Reference no: EM133668345

Assessment Task 1

Questions

Provide answers to all of the questions below:

Question 1. Outline the main steps in the budgeting process for a project.

Question 2. Discuss why key performance indicators are used in budgeting and provide three examples of financial key performance indicators that can be used to determine the effectiveness of a budget.

Question 3. Explain the use of milestones in budgeting.

Question 4. Explain the importance of budgetary control.

Question 5. Explain the purpose of using spreadsheets for developing budgets and two key features of using spreadsheets.

Question 6. Explain two methods for conducting project cost estimating and at least one advantage and disadvantage of each.

Question 7. Explain earned value management and its application in evaluating costs.

Question 8. Explain project cost management and its application in evaluating costs.

Question 9. Explain how a cost plan can assist in managing costs and its use over the project life cycle.

Question 10. Explain the key procedures that should be followed in the event of a cost change process during a project.

Question 11. Explain two processes that can be used to measure costs against project outcomes.

Question 12. Outline the key role and at least four responsibilities of a project manager in relation to cost management.

Question 13. List three organisational policies and procedures that may apply to cost management in a project environment.

Assessment Task 2: Project Portfolio

In this task, you are required to demonstrate your skills and knowledge by working through a number of activities and completing and submitting a project portfolio.
You will need access to:
• a suitable place to complete activities that replicates a business environment including a meeting space and computer and internet access
• your learning resources and other information for reference
• Project Portfolio template
• Budget Template
• Simulation Pack (if you need a case study).

Activities
Complete the following activities:

1. Carefully read the following:
This project requires you to develop and manage a project's costs. You must manage the costs on two separate occasions across a project's lifecycle, including responding to variations, recording expenditure and creating financial reports.
You can do this for a real project at your workplace, for a project associated with a start-up business you are working on yourself or you can use the Simulation Pack provided.
Vocational education and training is all about gaining and developing practical skills that are industry relevant and that can help you to succeed in your chosen career. For this reason, basing your project on real relationships with classmates or work colleagues will mean that you are applying your knowledge and skills in a relevant, practical and meaningful way!
If you use your own business or workplace, you should have sufficient financial information to complete the requirements of the assessment (read through the assessment to make sure you have access to the required information). Also make sure that you have access to at least one cost-management related policy and procedure, one budget and a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for the project. Speak to your assessor to get approval if you want to base this on your own business.
If you are basing this assessment on the case study business, read through the Simulation Pack in preparation for this assessment. All the information needed to complete this assessment is contained in the Simulation pack.
You will be collecting evidence for this unit in a Project Portfolio. The steps you need to take are outlined below. Before you begin, complete page 4 of your Project Portfolio. You must describe the organisation you are basing this assessment on and provide a short description of the project for which you'll manage the cost.
Start working on Section 1Determine project cost of your Project Portfolio. Steps 2 to 5 form part of Section 1.
If you are basing this assessment on the case study (Manager Networks), further information to complete the next steps is available in the Simulation Pack.
If you are basing this assessment on your own business, you will need sufficient numerical information to estimate costs, develop a budget and create a Cost Management Plan.
 
2. Summarise important cost management information
Summarise any information that relates to:
• the financial objectives of the project
• your role in the project (including the responsibilities)
• organisation's budget (or any other budget relevant to the project)
• cost management (e.g. monitoring actual expenditure against the budget, financial completion of project, estimating techniques, budget tolerances etc.)
• the project task and its activities (including the Work Breakdown structure (WBS)).
Make sure you review at least one policy and procedure relating to cost management. You must also review a budget.

3. Meet with your project team members to discuss and agree on the project cost management details
Meet with at least two project team members. At the meeting:
• discuss the financial objectives of the project and agree on actions required to maintain these objectives.
• identify the resources required for each task in the WBS.
• agree on the maximum project costs for required resources
• discuss processes and procedures for monitoring actual expenditure during the project lifecycle against the budget (these must include details about the ongoing recording of income and expenses as well as timely, accurate financial reporting).
Take notes at the meeting, as you will use the agreed outcomes of the meeting throughout your assessment.
Each meeting should take 30 minutes. This will either be attended in person by your assessor or they will attend online. If you are in the workplace, you may like to video record the session for your assessor to watch later (attach proof to Section 1 of your portfolio). Your assessor can provide you with more details at this step. Make sure you follow the instructions above and meet the timeframes allocated.
During the meeting, you will need to demonstrate effective communication skills including:
• speaking clearly and concisely
• using an appropriate tone and the correct syntax
• asking questions to identify required information and understand the views of others
• using active listening techniques to confirm understanding.
• selecting appropriate conventions and protocols (e.g. formal greeting, handshake etc.).

4. Develop a budget
First estimate the costs associated with the required resources for each task/activity in the WBS (identified at your team meeting). Then use your estimated costs to develop a budget for the project.
Use an appropriate estimation technique to estimate project costs (if you are using the case study, the organisation's policy and procedures stipulate that cost estimates should be made using a bottom-up estimating technique).
Your budgeted amounts should not exceed the maximum resource costs agreed on at your meeting.
Information should be obtained from a variety of sources:
• use the internet to research resource and activity costs.
• seek input from an external stakeholder (e.g. email a consultant for information, request a quote from a supplier etc.)
• use existing information (e.g. previous budget) to obtain information on resource and activity costs.
Use a digital technology application (e.g. MS Excel) to record your cost estimates and develop your budget. You may use the MS Excel template provided (Budget Template), or any other appropriate application used by your business. You will use this same workbook later on in this assessment to monitor project costs (step 6).

5. Develop a Cost Management Plan
Use the information you've gathered and developed in this assessment so far to develop a Cost Management Plan that includes:
• a brief introduction
• financial objectives of the project
• actions required to maintain financial objectives
• identify the resources required
• estimated and maximum project costs for required resources
• processes and procedures for monitoring actual expenditure against the budget (these processes must include the recording of actual expenses)
• potential causes for increased costs
• cost control procedures (variation rates and approval requirements).
You may use the template provided in the Simulation Pack, or any other relevant template.
Your plan should only include information that falls within the scope of your role and responsibilities (you've already defined these in step 2).
The text of your plan should be in grammatically correct English, written in an appropriate (polite, business-like) style.
Make sure you have answered all questions in Section 1.
You are required to attach certain documents as part of your evidence - review the documents you need to attach as outlined in Section 1 of the Project Portfolio.
Submit Section 1 to your assessor.
Start working on Section 2Monitor project costsof your Project Portfolio. Steps 6 to 8 form part of Section 2.
Assume that a short period of time has passed and the project has commenced (but has not yet been completed).
If you are basing this assessment on Manager Networks, further information to complete the next steps is available in the Simulation Pack.Assume that one month has passed.
If you are basing this assessment on your own business or workplace, you should have sufficient financial information available about actual costs of the project to date. The costs should indicate at least one variance requiring action.

6. Monitor the project costs (early on in the Project life cycle) and take any necessary action
First record any actual costs to your budget using the processes and procedures outlined in your Cost Management Plan. Then use the recorded information to identify any cost variations. For at least one variation:
• identify at least two alternatives where resources and budget can be adjusted to accommodate the variation
• evaluate the alternatives
• implement the best way forward (by updating your budget).
Review the cost management processes followed by your team to date.
If you previously used the Budget Template, add the necessary information in the relevant spreadsheet using the same MS Excel workbook. Otherwise, use the processes and procedures of your specific organisation.
Make sure your actions match those outlined in your Cost Management Plan.
Assume you have permission to implement the budget and resource changes.
Change the version number of your cost estimate and budget workbook.

7. Provide an interim financial report to an appropriate stakeholder
Write a financial report that includes:
• a summary of the finances to date.
• current expenditure details
• variations and actions taken to address the variation
• a review of the cost management processes to date.
Draft an email to the stakeholder to share the report with them. In your email, include general information about the report (e.g. what it is, how it can be accessed such as a link to the cloud-based storage location or a reference to an attachment, any action required by the stakeholder).
You may use the template provided in the Simulation Pack for your report, or any other relevant template as per your organisation's requirements.
The text of yourreport and draft email should be in grammatically correct English, written in an appropriate (polite, business-like) style.
Assume that a further period of time has passed and the project has commenced (but has not yet been completed).
If you are basing this assessment on Manager Networks, further information to complete the next steps is available in the Simulation Pack. Assume that three months has passed.
If you are basing this assessment on your own business or workplace, you should have sufficient financial information available about actual costs of the project. The costs should indicate at least one variance requiring action.

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the later time period
Use the additional financial information from the Simulation Pack or your business to repeat steps 6 and 7 at a later period of time (before the project is completed).
Make sure you have answered all questions in Section 2.
You are required to attach certain documents as part of your evidence - review the documents you need to attach as outlined in Section 2 of the Project Portfolio.
Submit Section 2 to your assessor.
Assessor: see Project Portfolio Assessor Section 2 for guidance with marking. Provide feedback and if necessary, ask the student to make adjustments and resubmit their work.
Start working on Section 3Complete cost management processesof your Project Portfolio. Step 9 forms part of Section 3.
Assume that the project has now been completed.
If you are basing this assessment on Manager Networks, further information to complete the next steps is available in the Simulation Pack.
If you are basing this assessment on your own business or workplace, you should have sufficient financial information available about actual costs of the project.

9. Review the cost management processes
First record any final income/expenses to your budget, then review your financial reports (prepared in steps 7 and 8). Use the recorded information to:
• summarise the project outcomes
• identify any cost management issues over the project's life cycle (at least one)
• make recommendations for future improvements (at least three).

10. Submit your completed Project Portfolio
Make sure you have completed all sections of your Project Portfolio, answered all questions, provided enough detail as indicated and proofread for spelling and grammar as necessary.
Submit to your assessor for marking.