parties involved successfully resolve their differences about the direction of the project. There has been a recent change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the organization. The new Board has decided that the organization should develop a more focused strategic direction, and in particular wishes to focus on projects with strong business cases, well defined project charters and very clear objectives that must be agreed to by key stakeholders. All projects must be very closely aligned to the particular engineering disciplines represented in the organization. There is a strong focus on minimizing risks to the organization and on good communication between all parties in all projects. In addition, there is a strong focus on project completion. The new Board is committed to completion of existing projects and will provide the necessary resources to compete these projects, even at a potential loss, in order to maintain and build its client base. It is, however, not keen to undertake further internally focused projects like system development. The Board does, however, want to be prudent in the way that it manages its projects, and to build a platform for a successful future. The Board therefore urgently requires that you review these projects and present a report on what steps you will take to ensure that all three projects that require attention will be completed on time and to the required quality. Losses are to be minimized. Internal projects are to be carefully scrutinized to see whether they could be outsourced if that is a better option. You will accordingly need to undertake a review of all three (3) projects to ascertain whether they fit the organization’s new strategic direction and what action should be taken given the potential risks associated with them. a) Nominate three (3) example projects for discussion Nominate an organization of your choice, and the engineering discipline or disciplines in which it is operating. It should be an organization in Ghana Nominate three (3) suitable projects (for example, road development, subdivisional development, power station, mobile phone network, mining, provision of industrial equipment, installation, maintenance, surveying, research, and development) to use as examples for your discussion. These projects should be consistent with your nomination of the type of engineering disciplines in which your organization operates. b) Define key characteristics of each project nominated For example: ✓ Fit with current organizational strategic direction ✓ Estimated cost ✓ Estimated duration ✓ Expected quality of deliverables ✓ Current expenditure, percentage completed, quality standard achieved ✓ Key stakeholders ✓ Main risks ✓ Impact on the environment and society – short term and long term ✓ Complexity ✓ Other factors (for example, human resource, communications, procurement) ✓ Project integration factors ✓ Any other significant factor impacting on the project Question 2 (1500 to 2000 words) Report to Board of Directors Write a report to the Board of Directors of your organization that: i. Summarizes your analysis of projects you have been asked to assess ii. Describes your proposed solution for the project, including the feasibility of implementing it iii. Discusses, from an overall program management perspective, how the projects within your program can be better assessed, prior to acceptance by the organization, for feasibility and alignment with the Board’s strategic direction for your organization
Project C is a small (about GHS 2 million in value) but complex project
that has as its purpose the development of a new computer-based
management system and is highly complex in nature. It has a number of
small interrelated sub-systems that are mutually dependent and does not
have a well-defined direction. It is currently about 40 per cent complete.
This project is being developed by staff of your organization, with the
assistance of specialist contractors as required. Differences between the
development staff and organizational management about the direction that
the project should take threaten, however, to impact on its successful
delivery. Similarly, requests by organizational management for scope
change are numerous, and change control procedures are poor. To date,
the project manager has successfully managed to manage requests. This
may not always be the case. If the new system achieves its desired goals,
the organization would be expected to achieve considerable productivity
improvements. However, it is threatened by non-completion unless all
parties involved successfully resolve their differences about the direction
of the project. There has been a recent change in the composition of the
Board of Directors of the organization. The new Board has decided that
the organization should develop a more focused strategic direction, and in
particular wishes to focus on projects with strong business cases, well
defined project charters and very clear objectives that must be agreed to
by key stakeholders. All projects must be very closely aligned to the
particular engineering disciplines represented in the organization. There
is a strong focus on minimizing risks to the organization and on good
communication between all parties in all projects. In addition, there is a
strong focus on project completion. The new Board is committed to
completion of existing projects and will provide the necessary resources
to compete these projects, even at a potential loss, in order to maintain
and build its client base. It is, however, not keen to undertake further
internally focused projects like system development.
The Board does, however, want to be prudent in the way that it manages
its projects, and to build a platform for a successful future. The Board
therefore urgently requires that you review these projects and present a
report on what steps you will take to ensure that all three projects that
require attention will be completed on time and to the required quality.
Losses are to be minimized. Internal projects are to be carefully
scrutinized to see whether they could be outsourced if that is a better
option.
You will accordingly need to undertake a review of all three (3) projects
to ascertain whether they fit the organization’s new strategic direction
and what action should be taken given the potential risks associated with
them.
- a) Nominate three (3) example projects for discussion
Nominate an organization of your choice, and the engineering
discipline or disciplines in which it is operating. It should be an
organization in Ghana
Nominate three (3) suitable projects (for example, road
development, subdivisional development, power station, mobile
phone network, mining, provision of industrial equipment,
installation, maintenance, surveying, research, and development) to
use as examples for your discussion.
These projects should be consistent with your nomination of the type
of engineering disciplines in which your organization operates.
b) Define key characteristics of each project nominated
For example:
✓ Fit with current organizational strategic direction
✓ Estimated cost
✓ Estimated duration
✓ Expected quality of deliverables
✓ Current expenditure, percentage completed, quality standard
achieved
✓ Key stakeholders
✓ Main risks
✓ Impact on the environment and society – short term and long
term
✓ Complexity
✓ Other factors (for example, human resource, communications,
procurement)
✓ Project integration factors
✓ Any other significant factor impacting on the project
Question 2 (1500 to 2000 words)
Report to Board of Directors
Write a report to the Board of Directors of your organization that:
i. Summarizes your analysis of projects you
have been asked to assess
ii. Describes your proposed solution for the project, including the
feasibility of implementing it
iii. Discusses, from an overall program management perspective, how
the projects within your program can be better assessed, prior to
acceptance by the organization, for feasibility and alignment with
the Board’s strategic direction for your organization
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