Case study

Manager Networks is an organisation that provides networking events for business people across
Australia. The company runs regular networking events but has now decided to expand its core
services to include:

• start an annual conference event focussing on an area of business considered to be of key

importance

• consultancy services to individuals and small businesses.

It is hoped that the conference will provide information on cutting edge leadership topics that focus
on leadership skills, knowledge and trends It should also promote Management Networks, as well
as providing professional development for its clients.
It is hoped that the consultancy services will provide support and personalised assistance to
customers attending the conferences and networking events.
As the Administration Manager for Manager Networks, you have been asked by the CEO to take
on the role of Project Manager for both the conference and investigating the feasibility of
establishing consultancy services.
You are required to develop and implement a project schedule for:

• the conference.

• an investigation on the feasibility of setting up a consultancy service.

The CEO has provided the following additional guidance:

• A variety of communication options may be considered, such as:

o A monthly update for staff of Manager Networks
o Weekly or fortnightly meetings for the project team.
o A written report on the project’s progress will be sent to the CEO by the Administration
Manager each month.

• Changes to the project schedule should only be made with the agreement of the CEO (this
may take place at a meeting with the CEO after he has seen a Progress Report).

Specific information relevant to Project 1: Conference (Section 1 and 2 of the

Project Portfolio)
Although the CEO has ultimate responsibility for the conference, you will be responsible for the
ongoing development of the conference in cooperation with several other staff members, who will
use their expertise in different areas to support your project management.
Donna Chisholm, who is the co-ordinator of the Manager Networks’ trainers, will help with
contacting and lining up the speakers. She has already drafted a Conference Program, which can
be used until the speakers have been finalised. The program is as follows:

Leadership Conference 2021: Leading in the twentieth century

BSBPMG531 Manage project time || Australian Business Management Pty Ltd | RTO No.45578 | CRICOS No. 03826M| V1.1 April 2024
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 4 October 2018 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
9 – 9.30 am: Conference welcome
Welcome to Country – Traditional Custodian
General Welcome – CEO, Manager Networks

9.30 – 10.30 am: Keynote Speaker – Alfred Jersey, CEO of Leadership International
Effective leadership – what sets great leaders apart.

10.30 – 11.00 am: Morning Tea and networking opportunity

11.00 – 12.30 pm: Mindful Leadership – Becoming a Mindful Leader by the Application of
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Principles
Presenter: Tony Solomon

12.30 to 1.30 pm: Lunch

1.30 – 3.00 pm: Understanding Leadership Styles

Presenter: Mark Henry

3.00 – 3.30 pm: Afternoon Tea and Networking opportunity

3.30 – 5.00 pm: Managing Virtual Teams:

Presenter: Beverley Farah

Conference price: $500 plus GST.

Dan Streep, the Administration Assistant has had experience with the ground level work required
for a conference, and he will help to determine and prepare the venue.
Edith Partridge, the Chief Financial Officer will be in control of the finances of the congress.
Erin O’Donnell, the Manager Networks Marketing Manager, will co-ordinate the marketing material.
The conference will be conducted on 04 October 2021. It will be a one-day event, from 9 am to 4
pm.
The conference style will be formal, with a balance of conference elements to ensure that
outcomes are achieved.
Participant target group is managers in all industries. This group will be targeted by email using the
Manager Networks data base and publicised through social media such as LinkedIn.
Conference facilities require a centrally located venue that has a conference room that can
accommodate up to 150 people. Invited speakers will want to be accommodated nearby, so there
will need to be an appropriate hotel in the vicinity.
The venue will also need to be able to provide on-site catering for the meeting attendees.

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Budget: projected attendee numbers will be 150 people, and the suggested conference price for
participants is $500 plus GST.
Speakers are to receive $400 each for their participation.
For the purposes of this assessment task, assume that the date of the project team meeting is 05
April 2021.

Specific information relevant to Project 1: Conference (Section 3 of the

Project Portfolio)
Initial review:
It is now May 10th, just over one month since the initial project team meeting.
As the project team members are busy on other projects, some of them interstate, meetings have
been sporadic rather than regular. Regular email exchanges with the team members, however,
have shown that all of the activities have been progressing as scheduled. Today was the first time
that the group has met all together. As you asked each team member to give their progress, you
were told the following:

• Donna Chisholm reported that she has only received confirmation from two of the speakers.
She has tried telephoning them but hasn’t been able to speak to the other two yet. Donna
asked for another two weeks, by when she assures you, she will have speaker confirmations
and topics finalised.

• Dan Streep booked the Park Royal yesterday after assessing the quotes received and
discussing the choice with Edith Partridge. Unfortunately, he received a most apologetic
telephone call this morning to tell him that the Park Royal’s Managing Director had already
assured a pharmaceutical company that they could book the venue for the whole week-end,
including the Friday. Dan will go back to the list of quotes and discuss a new choice with Edith
Partridge later that day.
Erin O’Donnell, the Manager Networks Marketing Manager, is still waiting on the speakers, topics
and venue before he can put the promotional material together. He has spoken to the printers, and
they are still expecting to receive the brochure soon, so they can be printed in time.
Further review:
After another three months has passed, another team meeting is held. Once again, the busy
schedules of the team members have prevented more regular meetings. However, at the meeting,
all team members can confirm that their scheduled activities are up to date. Everything is on track
for a successful conference.

Specific information relevant to Project 2: Feasibility investigation on

consultancy service potential (Section 1 and 2 of the Project Portfolio)
The CEO would like to launch the consultancy service at the conference and has requested that
the feasibility investigation is completed by 21 June 2021 to allow sufficient time to further develop
the idea if it’s found to be feasible. He has approved a budget of $1500 for the investigation.

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He has set up a preliminary list of questions to help you focus your efforts:

• Are quality consultants available and looking for employment?

• What salary expectations do consultants have?

• Does the market require consultancy services?

• What type of consultancy services are needed?

• What is the expected income/fee structure for the services offered?

• What support is required to make sure the consultancy services provided are professional and
consistent?
Dan Streep, the Administration Assistant has previously worked at a consultancy firm and is
familiar with the administration relating to recruitment, quotes and invoicing. He also has
experience in developing templates.
Edith Partridge, the Chief Financial Officer will be in control of the finances of the consultancy
services and will make decisions regarding the fee schedule and marketing expenses.
Erin O’Donnell, the Manager Networks Marketing Manager, will co-ordinate the market research
starting with surveys.
For the purposes of this assessment task, assume that the date of the project team meeting is 5
April 2021.

Specific information relevant to Project 2: Feasibility investigation on

consultancy service potential (Section 3 of the Project Portfolio)
It is now 19th April 2021, two weeks since the initial project team meeting.
All the team members are excited about this project as they themselves have an interest in
consulting. They feel committed to making the project successful.
Today was the first time that the group has met all together. As you asked each team member to
give their progress, everything was on track, as planned except for some challenges faced by Dan
Streep. Dan Streep had contacted an employment agency to understand more about the
availability of consultants. The employment agencies didn’t want to provide information without a
formal recruitment agreement. Dan has requested an extension of one more week to find
information from alternative sources.
Further review:
On 7 June, another team meeting is held. At the meeting, all team members can confirm that their
scheduled activities are up to date. Everything is on track for a successful conference. At the
meeting, Edith Partridge requested that in future, another simpler more immediate form of PS
communication should be used. She feels that if communication takes place more frequently in an
informal manner, fewer meetings will be necessary.

BSBPMG531 Manage project time || Australian Business Management Pty Ltd | RTO No.45578 | CRICOS No. 03826M| V1.1 April 2024
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 Manager Networks

Project Report
[INSERT NAME OF PROJECT]

Review of how the progress of activities measures up to the agreed

schedule

Summary of any changes required to the project schedule

Forecast of the impact of any changes to the baseline PS

Baseline PS variance(s)

Proposed responses to the changes, and how these will maintain the project
objectives

BSBPMG531 Manage project time || Australian Business Management Pty Ltd | RTO No.45578 | CRICOS No. 03826M| V1.1 April 2024
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