Project Scope Management - Bostons Big Dig - Case Study Example

The paper 'Project Scope Management - Boston’s Big Dig" is a great example of a management case study. Due to the constantly growing population, Boston’s “Big Dig” was one of the most optimistic and complex transportation projects was undertaken within the United States over the past 25 years (MassDOT, 2014a). Basically, this project aims to solve the traffic congestion problem, tunnels, elevation of Central Artery (I-93), connecting lanes, and bridges were constructed between 1982 to 2008 (MassDOT, 2014a).

The expected outcome of this project includes the need to provide an effective solution to the end-users and complete the construction projects within the expected schedule and available fund. The planning stage plays a crucial role in the success of project management because it serves as a guide for project execution (Schwalbe, 2009). Therefore, project managers are expected to identify tasks that need to be completed, who will complete the project, and when will the project be completed (McGhee and McAliney, 2007).

Unfortunately, the project manager of Big Dig encountered problems related to human errors caused by the engineers, limited budget, and meeting the expected completion of each project. Product Life Cycle ModelPlanning is the second stage in the product life cycle model (Gido and Clements, 2012). Basically, the tasks done in the planning stage include: defining the scope and goals of each project, setting a schedule for each project, carefully analyzing how the available budget can be fully utilized in each project, determining how to come up with good quality road projects at the lowest possible cost, what are the necessary risk management, and how to make full use of the available materials and human resources (Gido and Clements, 2012).

With regards to weather (i.e. rainy season, winter, etc.), the planning stage also determines the best time to start the construction project (Gido and Clements, 2012). In relation to the Big Dig project, the product life cycle model represents the four (4) major phases the project planner has to consider.