Fires in High Rise Buildings in Yorkshire Fire Service Using the PRINCE2 Principles - Assignment Example

1. Report on a New Strategy Operational Procedure for Attending and Dealing with Fires in High Rise Buildings in Yorkshire Fire Service Introduction The project seeks to find methods to control and manage fires in high rise buildings within Yorkshire. This will be achieved through training and effective use of resources within the Yorkshire fire service. It is projected that this project will be more efficient as compared to other projects done in the past. This is because it will employ PRINCE2 principles. Method used Using the PRINCE2 principles, the project aims at ensuring that plans, controls, quality and configuration management and change control are effectively dealt with as regards managing fire in Yorkshire high rise buildings. Project costs and benefits The cost of deciding on the project, defining it, planning the various events involved, carrying out audits and authorization is £1300. Other costs that pertain to risk and equipment assessment training include location of hydrants in high rise buildings, location of lifts and motor rooms, designating fire fighting shafts, and checking alarm repeater panels and annunciator panels. These will cost £9200. The cost of handover of the project as well as post-implementation review is £2000, making the total as £12500. The cost of implementing the project is generally high but its benefits are unquantifiable given that it will be implemented in phases (i.e. proceeding only after the initial phase is successful). The cost of damages due to fires in high rise buildings in Yorkshire each year far exceeds the cost of this project. Recommendations Fire service project planning should be expanded to include the public to encourage their participation in dealing with fires 2. The anticipated human resource issues and problems that are likely to be encountered The project requires a number of resources that require high input in human resource training. Such include training staff to manage the special dog unit, ensuring that the staff are well equipped to perform regular fire drills, and training those involved in assessing building plans so as to familiarize with the routine programmes. There is also lack of specialised devices to aid staff in dealing with fire in high rise buildings. Another issue in human resource management has to do with the ability to access buildings using stairways as opposed to ladders during drills. This needs better equipped staff to conduct regular drills using stairways, but there is a limitation to this in that most staff currently do not have the requisite knowledge. There is also need for the staff to have a better understanding of actuator devices in order to ensure that fires do not spread between the adjacent floors of high rise buildings. Another problem in implementing the project lies in the fact that there is need to use a PPV stairway pressurization device to get rid of smoke in areas where it is concentrated. This requires highly specialised training for staff and could imply more expenditure on the side of the fire service. The change is in shifts from 9 hours for day and 15 hours for night to 12 hours each for day and night also means that there will be an increase in expenditure, thus requiring more resources. 3. Issues in personal development ass the project manager As the project manager, I have a big responsibility of ensuring that the project runs smoothly. This requires dedication and commitment to the duties of project management and ensuring that all members of staff perform their duties as is expected of them. The following are some of the attributes I need to adhere to in order to ensure that the project runs as expected: Starting now: I always ensure that everything is done as planned. This means that what is planned has to be implemented now and not in the future. Procrastination is the thief of thief of time. Using small steps: In order to succeed in the plan I need to make gradual steps. This is the reason why the project is divided into phases in order to evaluate each step before moving into the other. Learning from others: I can gain by learning from what other people did in the past projects and failed or succeeded. This I do by reading widely about project management and implementation. Welcoming change: Since the world is changing all the time, I have to keep on evaluating the project based on its success and view the areas that need to be corrected and the necessary changes that can be put in place to ensure that the project runs smoothly. Taking responsibility: Since I am responsible for the project’s success, I have to ensure that the steps initiated are followed to completion. Failure in projects occurs when a series of steps are initiated but they are not followed to completion. Thinking about the intention: While implementing the project, I have the principles of PRINCE2 in mind. My intentions have to be in line with these stipulations to ensure the project’s success. 4. a) Leadership skills in relation to project management My leadership skills in project management will aim at ensuring that the objectives set for the project are met as planned. Effective project management is an inductive process and this requires vision that highlights the prospects of the organization in future as well as a strategy to attain that future state. My skills in management revolve around developing a team since the fire service requires a lot of team work in order to accomplish the aims of attending to emergency situations particularly in the schools in Yorkshire. I have to establish a structure for various objectives including accomplishing the particulars of the project plan, ensuring that the project is well staffed, and availing an authority or responsible organ to oversee the project’s progress. I also have to ensure that the procedures that are set are followed correctly and that the policies defined regarding the project are well implemented. This has to be followed by an effective monitoring process to facilitate the project’s successful fruition. b) Things that may go wrong during project implementation and how to overcome them Identification of hazards may not be possible since identification of potential fire hazards requires a lot of input in terms of skilled labour. Without an exhaustive fire drill it is not possible to perceive the people who are at real risk of fire or those who may be adversely affected in case fire occurs in high rise buildings. As such, the only sure way to check this is to carry out regular intensive fire drills, which will ensure that the project objectives are met whenever there is a fire hazard. It may not be possible to attain the third point in PRINCE2 which is evaluating, removing and reducing, and protecting from risk since not many hazards are not known with respect to high rise buildings and most cases are perceived when the real danger occurs. The aforementioned problems can be rectified in the next project by ensuring that each phase of the project is thoroughly scrutinized in order to avoid mishaps in the next phase of the project. 5. Comparison of PRNICE2 theory of project management and organization theory The PRNICE2 theory of project management is applied for projects that are ongoing in controlled environments. The key features of this theory include a focus on justification of business, having a well defined organization structure to be used by the project management team, having a product-based outlook, focusing on dividing an ongoing project into several phases that are not only manageable but also controllable, and finally, ensuring that flexibility is applied at appropriate levels of the project. On the other hand, the organization theory deals with the study of organizations with a purpose of identifying shared themes to solve problems, maximise efficiency and productivity, and meet the needs of stakeholders. This can be broadly conceptualised into three frameworks: individual practices, group practices, and organizational practices. While both theories are applicable in managing projects, PRINCE2 is more appropriate since it is more specific. Hence, if the organization theory were used, it would not be possible to analyse the project in phases as appropriately as with the PRINCE2 model. 6. Report on success of the project The success of this project lies in utilizing every component of the PRINCE2 principles. It can be noted that project team members have different levels of understanding and therefore have to be grouped according to their levels of performance. In addition, effective project management using the PRINCE2 components requires that the group leader be selected on a rotary basis in order to give everyone a chance to participate in the project management process. This will also encourage every group member to be effective in their various capacities and roles in the project implementation process. The Yorkshire fire service project has succeeded in many aspects in that it has been possible to identify the areas that need attention in the fire service so as to curb the occurrence of fire in high rise buildings in Yorkshire or to deal with fire in the same premises should any incident arise. Considerations for future projects The following are the key pints that should be observed in handling similar projects in future: High rise buildings and many other buildings need to be inspected regularly to ensure that they have a valid fire certification from their respective local councils. This will ensure that they are easy to manage and will also make implementation of PRINCE2 easy. The PRINCE2 phases should be followed and analysed more critically since it is these steps that determine the success of the entire project. More funds need to be set aside in order to facilitate more encompassing projects in future. Read More