Project Management (BM522) 2021-22

Module Name: Project Management

Module Code: BM522 Academic Year: 2021/2022

Mr Nauman Ali
Tutor(s):
Mr Ali Hamdani

nauman.ali@oxfordbusinesscollege.ac.uk
Tutor’s Email:
ali.hamdani@oxfordbusinesscollege.ac.uk

Bucks Students’ Union Music Festival Case Study

Submitted by:

Student ID:

Word Count:

Date of Submission:

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 Executive Summary

The aim of this report is to understand the three extensively used project management
methodologies in detail and along with the major benefits and limitations. The project also
develops a Network diagram and calculates a critical path for the musical festival by Bucks
Students’ Union. The evaluation of the key stakeholders within the project also enables the
managers to understand the influence and power of the stakeholders within the project.
Furthermore, the assessment of the risks in the project can enhance the reliability within the
musical festival project and increase the delivery of the project. The plan also delivers a
Work Breakdown Structure to enhance the chances of success within the project.

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 Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4

Task 1.........................................................................................................................................5

Critical Path Methodology.....................................................................................................5

PRINCE2 Methodology.........................................................................................................7

Waterfall Methodology..........................................................................................................8

Task 2.......................................................................................................................................11

Task 3.......................................................................................................................................15

Work Breakdown Structure..................................................................................................18

Task 4.......................................................................................................................................19

Conclusion................................................................................................................................22

Reference List..........................................................................................................................23

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Introduction
Development of a project and delivering all the major outcomes within the stipulated
constraints is a tough task. The managers of the project required to rely on the skills and
various tools and techniques of project management to deliver the major project outcomes in
a successful manner (Heagney, 2016). The aim of this project management plan is to help the
manager of the Bucks Students' Union Music Festival project to optimise the project using
several tools of management. Several project management methodologies are discussed
within the project to help the managers select the right one for the successful completion of
the project. A network diagram is also developed and the time aspect of the project is
properly scheduled to gain maximum efficiency. The plan develops the critical path and
controls the flow of work in the project. Furthermore, the major stakeholders within the
project are also evaluated and communication strategies are developed for the project
managers to maximise engagement. The major risks in the project are also discussed and their
mitigation strategies are created to boost the overall reliability factor of the project. A work
breakdown structure is also developed in the project to enhance the overall efficiency of the
project.

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Task 1
Managing projects requires several skills, competencies and serious efforts from the project
manager, teams and the key stakeholders. In any project, the managers need to implement a
project management methodology that guides the overall project and ensure thorough
completion of the project.

A Project management methodology can be considered as a set of guiding principle or rules

that helps the managers to initiate, plan, manage and execute any project. As opined by
Müller et al., (2019), the approaches and methodologies help the management of the projects
to increase control and prioritise the work and deliver all the major activities within the
project.

In the current business space, there are several projects that work on a wide range of methods.
But the most commonly used methods and the ones that have gained high popularity are
analysed in the following paragraphs. These methodologies are commonly used by the
project managers of industrial projects to complete them successfully.

Critical Path Methodology

The Critical Path Methodology in Project management is also known as the Critical Path
Analysis method. This is a very efficient approach used by the managers of the projects to
schedule the activities and optimise the time taken to complete the overall project. The
process of scheduling is done by taking into consideration the start time, the finish time, the
duration, and the dependencies of the activities in the project. In the views of Arya and
Chawla, (2020), the project management methodology can be easily used on a project that
would not undergo several changes and the deadlines of all the major activities in the project
are known. The methodology develops a critical path in the project where the most critical
tasks are indicated. This enables the managers of the project to complete the major activities
in the project within a specified time and improves the overall efficiency of the flow of work
into the project.

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 Figure 1: Critical Path Methodology
(Source: Inspired by Arya and Chawla, 2020)
Benefits and Limitations of the Methodology
Benefits of Critical Path Methodology
 It creates a chart like structure where
all the activities that can run parallel
to each other are evaluated.
 It helps the project manager to
identify the elements in the project
that are most critical to the overall
success of the project.
 It can enhance the overall team
perception and is most beneficial to
complete the new projects.
 It develops a network diagram that
helps the managers as a visual aid to
enhance the success factors within a
project.
 It demonstrates dependencies that
enable the managers to schedule the
Limitations of Critical Path Methodology
 The methodology is flexible but it
does not have much scope to handle
uncertainties and major changes in
the activities can disrupt the overall
network.
 The critical path developed in this
method is not always very clear in
the project and it becomes difficult
to estimate the completion of the
activities (Lock, 2020).
 For large scale projects, the network
diagram can become too much
complicated.
 The calculations need to be done as
precisely and accurately as possible.
Any major mistake can disrupt the
overall flow.
 It is unable to handle the scheduling
of manpower and resources with
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 activities in the project. each activity in the project.
Table 1: Benefits and Limitations of Critical Path Methodology

(Source: Created by Learner)

PRINCE2 Methodology
PRojects IN a Controlled Environment or (PRINCE2) can be understood as a project
management approach that aims to complete all the milestones in the project by minimising
the overall inputs in the project and maximising the outputs. As suggested by Vaníčková,
(2017), the methodology is a very efficient and flexible method and is used by the project
managers across all the industries to complete the projects. In this approach, there are 7 major
Themes, Principles and Processes that are applied within the project. This makes the project
more reliable, efficient and enhances the overall chances of the project.

Figure 2: PRINCE2 Themes, Principles and Processes

(Source: Inspired by Jovanovic and Beric, 2018)

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Benefits and Limitations of the Methodology

Benefits of PRINCE2Methodology Limitations of PRINCE2 Methodology

 The project management  The project management model has
methodology implements the best only two tools and techniques out of
practices in the project and is widely more than 100 mentioned in
popular. PMBOK.
 The flexibility of the project  The methodology does not address
management methodology allows it any issue related to soft skills within
to be used in a wide range of the project.
projects across all major industries
(Jovanovic and Beric, 2018).
 The principles and themes enhance  It requires years of experience and
the delivery of the project and can constant supervision from the
enhance the various aspects of the managers to successfully implement
project. PRINCE2.
 The communication process in the  It has several documents and
methodology is enhanced with the registers that need to be updated
implementation of the method. over time to ensure the timely
delivery of the project.
 It increased the overall quality of the  It highly supports the waterfall
deliverables and ensures continuous approach and is not very compatible
improvement in the project. with any other major approaches.
Table 2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Prince2 methodology

(Source: Created by Learner)

Waterfall Methodology
The waterfall project management methodology is a traditional method to manage projects.
The managers use this approach frequently to complete the various aspects of the project as it
enables them greater control over the project. This is an approach that follows a linear
structure and stops the flow of work whenever it faces a snag. As discussed by Andrei et al.,
(2019), project activities move by following a sequential pattern and this helps the project

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managers to deliver all the outcomes in the project. The linear flow of the project makes it
difficult to be implemented in large-sized and complex projects with multiple deliveries and
milestones. But it is very efficient for completing small and medium-sized projects.

Figure 3: Waterfall Model

(Source: Inspired by Andrei et al., 2019)

Benefits and Limitations of the Methodology

Benefits of Waterfall Methodology Limitations of Waterfall Methodology

 Each phase of the project needs to be
completed before moving on to the
next step of the project.
 It is the most appropriate
methodology for completing projects
that have well-defined deliverables.
 Before the end stage and the delivery
of the project, quality assurance tests
are performed.
 Any errors can only be fixed until
the process is being carried out.
Once the phase ends, it is very
difficult to fix errors.
 It is not a desirable project
methodology for projects that are
very complex or has uncertainties in
the deliverables.
 The testing period in the project
comes very late in the phase and
only at the end of the process

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 (Thesing et al., 2021).
 The project approach is not very  Documentation in the project takes
much dependent on the clients and is up a significant amount of time to
completely reliant on the project complete.
teams.
 It has elaborate documentation after  The feedback from the clients and
the completion of each phase of the the end-users cannot be implemented
project. within the projects.
Table 3: Advantages and Disadvantages of Waterfall methodology

(Source: Created by Learner)

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Task 2

15 4 22
1 2 15
0 Hire Place For Auditions 22 6 22
0 Hire Publicity Director 22 16 29
15 7 22 11 Hire Production & Publicity Crew
1 14 15 59 Develop an Advertising Plan
33 28 61 81 7 88
29 17 50
59 Advertising Media
88 21 109
22 9 24 24 10 108
0 1 1 0 Auditions To Hire Cast and crew 0 Cast Rehearsal
15 5 22
0 Budget Approval 22 2 24 24 84 108
0 Advertising To Hire Crew and Cast 109 22 119
0 1 1
15 7 22 0 Performance
27 19 34 109 10 119
69 Order Costumes
1 3 15
96 7 103
46 Hire Set Designer 99 20 104
47 14 61 4 Costume Parade And Alterations
1 12 8 57 7 99 103 5 108

91 Music 4 Set Designed and Built

92 7 99 61 42 103 108 21 109

0 Dress Rehearsal
108 1 109
22 8 34
74 Train Production Crew
96 12 108
8 18 12
91 Orchestra rehearsal
1 11 8
99 4 103
60 Hire Orchestra
22 13 57 57 14 58 58 15 63
61 7 68
46 46
Photograph Cast And Crew & Collect Biographies Enter Information Into Computer 46 Printing
68 35 103 103 1 104 104 5 109

Figure 4: Network Diagram

(Source: Created by Learner)

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Critical Paths: 1–2–4–9–10–21–22 and 1–2–5–9–10–21–22

Figure 5: Gantt Chart

(Source: Created by Learner)

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Figure 6: Network Diagram and Critical path

(Source: Created by Learner)

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Definition of Critical Path

In a network diagram, the shortest path that can be calculated from the initial task to the final
activity within the project can be defined as the critical path in the project. All the critical
activities are identified and a path is formed. In the views of Harrison and Lock, (2017), this
critical path is of the longest duration within the project. Controlling the critical tasks within
the project enhances the critical chances of success in the project and also allows the
managers to deliver all the major outcomes on time.

In the development of the critical path of the music festival project by Bucks Students’
Union, the activities are scheduled using the early and late start/finish time in the project. The
critical path in the project is evaluated as 1–2–4–9–10–21–22 and 1–2–5–9–10–21–22.

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Task 3
P
o
w
er Spectators Project Staff
Power
High

Investors Material Suppliers

HR and Admin Performers

Power
Low

Local Councils Media Partners

Low Interest High Interest

Interest

Figure 7: Power Interest matrix of the stakeholders

(Source: Created by Learner)

Amount of
How would the stakeholder Power/Interest Commu
Category Stakeholder affect the project or be The nication
affected by the project stakeholder Strategy
has
External Spectators The spectators will buy the tickets High / Low Text
and come as gusts in the musical Messages
festival by Bucks Student’s Union. and
Their presence will highly impact
Emails
the success of the festival.
Internal Investors The investors within the project High / Low Phone
will invest funds and provide Calls and
financial support to the employees Emails
to deliver all the major

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 deliverables within the project.
Internal Project Staff The project teams will work High / High Phone
towards achieving all the major Calls and
goals within the project and ensure Emails
safety and reliability within the
project (Kalbaska et al., 2017).
External Material The materials suppliers will High / High Phone
Suppliers provide all the necessary items and Calls
equipment that will be required to
deliver the major outcomes within
the project. They will play a
crucial role in making the project
successful.
Internal Admin The Admin in a project will ensure Low / Low Phone
proper management of employee Calls and
relations in the project. They will Emails
also ensure proper allocation of the
resources in the project. The
Admin will also take care of the
necessary deliverables within the
project.
External Police The police officers will work Low / Low Letters
Officials towards providing security in the and
performance and also provide the Permit
required permits to the
Forms
management of the Bucks
Students’ Union to host the music
festival.
External Bands and The performers in the project are Low / High Phone
Artists one of the main stakeholders as Calls and
they will ensure the success of the Emails.
performance and also ensure the
Making
overall success of the festival.
Contracts
They will also attract the audience
is a
and ensure that they are
necessity.
entertained.

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External Media The local media will cover the Low / High Phone
event and will also enhance the Calls and
awareness of the event in the local Emails
news (Camilleri, 2018). They will
also be reporting during the event
and advertising for attracting more
and more spectators within the
event.
Table 4: Stakeholder Analysis

(Source: Created by Learner)

Figure 8: Stakeholder Analysis

(Source: Inspired by Camilleri, 2018)

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 Work Breakdown Structure

Musical Festival by
Bucks Students' Union

1. Performance 2. Auditions 5. Hiring and

3. Advertising 4. Costumes
and Stage and Bands recruitment

1.1 Cast 2.1 Hire place 4.1. Costume 5.1. Publicity

3.1 Data Entry
Rehearsals for Auditions alterations Director

1.2 Train 3.2

2.2 Orchgestral 4.2. Dress 5.2. Set
Production Photograpgh
Reherarsal Rehearsals designer
Crew collection

3.3
1.3 Cast 5.3 Cast and
Advertisement
Auditons Crew
plan

1.4 Final 3.4. Advertising

Performance Media

Figure 9: Work Breakdown Structure

(Source: Created by Learner)

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Task 4
P
ro
b
a Operational Risk Communication Risk
Probabilit
High

Financial Risk

Legal Risk Compliance Risk

Probabilit
Low

Low Impact High Impact

Impact

Figure 10: Power Interest matrix of the stakeholders

(Source: Created by Learner)

Risk Impact / Action Plan

Risk Analysis
Identification Probability
Communicatio High Impact / Lack of communication In order to enhance the
n Risk High Probability within a project can communication within
cause overall delay the project, the managers
within the project and need to develop a
also result in an extra communication and
flow of cash (Willumsen reporting framework to
et al., 2019). With ensure the proper flow of
reduced communication information within the
between the key project. This will also
stakeholders, the overall enhance team spirit and
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 effectiveness and the overall productivity
productivity of the of the project teams.
project can reduce
significantly.
Compliance High Impact / The deliverables within Compliance with the
Risk Low Probability the project need to be technical and business
completed keeping in specifications is a major
mind several success factor within the
specifications. Non- project. To do this, the
compliance with the use of checklists and
stipulated specifications quality checks at every
can result in project step can reduce the risk.
delay or even financial
loss due to repairing or
reworking.
Operational High Impact / The operational risk The safety teams within
Risk High Probability includes all the major the project need to
hazards that can disrupt identify the project risks
the performance or cause and hazards that can
harm to the financial cause damage and
assets or humans while disruptions. Thereby
executing the project. finding risk mitigation
strategies and
implementing them with
the approval from the
project manager can be
helpful in mitigating this
risk.
Legal Risk Low Impact / The legal risks within the The legal risk in the
Low Probability project can occur when project needs to be
any practice is occurring mitigated with the help
in the project that is of advisors and lawyers.
illegal in nature. This is a While making contracts

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 major risk that one or legal paperwork, the
should take care of to managers need to ensure
properly deliver all the that all the activities are
major outcomes within followed within the
the project as it can lead music festival project by
to legal issues and even Bucks Students' Union.
the police and local
authorities might get
involved.
Financial Low Impact / The financial risk within The financial risks
Risks High Probability the project can be within the project can
understood as the occur due to inefficient
excessive flow of cash control over the project
into the delivery of the and also due to overall
music festival by Bucks delay in the project
Student's Union. This (Burtonshaw-Gunn, 2017).
can reduce the overall The project manager
benefits of the project needs to ensure that the
and reduce the chances milestones are timely
of success. met and the cost is
controlled.
Table 5: Risk register

(Source: Created by the learner)

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Conclusion
From the above project management plan, it can be understood that managing a project and
delivering all the outcomes requires detailed planning and addressing all the issues in a
holistic manner. The time aspect in the music festival project has been optimised with the
help of the network diagram and scheduling the activities. The project manager needs to
follow and control the project outcomes and the critical tasks within the project to ensure
timely delivery of the project. The key stakeholders within the project have been analysed
and this will enable the managers to properly communicate and engage the stakeholders
within the project to deliver all the outcomes within the project. This will highly increase the
chances of success within the project and ensure that all the milestones in the project are
time.ly reached. The use of the Work Breakdown structure can enhance the efficiency within
the project and help the managers to easily allocate work and resources to every task and
employee within the project. Finally, it can be stated that the evaluation of the safety aspect
of the project can highly enhance the reliability of the project and the implementation of the
mitigation strategies can lead to successful completion of the music festival by the Bucks
Students' Union.

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Reference List
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Arya, S. and Chawla, C., (2020). Project Evaluation using Critical Path Method & Project
Evaluation Review.

Burtonshaw-Gunn, S.A., (2017). Risk and financial management in construction. Routledge.

Camilleri, M.A., (2018). The SMEs’ technology acceptance of digital media for stakeholder
engagement. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.

Harrison, F. and Lock, D., (2017). Advanced project management: a structured approach.

Routledge.

Heagney, J., (2016). Fundamentals of project management. Amacom.

Jovanovic, P. and Beric, I., (2018). Analysis of the available project management
methodologies. Management: Journal of Sustainable Business and Management Solutions in
Emerging Economies, 23(3), pp.1-13.

Kalbaska, N., Janowski, T., Estevez, E. and Cantoni, L., (2017). When digital government
matters for tourism: a stakeholder analysis. Information Technology & Tourism, 17(3),
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Lock, D., (2020). Project management.

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management. Project Management Journal, 50(4), pp.499-513.

Thesing, T., Feldmann, C. and Burchardt, M., (2021). Agile versus Waterfall Project
Management: Decision Model for Selecting the Appropriate Approach to a Project. Procedia
Computer Science, 181, pp.746-756.

Vaníčková, R., (2017). Application of PRINCE2 project management methodology. Studia

Commercialia Bratislavensia, 10(38), p.227.

Willumsen, P., Oehmen, J., Stingl, V. and Geraldi, J., (2019). Value creation through project
risk management. International Journal of Project Management, 37(5), pp.731-749.

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