TASK DESCRIPTION - ASSIGNMENT 1

BACKGROUND / INTRODUCTION

You are required to identify a project and its suitable activities or tasks along with predecessors and durations. You must identify at least 10 major activities of suitable complexity so that each activity would have at least a few predecessors and successors as in real life.

The project has to be approved by the lecturer before you start working on it at least four weeks before the deadline of the assignment. Please see your lecturer to discuss the project and its activities outside the lecture hours. However, lecturer would explain sample projects that you could consider for selection.

You have been working with your company for the last 3 years and it is the right time for you to take a project manager role and provide the answers for the following tasks.

TASKS

1. You are required to construct the network diagram illustrating the backward and forward pass with necessary attributes. You will have to determine and highlight the critical path explaining and evaluating what this indicates and what significant effects it has on the completion of the project. [1000 words or Equivalent]

2. Communication among the teams' members and other stakeholders is one of the important factors for a project to be completed successfully. Critically discuss the importance of Communications Management with respect to the project you have selected. [750 words] (30 marks)

3. Critically discuss

a. Different options for accelerating project completion.

b. How projects would be implemented when resources are constrained and not constrained.

[750 words] (30 marks)

LENGTH REQUIRED- 2500 words

TASK DESCRIPTION - ASSIGNMENT 2-

This assignment is based on the project and its tasks that you have identified in Assignment 1.

Part1: Initiation

Scenario

In continuation with the above project from assignment 1, you have the options either to:

• Get it done by out-sourcing it, or

• Complete the project using the companies' own employees.

Tasks

1. Write a short report by critically evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing of your project. [500 words]

Part2: Planning

Scenario

You have identified at least ten major tasks for the project in assignment 1. You have formed a team of five people to work on this project with various roles. Using the major activities you have identified, provide answers for the following tasks.

Tasks

2. Create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) with all the major tasks you have identified. In doing so, you have to identify subtasks at least up to level 3 under each project phase. You are free to add any relevant additional tasks. You can use the five phases of project management, Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitor and Controlling and Closing in creating Work Breakdown Structure.[500 words]

3. Provide a stakeholder analysis by identifying at least 5 stakeholders. Stakeholder register and management strategy must be created as well. Templates on the portal can be used[400 words]

Part 3: Execution

Scenario

Your project has been going well until now with no major challenges and your team is proud of it. It has been two months into the project since it has started, and you have another two months to go. One of the key team members, Mark met with an accident and has been advised to take bed rest at least for two months. This is a big setback for you, as you cannot afford to lose even a single staff.

Tasks

4. Prepare a milestone report for the project based on information or functionalities you have identified. Add additional milestones, if needed, to make the report more meaningful. Use the milestone report template on portal. [300 words]

Part 4: Controlling

Scenario

Due to Brexit uncertainties, Alex, one of the team members, could not promise any extra funds to hire a new staff member to replace Mark, whose work is being piled up. Three months into the project, you as a project manager and your team are very concerned about the progress of the project. After reviewing the progress, it has been decided to have a series of bi-monthly meetings with all affected staff.

Tasks

5. After the first bi-monthly meeting and consultations with business experts, you have convinced Alex that the only way to finish project successfully is to compromise scope by having only absolute essential functionality or by hiring the extra staff to finish the project on time with additional cost. Critically evaluate what functionality and/or tasks can be compromised compared to hiring additional staff with extra funding in the current project. [500 words]

Part 5: Closing

Scenario

It is one week before your final project presentation. You have been successful in meeting time and cost deadlines. However, scope had to be compromised! You have been really helpful in making this project a success.

Tasks

6. Prepare a lessons-learned report for the entire project. Include input from all stakeholders in summarizing the lessons learned. Use the template provided on portal.
[300 words]

LENGTH REQUIRED-2500 words