Implementation of Project Schedule - Example

Name Course Tutor Date Part A: Work Breakdown Structure The success of a project is solely dependent on the ability of the project manager to specify the work of the project in terms of the deliverables and the activities. This can be achieved effectively y using the WBS (work breakdown structure) and it is used to define the scope of the project and the estimation of costs (Dennis 34). Below is a work breakdown structure of the project and it will identify the major deliverables and at the same time, the organizational units (people) who will be responsible. The structure will also identify all the major components and at least three levels of detail. The major project deliverables for the e-commerce site includes the Conceptual design of the ecommerce environment Ecommerce organizational chart like the one shown below Part B: Project Schedule Task Duration (working days) Start date Finish date Resources Project Analysis 2 weeks 10th July 22nd July Define user requirements 3 days 10th July 12th July Analyze web site requirements 3 days 13th July 15th July Cost and functionality analysis 3 days 17th July 19th July Acquisition of goods and services details 3 days 20th July 22nd July Design 2 weeks 24th July 5th August Define standards for project 1day 24th July 24th July Design web site structure 3 Days 25th July 27th July Desktop/User interface 3 Days 28th July 31st July Security features 3 days 1st August 3rd August Prototyping 2 days 4th August 5th August System Development 2 weeks 7th August 21st August Web pages 2 days 7th August 8th August Graphics 3 days 10th August 12th August Database 4 days 14th August 17th August Style consistency inspection Unit/component test 2 Days 18th august 19th August System Integration 2 weeks 21st August 4th September Link pages and images 1 week 21st August 26th August Link Database 1 week 28th August 2th September Overall System Test 2 weeks 4th September 16th September Page links 3 days 4th September 6th September User Interface 3 days 7th September 9th September Database access 3 days 11th September 13th September Exceptions handling 3 days 14th September 16th September Trial Trading 2 weeks 18th September 30th September Connection to the internet 4 days 18th September 21st September Transaction handling 4 days 22th September 25th September Linkage to financial institutions 4 days 26th September 30th September Critical path analysis The critical path is termed as a sequence of activities that have the longest duration. It can be noted that any delay in these activities will in a way affect the completion of the project in time. Thus, project managers need to ensure that they undertake the critical path analysis with the aim of coming up with the most appropriate path that should be followed when undertaking the project (Dennis 40). Based on the fact that the steps outlined need to be followed in the outlined order the critical path of the project is as shown below 2 weeks + 2 weeks + 2 weeks + 2 weeks + 2 weeks + 2 weeks= 6 weeks (3 months) The critical path analysis have been very essential when it comes to making decisions on the schedule and most importantly in that it has helped in reducing the risks as well costs that are associated with the project. Additionally, it has been very important in that it has offered useful and adequate overview of the project before hand and thus through it one can cater for some of unforeseen conditions, risks and costs. Through the analysis, I was also able to discover some of the activities that have some float and this would be of benefit in that there would e transfer of resources. This would eventually lead to the better utilization of the allocated resources for the project and there may be great savings from such activities. The analysis has also assisted greatly in the careful assessment of the all the requirements of the project beforehand. To enhance the project, the project schedule needs to be communicated to the stakeholders (Rajkumar 2010). Nothing is of great importance to the success of a project than the use of effective communication since the more use of effective communication the better the management of the project. To enhance communication and proper management of the project the project manager will constantly communicate with the other stakeholders. In doing so, the project manager will be forced to adhere to the basic rules of communications. Additionally, to keep up with the advancements in technology there should be the use of modern methods such as emails. This will later be coupled with other forms of communications such as the power point presentations. This will mostly used with the help of a live speaker as well as a projector. This will offer all the stakeholders time and opportunity to meet and discuss any issues they may be having relating to the project. At the same time, they can use the time to suggest and come up with better ideas of doing something’s. There will also be instances when the communication may be in terms of phones calls or instant messages and more so when there seems to be urgency in addressing a certain arising issue. The various forms of communication will be used before, in between and after the completion of every phase of the project. This will also be used as a way to check if the project is still on track. Part C: Implementation of project schedule i. Process to measure, record and report progress The regular monitoring of the project schedule performance is an effective way of coming up with any possible activity coordination issues, resource conflicts as well as cost overruns (David and Roland 10). The method that I found most effective concerning measuring, recording and reporting progress was through the use of the dates when an activity should begin and when it should end. Additionally, I would also make use of the status of the individual activities under each phase and in that, I would do so by looking at the start and the end dates to support my analysis. Additionally, I will also make use of the WBS to note those deliverables that have been achieved and which ones are remaining. This form of measuring, recording and reporting progress will be of benefit since it will in a way increase the likelihood of the date used being accurate. In addition, it will increase the other stakeholders awareness of the goals and thus there is an increased chance that they will meet their individual goals aimed at the eventually success of the whole project. Additionally, when all the involved members are aware of their work and duties in reference to the schedule they are more likely to hit the schedule. ii. Tracking schedule Task Duration (working days) Start date Finish date Resources Project Analysis 2 weeks 10th July 22nd July Design 2 weeks 24th July 5th August System Development 2 weeks 7th August 21st August System Integration 2 weeks 21st August 4th September Overall System Test 2 weeks 4th September 16th September Trial Trading 2 weeks 18th September 30th September The colored part shows the current state of the project iii. Project behind schedule Project managers at times wonder how their projects fell behind schedule even after they have engaged in diligent and careful planning. The projects fall behind schedule one day at a time and project managers should never expect their projects to fall behind in one instances since these rarely happens. This is because the progress of a project will fall behind schedule little by little and thus there is no way in which one can pinpoint when it started (David and Roland 9). This supports the reasons as to why the project managers needs to involve the milestones as well as targets to assist them in knowing whether they should be where they are at the specified time. Many projects are mainly behind schedule due to a number of factors and by knowing how to spot projects that are falling behind schedule is of great importance as finding the reasons why the delay is happening. Missing project deadlines is not good and thus the need to dealing with project falling behind schedule on time. The most effective way of dealing with a project that is behind schedule is by identifying the core issues that are dealing to the delays. This step is later followed by the reorganization, rearranging and rescheduling and this may at times involve cutting down on some of the unnecessary procedures and making the team players to work overtime. Additionally, the project manager should also relay all the recommended changes to everyone who is concerned in the completion of the project. By following the above-mentioned steps, the project managers and other members can ensure that the project gets back on the right track (David and Roland 10). This will ensure that the project is completed on time and that all the deliverables are achieved in the most effective manner. Project D: Project time outcomes i. Time management Time management is a very important aspect in a project and thus the project manager ought to ensure that all team members manage their time in an effective manner to enhance the success of the project (Dennis 23). When reviewing the performance of the project in relation to time management I can say that the time management largely was done in an effective manner. This is because a great number of the scheduled activities were completed on time but just a few of them lagged behind. Time was also managed effectively in that for those activities that lagged behind the members were requested and offered with extra resources to work overtime to ensure that the project is completed on time. ii. Time management issues Date Description of problem/opportunity Recommended Action for next time/project Lesson Learnt/ Raised By  Failing to keep a list of activities that needs to be done Ensuring that one have a to do list and this will assist a lot in prioritizing the tasks that are in the list This will enhance the completion of project in time Not setting up the goals Setting up goals since they will act as a guide and enhance my commitments towards their achievements Benefits of setting up goals Not prioritizing some activities Prioritizing issues that relates to the project and dealing with other unimportant issues after the completion of the days to do list Prioritizing the most important activities and dealing with them first Distractions Avoiding any forms of distractions such as phone calls and emails. Ensuring that the interruptions are managed effectively, for example, by letting people know that they are distracting you. Staying in a quiet place and doing away with all forms of distractions Procrastination Stop procrastination and handle tasks that one would be handling now. Handles task as they come to ensure that you have adequate time to deal with other tasks To many commitments Taking up commitments that you can handle effectively without affecting the others. Leaving other commitments to be handled by others. Always deal with what you can handle at a given time and always start immediately Work Cited David I. Cleland and Roland Gareis. Global Project Management Handbook. "Chapter 1: "The evolution of project management". New York City: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006. Dennis, Lock. Project Management (9th Ed.) UK: Gower Publishing Ltd, 2007. Rajkumar, Vincent. Art of communication in project management. Paper presented at PMI® Research Conference: Defining the Future of Project Management, Washington, DC. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute. 2010. Read More