BB7018: Project Management and Practice Assignment Briefing (level 7)

QUESTION

How these skills are being developed in this assessment

Students are required to produce a professional management report, that demonstrates their project management skills, as well as there general business planning skills through the development of a believable business case and et of plans for a project of their own choosing. This will allow for professional, creative and thoughtful skills to be developed and then demonstrated within the management report that is submitted by students onto Canvas.

Assignment Task

The purpose of the project is to practice some of the aspects of project planning and control in the context of uncertainty in an international project. The project will be chosen by the student, and should relate to a project that is known to them so that the content created for this management report can be developed from their own experience (rather than researched from the internet).

You are required to produce a Project Initiation Documentation (PID) using the PRINCE 2 methodology, for the project of your choice (and that is known to you). This PID will include a well-defined Business Case, essential Project Planning elements (costs, timescales and products) and a risk register for your chosen project – a template for this management report has been included on the Canvas page for your convenience.

You will imagine yourself to be the project manager tasked will delivering your chosen project, and will therefore need to create a well-developed Project Initiation Documentation (PID) to support the approval of your project by the business. Therefore, the purpose of this document is to define the project, making sure that you are clear as to the benefits that the project will bring to the organisation, as well as how you will ensure and measure its overall success. The PID provides the direction and scope of the project, and ultimately forms the ‘contract’ between the Project Manager and the Project Board (or business). The Project Initiation Documentation requires the following:

• To create a Project Initiation Document (PID). Define reasonable and achievable scope deliverables – use your judgement to set the time, cost and quality constraints, taking into consideration the benefits that the project aims to deliver to their stakeholders. The Project Brief is created pre-project and it is used as the first step to create the PID and its components.
• To develop a well-informed Business Case (BC) (as part of the PID) which will provide a description of the reasons for the project and the justification for its undertaking, including the relevant strategic analysis that supports your chosen project and your approach to the project.
  • Strategic Analysis – 5 forces, SWOT, PESTLE – why is this project important?
  • Investment case – cost versus the benefits – what will the project deliver? For how much?
• You will use the Product based planning tools and techniques demonstrated in class to create a realistic and well informed Project Plan (PP) for the project . This should at least include the following project planning elements:
  1. Product Breakdown Structure (WBS)
  2. Estimation of time and resources needed (staff, materials, etc.)
  3. Activity Network / Critical Path analysis and Gantt Chart
  4. Budget
  5. Quality Assurance plan
  6. Risk Management plan
• Create a Risk Register (RR) for the project, highlighting how you will mitigate the highest priority risks on the project

Guidelines

Your formal management report should include the following elements of the Project Initiation Documentation (a template is provided on Canvas), and will include the following sections (minimum):

• Business Case
• Project Plan
• Risk Register

Background/Context

The purpose of the project is to practice some of the aspects of project planning and control in the context of uncertainty in an international project. The project will be chosen by the student, and should relate to a project that is known to them so that the content created for this management report can be developed from their own experience (rather than researched from the internet).

You are required to produce a Project Initiation Documentation (PID) using the PRINCE 2 methodology, for the project of your choice (and that is known to you). This PID will include a well-defined Business Case, essential Project Planning elements (costs, timescales and products) and a risk register for your chosen project – a template for this management report has been included on the Canvas page for your convenience.

You will imagine yourself to be the project manager tasked will delivering your chosen project, and will therefore need to create a well-developed Project Initiation Documentation (PID) to support the approval of your project by the business. Therefore, the purpose of this document is to define the project, making sure that you are clear as to the benefits that the project will bring to the organisation, as well as how you will ensure and measure its overall success. The PID provides the direction and scope of the project, and ultimately forms the ‘contract’ between the Project Manager and the Project Board (or business).

ANSWER

In this assessment, students have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate various skills related to project management and business planning. The specific skills that can be developed through this assessment include:

1. Project Planning and Control: Students are required to create a Project Initiation Documentation (PID) using the PRINCE 2 methodology. This involves defining the scope, setting time and cost constraints, and developing a project plan with product breakdown structure, activity network, critical path analysis, Gantt chart, budget, quality assurance plan, and risk management plan. Through this process, students can enhance their skills in project planning and control, including resource estimation, scheduling, budgeting, and risk mitigation.

2. Strategic Analysis: Students are expected to conduct strategic analysis using frameworks such as Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT analysis, and PESTLE analysis. This analysis helps students understand the importance of their chosen project in the context of the organization’s strategic goals. They will learn to identify and evaluate factors that could impact the success of the project and make informed decisions based on the analysis.

3. Business Case Development: The assessment requires students to develop a well-informed business case for their chosen project. This involves justifying the reasons for undertaking the project, assessing costs versus benefits, and aligning the project with the organization’s strategic objectives. Students will learn to gather and analyze relevant information, evaluate the feasibility of the project, and present a compelling case to gain approval from stakeholders.

4. Risk Management: Students are expected to create a risk register and develop a risk management plan for their project. This involves identifying potential risks, assessing their impact and likelihood, and formulating strategies to mitigate or respond to them. By considering potential risks and developing mitigation plans, students will enhance their skills in risk identification, analysis, and management.

5. Communication and Report Writing: The assessment requires students to present their findings and project documentation in the form of a professional management report. Students will develop skills in clear and concise communication, structuring a report, presenting complex information, and writing in a professional style.

6. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Throughout the assessment, students will need to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze the project’s context, identify strategic challenges, evaluate options, and develop recommendations. They will be required to think critically and creatively to address uncertainties and make informed decisions.

By engaging in this assessment, students have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and develop practical skills in project management, business planning, strategic analysis, risk management, communication, and problem-solving. The assessment encourages students to think critically, make decisions based on evidence, and develop a comprehensive project initiation documentation.