Project Management Report: Cambridge University Project Analysis

This report delves into the realm of project management, offering a comparative analysis of the Waterfall and Parallel methodologies. It meticulously examines project requirements, including functional and non-functional aspects, within the context of a university event aimed at showcasing classroom refurbishment and technological advancements. The report covers organizational overviews, project needs, the creation of a Request for Proposal (RFP), project contracts, and the implementation of a Gantt chart for effective project scheduling and management. The study focuses on the University of Cambridge's initiative to attract students through a technology-focused event, highlighting the importance of resource allocation, team management, and event planning to ensure a successful outcome. The report stresses the importance of security, technical assistance, and entertainment to engage the target audience. The analysis also includes a critical evaluation of the chosen Waterfall methodology, considering its strengths and weaknesses in the context of the project. The report concludes with a comprehensive overview of the project's lifecycle, emphasizing the importance of planning, execution, and evaluation in achieving project goals.

Project
Management

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
PART A...........................................................................................................................................1
Methodology Comparison...........................................................................................................1
Critical analysis...........................................................................................................................2
PART B...........................................................................................................................................3
Organizational overview and project need..................................................................................3
Project requirement......................................................................................................................4
Project RFP..................................................................................................................................6
Project contract............................................................................................................................7
Implementation of Gantt chart.....................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Project management is the manner in which an individual arranges and controls resources
needed to complete a task. People who oversee projects are referred to as Project Managers. A
plan is a work piece that is not a procedure, or an activity (Cicmil and Gaggiotti, 2018). It has got
a beginning an end and goals. The purpose of project planning is to enable others to anticipate
the risks and obstacles that may lead to project completion. It implements established
methodologies and utilizes new software tools to schedule, track and interrogate people,
processes and other elements required to make a successful of your project. This report is based
on the collage event where they refurnished their class room and provide technical advancement
in the teaching. This assessment cover several topics such as project requirement, contract,
project need etc.
MAIN BODY
PART A
Methodology Comparison
Waterfall Model: Originally developed in a published paper in 1970 by Dr Winston W.
Royce, a waterfall model is a method of software design. The waterfall model explains that a
systematic sequence of steps must be made over the life cycle of software development (SDLC),
just like the rippling steps down a gradual waterfall. Although the waterfall model's popularity
has diminished in favour of further agile methodologies in recent years, the logical essence of the
incremental approach used in the waterfall method could not be ignored and it remains a
traditional design methodology in the sector (Clark, 2018). That model is only used when the
criteria are well-known, simple and set. Definition of the Product is manageable, technology is
taken for granted and project is running low. It is a project management approach in which a
project is finished in separate stages and progressively moved towards greatest launch to
customers. There are several positive as well as negative aspects which are as follow:
This model is user friendly and easy to recognize. Thanks to the stiffness of the template, it is
simple to control-each step has clear outcomes and an approval process. Stages are organized
and finished in this design, one at a time. In smaller projects, the waterfall approach works
well where specifications are well specified and well established. When software is in the
development stage, it is very hard to go back and modify anything that in the design stage has
1

not been well thought out. During the life-cycle no functioning software is created until late.
High risks and uncertainties. Not a good business model for large projects or object-oriented
ones. Poor design for long and protracted projects. Not ideal for projects where there is a
moderate to high chance of adjustment to requirements.
Parallel Model: Parallel computing is a form of processing in which several simulations or
system executions are performed simultaneously. Big problems can also be broken down into
smaller ones that can then be resolved simultaneously. Parallel computing has many different
aspects such as bit-level, instruction-level, details, and project parallelism. Parallelism has
already been used in heavy-performance computing, but because of the physical limitations
prohibiting frequency scale it is gaining wider interest. Parallel model developed by C W.
Eriksen and his colleagues in 1960. It allows an alternate description of a project's state such as
different period or in a hypothetical condition. Enterprise Programs are information systems
gathering knowledge about the state of the planet. The execution of concurrent project activities
allows a project manager to perform several actions at once and produce a completed assignment
within a limited time frame. With the option of running concurrent projects, team leaders and
supervisors have little or no scope for error with completing steps along the vital path of the
project (Greene and Stellman, 2018). There are several strong or weak points such as Parallel
processing saves time and programs can be performed in a smaller wall-clock period. Solve
bigger problems in a short time. Parallel computing is much best suited to designing, simulating
and recognizing complex, real-world processes as compared with serial computing. Using
concurrent computation helps you to solve numerical and data-intensive problems utilizing
multicore processors, but often this effect on some of our control algorithms does not produce
good results and due to the parallel choice this can also impact system convergence. Often, these
costs can be very large, and can potentially outweigh the gains due to parallelization.
Critical analysis
It has been critically evaluated that waterfall model is that it is simple and easy to control as
compared to other models along with it also allows to be used for managerial control as well as
departmentalization. Another benefit of this is due to its rigidity which helps to easily manage it
as its each phase has its specific deliverables and its own review process. These phases are
completed and process only one at a time which gives a brief understanding (Kerzner, 2019). It is
beneficial for a smaller project as its works very well in organisation when its requirements are
2

understood very well. One of the benefits of this model is that it can set a schedule with a given
deadline for every stage of a development process and a product can move through these various
stages of development resulting in delivery of goods on time. Whereas on the other hand there
are several drawbacks related to this model such as this model does not allow revision or
reflection of data entered. And also if the model enters into a testing stage it makes it difficult for
a user to go back to concept stage and make necessary changes which should be thought well
while proceeding to next stage. It is weak model for long and protracted projects.
Parallel processing reduces time and programs can be performed in a shorter period of time.
It also solves Bigger Problems in a short time. Parallel processing is much better suited to
modelling, simulating and understanding complex, real-world phenomena. Throwing more
resources for a job will reduce the time it takes to complete, with possible cost savings. Parallel
processors can be developed from commodity components which are inexpensive. Some
challenges are so massive and/or complicated that, particularly given limited computer memory;
it is impractical or impossible to solve them on one single computer (Lin and Huang,
2020). Whereas on the other hand this model has several drawbacks which includes that
programming which is to target parallel architect is quite difficult. Use of parallel processing
helps users to solve mathematical and database-intensive problems utilizing multi core
processors, mostly this impact on some of their control algorithms and do not produce better
results and it can also affect device consistency due to parallel method, additional costs (i.e.
increased execution time) incurred is attributable to transferring data, synchronization,
interaction, etc. Sometimes, these costs can become very large, and can potentially outweigh the
gains attributed to parallelization. For better performance specific code tuning has to be done for
specific target architectures. Parallel strategies are more difficult to implement, more difficult to
test or prove right, and they frequently perform worse than their serial equivalents owing to
overhead communication and coordination.
PART B
Organizational overview and project need
University of Cambridge is UK based collage which currently organizes the event for New
Year students. Collage refurnished their class rooms or teaching area through introducing
advanced technology in teaching (Mavi and Standing, 2018). Need to introduce this event to
3

attract students and parents regarding their services and how it helps in building students career
in well manner to achieve their goals & objectives. University make a team and appoint project
manager who handle all the activities which required to done for completion of successful
events. University of Cambridge wish to increase number of admission in the new session or
provide advanced technology based study to the students which make them smarter.
Project requirement
At the time of conducting any event, project manager required several things to complete a
task or achieve success. Collage event required various resources to attract students or complete
this event as successful one. Such as financial resources, human resources, decoration item,
technical assistance, suppliers, chartering, security assistance etc. In addition, project manager of
this event should adopt suitable methodology to perform their task. Some of the specify
requirement is mentioned below:
Functional requirement:
S. No Requirement Description
1 Audience For the success of this collage events, project manager
invite audience who are students or parents which can
be the potential customer of university (Owusu, Chan
and Shan, 2019). With the help of this event, project
manager ensure that more and more people like the
concept of smart study by using technology send their
known people to study here. Project manager expected
around 100 people on this event.
2 Chief Guest University of Cambridge ask education minister to
attend this event which provides the huge coverage
from media and it will increase the popularity of
collage in the UK’s boundaries as well as outside of the
UK.
3 Catering Food will be prepared for around 200 people because it
is estimated that approx 100 come as audience and the
remaining 100 will includes the team members of
event, security team, special guest and their guards,
4

other collage staff etc.
4 Security arrangements It is very important for an event to make sure about
security arrangements because it is essential to provide.
If collage environment is not save then no one will
send their children into Cambridge university for
studies. During the event, it is most important aspect
which project manager need to understand.
5 Technical assistance Event will include the some entertainment activities
which required use of microphone and sound systems.
Project manager should ensure that all equipment will
work properly otherwise it can become the reason of
event failure.
6 Human resources For the success of this event, project manager required
proper team which include some people for specific
activities. Such as 2 people for event promotion, 2
people who manage all the event activities, 3 members
for other supportive activities. Basically this event
required 7 members in a team excluding project head
who manage everything.
7 Entertainment It is required to make sure that people will not getting
bored who attend this event (Santalova and et.al, 2018).
It should be informative as well as entertaining which
hold the audience for longer time or force them to talk
about event after it completion.
8 Decoration It is the essential element of any event, collage required
to decorate the place. In addition, collage refurnished
their classes and teaching rooms to attract their target
audience.
Non functional requirement:
S. No Requirement Description
5

1 Renovation of classes Classes should be look like smart study rooms which
create interest among the students and then they finally
take admission.
2 Security Collage should have strict discipline rules otherwise it
create question on students security. Parents will ensure
that, their children will be study in safe environment.
3 Performance Each team member should perform their task properly
to event goals & objectives. Project manager should
monitor the performance on periodic basis and modify
them as per the requirement.
4 Deadline of event Deadline of collage event should be after 15 days of
class renovation. Because in between, project manager
evaluate the work or if any improvement required then
do it again.
Implementation methodology:
S. No Requirement Description
1 Implementation Mode Project manager of collage event use waterfall model
because it is easy to implement and allow
departmentalizing and besting fort managerial control.
2 Implementation Time Renovation of classes and study rooms will be done
before 15th of May and event will be fixed on 30th May.
3 Implementation Team This event required total 7 members in a team which
exclude project manager.
Project RFP
Request for Proposal (RFP) is a professional document announcing and presenting
specifics of a project as well as soliciting proposals from suppliers that will ultimately complete
the project. Most companies tend to use RFPs and in many instances governments do use
proposal requests. In addition, RFP also prepare for finance their project because collage wants
sponsorship for their collage event but it required lot of efforts. Project manager prepare proper
proposal for them which include event planning and how to execute it to get success. If inventors
6

think that, this project is profitable then they will further sponsor or otherwise they no giving any
financial help to the collage (Tonchia, 2018). For the entire functional requirement, manager
required money to complete each activity for the success of this event. Collage event focus on
security, technical assistance, food, audience, entrainment activities etc. These are required for
the success of this event and will lead to increase number of admission for the next academic
session. In addition, they have to make sure that renovation work will be completed before
deadline and monitor by the project manager to make sure that it will be fine.
Project contract
S. No Contract Terms Description
1 Payment schedule All the payment of suppliers will be made 50%
before event and remaining after event.
2 Term for cancellation If event cancel for any reason, they have to pay
80% of total payment.
3 Cancel by you If project manager cancel any delivery of item
than they have power to stop payment by giving
suitable reason.
4 Termination clause Unforeseen events can be the reasons of
cancelling event such as weather change, natural
activity etc.
5 Security Project manager ensure that, no one come with
any harmful tool.
6 Reservation for space Booking for event will be done by using online
mode and receipt will be shown at entrance.
7 Food & beverages Event manager should make sure that served food
& beverages need to be approved by certified
caters.
Implementation of Gantt chart
Gantt chart is a graph used as a project management method to show the way the project is
going to operate (Tonchia, Tonchia and Mahagaonkar, 2018). They may show individual tasks,
7

their size and these tasks ordering. Have a look at the overall project timeline and the expected
completion date. This tool provide overall understanding regarding project that how much
activity managers have to perform to achieve success. In addition, the time period this required
to complete it activity to complete entire event before deadline.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it has be analysed that project management is essential to analyse
before planning to implement any event. Project planning includes the several activities as well
as resources such as financial, human; operations etc. project required various functional or non
functional activities which help in completing event accordingly to the planning. There is several
methodologies which are used by the project manager for the effective implementation of event.
It is one of the simple models which can be easily understood by others.
8

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Cicmil, S. and Gaggiotti, H., 2018. Responsible forms of project management education:
Theoretical plurality and reflective pedagogies. International Journal of Project
Management, 36(1), pp.208-218.
Clark, T.A., 2018. Project management for planners. Routledge.
Greene, J. and Stellman, A., 2018. Head First PMP: A Learner's Companion to Passing the
Project Management Professional Exam. O'Reilly Media.
Kerzner, H., 2019. Using the project management maturity model: strategic planning for project
management. John Wiley & Sons. Heldman, K., 2018. PMP: project management
professional exam study guide. John Wiley & Sons.
Lin, S. and Huang, D., 2020. Project Risk Management. In Project Management Under Internet
Era (pp. 209-246). Springer, Singapore.
Mavi, R.K. and Standing, C., 2018. Critical success factors of sustainable project management in
construction: A fuzzy DEMATEL-ANP approach. Journal of cleaner production, 194,
pp.751-765.
Owusu, E.K., Chan, A.P. and Shan, M., 2019. Causal factors of corruption in construction
project management: An overview. Science and engineering ethics, 25(1), pp.1-31.
Santalova, M.S. and et.al, 2018, April. Information hindrances and communication barriers in
project interactions. In International Conference Project “The future of the Global
Financial System: Downfall of Harmony” (pp. 273-281). Springer, Cham.
Tonchia, S., 2018. Project Cost Management and Finance. In Industrial Project Management (pp.
153-170). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Tonchia, S., Tonchia and Mahagaonkar, 2018. Industrial project management. Springer.
9