Project Criteria and Assumptions

The purpose of the report is to evaluate a given scenario of shifting of a family to a new location.  In this report, the appropriate use of different project management tools such as WBS, Gantt chart and milestone plan is discussed. Relocation to a completely new location is associated with a number of activities that are needed to be fulfilled. The report will be evaluating the current scenario of the project along with the criteria and assumptions associated with the development of the project schedule. The report is incorporated with a milestone plan that symbolizes an achievement associated with the project. Along with the major milestones, the list of tasks associated with the project is evaluated as well.

The aim of the assignment is to prepare a project schedule for relocation of a family of two adults, two children, a dog and two cars to a new apartment in Perth. Jeff, one of the members of the family has secured a new positing in his job and therefore needs to relocate along with his family to a new location in Perth. Currently the family is residing in a rental apartment of two bedrooms in Maroochydore. Although the new rental at Perth is secured already, the family cannot move in to the new place before January 27^th 2019. Along with that, the current property at Maroochydore is needed to be vacated on 20^th January 2019. Thus, the family needs to make other arrangements for staying in some place prior to move in to the new house. This is a problem, since the family has no relatives living on the Sunshine Coast. The family needs to move and settle in the new location before 31^st January as the school commences from 31^st January 2019, for which the entire family needs to be present at the school. A relocation plan in terms of project schedule has been prepared to ensure that the relocation to Perth is completed without any issues. The family is needed to complete the relocation project within $15,000. The new job of Jeff commences from 5^th February 2019. The schedule has been prepared considering the exceptions and the variances in the project. The report evaluates the associated project criteria and assumptions.

In order to ensure that the family relocates to Perth without any issues, a milestone plan has been prepared. The major criteria and the assumptions associated with this project is evaluated in this section. The criteria of developing the plan of the project and the related work breakdown structure of the same are discussed in the paragraphs below.

Milestone Plan

One of the very first criteria associated with this shifting project is that the family needs to shift to Perth in a maximum budget of $15,000. Accordingly, a packers and movers company is hired who will provide the needed assistance to the family for moving to Perth.

Another criteria that the project needs to fulfil, includes vacating their current property on or before 20^th January. However, the family cannot move to the already secured new location before 27^th January. Therefore, alternative arrangements are to be made for the family as the family has no relatives living in Sunshine Coast. The schedule incorporates this variance.

The Family needs to shift to Perth before 31^st January 2019, which is another criteria of this project implementation process. The schedule incorporates moving in to Perth on 27^th January and settling in the new rental prior to 31^st January so that the entire family can be present for school on that day.

The last criteria that is considered while developing the project schedule is that Jeff will be joining his new job on 5^th February 2019.

Along with the above discussed project criteria, there are certain assumptions associated with the scheduling of this relocation project and development of project plan. These assumptions are as follows-

1. One assumption related to the project implementation is that the resources that are assigned against each task will be readily available during the project implementation process.
2. The shifting project is needed to be completed within $15000. It is therefore assumed that the allocated budget will be sufficient for efficient management of the project.
3. It is assumed that the packers and the movers that is hired for the shifting the essentials of the family to Perth will be able to transfer the goods on time.
4. It is assumed that move in to the new house will not be delayed than 27^thJanuary 2019.
5. It is assumed that no problems will be faced by the family while moving to Perth.

These are the most significant assumptions associated with the implementation of the project. All this assumptions are considered to be true for successful implementation of this project and changes in any of these assumptions can result in change in the project schedule. The work breakdown structure of the relocation project is indicated in the picture below-

A milestone plan indicates the major achievements of a project. The milestone plan is prepared by aligning each task with the resources required to complete the task. The milestones associated with this project are Completion of the planning for Relocation, Completion of relocation preparation, Vacating the old apartment, moving in to the new house and closure of the project (refer to appendix 1).  A planned approach is considered for preparation of the milestone plan which include identification of the vital tasks, identification of the activities of each task, and assigning resources against each task.

The schedule that is prepared for the project involves a number of tasks that are needed to be successfully executed for relocation project (refer to appendix 2).

The resources responsible for each task is indicated in the figure below-

The flow of tasks and the interrelation of each task is indicated in the Gantt chart that is prepared for the project (refer to appendix 3). It is vital to develop a Gantt chart for a project as it provides a graphical representation of the project schedule that helps in appropriate planning, co-ordinating and tracking the most important tasks in the project.

Project Schedule

In order to fulfil the most essential criteria of the relocation project, certain required adjustments are indicated in the project for preparing the project schedule. The details of the adjustments that are made to the schedule will be discussed in this section of the report. It is assumed that Jeff had an idea of the relocation well in advance and therefore, the start of the project is considered to be 20^th December 2018. The project schedule considers the key dates related to the project and adjustments in the shifting process are made accordingly. Apart from that, the entire project is completed before 5^th February as Jeff needs to join his new job on 5^th February. The family will be moving in to the new location on 27^th January so that the kids can attend their school on 31^st January. The adjustments are made while considering the assumptions related to the project is true. However, in case of any chances in the project requirements or the assumptions of the project, the adjustments made may not be effective for the project schedule.

This project is quite complex in terms of the various criteria that is related to its implementation. There are certain constraints in line of project implementation which I needed to incorporate in the schedule of the project. This project therefore has helped me to brush up my project management knowledge and helped me in understanding the various approaches and needs of project management. This project has been quite interesting to work in. In have understood that it is quite important to have a knowledge of various tools and management techniques for efficiently manage any project.

Conclusion 

The report takes into consideration a scenario of relocation to Perth for a family of 4, with two children, a dog and two cars. The various complexities and the constraints related to the project is discussed in the report. In order to ensure that the family relocates to the new location without any issues, a project plan is developed. The criteria and the assumptions associated with the development of project schedule is evaluated in this report. The report concludes with a personal reflection. The schedule that has been developed, is aligned with the key dates related to the project that is vacating the current property in 20^th January, moving in to the new location on 27^th January, commencement of school on 31^st January and others. A Gantt chart and work breakdown structure of the project schedule has been prepared for better understanding of the relocation projects and the activities associated with the relocation project.

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