 days with a budget of $66,970, covers various aspects including business cases, project scope, and objectives. It includes key performance indicators (KPIs), risk identification and mitigation strategies, resource and estimation plans, and a comprehensive communication plan. The report presents detailed project schedules using task lists, WBS, Gantt charts, and network diagrams, along with monitoring and controlling strategies, change management details, and a project status report. The project aims to meet electricity needs using renewable sources, addressing financial, technical, and human resource risks through proactive management and training.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project: Construction of a solar energy system
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Executive Summary
The current paper of research primarily reflects on the construction of a solar energy system.
Based on the discussion, it has been found that the utilization of different non-renewable
source of energy would be able to create numerous challenges. The issues based on resolving
the raised challenges would be extremely important to be dependent on the renewable sources
of energy. The paper elaborates the key performance indicator of the project. It is identified
that the solar energy system construction will get finished within 57 days within budget of
around $66,970, which will be approved before the initiation of the project. The paper also
illustrates the risks and challenges that are associated with project with proper risk mitigation
plan for resolving the project risks. Moreover, the paper provides change management details
as well as project status report.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Business Case.........................................................................................................................2
3. Project scope and objectives..................................................................................................2
4. KPI-Project delivery...............................................................................................................3
5. Risk identification, risk categorization, analysis and management.......................................4
6. Resource plan.....................................................................................................................7
7. Estimation plan.......................................................................................................................7
8. Communication plan............................................................................................................10
9. Project schedule...................................................................................................................12
9.1 Schedule with task list, summary tasks, predecessor linking and resource allocation.. 12
9.2 WBS...............................................................................................................................14
9.3 Gantt chart......................................................................................................................15
9.4 Network diagram............................................................................................................16
10. Monitoring and controlling strategy...................................................................................16
10.1 Milestone......................................................................................................................16
10.2 Baseline........................................................................................................................17
10.3 Critical path..................................................................................................................18
10.4 Float/slack....................................................................................................................19
10.5 Changes applied on schedule and cost.........................................................................21
10.6 Slack after changes.......................................................................................................22

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10.7 Redrawn baseline.........................................................................................................24
11. Project status report............................................................................................................25
11.1 Project overview...........................................................................................................25
11.2 Task Overview.............................................................................................................26
11.3 Work overview.............................................................................................................26
11.4 Resource overview.......................................................................................................27
12. Change management details...............................................................................................27
13. Critical evaluation..............................................................................................................28
14. Reflection...........................................................................................................................28
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................30
List of figures and tables
Table 1: Risk identification, risk categorization, analysis and management.............................9
Table 2: Resource plan.............................................................................................................10
Table 3: Estimation plan..........................................................................................................13
Table 4: Communication plan..................................................................................................14
Table 5: Project schedule.........................................................................................................19
Figure 1: WBS..........................................................................................................................20
Figure 2: Gantt chart................................................................................................................21
Figure 3: Network diagram......................................................................................................22
Table 6: Project milestone........................................................................................................22
Figure 4: Project baseline.........................................................................................................23
Figure 5: Critical path..............................................................................................................24

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Table 7: Project slack...............................................................................................................26
Figure 6: Changes applied on schedule and cost.....................................................................27
Table 8: Project milestone........................................................................................................29
Figure 7: Changes applied redrawn baseline...........................................................................29
Figure 8: Project status.............................................................................................................30
Figure 9: Task overview...........................................................................................................31
Figure 10: Work overview.......................................................................................................31
Figure 12: Resource overview.................................................................................................32

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1. Introduction
The paper mainly reflects on the “Construction of a solar energy system”. It has been
found that solar energy is considered as the cleanest and mostly available source of renewable
energy and thus the modern technology is harnessing it in number of ways for producing
light, electricity as well as for domestic and industrial application. The primary aim of the
report is to conduct a reflection on the construction of a solar energy system such that the use
of fossil fuels based on the electricity generation could be reduced. It has been found that
utilization of solar energy system not only helps in reducing the problems that occurs due to
the utilization of non-renewable sources of energy but also helps in eliminating unsafe as well
as unclean consequences of using conventional fossil fuels.
2. Business Case
It is found that non-renewable sources of energy are mainly utilized in order to
produce electricity for heating as well as cooking. However, it is identified that the use of
non- renewable energy can cause damage to the environment. For resolving the issue, it is
very much important to construct the solar energy system. The utilization of solar energy
system not only resolves the issues and challenges that occur due to the use of non-renewable
sources of energy but also assists in performing number of applications.
3. Project scope and objectives
In scope
The project scope mainly includes:
 Construction of solar energy system
 Placement of solar heating system
 Development of water storage tank

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 Placement of solar cells, solar modules along with storage battery
 Completion of project within the appropriate budget and time
Out-scope
The project out-scope primarily includes:
 Information related with the suppliers of the organization are not given
 The facility of training to the workers will not be provided
The objectives of the project are listed below:
 To construct the solar energy system
 To resolve the challenges and issues that occur due to non -renewable sources of
energy
 To meet the electricity needs of the people by utilizing renewable sources of
energy
4. KPI-Project delivery
The key performance Indicator (KPI) of the project deliverables are generally
elaborated below:
Completion of project on expected budget and time: If the construction of solar
energy system would be completed according to the expected budget and time, then it could
be reflected that the project is properly performed.
Achieving the project objectives: If the objectives of the project are met then it can
be quite easy to analyze that the performance of the project is up to the mark.

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Percentage of work completed: The percentage of work completed can be
considered as one of the substantial, which helps in measuring the key performance of the
project.
5. Risk identification, risk categorization, analysis and management
The table that is provided below reflects on the risks, process of categorization as well
as mitigation of the risks as well as challenges.
I
D
Risk
Identificatio
n
Categorizatio
n
Analysis Impact Probabilit
y
Mitigation
plan
1. Schedule
slippage
Project risk Due to
improper
schedule
slippage,
the project
manager
will face
number of
issues and
challenges
in meeting
the
deadline of
the project.
High High It is very
much
necessary to
manage the
schedule
properly in
order to avoid
slippage in the
schedule.
2. Lack of Financial risk If the High High It is quite

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budget budget of
the project
is not
sufficient
then it
generally
can cause
number of
financial
issues in
finishing
the project.
necessary to
manage the
resources of
the project
properly so
that the entire
project can be
met within the
budget that is
approved.
3. Improper
utilization of
inverter for
current
conversion
Technical risk As the
team
members
lacks
technical
knowledge
then face
challenges
in utilizing
the
inverter
quite
properly.
High High It is necessary
to hire skilled
as well as
knowledgeabl
e team
members so
that the
technical
activities of
the project can
be completed
successfully
on time.

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4. Unskilled
team
members
Human
resource risk
As the
team
members
are not
skilled
they can
face
challenges
in
finishing
the project
within the
expected
budget and
time.
Mediu
m
Medium It is
necessary to
provide
proper facility
of training to
the team
members so
that they can
be able to
complete the
work of the
project quite
successfully.
5. Improper
management
Management
risk
If the
work of
the project
is not
managed
properly
then it can
be quite
challengin
g to finish
Mediu
m
Medium It is quite
necessary to
manage the
project
activities
successfully
so that the
entire project
can be
finished on

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the project
on time.
time.
Table 1: Risk identification, risk categorization, analysis and management
(Source: Created by Author)
6. Resource plan
The resource plan of the project is provided below:
Resource Name Type Max. Units Std. Rate
Project manager Work 100% $ 40.00/hr
Project planner Work 100% $ 35.00/hr
Human resource manager Work 100% $ 30.00/hr
Financial manager Work 100% $ 30.00/hr
Quality analyst Work 100% $ 30.00/hr
Risk manager Work 100% $ 30.00/hr
Designer Work 100% $ 37.00/hr
Supervisor Work 100% $ 36.00/hr
Contractor Work 100% $ 38.00/hr
Sub-contractor Work 100% $ 38.00/hr
Worker Work 100% $ 28.00/hr
Construction manager Work 100% $ 39.00/hr
Materials Material $ 20,000.00
Additional cost Material $ 15,000.00
Table 2: Resource plan
(Source: Created by Author)
7. Estimation plan
The estimation plan for the project reflects that the solar system construction will be
completed within budget that is around $66,912. The table that is given below showcases the
amount of money that is required for finishing each of the project activities.

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WBS Task Name Duration Resource Names Cost
0
Construction of solar energy
system
57 days $ 66,912.00
1 Project initiation phase 12 days $ 4,200.00
1.1
Developing the business case
for the entire project
3 days
Project manager,
Project planner
$ 1,800.00
1.2 Cost benefit analysis 2 days Financial manager $ 480.00
1.3 Development of charter 3 days Project manager $ 960.00
1.4
Recruitment of involved team
members
4 days
Human resource
manager
$ 960.00
1.5
Milestone 1: Completion of
project initiation phase
0 days $ 0.00
2 Project planning phase 11 days $ 8,040.00
2.1
Developing plan for the entire
project
4 days
Project manager,
Project planner
$ 2,400.00
2.2
Developing the financial plan
for the project
3 days Financial manager $ 720.00
2.3
Developing the resource
management plan
3 days
Human resource
manager
$ 720.00
2.4
Development of plan for
quality management
4 days Quality analyst $ 960.00
2.5
Development of plan for risk
management
3 days Risk manager $ 720.00
2.6 Development of a plan of
procurement
3 days Human resource
manager, Project
$ 1,560.00