Report on an issue involved in managing projects, using the MS Project software

Report on an issue involved in managing projects, using the MS Project software Order Description SOCCER STADIUM CASE STUDY The Langton’s Construction Company is preparing a bid to build a new 47,000 seatsoccer stadium in Brisbane. The construction must start 1st May 2015, and be completed before 8thMarch 2018, in time for the start of the 2018 season. A penalty clause of $100,000 per day of delay from March 8, 2018, is written into the contract. Ben Keith, the president of the company could make a profit of as much as $4 million on the project. He also said if they are successful, the prospects for future projects are excellent since there is a projected renaissance in the building classic stadiums with modern luxury boxes for soccer in Australia. ASSESSMENT TASK Given the information provided in Table 1, construct a detailed Gantt chart for the stadium project and answer the following questions: 1.    What is the project completion date, and will the project be completed by the March 8st, 2018 deadline? 2.    How long will the project take (days)? 3.    What is the critical path for the project? 4.    To sell enough boxes by the launch date, the stadium has determined it must start advertising 5 months before the “Final handover” finish date. Create a milestone on your schedule called “Start advertising” for when this should occur. 5.    Based on the likely completion schedule and potential penalties for late completion, would you recommend that Langton’s pursue this contract? Detail your reasons why you came to this conclusion and include a one page Gantt chart for the stadium schedule. CASE APPENDIX: TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE SOCCER STADIUM Structure details: Outdoor soccer stadium with retractable roof The project begins with clearing and setting up the site, including some on-site demolition of existing buildings, which is necessary to create a construction stage for storing materials and equipment. Once the site is clear, work can start on the structure itself. The project is broken down into four zones, to allow work to be carried out concurrently at different stages within all four zones. Work on the stadium begins by driving 160 support pilings, which will take 160 days. Next comes the pouring of the lower concrete bowl (180 days). Once the lower concrete bowl is poured and the construction site has been set up, then pouring of the main concourse (180 days), the installation of the playing field (90 days), and the construction of the upper bowl can occur (180 days). Once the main concourse and upper bowl are completed, work can start simultaneously on building the luxury boxes (90 days), installing the seats (140 days) and installing stadium infrastructure (150 days) which includes: all services, as well as bathrooms, lockers, restaurants, etc. Once the seats are installed then the steel canopy can be constructed (75 days), whilst the installation of the lights (30 days) and AstroVision (30 days), needs the stadium infrastructure to be installed first. The retractable roof represents the most significant technical challenge to the project. Building the roof track support (100 days) can begin after the lower concrete bowl is constructed. After the roof track supports are complete, the dimensions of the roof can be finalized and the construction of the roof at a separate site can begin (200 days). After the rooftrack supports are completed then the roof tracks can be installed (90 days). Once the tracks and the roof are completed the roof can be installed and made operational (90 days). Once all activities are completed it will take 55 days to test and commission the services, inspect the stadium, make good any defects and carry out the final handover. MS PROJECT – PROJECT CALENDAR – NON-WORKING TIME 1.    The following holidays are observed: •    New Years Day- January 1st •    Australia Day – 26th January, •    Good Friday •    Easter Monday •    Labour Day •    Anzac Day - 25th April •    Ekka Day •    Queen’s Birthday •    December 25 and 26 2.    If a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, the holiday time is taken in lieu. 3.    Allow for a two week industry shutdown at Christmas time –inclusive of public holidays.The shutdown commences on a Monday, the week of December 25th. 4.    Allow for Rostered Days Off (RDOs) 5.    RDOs generally fall on a Monday, but can be moved relative to public holidays, to maximise the benefit to workers (see Appendix B: RDOs) 6.    All employees work a 40hr week, from Monday through Friday. ADDITIONAL NOTES a)    Dates for Easter Sunday from now until the end of the millennium, can be calculated (it’s really all to do with the phases of the moon) and are available with a quick Google search for "Easter Dates". b)    RDOs are moved (where required) to ensure they don't clash with standard public holidays. c)    The project schedule should include milestones and resources. There are no restrictions on the number of milestones or resources. APPENDIX B: RDOS The hours of work shall be 152 hours within a work cycle not exceeding 28 consecutive days. This allows the hours to be arranged so that 152 hours are worked over 19 working days, and the twentieth day (but not necessarily the last) day in the cycle is the RDO. Employees will not accrue a RDO credit for a day of absence, other than on annual leave, long service leave, public holidays, paid personal/carer’s leave, Christmas shutdown, workers compensation, paid compassionate leave, paid training leave, or jury service. TABLE 1 WBS     Activity     Duration     Predecessor(s) Project_1     Football Stadium Project_1.1     Clear Stadium Site Project_1.1.1     Set-up Site Fencing     5 days Project_1.1.2     Arrange Site Signage     5 days Project_1.1.3     Demolish and Remove Existing Buildings     30 days     3,4 Project_1.1.4     Excavate and Level Site     40 days     5,9 Project_1.2     Set up Construction Site Project_1.2.1     Arrange Temporary Services     20 days Project_1.2.2     Deliver and Set-Up Hoardings and Site Sheds     20 days     3,8FF Project_1.2.3     Site Survey and Set Out     10 days     6,9 Project_1.3     Support Piling Project_1.3.1     Mobilise and Set-up Piling Rig     5 days     10 Project_1.3.2     Install Support Piles - Zone A     40 days     12 Project_1.3.3     Install Support Piles - Zone B     40 days     13 Project_1.3.4     Install Support Piles - Zone C     40 days     14 Project_1.3.5     Install Support Piles - Zone D     40 days     15 Project_1.4     Construct Lower Bowl Project_1.4.1     Excavate Lower Bowl Foundations     20 days     13 Project_1.4.2     FRP Lower Bowl - Zone A     45 days     13,18SS+5 days Project_1.4.3     FRP Lower Bowl - Zone B     45 days     14,19 Project_1.4.4     FRP Lower Bowl - Zone C     45 days     15,20 Project_1.4.5     FRP Lower Bowl - Zone D     45 days     16,18,21 Project_1.5     Construct Main Concourse Project_1.5.1     FRP Main Concourse - Zone A     45 days     19 Project_1.5.2     FRP Main Concourse - Zone B     45 days     20,24 Project_1.5.3     FRP Main Concourse - Zone C     45 days     21,25 Project_1.5.4     FRP Main Concourse - Zone D     45 days     22,26 Project_1.6     Install Playing Field     90 days     22 Project_1.7     Construct Upper Bowl Project_1.7.1     FRP Upper Bowl - Zone A     45 days     19 Project_1.7.2     FRP Upper Bowl - Zone B     45 days     30,20 Project_1.7.3     FRP Upper Bowl - Zone C     45 days     31,21 Project_1.7.4     FRP Upper Bowl - Zone D     45 days     32,22 Project_1.8     Install Seats     140 days     33 Project_1.9     Build Luxury Boxes     90 days     27,33 Project_1.10     Stadium Infrastructure     150 days     27,33 Project_1.11     Install AstroVision    30 days     36 Project_1.12     Construct Steel Canopy     75 days     34 Project_1.13     Light Installation     30 days     38,36 Project_1.14     Construct Retractable Roof Project_1.14.1     FRP Roof Supports - Zone A     25 days     19 Project_1.14.2     FRP Roof Supports - Zone B     25 days     41,20 Project_1.14.3     FRP Roof Supports - Zone C     25 days     42,21 Project_1.14.4     FRP Roof Supports - Zone D     25 days     43,22 Project_1.14.5     Install Steel Roof Frame - Zone A     50 days     41 Project_1.14.6     Install Steel Roof Frame - Zone B     50 days     42 Project_1.14.7     Install Steel Roof Frame - Zone C     50 days     43 Project_1.14.8     Install Steel Roof Frame - Zone D     50 days     44 Project_1.14.9     Install Roof Tracks     90 days     48 Project_1.14.10     Install Retractable Roof Cover     90 days     49 Project_1.15     Test and Commission Services     30 days     35,36,37,39,50 Project_1.16     Inspection and Defect Rectification     20 days     28,35,36,39,51 Project_1.17     Final Handover     5 days     52 1 Criteria    7 17 – 20 marks Assurance of Learning goal 1.2: Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts Work Breakdown Schedule (WBS) and Gantt chart using MS Project (or other project management software) Detailed WBS and corresponding Gantt chart showing all tasks, stages, dependencies, durations, total and freefloat. Identification of relevant milestones and the critical path. Resources logically and correctly allocated. All predecessors also appropriately assigned. Minimum completion time correctly identified. Assurance of Learning goal 2.1: Investigate real world business issues and situations through effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice Responses to questions 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the case study Responses demonstrate a thorough analysis of the issues related to the project’s path, progression and take-up and highly appropriate application of project management theory Assurance of Learning goal 2.2: Exercise independent judgementand initiative in adapting and applying knowledge for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts Response to question 5 of the case study Recommendation takes complete account of completion schedule and penalties and is fully justified ___________________________________________________________________________________________________