Strategic Project Management and Implementation Report - Assessment

This report provides a detailed analysis of strategic project management and implementation, encompassing key concepts like Earned Value Management (EVM) and its calculations, including planned value, actual cost, earned value, schedule variance, cost variance, and performance indices (CPI, SPI). It includes a practical application of EVM through a project scenario, summarizing findings and interpretations. The report further explores the importance of communication planning in project success, using the High Speed One (HS1) project as a case study. It highlights the relevance of communication, various communication modes, and the challenges posed by cultural differences within project teams. Recommendations are provided to overcome communication barriers and enhance project outcomes, emphasizing the significance of effective communication in achieving project objectives. The report also evaluates project management strategies and practices used by IBM, assessing the success of these strategies and evaluating project management outcomes within the organization.

Strategic Project Management and
Implementation

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TASK 1......................................................................................................................................3
1..............................................................................................................................................3
2..............................................................................................................................................4
3..............................................................................................................................................4
4..............................................................................................................................................5
TASK 2......................................................................................................................................6
Executive summary................................................................................................................6
Introduction to chosen project................................................................................................6
Relevance of communication planning regarding chosen project..........................................7
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................9
Recommendations................................................................................................................10
TASK 3....................................................................................................................................12
1. Critically evaluating the PM strategies and practices used by IBM in achieving its
objectives..............................................................................................................................12
2. Gauge the success of Project Management strategies in place at IBM............................13
3. Implementing and evaluating the project management outcomes within the organisation
..............................................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................17

TASK 1
1.
Concept of Earned Value Management and defining all the relevant calculations
The earned value management (EVM) is an approach which on incorporating a new
project offers all levels of management along with the early eye on the cost and the time
related issues. It supports in offering the basis in order to assess the work progress as contrast
to the baseline plan which is associated or connected with technical, time and cost
performance (What is Earned Value Management and Why is it Important? 2017). In
addition, it provides the data pertaining to the pro-active management of the actions and also
provides the managers with the relevant summary in regard to the effective decision making.
In addition, it helps in achieving higher visibility and exercising control over the projects
various task of the project leading to responding early to the issues. It provides more
information in comparison to the normal project tracking. It helps in determining the
following values.
Planned value: It is the budgeted sum in respect to the work scheduled to be
finished. This is part of the project budget which is planned to be spent at a particular point of
time.
Actual cost: It refers to the money which is spent for the work accomplished and it
is also called as the actual cost of work performed.
Earned Value: It is the approved budget pertaining to the work which is finished in
actual by the specified date.
In order to determine the project schedule and cost performance certain variances are used
which are given below:
Schedule variance (SV): Measures the variance among the work which has been
actually done with the amount of work which had been planned (Using Earned Value
Management to Monitor Project Performance. 2019). This depicts whether the project is no
time or not.
Cost variance (CV): This is the proportion of the contrast between the sum that was
planned for the work intended to be done and the sum that was really spent for the work
carried out. Consequently, this shows if the task is on spending plan or not.
Schedule performance index (SPI): This is the proportion between the spending
that is supported for the work that is performed to the spending that is endorsed for the work

that was arranged in any case. This is an overall proportion of the undertaking's time
effectiveness.
Cost performance index (CPI): This is the proportion among the endorsed spending
plans for the work that is carried out to the spending that was really spent for the specified
work. It is a general proportion of the cost efficiency of the project and can be utilized to
assess the cost of the rest of the undertaking or the project.
2.
Daily Planned Production = 100 portraits / 200 days = 0.5 portrait per day (or 2 days per
portrait)
Daily Planned Budget = $50,000 / 200 days = $250 = 0.5 portrait per day * $500 = $250
Percent complete = (21 / 100) * 100 = 21%
Total budget for the project = 100 portraits * $500 = $50,000
Planned Value
Fifty days later, the artist’s plan calls for 0.5 units per days * 50 days = 25 portraits
to be completed with a total cost of nearly 25 * $500 = $12500. This amount is called as the
Budgeted Cost for Work Scheduled (BCWS) or Planned Value (PV). In simple terms, if the
things (schedule and cost) worked as per the plan, in 50 days, the artist or the contractor
would have finished 25 units and earned the amount of $12500.
Actual Cost
The artist incurred an actual cost of $11400 which is also called as Actual Cost for
Work Performed (ACWP).
Earned Value for Tony’s project
The contract price was $500 per portrait and the contractor actually completed 21
portraits in 50 days so, the artist earned 21 * $500 = $10500 from the owner. This is referred
to as the Earned Value (EV) or the Budgeted Cost for Work Performed (BCWP).
3.
Computation of all Variances and Performance indices for Tony’s Project
Cost Variance (CV) = BCWP - ACWP or EV -
AC
= $10,500 - $11,400 = -
$900
Schedule Variance (SV) = BCWP – BCWS or EV -
PV
= $10,500 - $12,500 = -
$2,000
Schedule Variance in days
(SV, days)
= SV ($) / Daily Planned
Budget
= $2,000 / $250 = 8 days
Cost Performance Index = BCWP / ACWP or EV / = $10,500 / $11,400 = 0.92

(CPI) AC
Schedule Performance Index
(SPI)
= BCWP / BCWS or EV /
PV
= 10,500 / 12,500 = 0.84
Forecasted Cost Variance
(FCV)
= CV / % Complete 900 / 0.21 = $4,286
Forecasted Schedule
Variance (FSV)
SV (days) / % Complete 8 / 0.21 = 38.1 days
4.
Summarizing the findings and the calculations
Summary
Total budget ($) 50000
% Complete 21
ACWP ($) 11400
BCWP ($) 10500
BCWS ($) 12500
Cost variance ($) -900
Scheduled Variance ($) -2000
SV (DAYS) 8
CPI 0.92
SPI 0.84
FCV ($) 4286
FSV (Days) 38.1
It can be interpreted from the above analysis and computation that the project is
21%and it is lacking behind the budgeted schedule by 8 days as it was planned to complete
the portrait of 25 celebrities in 50 days but the artist was able to complete only 21 portraits. In
addition to this, the project is even overbudget by $900 as the amount earned is only $10500

but spent $11400. If the speed of the work continuous at the same rate, pace and pattern, then
the contractor will be able to complete the project 38 days behind the schedule along with the
budget deficit of $4286. In project management, if the critical ratio is in between 0.9 to 1.2
the deviation is considered to be accepted. Therefore, the CPI is 0.92 which is into the
acceptable limit but SPI is 0.84 which requires attention along with certain possible course of
actions.
TASK 2
Executive summary
Within project management, each element play an important role during each stage
and similarly, communication also helps project manager to make a project successful. The
entire section based upon HS1 which was completed on 2007 with a support of approx 13000
workers. Throughout the section, it had analysed that there are many projects which have
virtual component, but working within individuals that helps to increase the better
understanding with each other. However, many challenges also faced by the project manager
while dealing with team member in term of communication. That is why, effective
communication mode must be used in order to share the necessary information to each other.
In the context of chosen project, manager uses variety of verbal and written form of
communication which include Skype, email, instant messages, face to face meetings, weekly
all staff meetings etc.
Therefore, it has also examined that cultural differences within a team is one of the
most common barrier that affect he communication in negative manner. So, to solve such
issue, study also recommend to use visual representation that helps to let people understand
about the project and its direction. Overall, it has been examined that due to conflicts
productivity of a team got affected and this in turn causes negative impact over the project
that lad towards misses deadline. For that, study suggest ways that helps to overcome such
challenges and understand the importance of communication.
Introduction to chosen project
Communication plays a very important role in the success of a project, though it was
very challenging but stakeholders must communicate from a beginning to evaluation. The
chosen project for the study is High Speed one (HS1) which was completed in 2007 for a
need to improve Britain's railway access to channel tunnel link. Due to strong expertise and

effective communication the project was successful with a final cost of £5.8 bn. Along with
this, HS1 is considered as a genuine success story from which UK and entire Europe have
benefited. The chosen project has wide variety of financial benefits to UK regard to complete
big transport infrastructure projects. Not only this, the project also create benefits to
environment such that reduction in green house gas emission and improvements in
productivity. So, it can be stated that by complying with different aspects the project was
successful and also there are many stakeholders involved within a project in order to ensure
about the flow of communication for a project.
The present section will highlight the importance of communication within a chosen
project and role of communication while planning for HS1. Moreover, the project also faces
numerous challenges because communicating with other stakeholders might also lead to
different challenges. So to overcome the same, present section also provide recommendations
which can be implemented in near future projects.
Relevance of communication planning regarding chosen project
In order to make the project successful, communication plays a crucial role. Also,
the flow of communication within stakeholders and other team members should be constant,
transparent and clear so that it helps to manage the project successfully. On the other side,
when there is a distortion of communication from any side, there have a tremendous impact
over the success of project. Similarly, in the context of HS1, if there is a lack of
communication then it may lead to missed deadline and decrease productivity on project by
over-budget (Haverila, Haverila and Twyford, 2020). Moreover, during planning stage of any
real project, it is necessary to have a transparent communication with team and other
important stakeholders. However, poor communication also reflected in over-communicating
to stakeholders because sending too many emails and setting up frequent stakeholder
meetings might loss the engagement with team. That is why, a communication plan must be
developed which contain important key aspects that assist to manage their perception towards
a project. It must be designed under the planning stage in which different key elements
should be considered like, with whom you will communicate, what will be communicated,
when you will communicate, how you will communicate, mode of communication.
It has been analysed that there were 13000 employees who completed HS1 and this
in turn reflected that communication across cultural boundaries adds an element of
complexity within a project. Having cultural difference within team also have a direct impact
over the communication that lead to affect project in negative manner. Further, while
developing HS1 project, it has been analysed that hierarchy has set in order to pass the

relevant information to the relevant person. However, the best ways to communicate with
others is also depended upon different factors like attitude towards hierarchy, communication
style, ability to understand language and interpret the same (Larsson, Eriksson and Pesämaa,
2018). So, it can be also stated that barrier to effective stakeholder communication is a
combination of cultural biases. Language difference and poor listening skills that need to be
overcome in order to generate effective results.
Most of the real projects communicated in different modes so there are variety of
communication modes and styles that helps to generate the best outcome and meet the
deadline. In the context of HS1, there are different styles used by the project manager such
that one-to-one meeting, small group department meeting, all staff meeting, emails, chat
technology, virtual meeting, conferences, project news letters etc. Thus, it is clearly reflected
that with the help of effective communication style, project manager engage stakeholders and
team that further improve the performance and analysed the working performance as well.
Andersen and Grude (2018) also stated that project manager should be expressive in nature so
that it will help to communicate in better manner and keep them committed throughout the
project initiative. Nevertheless, a two-way conversation with stakeholders more assist to
engage with their stakeholders with the help of effective listening skills. Also, it has been
identified that using more communication methods about a project, manager is more likely to
engage stakeholders. There were many situations where most of the team members not able
to attend the meetings and that is why, communication for virtual team used by HS1 project
manager. Under this, manager make alert the project team and through a written mode of
communication, share the important details that helps to minimize the chances of risk.
In addition to this, while communicating for virtual team there is another
communication plan must be set that helps to share ideas between virtual team members
which include flow of communication, modes to share immediate document, response time,
communication status, time of regular communication etc. Also, it can be stated that project
manager must evaluate the communication plan at regular basis that assist to create better
outcome. During planning stage of HS1, it can be stated that project manager uses different
enterprise environmental factors (EEF) which include culture, structure, internal as well as
external political climate, regulatory environment, capital resources etc. As a result, it will
help to prevent the chances of risk within a project and if so, make relevant action
immediately.
Beside this, it has been also examined that HS1 is relied upon the technology and
also uses the same in order to communicate effectively with the stakeholders. Such as by

using Skype, Webex and use of collaboration portals like MS sharepoint, Google Docs in
order to share the necessary information immediately. Atout (2020) also critically analyzed
that there are many challenges involved while using advance technology for effective
communication such that limited knowledge regarding working of technology, complying
with wrong technology to accomplish the task, overuse of technology etc. Through such
implementation of advance technology, it can be stated that project manager make efforts to
prevent environment from dangerous things. Therefore, it can be stated that communication
plays an effectual role in the success of a company and if proper modes/channels will not be
used then it will cause a direct opposite impact over the success of project.
With regard to same, it has been examined that with proper flow of communication,
project manager of HS1 able to generate the effective results. However, there were many
stakeholders involved within a chosen project along with large quantity of team members.
That is why, it might be difficult for manager to share the relevant ideas to others due to wide
workforce. During such situation, distortion of communication occurred that lead to
miscommunication which in turn delay in project (De Rezende and Blackwell, 2019). So, it
has been reflected that a proper and effective communication planning is necessary within
entire project so that members can work in a team to meet the set targets. Overall relevance
shows that communication plan must be developed during planning stage of a project
management so that numerous challenges can be improved easily.
Conclusion
By summing up above section, it has been concluded that planning for
communication required time to understand stakeholder and ways to engage them within a
project for a longer term. However, project management of HS1 also faces different
challenges while communicating with team members due to cultural differences, poor
listening skills. This in turn causes negative impact over the project and reduces the chances
of engagement as well. Also, there are different ways through which project manager share
the ideas and important announcement to their team members via email, face to face meeting,
all staff meeting, chats and instant messages etc.
Moreover, from the above section it has been also summarized that due to clashes
between the team members, project got delayed and develop strategies to improve the
relationship between members. Further, it has been also evaluated that in this emerging era,
project manager uses range of advance technologies in order to improve the challenges
especially on global projects. This helps to deal with virtual teams effectually so that best
outcomes will be generated without compromising in productivity. Also, it will help to meet

the project deadline and validate the information with stakeholders so that productivity may
not affect.
Recommendations
Through the above it has been examined that due to distortion within
communication, project manager faces range of issues and that is why, to overcome this
different suggestions can be used which are as mentioned below:
 It is to be suggested to the project manager that they might use different visual tools in
order to let the team effectually understand the key criteria of a project. It is so
because due to language differences, it becomes difficult for team members to
determine the basic needs of project. Moreover, it is also evaluated that with the help
of effective presentation, team members will more easily understood the criteria and
determine the key objective of the project as well.
 Further, it is also recommended to always speak clearly and project manager may also
ask different questions to team members in order to determine their understanding
towards a project. Kock and et.al., (2020) also explained in their study that asking
question instead of yes or no makes other listeners to be attentive towards a meeting
and encourage them to participate within a project. This in turn helps to conclude the
best method from others so that big IT projects will be successful and meet their
defined time frame as well.
 Moreover, it is also recommended to the project manager of HS1 to discusses the
topic in one meeting at minimum because wide information always lead to overloaded
and make team members frustrated. That is why, during a meeting allow everyone to
present their views that helps to conclude the best outcome that does not affect the
project into negative manner. Discussion over different topic within a meeting helps
to clear the ideas and generate the best outcome that takes a project towards a right
path.
 While communicating the views within a team, ensure to use simple terminology and
avoid using slang, jargon that do not understood by others. This method is highly
preferred when project manager communicate at virtual teams because a small
distortion within communication always affect the performance of an employee and
takes project at wrong direction. Hence, simple communication will assist to
minimize the language difference and better understanding regarding project.

TASK 3
1. Critically evaluating the PM strategies and practices used by IBM in achieving its objectives
IBM is the well-renowned technology service company and is considered to be the
most valuable brand ahead of Google and Microsoft. The company has attained the success
due to two other acronyms put in place which are R.E.P and PMP. The company is being
registered as the PMI registered education provider for over 10 years and has employed more
people having the credential of PMP in comparison to the other organizations in the world
(Kerzner, 2017). The main reason behind the adaptation of the project management strategies
into the business was that the management of IBM determined what it would take in order to
attain the success all across the globe in which people wanted an integrated solution instead
of individual products. Thus, they identified project management as the key aspect which
will help in delivering commitments and inability to effectively make use of it would result
into failure.
In the way of attaining success the first and foremost strategy used by IBM was to
achieve transformation which resulted into creation of the Project Management Centre of
Excellence (PM-COE) with the core objective of working in hand with the senior
management and the business units and employees for the purpose of establishing project
management in the form of core competency in the world. But there was certain challenge in
the creation of the same and the first challenge was developing a single and consistent global
PM approach which is now called as the IBM Worldwide Project Management Method
(WWPMM). But it is important to understand that this was a critical approach and had
required lot of time and effort for the creating a platform and an approach which helped the
organization in attaining its desired objectives in a better way (Six Letters That Spell Project
Management Success for IBM. 2020). In addition to this, in order to ensure that employees
are having relevant skills and knowledge in handling the projects, they started their own
internal PM certification which then turned into PMI along with making the PMP their
fundamental eligibility criteria. After undertaking this decision, the company has seen value
borne out from this decision with time and again. IBM is a PMI Registered education
provider which issues PDUs for its training courses. The courses which are offered by R.E.P
are pre-approved for the contact hours along with the fulfillment of the certification needs.
This program is being designed by IBM with the objective of enhancing the ongoing
professional development of its PMI members along with the other project management (PM)
profession. The company on becoming R.E.P was an education choice made which resulted

into adding various benefits to the project managers and has also supported in making it easy
for its staff to get and maintain their PMP. But it is important to know that all these things or
practices undertaken by IBM has not attained success in day as it is a combined contribution
of time and efforts of the management and the individual employees.
In addition to this, the company has even implemented cost control practices by
providing PMI R.E.P. courses in-house, which has assisted IBM in reaping multiple
advantages of the employee education and certification without incurring any sort of higher
3rd party training costs (Luo and Kindratenko, 2020). In place of IBM, many organizations
would have reduced financial support to the staff in the difficult times which might involve
seeking assistance from the external education service providers, thus depriving the
organization of the potential benefits which these certifications can provide. Therefore, in a
snapshot, the IBM PM training program is having nearly 150 instructors globally, 100
thousand student days of education delivered yearly, multi-level curriculum the course is
offered in 34 nations across the globe and has been recognized with various awards as well.
2. Gauge the success of Project Management strategies in place at IBM
As a project manager of IBM, there are various aspects which are required to be
taken accounted for in the process of measuring the success of the PM strategies put in place
by IBM. In order to do so involves determining how much time must be spend upon
evaluating the performance along with the time needed to spend n order to keep the work
moving ahead. At the various stages during the project, there are 5 most critical points which
are required to be accounted for which are: quality, cost, schedule, satisfaction of the
customer and performance pertaining to the project (Bond-Barnard, Fletcher and Steyn,
2018). It is important to carry out the evaluation at the end of each phase or stage which helps
in getting better and clear indication about how the project is performing in respect to the
estimates made. This information helps in or used to grant or withhold the project from
moving to the next phase of work. As project manager, schedule is the first aspect to be
looked into. As the success of the project management is most of the time determined by
evaluating whether it is kept in line with the original timeline (Cortada, 2019). This might
seem to be very easy but it is actually very hard to determine as any variation into this will
affect the overall completion of the project. But this can be made easier if continuous
evaluation of the progress is carried out so that timely actions can be taken if required. This
can be easily updated if the project schedule is bult on the online Gantt chart in which proper
segregation of tasks and deadlines is being visually made. In addition to this, by looking at