Reference no: EM132515427

ME7712 Engineering Projects & Risk Management - Kingston University London

Assessment - Engineering Project Planning

Learning Outcome 1: The following module learning outcomes and professional body learning outcomes are tested in this assessment:

Learning Outcome 2. Use appropriate project management software to produce a clear project framework together with the broken down key tasks, their durations, required resources and any other constraints. PERT network diagrams and CPA technique will also be covered by this software session.

Learning Outcome 3. Monitor and ensure the different stages of a new project are within the time and cost constraints, and to establish exit criteria for each of the stages.

Learning Outcome 4. Demonstrate an in-depth ability to critically appraise the opportunities and threats of a given project proposal.

Assignment details

Part A - Create essential planning documents for a new hybrid handheld game console project by using the MS Project software (35%)

Background

You are appointed by a large computer manufacturer as a project manager to take charge of one of their new projects. The project is to design a new hybrid handheld game console which combines a tablet PC and a game console. The design team has already produce a work breakdown structure (WBS) report which includes all the key activities. The phase you are in right now is to plan the project schedule and calculate the subsequent project duration.

Table 1 includes all the key activities required in the project, the duration of each activity (in weeks), and resources (in number of persons). All the activities are related on the basis of ‘Finish-Start' dependencies unless otherwise specified. This means the preceding activity must be fully completed before the following activity can be started.

Problem 1 (word count doesn't apply):

Use Microsoft Project to create an activity-on-node precedence network consisting of the activities included in the project (Table 1). You need to indicate the starting and finishing times, floats and other information concerning the activities in the network.

Then calculate the shortest possible duration for the project, and identify the critical path in the project network.

You also need to produce a Gantt-chart corresponding to the shortest duration for the project, and mark the floats of the activities in the chart.

Attach relevant screenshots to show all the required information - total project duration, critical path and the gantt-chart.

Save the MS Project model as ‘K123456_K456789_problem_1'

Problem 2 (word count doesn't apply):
Produce a preliminary resource diagram (as a histogram with time on the x-axis) so that it indicates the resources consumed by single activities.

Attach relevant screenshots to show your results.

Problem 3 (word count doesn't apply):
In order to estimate the resources required for the project, you are told that you will be given the most 10 staff at any one time to work on your project. An assumption is made that all staff can do any task given to them.

Level the resources according to the above limitation so that the activities are started as early as possible. Draw an updated resource diagram, where the required changes can be seen. Notice that tasks cannot be broken into pieces or stretched out to a longer period.

Produce a new Gantt chart that corresponds to the resource usage described in the new resource diagram, that is possible to realise and it describes the shortest possible duration for the project.

Comment what happened to the duration of the entire project. How does the resource constraint change your perception of the criticality of the activities in
the new Gantt chart? (Although not required, you may, if you wanted to, add some recommendations based on your analysis)

It is always a good practice to include a short conclusion to reflect the challenges and learning experience you gained in this exercise.

Part B - Precedence network diagrams

For each of the projects in this section:
i) Produce/Draw a PERT network diagram (use activity on node convention).
ii) Then run the forward pass and backward pass in order to fill in all the required information for each task in accordance with the given format (shown below).
iii) Highlight the critical path for each project.

Project 2

A firm of landscape gardeners is asked to quote for constructing a garden on a new site. The activities involved are shown in the table.

Part C - Prepare a detailed Project Initiate Document for a project (select one from the given choices

Project choice 1 - Sea vessels or attachments to clean up floating wastes

Ocean pollution by plastic waste has been on the headline news recently because of the impact and damage they are doing to the natural habitats and sea creatures. A number of innovative research projects have been launched since a result. Many projects work on different methods and mechanisms to collect the sea wastes, with various budgets and durations.

If you select this topic as the basis for your assignment, you will first need select a suitable design, with the focus on its cost effectiveness rather than the sophistication of the technology. If you want, you may also include evaluation of a few of these feasible ideas before coming to your final choice.

The following link will get you started on your research. But you are expected to look at other reference materials as well.

Project choice 2 - ‘Amazon Key' allows delivery people inside locked house

Parcel delivery people often leave the package outside the locked door for the users and there have been many complains about the delivery packages being found damaged or stolen by unknown causes, including even wandering pets or animals. The Amazon Key service is being promoted as a safe option to make the package delivery to its owner quickly and securely.

The proposed ‘Amazon Key' system will allow the couriers to unlock your front door so that they can make their delivery anytime even when there is no one at home.

Select one project from the given choices (Ocean cleaning or Amazon key) and perform the following tasks.

As a project manager, your role is to evaluate the feasibility of the chosen project. Your first step will be to produce a Project Initiate Document (PID) to persuade your stake holders that the project is profitable and technologically feasible. Your PID report should focus on the following:

ASSESSMENT DELIVERABLES

Task 1 - Prepare a clear mission statement (approx. 100 words) and design a project logo. Task 2 - Prepare a Project Definition (approximately 1000 words). This is to outline the "who, why, and what" part of the project. It defines all major aspects of the project and forms the basis for its planning and management and also the assessment of overall success. It MUST include the following:

Project description and SMART objectives This is the most important part and majority of the document that translates the requirements communicated by the sponsor into specific objectives. It explains why the project is being undertaken.
Stakeholders Anybody who can contribute to the success of the
project or influence the failure of the project.

Major Milestones Key achievements that can be used to monitor progress throughout the project and celebrate successes. These must include dates.

Critical success factors Measurements that will determine if key achievements have been achieved. The most important will be used to assess if the project can be
judged a success.

Task 3 - Produce a work breakdown structure (WBS). Aim at around 30-40 activities and illustrate the breakdown in a tree diagram format. The breakdown should have a clear logical basis, although technical details may vary. Create your own category names as required and remember that there can never be only one right way for a project of this nature, as long as you justify your choice. Explain what basis you use to create the categories and work packages (tasks beneath each category). You must make sure that the tasks are broken down into some reasonable detail.

Task 4 - Develop a responsibility matrix fully linked to your work breakdown structure (each activity should be linked to a person) clearly showing the assignment of each task. (word count doesn't apply)

Task 5 - Identify at least 15 major risks for the project. Prioritise them using a Probability Impact Risk Assessment matrix and indicates where these major risks lie in the matrix (by showing their probability and impact clearly). Then develop comprehensive mitigation steps for each of the top five risks and present them in a separate risk assessment table. (word is not important)

Attachment:- Engineering Project Planning.rar