Fire and Rescue Service Management - Assignment Example

Name: Alfandi Almazrouei Course: Fire and Rescue Service Management University central at Blackburn College Revision Questions 1 Construct a report to your senior management team summarising your recommendations. Justify your approach in terms of method, cost and benefits. 25 Marks This report is going to recommend the best ways in risks and uncertainties in projects as it is common knowledge that it is not necessary that plans are always accurate. This is done by recognising and acknowledging the risks and difficulties that are inherent ahead in most projects. The management of this project will be able to ensure that the planning of the project is more realistic and the completion of the project will be more successful even if there are a couple of challenges that it may come across. There also needs to be research done by the organisation to ensure that the proposed new operational procedure works and it is viable in terms of its application into the current system. This will be possible if the project is done and planned in a manner that is detailed and the risk assessment if managed in a sensible manner. The method that is used in this project which involves increasing the emphasis that is laid on actions that are required to reduce or prevent the occurrence of road accidents and other related injuries even at work, is very paramount in ensuring that the days that is lost in terms of work days are minimized as such injuries can be prevented. This in the long run tends to cut on the costs that are related with medical expenses in attending to thee injured individuals, and thus the project will aid in the reduction of the impact that such accidents can have on the environment thus ensuring a safe working environment for the work force. One such recommended approach is the PRINCE2 approach as it contains a framework that is clearly defined. This is also the right way to manage the project as it designs ways in which the project can be made to work in case it does not go well in terms of the people and the resources involved. 2 Critically examine the human resource issues you anticipate during the life of the project, highlighting all the problems likely to be encountered as a project manager. 25 Marks The human resource requirements of this project are very rigorous as it deals with a very delicate matter which is the life of individuals. Thus there are bound to be a couple of issues that as a project manager one would encounter in the life of the project. One of the main issues is the expensive and the draining of resource turnover. This means that hiring of a new workforce each and every time could prove to be expensive to the organisation, and also the draining of the workforce due to layoffs and retirements is also expensive to the workforce in terms of training of the new workforce that has to be put in place to replace the old one. The use of hit and miss practices of hiring new workers is also another challenge that project managers face in their day to day activities within the organisation. This is normally a case where some of the workers that are hired are not qualified enough or even competent enough to do the work that is required of them in an effective manner. High levels of absenteeism is also another problem that as a ,manager one would face in this project and this would tend to reduce the effectiveness of this project as high levels of absenteeism will tend to lower the productivity of the organisation, and thus the project. Low levels of motivation within the workforce is also another problem that a project manager would encounter in this project and this would make the project not to be as successful as it would if it had a more motivated workforce that was willing to do its duties in a more committed manner. Sufficient training of the work force is one of the solutions that can help in mitigating such issues as well as high quality of leadership. 3 Summarise the issues in your own personal development as a project manager that you anticipate during the process of running your project. Consider, leadership, planning, time-management and quality control. 25 Marks Some of the issues that I would anticipate in my tenure as the project manager would include issues that are related with leadership, which includes ensuring that the human resource is managed in the most efficient manner, as the human resource plays a major role in ensuring the success or failure of the project. Leadership would also mean that the resources are managed in a manner that is responsible to enable the organisation to cut on costs and thus ensure that the project is a cost effective. Planning is also a main factor in ensuring that the project runs smoothly and as expected, and thus it also presents itself as an issue. As a project manager, planning can be an issue, especially if it is not done in a professional and orderly manner. Planning ensures that resources are used efficiently and the right worker is at the right position when required. Time management is also important in the success of most projects, and this project is not an exception. As a project manager, when time is not managed effectively, it can be a major problem to the success of the project. Time management will mean that all the activities of the project take place within the time frame that has been pre-planned and that the time limit for each activity is met. Finally, as a project manager, one has to ensure that quality control is done to ensure that the quality of the work that is done within the project is top notch; in this case, the project has to ensure that the response to emergency cases has to be done in a manner that is as per the requirements of the organisation. One of the things that I would change in my next tenure as a project manager would be to ensure that quality control is carried out to ensure that the quality of the project is top notch. 4 Discuss your Leadership skills in relation to project management where you have identified areas for improvement. Explain clearly things that may go wrong in implementing your project and how you intend to improve your management next time. 25 Marks As a project manager, my leadership skills will be of great importance in the success or the failure of the project. Some of the key skills that I believe I possess as a leader include vision. This means that I have a clear picture that is vivid of exactly where I want the project to head, which is the right direction. I also have a good idea what success looks like and also the means of achieving it. Some of the things that may go wrong despite having vision include not anticipating what could go wrong with the project thus it is important that as a project manager I have to share such anticipations with other managers so that they could be acted upon. Another way of ensuring that things do not go wrong in the implementation of the project would involve the communication of the vision to the subordinates so that they can be able to follow it and thus ensure the success of the project. I also believe that I possess integrity, and this is not only on the outside but also inside. This is due to the fact that I never or rarely veer away from my inner values and thus this makes me a trustworthy leader. This trust that is built ensures that I am capable to perform my duties as a project manager more efficiently as all the necessary resources will be allocated to me based on the fact that I can be trusted to deliver. Low levels of motivation within the workforce is also another problem that I as a project manager would encounter in this project and it would be important to improve this through incentives. 5 Critically assess and compare two theories of Project Management. How would your project have changed if you had adopted the other one? 25 Marks The first theory of project management is the traditional approach which will include five components that can be distinguished in the development process or stages of a project. These are the initiation stage, design stage or the planning stage of the project, execution of the project, controlling and monitoring of the systems of the project, and the completion stage of the project. Another theory of project management is the critical chain project management. This mainly involves planning and management of projects while putting most of the focus on the resources that are used within the project mostly the human and physical, which are important in the execution and completion of most of the tasks within the project. This theory has been modified as a result of the application of the theory of constraints. The main aim of this theory is the increment of the rates of completion of projects or throughputs within the organisation. The tasks that are present on the critical chain are the ones that are given first priority as compared to all the other activities. The project would have changed enormously had the other theory been adopted considering that the theories have different approaches and even the methodologies tend to be different. The service would have been more unique had the other model been adopted within this project for one. The other theory would have also enabled the project to be controlled from the beginning to the end. The other theory would have also enabled the project to be defined in terms of its important aspects. One such recommended approach is the PRINCE2 approach as it contains a framework that is clearly defined. This is also the right way to manage the project as it designs ways in which the project can be made to work in case it does not go well in terms of the people and the resources involved. 6 Critically assess the likely success of your project in reaching its goals, and construct a report to less experienced personnel identifying all the issues you recommend they should consider in future projects. 25 Marks The project is most likely to be successful owing to the fact that I have good leadership skills as I have mentioned in the previous report which include good vision for ensuring that the project is heading in the right direction and thus its eventual success. The project is also well managed in terms of the resources that are used and their allocation specially the human and the physical resources that are used within the project. The time management of the project is also well managed and thus this will ensure that the project goes well as projected. Some of the things that can be done in the future to ensure that such projects are even more successful include the development of more comprehensive research and development programs in this field of emergency response. There also needs to be research done by the organisation to ensure that the proposed new operational procedure works and it is viable in terms of its application into the current system. This will be possible if the project is done and planned in a manner that is detailed and the risk assessment if managed in a sensible manner. The method that is used in this project which involves increasing the emphasis that is laid on actions that are required to reduce or prevent the occurrence of road accidents and other related injuries even at work, is very paramount in ensuring that the days that is lost in terms of work days are minimized as such injuries can be prevented. References Lewis J. 2006. Fundamentals of Project Management, AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn, US Read More