Page 42 - DMGT302_FUNDAMENTALS_OF_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Unit 3: Project Planning

3. Internal/external meetings. Notes
4. Holidays and sickness in key staff/stakeholders.
5. Contact with other customers, suppliers and contractors.

6. Break-downs in equipment.
7. Missed deliveries by suppliers.
8. Interruptions by customers, suppliers, contractors, family, pets, co-workers, etc.

9. Others priorities and schedules e.g. local government planning processes.
10. Quality control rejections etc.

11. Unanticipated events (e.g. renovating the bathroom finding white-ants/termites in the
walls).

These factors may significantly lengthen the time and cost needed to complete a project.
If the accuracy of time estimates is critical, you will find it effective to develop a systematic
approach to including these factors. If possible, base this on past experience. In the absence of
your own past experience, ask someone who has already done the task or project to advise what
can go wrong? what you need to plan for? and how long each task took previously.
You can lose a great deal of credibility, and money, by underestimating the length of time
needed to implement a project. If you underestimate time, not only do you miss deadlines, you
can also put other people under unnecessary stress.

Step 3 – Plan for it going Wrong
Finally, allow time for all the expected and unexpected disruptions and delays to work that will
inevitably happen. Sickness, strikes, materials not available, poor quality work, bureaucratic
bungling etc.

Notes A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to produce a unique product, service,
or result.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:

1. ....................... planning is important for business decisions.
2. Market research and analysis of business trends provide a good indication of the
....................... market changes.

3. All the project mix elements should be carefully considered before the project actually
goes into ....................... time of project.
4. ....................... estimates are important as inputs into other techniques used to organise and
structure all projects.
5. Time estimates often determine the pricing of contracts and hence the profitability of the
....................... .

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