Project Management - Controlling Project / Project Scope - Assignment Example

Project Management Number: Lecturer: Controlling Project Project management is a systemic discipline of planning, organizing, securing, managing, supervising, leading and controlling and/or budgeting for resources to achieve a specific goal, the project under construction. The project has a time limit under which it has to be implemented and with definite resources allocated to it intended to result in a final project which can be used for the purpose that is intended to serve. The implementation has a defined beginning and the end with equally defined or limited resources.

The project can be a public intended to add value to the general society implemented by state or local government and the intended purpose it is supposed to offer or private project for a business purposes.As mentioned a project has to be implemented within a specified time and the only the budgeted amount to be spent as planned but this may not be so. Some issues might hinder the project implementation causing delays in completion. We will consider a project before discussing how delays come about and ways to control it from such delays.

Imagine a construction of five hundred public housing units in an annexed near a town sponsored by a local authority area which was a bare land having not previously not had any infrastructure. The project then needs architects to design the houses, civil engineers to design, among other developments, access roads, electricity lines, sewerage system and communication lines or system. Electricity line and communication lines require electrical and communication engineers. The area has to be cleared first and shaped in manner to consider the how the housing should look like.

The project manager will consult all these experts in the design and construction process. Some of the reasons that cause delay in the construction of these housing units can arise caused by the contractor, the owner of the project (local authority) or natural causes which are beyond either of the two. The contractor may not adequately plan the construction and in the process the contractor faces new realities on the ground that may require more work. The ground might not be firm enough to sustain building or the ground might be rocky with huge stones which might need to be removed from the site or the construction area moved to a new place all together.

This will involve adjusting the budget to include the expenses on the changes. On the other hand the contractor implementing the project might lack the necessary capacity to complete the entire project. The workers might lack the skills required, works spending more man hours than planned for and the contractor’s inability to secure enough start-up financing. (Kendrick 48).During execution, some delays might be come about if the supplier does not deliver the scheduled materials on time to effect timely construction, the equipment being used might break down if they are old or misused and some problems might come related to human capital if for example some employees are promoted leaving space to be filled in replacement which might not result in an individual with the right skill.

Still the labor unions might raise employee related disputes resulting in boycott of work. (Kendrick 77).On the other hand the project owner might cause delays. The contractor might decide to change how construction looks like causing design review or the zoning laws change in the process of construction and adjustments have to be effected. The construction might need to be inspected to ensure it conforms to required standards. During the signing stage an agreement is entered into specifying the stages of payments by which the contractor will use in implementing.

If the funds are delayed the contractor might have problems in securing the financing to continue. Some natural delays beyond the hands of either are natural causes like extreme weather conditions which can bring down the entire project or just cause delay due to inability to continue. The project manager can take matters in his own hands to ensure that there is no delay or if there is it is minimized to be able to deliver the project in time to ensure that inspection is done in time the project manager might need to update the inspection authorities beforehand to enable them plan scheduled inspection exercise.

The project manager should ensure before implanting the project that enough capacity is put in place before in terms of finances, manpower and the bright equipment. During the implementation, man hours should be used optimally. (Kendrick 130).Scheduled deliveries can be done well in advance such that the materials are available at the stage when needed. Anticipate client change of mind whenever they wish to improve some designs or anticipate zoning changes from authorities. As a project manager, ensure you have enough finances to implement the changes or even to continue if the client does not pay in time.

Regular discussion with the client can help in having a clear understanding with the client on cost and consequence of changes of all the entire chain effect. (Kendrick 140).Implement the project in time if any natural disaster can cause delay when the weather still allows.Works CitedKendrick, Tom. Identifying and Managing Project Risk: Essential Tools for Failure-Proofing Your Project. (2nd ed). USA. New York. Amacom. 2009.