Task 1

NETWORK DIAGRAM

A-4

B-5

C-4

D-8 G - 13 H-8

E-6

F-2

J-6

I-7 K-8 L - 13 M-9 N-4

O-5

P - 12 Q-2

1.b Development of a network diagram occurs from activity sequencing. If a person does this process by hand then it will be more complex. In present era of technology, project management have many software and technical tools which help management to draw a network diagram easily. But there are lot of problems with these tools and software. Some of the network diagrams are necessary to made manually. One of the major causes of preparing network diagram manually is to know about the flexibility of network diagram. Critical path in a network diagram is longest path and it defines the shortest time period in a network diagram. During the planning of a network diagram critical path activities float is equal to zero. According to C Kosak (1994) - The formula for Total Float is the difference between the Late Start and the Early Start (LS-ES) or the Late Finish and the Early Finish (LF-EF). To get the necessarily values to calculate the Total Float, each activity would need to go through the forward pass to calculate the early values and the backward pass to calculate the late values, so that the Total Float formula could be applied to each activity. Because this can be quite time consuming, the following shortcut can reduce the time it takes to calculate Total Float: Factors that can reduce the calculating time in a network diagram 1. Label the activities with an Activity ID and Duration 2. Determine the sequencing of the activities to create the network diagram 3. List all of the paths 4. Determine the duration of each path 5. Identify the path with the longest duration, this will be the Critical Path 6. Subtract each path duration from the path with the longest duration (the critical path), to determine the maximum units of Total Float for activities on that path (in the sample below this amount is in the Total Flexibility column) 7. All activities on the critical path would have zero float, mark them with a 0 superscript.

8. To determine the Total Float for the remaining activities, go to the second longest path. The activities that were not marked with a superscript will have a Total Float equal to the difference of that paths duration and the duration of the critical path, which was calculated in step 6. Repeat this step for the next longest path until Total Float has been determined for all activities.

Task 2
Activities required for a successful project management

Project management meaning and definitions

Project management is a process or strategic planning in which management make a plan to allocate the available resources for a specific task or project. This process may include any kind of allocation for example resource allocation, set duties, authorities and responsibilities. Project management is a single process related to big single task. It is done by the organizational employees in a specific period. in other words where companys other functions are performed on regular bases, there project is done in certain time period (Lewis, 2002)

Project manager

Project manager is that person or head of the persons in group who define the targets and objectives of project. All the jobs, duties, authorities, responsibilities, time schedule set by the project manager. It is project managers responsibility to make sure about the correction of all work. In other words project manager is that person who takes the control over entire

project. There can more two or more project managers in a single project (Lewis, 2002).

Brief history of project management According to Azzopardi (2009) there are four periods of project management in history when it was known as different names which are as follow Before 1958 Allocation of resources 1958-79 Application of Management science 1980-1994 Production centre human resources 1995- Present Project management (Creating a new environment)

Definition of a Project Word Project was used by the engineers in very beginning when they used to call their different working tasks as a project. Later that time this word was adopted by information technological organization. These organization used sophisticates project methodology for their software development programs. Nowadays word Project has a wide meaning. All national and multinational organizations describe their small and big work as project. mainly the word project is related with the production and constructions work Eric Verzuh (2005).

Factors which affect project and its all activities Project objectives - every project has a target or some objective. These objectives should be clear. Project management works according to project

planning and project plans are always based on the objectives of project. if objectives are unclear, misunderstood or useless then project and its functions will be affected by unclear objectives (Baume, Martin & Yorke, 2002)

Paradigm Paradigm is an aspect of an individual. For example if different people watch a moon then what they think about that. Scientist will think how they can reach on the moon or how they can get closer look of moon. Children, pair of lovers will talk about to get moon in their hands which is totally impossible. A poet will think about to write a poem on moon. Different people have different aspects and even some people aspect impossible. Paradigm in project management indicates to the aspects of different employees for project (Baume, Martin & Yorke, 2002)

Stakeholders only project is not that work in the organization which is performed by the employees individually rather an organization may have many big works to do and one of those works can be project. for example production of cars can be a project but there are many other functions done by employees. Finance, sales, advertisement, human resource, customers, shareholders etc are all those stakeholders or factors which affect on project. In other words all stakeholders keep interest and somehow risk into project management (Baume, Martin & Yorke, 2002).

Logistics project is only a description of task or work. If head of departments or board of directors say to start a new project (production) then it doesnt mean project manager will start work immediately. In other words every project requires physical resources like man, machinery, money etc. Without these resource project cannot be started and completed. Requirement of material is called logistic. It is a big factor which affect project and it functions (Lewis, 2002)

Project risks every project requires physical resources and allocation of these resources is done by upper level management. Every project has limited or enough resources to do work. There is a risk of potential threats into project work because it is very important to finds these threats during project work, late findings will not be useful to cover the loss (Lewis, 2002).

Project problems problems can be identified as a gap between actual results and desired results. If actual results are less than desired results then there might be problem which was the cause of negative results. It is necessary to find those problems but if problems are found then there are very few chances to recover the loss. On the other hand if actual results are greater than desired results then there could also be problems. In most cases these problems are related with the quality of work. All these problems affect project work (Baume, Martin & Yorke, 2002).

Project areas in open & Distance Learning Management Management Public relations Staff development Facilities and resources Consultancy Procurement Partnerships Quality assurance Research Review of programs Developing a house style Copyright issues Adapting new programs Originating new programmes

Programmes

Learner support

Enrolment Field support service Guidance and counselling

 Material distribution Mender & tutorial services Monitoring the delivery system

Project activities According to Lewis (2002) project activities are those functions which are related to project target and objectives. These activities can be defined in some statements The project is about. The project problem is. Stakeholders in project

The milestones that necessitate scheduling are

PTCS targets of project

According to Juran (2002) PCTS targets of project play vital role to achieve target successfully. In general definition PCTS refers to the performance, cost, time and scope of project. if project management achieves these four targets then project will be highly successful.

Project

Project management activities According to Lewis (2002) some below statements are related to project management activities In what ways is project management linked to change management? How does the paradigm of a project member affect hi/her participation in the project? What are the project logistics for the project you chose and listed above?

The project case form Project case form is a format or plan in written in which project manager includes all the functions of project which are going to perform by project employees. It is a very useful tool to know about how far the work is done in project. Format of project case form is as follow

The project case form Brief background to the project

General aims

Initial risks

Expected outcomes

Benefits of undertaking this project

Initial estimates of cost and time

Cost

Time

Outcomes

Prepared by

date

Interaction for successful project management

Interaction for successful project management refers to the all functions and activities in a project. it describes how a project manager does interaction with

all other internal and external members of project. it is a process in which project manager communicate with all members to allocate resource, duties, authorities and responsibilities. This is the practical part of a project (Lewis, 2002) The terms of reference It is the transformation of all resources and duties to employees. Project manager tells from where work has to start and how. This is legal transformation which is defined by project manager in written form. Some sample of terms of references documents are as follow

Sample terms of reference document Name of Organization Project Sponsor . Distance Education source of the project (e.g. Management, Information Technology, Programmes development, learner support, etc.) Title of Project.. Project Manager Name

Terms of references Roles Team members roles in the project Diagnose the problems and solutions 4 aspects planning in project (PCTS) Performance Cost Time lines Scope Project stages determination Implementation control of project Schedule key activities Project quality monitor

Minimise and identify project risks Stakeholders roles Resolutions and implement Project notebook preparation

Project team meetings Should be held one time in two weeks Provide information for planning in advance Records all minutes in meetings Presence of deputy project coordinator in absence of project coordinator.

Meeting procedures

To know about the current meeting progress before set up next meeting Chair to update committee on progress in meeting

Project team members Name Signature . . . . . . Project approved by . Designation .. (Signature of Sponsor) (Position) Project Manager Date (Signature)

Team references activities Suggest any improvement to the terms and to the sample document as a whole, bearing in mind the distance education organization you work for and the type of project you are interested in currently

 Why do you think the managers, project sponsors and signatures of team members are necessary? Why do you think that the terms of references are interactive at this stage of the project?

How to plan the project

Planning and organizing a project Planning of project is very important and critical part of a project. it is very basic function of project. Without planning no project work can be performed. It is difficult for managers to make an effective project. All resources and time period is given to managers by top level management. Now it is a risky job for managers how to utilize all resources in certain time periods. Most of the projects are failed without effective project planning. A poor project plan can be shown as follow

A well managed project plan can be shown as follow

Some key points of preparing an effective project plan Problems definition a manager can make a project plan even anybody can make a project plan but the thing matters that how far the project plan is effective. When employees do actual work on project plan then every project plan feels some problems. Diagnoses of problems are the major achievement of an effective project plan

 Find solutions the second major achievement of an effective project plan is the findings of solutions of problems. These solutions should be found on time otherwise they will be ineffective Overall progress regular calculation of overall progress is very important. It helps management to update information about problems and potential threats and effective decisions can be taken on right time.

Project managers skills Education and qualification first of all project managers should be well educated and qualified. Education and qualification helps people to make right decision. If project manager is well educated and qualified then he can make better calculation regarding project work Experience as much as experience is necessary for successful project plan. If project plan is effective then project work will go in right decision. Project managers experience will help him to diagnose the problems and to take right decision on right times Time management time management is one of the most important skills of project manager. If a manager knows how to manage time effectively then he can perform better even in negative situation because he will handle the situation with in time remaining Ethical issues project managers honesty, dedication and hard work will bring more chances of success of a project.

My role as consultant manager in Watson ltd All the information related to project management, project manager, how it works, is mentioned in this assignment. All the activities are mentioned in this assignment which is necessary to complete a project success fully.

After studied all above meaning, definitions and concept of project management i found that first of all effective project planning is necessary before start work on project. Effective allocation of available resource, time, duties, authorities and responsibilities is important to run project smoothly. Control over the project work and project employees will help me to find potential problems and threats. At the end I will calculate the working progress with project plan. That will decide how far the project is successful. References
Field M. & Keller R. (1998) Project Management, The Open University Supporting Texts Burke, R. (1999) Project Management; Planning and Control Techniques (3rd Ed.), Wiley, Chichester. Nicholas J.M. (2004) Project Management for Business and Engineering Principles & Practice (2nd Ed.) Elsevier Maylor, H. (2003) Project Management (3rd. Ed.) Prentice Hall Financial Times Boddy D. (2002) Managing Projects Building and Leading the Team, Prentice Hall Financial Times Daniel Goleman (1998) IQ and technical skills are important, but emotional intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership: What Makes a Leader?. Harvard Business Review, 76 (6), March, pp. 93-102. [Online]. Available from: http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liv.ac.uk/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=105&sid =efcfd35e-6e92-4be5-8fad-b072f2570476%40sessionmgr115&vid=2 (Accessed: 28/12/2010) Ralf Muller and J. Rodney Turner (2007) Matching the project managers leadership style to project type. International Journal of Project Management, 25 (1), January, pp. 21-32. Ralf Muller and J. Rodney Turner (2005) The Project Managers Leadership Style as a Success Factor on Projects: A Literature Review. International Journal of Project Management, 36 (1), March, pp. 49-61. Salah El-Sabaa (2001) 'The Skills and Career Path of an Effective Project Manager', International Journal of Project Management, 19, May, pp. 1-7. [Online]. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.liv.ac.uk/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V9V41HHNG4-

1&_user=822084&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2001&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search &_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000044499&_version=1&_url Version=0&_userid=822084&md5=addb08b272a4e1d1b069854b0fa3cfda&searchtype =a (Accessed: 31/12/2010)