MPM7004 Ecoviron Protect Centre – Assignment Solution

MPM7004 PRES1 Group Task Ecoviron Protect Centre (EPC)

The following fictional case study illustrates how mega and complex infrastructure project, distinct in project phases and life cycles, must be completed before a project proceeds.

Ecoviron Protect Centre (EPC) – Project Introduction

Ecoviron Protect Centre (EPC) is multi-purpose ecological and environmental project designated to be built in Conwy area of North Wales – a good site with a minimum of 200 acres. This allows for structures, parking and gardens. This size of EPC allows for production to be included in greenhouses or outdoor beds. The EPC allows for removal of storm and surface water. The EPC project is planned to allow great visibility to attract customers. The appearance including the buildings, landscaping and plants that are displayed should make a favourable impression.

It is envisaged that this project aim will be accomplished by expanding to provide transport link to the northern and southern Wales. Efficient transport systems including rails and roads installed to be pre-programmed to follow navigational channels accurately and automatically, and to reduce traffics and ensure value for money for the customers.

Economically, this expansion would attract visitors and spectators from every region of Wales. It is important that there is considerable access for vehicles. The greater the site line the safer the egress. If possible, there should also be a slowdown lane to let other vehicles pass. A permit for highway access is usually required. Some growers have found that setting up a temporary greenhouse in the parking lot of a shopping centre or mall can give good exposure and expanded sales. The greenhouse needs to be anchored to resist the strong winds that frequently affects the structure of the buildings, as well as the need to meet snow load requirements.

Some auxiliary structures may be considered in designing the hub include plant production tents, shopping centre or mall, car parks, and cafeteria.

Ecoviron Protect Centre (EPC) – Scope

The Ecoviron Protect Centre (EPC) is one of the Conwy County Council (CCC) projects, which is due to be fully commissioned in Summer 2022. Currently, the EPC project is undergoing feasibility development stage. Based on cost-benefit-analysis data and expert opinions, the CCC Project Development Committee budgeted £6 Billion for successful completion of the project in 36 months timeline.

The CCC is working on various project requirements and documentations for comprehensive project planning, project delivery, project completion, project exit and other documents for project governances and deliverables.

Key project elements of EPC Project include construction of 100 green trees production plants, multi-storey fresh fruits and vegetable shopping centre, a multi-storey car park, and modern continental cafeteria. The transport networks and maintenance structures involves constructing bridges and transport network stations.

Project Implementation

 

The feasibility team has presented a work breakdown structure (WBS) for the project, which subdivides the project work into the major project activities. For example, a major element of work is the mapping of road access and traffic flow to and from the EPC.

The project team is expected to develop the lower tiers of the WBS hierarchy in isolation. This practice provides flexibility and full control over respective responsibilities:

WBS level 1 – Project: the project’s major construction activities.

WBS level 2 – Project units: the main project packages associated with each project and subunits within project packages.

WBS level 3 – Contract: the main contracts that can be offered.

WBS level 4 – Contract unit: level of work effort required for the project management such as agricultural, environmental, engineering and transportation.

The specialist team proposed that once the contracts and contract units are identified, the project could then be outsourced to different contractors, including, most likely, a consortium.

Project Management

 

The feasibility team has proposed that a dedicated project management team should be established within the CCC. The team would have total control over budgets and schedules and would report directly to the EPC Project Development Committee. The control, planning, and management of the project present complex logistical issues. The scheme may entail numerous individual contract packages, which will require coordination.

At a very early stage, the feasibility team settled the key project management objectives as

• effective and efficient communication of information
• utilization of thorough project control techniques
• efficient and widely understood procurement and contractor processes

This standardisation is necessary to ensure that all project teams are working in unison. To furnish timely and accurate cost reports, the project control team needs a comprehensive system that integrates cost and schedule, provides reporting capabilities consistent with the project requirements, and improves operating efficiency.

The system has to be capable of processing and analysing a vast amount of incoming monthly cost data quickly and accurately. In addition, the team could use integrated systems to perform risk and schedule simulation analysis where the relationship between the schedule and cost is not always clear.

Although technology has simplified data collection and scheduling, the feasibility team has identified that professionals must carefully study and analyse the system output to provide a logical, meaningful explanation of the causes of any cost and schedule variances. In this way,

sound project control methodologies reduce cost overruns, control cost growth, help meet project schedule objectives, and ultimately satisfy the client’s expectations.

Feasibility Report

 

The feasibility team completed their study on schedule with an outline of strategy, detailed recommendations, and a list of preferred suppliers, and they are waiting for risk assessment report to be completed, before full commissioning of the project. The main outcomes from the team are the following:

• Contractor participation is a key aspect to the success of the project, and the CCC should establish and work with a set of preferred
• The CCC Project Development Committee should establish a detailed project management office that has the authority to manage and control the project and report to senior government
• The risk assessment team should determine the probability of various cost outcomes and quantify the required contingency needed in the cost estimate and delivery schedule to achieve any desired level of cost

Ecoviron Protect Centre – Assignment Tasks

Task 1: Risk Management Plan

As clearly stated in the Assignment Brief above, the EPC is waiting to be fully commissioned in the Summer 2022, and project is at the initiation stage. You are part of the assembled dedicated risk management team (including risk manager, risk analyst, risk auditor). The first set of tasks entails identifying a risk management plan, including Risk Register for consideration to inform key decisions by the project funder – the CCC.

Step 1: Prepare the risk management plan.

Get Critical Thinking Assignment Help Here!!

Step 2: In each section of the plan, provide the detail of what should be considered e.g.in the ‘methodology’ section…

• risk identification with explanation on how it will be completed
• risk analysis (qualitative and quantitative analysis) with explanation on how it will be completed

Step 3: Highlight areas that you feel, as a member of risk management team, are critical to the success of the project.

Task 2: Risk Gathering Techniques

As part of the risk management team that completed Task 1 and have delivered a risk management plan. Funder has requested that a relevant analysis, using tools (e.g., SWOT, PESTLE, etc.) be performed to ensure that your team have captured all potential risks and issues required for a successful EPC project delivery.

Using Risk Identification Tools and Techniques: You have completed the PESTLE analysis and there are some apparent risks that need to be logged. You are tasked with putting a risk response plan together that will present

• risk event
• risk consequence

Once completed, you are required to identify potential risk responses.

Task 3: Decision Tree

The CCC is looking at construction contracts options to minimise cost associated with project failures (based on historical risk report). Decision needs to be made on whether the project would be constructed under multiple contractors or multiple subcontractors. One option is to go for a prime contractor with multiple contracts. The other option is to use multiple contractors for agreed or limited number of contracts.

First option, which is a prime contractor with multiple contracts, estimated to cost £4.5 billion, is controllable and entails direct relationship and monitoring, but is liable to ‘one throat to choke’ – if prime contractor fails, the project is likely to fail. The probability of this occurring is 35% with estimated cost of £150 million over the 36 months of operation.

Second option, which is use of multiple contractors for different projects, cost estimated £4 billion, with 25% probability of saving the CCC £100 million at the completion of the project.

These savings are associated with success and reliability rating of the contractors. As a dedicated risk management professional, which option would you recommend? Use a decision tree to determine the best alternative.

Task 4: Detailed Risk Analysis

In this task, you have a list of some apparent risks that need to be logged. You are tasked with putting a risk response plan together to analyse each of the risks

• Responding to Analysed Risk
• Put a risk response plan together that includes an analysis and response strategy for each

Use the headings

• avoidance
• mitigation
• transference
• acceptance

Task 5: Risk Response Plan

Present the full completed version of the risk response template