Role of SGM Project Manager - Coursework Example

MGT3PM Project Management Assignment 1: Individual Case Study Assignment Name Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Executive Summary 3 Introduction 3 Review Objective 4 Report Structure 4 Expert Advice 4 Post Project Review and Evaluation 5 Project Plan 5 Project Cost 5 Project Risk management 6 Project Contingency plan 6 Project Communication 7 Role of SGM project manager 7 GM project manager Skills required 7 SGM Post Project Review 7 Conzept Post Project Review 8 Conclusion 8 References 8 9 10 10 Executive Summary In the past few years, there have emerged a number of attractive trends in the field of business management. In this scenario, the majority of business organizations started carrying out their business activities in the form of project. Whenever they have to start a new venture or launch anything new they initiate a project for it and assign some resources for the completion of this project. In addition, the success and failure of this project depends upon a number of factors. In this scenario, risk management is believed to the most important aspect all the way through the project lifecycle for the reason that a project faces a variety of risks. This report is written in the context of SGM and is aimed at analyzing risks and issues that they can face in this project. This report outlines the issues and problems faced throughout this project and also provide ways to deal with these issues. Introduction The basic objective of post project review and evaluation is to reassess the completed project and uncover lessons learnt on what went fine and what could be performed better in future. This review is not a procedure or session to assign blame for some issues infusing the project. Though it is proposed to encourage collaboration as well as agreement on what and why there were benefits and issues to doing things a specific way. In case of risk analysis based post project evaluation and analyses the findings assessed from all each projects are used to benefit future projects. A facilitator is always necessary for every post project review and evaluation and these are to be autonomous from the project (Kloppenborg, 2009; Field & Keller, 2007; Meredith & Mantel, 2006). In case of SGM and Conzept project I am responsible for the analysis of facts and issues happen in project of two businesses. This review and analysis based report is aimed at developing a well-researched project risk assessment report for SGM to have a post-project evaluation, identify issues in the project, and finally analyse issues and make recommendations to the future projects. Review Objective Normally, the majority of business organizations that strictly take quality measures carry out a post implementation review on their completed projects in order to check that their project has completed all the required results. In fact, simply the completion of a project cannot ensure that a firm will get benefit from the project but it requires a detailed analysis of the project to determine what went right and what went wrong all the way through the project and what was attained by the organization (Rogers & Duffy, 2012; Turner, 2008). In order to review this project I need to assess some of the major areas and aspects of the project regarding its failure and improvement in the context of SGM Corporation. Here my basic objective is to assess the project with respect to following major areas: Project Plan Project Cost Project Risk management Project Contingency plan Project Communication Report Structure Report is based on explanatory structure where each section of report is aimed to assess some of the important areas of project. Initially is will offer basic overview of project. After that report will analyze the major issues those emerge from the start of project. Then I will analyze influence of these issues on coming phases of project. The middle section of report will assess project financial and risk management aspects. The final section will provide a deep insight into to project overview to executives of SGM Corporation. Expert Advice We will require expert advice in major areas like contract management, financial management and risk management areas. For this purpose I will consult with SGM executives, financial manager of SGM, project manager of Conzept. The evidence and reviews from both sides will offer a deep insight into overall analysis of project and management of major aspects at the project areas. Post Project Review and Evaluation Project Plan Project planning is one of the most important aspects of every project. It provides the outlines to the project team that what activities will be performed at certain stage of the project and what resources and time it will require. In addition, planning initiates long before the initiation of a project (Gray et al., 2010; Lientz & Rea, 2011; Kyle, 1998). In the context of SGM, I have assessed that SGM has taken proper steps and initiatives to plan the project. In this scenario, they have properly proposed the plan through taking lawns and gardens pictures then tender the project with a proper artistic representation of lawns and gardens and then selected the company with lowest successful bid. There is also settlement among both parties about the fixed price contract with no contingency plan in future. On the other hand Conzept project point of view is different. After winning the project from SGM then only established few project milestones and scope areas and ignoring the proper project plan and documentation. Conzept only relied on pervious project experience that was not a wise decision for the overall project management. After that few project mishaps happened those were also not documented lead to overall project cost exceeding. Lack of documentation of project and less effective documentation lead to overall project cost exceed and failure. ` Project Cost Ineffective cost estimation is one of the major reasons of the projects failure. It is an admitted fact, the majority of failed projects normally face exceed in their initial budget (Cleland & Ireland, 2006; Hartley, 2008). SGM settled a cost of $300,000 for the project, and developed a tender document that called for the work to be completed by the time they moved to the new premises. SGM gave project on the basis of fixed project contact with no contingency plan ahead. During project progress plants and lawns are damaged due to SGM vehicles and rabbits. This aspect of project was overlooked and not compensated properly. This damage led to increase in project cost up to $35,100 (7.1%) over budget. These all aspects led to project failure. Project Risk management A risk can occur at any stage of project. In addition, a project can have a variety of risks such as cost overrun, unavailability of supply depending on the nature of a project. On order to make a project a success a firm must take into consideration the management of these risks effectively otherwise a project cannot attain a success (Kerzner, 2006; Burnett, 1998). Hence, risk analysis and management is one of the most important aspects of any project; however this aspect is completely overlooked by Conzept and SGM. Especially Conzept have not suitable assessed the fundamental issues regarding vehicles pathways and natural issues. They also overlooked some of the major weather conditions those were not suitable for overall lawns and plants. There was complete ignorance shown regarding establishment of some proper risk management plan and establishment of effective policy for project issues handling and management. Here cost based issues were also overlooked and not properly documented that led to project failure. Project Contingency plan Project contingency plan is always an essential part of effective project management, particularly in projects with natural aspects attached. In case of lack of effective contingency plan application overall project could not be able to survive in a successful way (Field & Keller, 2007; Gray et al., 2010). In case of this project, there was need for very suitable amount to be placed for maintaining and handling any issues and making project successful. However in case of weather issues, rabbits damage to plants and vehicle crossing lead to great deal of project damage regarding time, cost and effort. The management and financial manager also overlooked these aspects and not documented the project aspects that led to overall project cost exceed of $35,100 (7.1%) over budget and making project un-successful. Project Communication Effective communication is one of major aspect of any project. However, Conzept’s project manager overlooked this aspect and chosen only financial manager for communicating whole project details, issues and conformations. This communication was also not documented that was also a major cause of overall project breakdown. There was also not a proper reporting mechanism that needs to report progress, issues and any other aspects. Therefore in absence of some suitable project communication mechanisms the project remained unsuccessful. Role of SGM project manager Role of SGM project manager was very essential. In the above sections, I have outlined some of major issues those were overlooked by him. However when he left the SGM the situation became more and more critical. The new project manager was not able to assess the situation and properly and not able to respond the project issues in a better way. GM project manager Skills required SGM manager should have some effective communication skills. In case of above stated project he should have to show some enhanced project managed skills like handling of issues, contingency management, communication management and HR handling. SGM Post Project Review The Conzept has not completed the project effectively. The cost of project is also exceeded by 7%/. The Conzept project is also not communicated effectively. The lack of communication and project reporting has led to less effective landscaping. The overall Conzept project is being three weeks ahead of schedule, but $35,100 (7.1%) over budget. Overall description and illustration shown at project start was not fulfilled. Presently main lawn was dead in patches, the plants were small and that as a result it was not like the drawing that they had been provided at tender stage. Conzept Post Project Review Conzept had offered its best skills and services; however damage done by the SGM transport vehicles was drastic. That damage led to project delay and huge cost damage. There is also some natural disasters like rabbits damages 35% of plants that was also a huge damage. SGM not offered compensation for these damages. There is also issue regarding finical manager not documenting and considering our issues and demands. These are overall major issues those led to project failure. Conclusion Normally, a post implementation review is conducted to determine the effectiveness of the completed project. The majority of business organizations carry out such reviews to determine the results and impact of a completed project. This post project review and evaluation report has offered a detailed analysis of some of the major areas and aspects of SGM and Conzept project. Here I have offered some of the fundamental areas and aspects of issues happen in project of two businesses. I have assessed project risks, cost, communication, management and role of project manager from both companies point of view. References Burnett, K., 1998. The Project Management Paradigm. 1st ed. Springer. Cleland, D.L. & Ireland, L.R., 2006. Project Management: Strategic Design and Implementation. McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media. Field, M. & Keller, L., 2007. Project Management. Thomson Learning. Gray, C., Larson, E. & Desai, G.V., 2010. Project Management, The Managerial Process. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Hartley, S., 2008. Project Management: A Competency-Based Approach. 1st ed. Australia: Pearson Education. Kerzner, H., 2006. Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. 10th ed. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Kloppenborg, T.J., 2009. Contemporary Project Management, Organize, Plan and Perform. 2nd ed. South Western, Cengage Learning. Kyle, M., 1998. Making It Happen: A Non-Technical Guide to Project Management. 1st ed. New York: Wiley. Lientz, B. & Rea, K., 2011. Breakthrough Technology Project Management (E-Business Solutions). 2nd ed. Routledge. Meredith, J. & Mantel, 2006. Project Management: A Managerial Approach. 6th ed. Asia: John Wiley & Sons. Rogers, M. & Duffy, A., 2012. Engineering Project Appraisal. 2nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell. Turner, J.R., 2008. The Handbook of Project-based Management: Leading Strategic Change in Organizations. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. Read More