Project Management Fundamentals and Practices: University Project

This project delves into the essential steps required for opening a university, emphasizing project management fundamentals and practices. The assignment is divided into two parts: Project A focuses on the initial phases, including project conception, initiation, planning, execution, performance control, and closure. It covers the development of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and a project network diagram. Project B provides a comprehensive summary of the project, analyzing the project schedule using critical path, Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) chart, and earned value analysis. The project also explores other project management practices, providing a detailed overview of the entire lifecycle, from initial planning to successful completion. The project emphasizes the importance of resource allocation, stakeholder management, and effective communication throughout the project's various phases.

Running head: OPENING A UNIVERSITY
Project Management Fundamental and Practices: Opening a University
Name of the student:
Name of the university:

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Table of Contents
Assignment 1: Unit project- Project A............................................................................................2
1. Introduction to the case project....................................................................................................2
2. Background of the project...........................................................................................................2
3. Description and discussion on different phases of the project life cycle development of work
breakdown structure.........................................................................................................................3
Project conception and initiation.............................................................................................3
Project planning.......................................................................................................................4
Project execution.....................................................................................................................5
Project performance control....................................................................................................5
Project closure.........................................................................................................................6
4. Develop work breakdown structure (WBS)................................................................................7
5. Development of a network diagram for the project.....................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
Assignment 2: Unit project- Project B...........................................................................................10
1. Comprehensive summary..........................................................................................................10
2. Analysis of project schedule using the critical path, program evaluation and PERT chart.......12
3. Description of the project using the earned value analysis........................................................15
4. Description of other project management practices..................................................................19
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................21

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Assignment 1: Unit project- Project A
1. Introduction to the case project
This project depicts all the necessary steps those are required to be undertaken by the
project development team for opening a university. The project needs proper commitment from
the human and material also. Though the resources should be selected and deployed properly. In
order to prepare this project different university projects are required to be encountered by the
project manager. The backgrounds of the case project, the different phases those are considered
for the development of the project are also elaborated in this paper. Different kinds of project
development life are here however based on the project type proper development life cycle must
be selected by the project manager.
In order to minimize the workload from the project team members, activity segmentation
are required to be implemented in terms of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Not only this but
also the activities are required to be served by the project team members properly for evaluating
the project accurately within estimated budget and time a well. A project network diagram
(PERT chart) and a project schedule should be developed by the project manager. In addition to
this, a project earned value of the project will be analyzed including the cost benefit analysis.
After preparing the comprehensive summary, the other project management practices are also
implemented in this paper.

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2. Background of the project
Considering the subject on demands the course details are to be selected by the
management authority of the college. However, for opening a university in is very much
necessary to select the building location first. In order to serve the purpose, at the very initial
phase the project manager is required to took authentication rather permission from the
government and then based on the granted permission the project manager is required to select
the project sponsors. After getting project sponsors, the authority should sign contract with the
building contractors. Based on the number of courses and departments the building will be
segmented properly. Not only this but also a university hostel should also constructed just beside
it so that outsiders students could also take admission in the university.
3. Description and discussion on different phases of the project life cycle
development of work breakdown structure
In order to develop the university opening project, the project manager is required to
select an accurate project development life cycle. The steps included in this project are as
follows:
Project conception and initiation
In the project initiation phase, the project manager is required to define the project goal
at a broad level. With a business case this particular phase initiates. In this phase the project
manager should make a project feasibility test to determine that whether the project is feasible or
not. If the project is found to be not feasible then the project manager should introduce all the
necessary changes in this phase only. Whether, the project will meet the requirement of the
consumers and project manager or not, can be determined with the help of due diligence of the

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project stakeholders. The project manager will make Project Initiation Document (PID) in the
initiation phase. In order to grab more number of students from all over the world, the project
manager should select an appropriate location for constructing the university. Even the project
charter should also be developed in this phase. The university need, stakeholders and the project
case are included in the project documentation.
Project planning
The project planning phase of “University opening “, is consists of different activities
such as scope and budget preparation, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Gantt chart,
communication planning and risk management plan as well. With the help of accurate open
communication plan the project team members will be able to communicate with the higher
authority of the project. For successful completion of the project, a project roadmap should be
implemented and based on that focus should be developed. In addition to this, the other
components those are required to be considered include specification, measurement, attainability,
realistic and time management as well. For this project the SMART and CLEAR goals should be
developed. The scope statement developed for this phase include project objectives, project need,
deliverable and key milestones also. In order to visualize the project, proper project timeline and
tasks of the “University opening project” is required to be developed. For identifying the cost,
quality and other resources flexible and refine goals should be considered by the project
manager. However, the project scope statement might change with the changing requirement and
project ongoing phase. The scope statement of the project is segmented with the help of the
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Throughout the project, high level project goals should be
identified. The essential baselines for this project are as follows:

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Scope management: In order to define the project need, profit of the project, goals, key
milestones in terms of documentation should be prepared by the project manager. Though,
without the project manager’s approval the scope statement cannot be changed and during the
project ongoing phase the scope might be changed also.
Work Breakdown structure: For developing a visual representation and segment the
work in parts WBS is helpful.
Communication plan: Open communication approach is considered for this project
Risk management: Risks should be identified and analyzed and based on that strategies
ought to be developed to mitigate the risks from the core project management area.
Project execution
After making the project documentation and all the deliverables properly the project will
be professionally executed in this particular phase. For meeting the requirement of the students
all the basic resources must be analyzed in a well organized manner in this particular phase. The
team members involved n the project teams are advised to take the following responsibilities
accurately in terms of team development, resource assignment, project management plan
execution, as per the requirement procure management etc. Not only this but also the project
manager is one of the most responsible person who should take care of all the necessary things
for developing a project professionally. For this particular project, the project manager should
adopt cloud based solution so that the purpose of opening a university could complete and
execute successfully. The cloud based project management software will help to manage the
information regarding the students and employee of the university automatically and much
easily.

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Project performance control
In order to measure the project progress and performance of the stakeholders it is
necessary to monitor the project professionally. The project Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
should be considered to determine that whether the project is mentoring on a correct track or not.
However, if the project is found to be not moving on right track then the progress approach
should be changed accordingly. There are different kinds of project Key Performance Indicators
(KPI) are present, however for serving the purpose of opening a university only the relevant KPI
should be nominated by the project managers. For this project the selected KPI are as follows:
Project objectives: whether the project is completed within the estimated budget and
allotted time or not can be determined with the help of the project objective KPI.
Quality deliverable: Whether the specified task deliverables are meeting the consumer’s
requirement or not will be defined with the help of quality deliverable.
Cost and effort tracking: The project sponsors and the project managers are responsible
to rack that whether the project is running on the correct track within the estimated time allotted
or not. Based on the current performance and project progress report, whether the project will be
complete within time or not could be determined.
Project closure
This is the last phase of project management life cycle for this particular project. This
phase represents that the project is successfully completed and if it requires additional changes
then, in the post project review phase, different changes could be brought. However, the project
manager and the sponsors of this project are responsible to develop a punchlist to remind the

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parts those are not yet completed on the project ongoing phase. Though, at the end of the project
the documentation and deliverables should be rearranged in a single phase.
4. Development of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Figure 1: Work Breakdown Structure
(Source: created by author)

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5. Development of a network diagram for the project
Figure 2: Network diagram developed for opening the University
(Source: Created by author)

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Conclusion
From the overall discussion it can be concluded that the project is required to be
completed within estimated time and budget as well to gain measurable benefit. The components
are different for business project and “University Opening” project. For “Opening a University“,
a huge set of commitment are required from the owners end. In order to get the philanthropic
commercial assistance, the entrepreneurs have formed implementation and development grants.
The operational expense could be accomplished with the help of the fund. The project
development sub phases those are considered for this particular project include research,
increment of awareness among the stakeholders, getting help from the external stakeholders,
community planning team development, expert consultation, gathering proper information and
project implementation. The other phases considered include governance, review process and
social media marketing.

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