Background: The assignment is intended to bring out the benefits and limitations of different approaches to project planning and control by relating these to the circumstances in the cases outlined. It is also intended to allow students to demonstrate their learning and competence in respect of the management of resources generally, but in particular elements of scope, schedule, quality, and cost. Case 1: Jackman Ltd is an organisation which provides saleable products to the educational sector. Schools, universities and commercial training organisations are regular customers. These products include: stationary, office furniture, and business attire. As part of your job as the Jackman Ltd special projects manager, you have produced a list of activities that need to be addressed to source a new range of soap dispensers for supply to the sector. The details are shown in the table provided. Please note: You must use the methodology detailed above table 1 headed “essential methodology”. Task 1 (40% marks) 1) Draw the network diagram (use activity on the node). (8 marks) 2) Explain how you determined the timing of activities and the total float. (6 marks) 3) Explain how you determined the project duration and the critical path. (6 marks) 4) If the project starts on the Monday 5 September 2011 , what is the earliest date it can be completed using a 5 day working week? Assume no other holidays (explain how you calculated the figure). (4 marks) 5) If the following happened what would be the effect on the duration of the whole project? Explain the reasons. (6 marks) a) Activity B is delayed 1 day. b) Activity P is delayed 1 day. c) Activity O is delayed 3 days. 6) Explain and discuss the purpose of Network diagrams. (10 marks) Essential methodology (activity on the node): • All the timings (i.e. earliest start, earliest finish, latest start, latest finish, total float, duration and activity) must be included within each node of your diagram. This essential methodology is detailed in the text: Project Management, Field and Keller (2007. p. 197,p.198 & p. 391) • All timings must be in days – not dates • To complete your network diagram assume that: o If task A has a duration of 4 days (task A, earliest finish would be day 4), therefore, task B earliest start time will be day 4. • This essential methodology is detailed in the text: Project Management, Field and Keller (2007. p. 197,p.198 & p. 391), Table 1 Activity (Tasks) Duration (Days) Preceded By A 4 – B 3 A C 1 A D 6 A E 3 A F 1 E G 12 B,C,D,F H 5 G I 4 H J 3 H K 5 I, J L 9 K M 6 L N 1 M O 1 B P 6 N Q 4 O, P Case 2: Moss Ltd is a SME company specialising in the design and supply of promotional brochures. The organisations they are commissioned by includes: Local Authorities, SME enterprises, and – on rare organisations – large global companies. The company has been particularly successful since it started trading in 2005. They trade from a single main warehouse that also includes office accommodation (52,000 square metres). At present the company employs 1 General Manager, 3 Assistant Managers, 4 Administration staff, 5 sales staff, and 7 warehouse staff. They outsource their distribution functions. As part of a strategy of expansion, Moss Ltd have employed you as a consultant to manage a one off special project. This project is concerned with the opening of a building which they recently acquired (75,000 square metres). This new building will allow the company to target and respond to large global organisations demands for service. Initially, the staffing structure at the new building will mirror the existing structure at the existing site. Task 2 (60% marks) As Project Manager responsible for the opening – for trade – the new building, you are contracted at the feasibility stage. You are required to prepare a report (2,000 words). From a project management perspective outline the activities required to successfully manage this new initiative, ensuring that it is on time, and within budget. The analysis should include the skills and competencies required by the Project Manager, along with the project management process. Use examples of the concerns, stages, processes, leadership, administration and control problems associated with managing the lifecycle of this major project. Assignment presentation and assessment The answers to both tasks are independent and should be addressed separately. Task 1 (i.e. the network diagram information – (600 words) – completed as an individual task Task 2 a report that is produced for task two (2000 words) – completed as an individual task For your convenience both tasks should be submitted as one document, which contains both individual tasks. The criteria for assessing the first task – the network diagram tasks – are detailed on page 6. The criteria for assessing the task two report will be: Report presentation (20%) The extent to which the assignment represents an effective report. This will be judged on: Appearance: Is a word count included at the end of the report? Is it within the specified amount? Is the text double spaced? Structure: Does the report follow the conventions of the format? Does it have a clear introduction, explaining how it answers the questions? Do the sections of the report develop ideas in a logical sequence? Are diagrams or other subsidiary information shown in appendices? Spelling and grammar: Are all words spelled correctly and is the meaning of sentences clear? Referencing: Have appropriate references been included in the report. Has a recognised referencing system been used for notation? (see relevant section in the Guide to Basic Study Skills) Use of relevant theory (40%) Has the right theoretical content been chosen as the basis for answering the questions? Is there evidence of the use of course notes and books? Is the theory that is selected significant to the questions? Analysis (40%) This measures the extent to which students develop a structured argument for the points they make, by combining relevant theory with the information provided in the questions. Any work submitted is subject to the University’s rules and procedures governing infringement of assessment regulations. Module Leader Mr Michael Cassop Thompson Moderated by Mr Gavin Mason Grading Criteria SIM335 Managing Projects Individual Assignment First Class (70 – 100%) A creative and original response to the question. Critically reflecting on perceived theory and experiences. Wide and appropriate use of sources (theory and practice) based on reading and experiences. Answer written fluently, with evidence of a highly developed capacity to structure work systematically and argue logically. Upper Second Class (60 – 69%) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts and theories. Appropriate application of theory and experience to the question answered. Ability to inter-relate concepts and ideas. Some originality in approach and awareness of scope and limitations. Answer systematically structured and coherent. Lower Second Class (50-59%) Evidence of knowledge of concepts and theories. Attempts to relate and balance theory and practice. Main issues addressed appropriately. Mainstream texts and lecture notes used. Work presented in a structured form but arguments weak in places. Third Class (40-49%) Evidence of uncritical knowledge of main concepts and theories. Limited attempts to relate theory and practice relaying on personal opinion or assertions. Limited evidence of reading. Presentation and structure weak in several places. Fail (0 – 39%) Some knowledge of main concepts and theory but major omissions and / or misunderstandings. Style and structure weak and overly descriptive. Considerable limitations in ability to perceive the relationship of theory and practice. Limited reading. SIM335: Management of Projects (Academic Year 2006/07) Task 1 1. 8 marks. 1 points to be taken off for each wrong node. A maximum of 5 wrong nodes, after which the student gets 0 for the question. Please note: Marks are only awarded if the methodology for Activity on the Node – detailed in Project Management, Field and Keller (2007. p. 197. p.198 & p. 391) is used. Please note; Marks are only awarded if the timings are in days – not dates 2. 3 marks for explaining how the timings were determined . 3 marks for explaining how the float was determined. Please note: Marks are only awarded if timings for all activities are included on the network diagram, and the explanation given. This approach is detailed in Project Management, Field and Keller (2007. p. 197. p.198 & p. 391) 3. 3 marks for correct project duration and explanation. 3 marks for correct critical path and explanation. 4. 4 marks for correct earliest date (and explain how the figure was calculated). 5. a) 1 mark for the correct identification of the effect on the duration of the whole project, 1 mark for right reason b) 1 mark for the correct identification of the effect on the duration of the whole project, 1 mark for right reason c) 1 mark for the correct identification of the effect on the duration of the whole project, 1 mark for right reason 6. 10 marks for the discussions of key purposes (including benefits) of network diagrams. 1 mark will be awarded for each mentioned key purpose (including benefits) and 1 mark for the explanation of it. Total: 40 marks