Introduction to Project Management

Week 5: Assignment

Hand-in Assignment

A small area outside a residential building needs to be landscaped.This landscaping would include removing debris and weeds, leveling the ground, creating a walkway from the front door to the road, and creating a small paved parking area on one side of the walkway. Additionally, a garden with perennial flowers is to be developed on either side of the walkway.Finally,at least two new trees are to be planted and a bench needs to be set upnear one of the trees. For the purpose of this exercise, this project starts on August 31.

The various activitiesinvolved in the landscaping project,their duration, and the resourcesrequired to complete these activities are as follows:

S. No. / Task Name / Duration / Resource Name
1 / Design backyard / 1 day / John
2 / Set timing / 2 days / Mary
3 / Get quotes for purchases / 4 days / John
4 / Get quotes for contractors / 3 days / Susan
5 / Rent dustcart / 1 day / Susan
6 / Clear space / 1 day / John
7 / Remove full dustcart / 1 day / John
8 / Hire contractor to level backyard / 1 day / Susan
9 / Hire contractor to pave parking area / 1 day / John
10 / Level yard / 3 days / Contractor 2
11 / Buy patio stones / 1 day / Susan
12 / Purchase two trees / 1 day / Mary
13 / Purchase bench / 1 day / Mary
14 / Dig holes for trees / 2 days / Mary
15 / Plant trees / 3 days / Susan
16 / Lay walkway stones / 1 day / John
17 / Lay asphalt / 4 days / Contractor 1
18 / Set up bench / 1 day / Mary
19 / Make payments / 1 day / Susan
20 / Hold opening event / 1 day / Susan

Without completing the design of the backyard, no other task can begin. Tasks 2, 3, and 4 begin when the design is completed. Contractors cannot be hired or equipment cannot be rented without getting quotes for the same. Tasks 5, 6, and 7 occur one after the other. Task 10 can happen after task 8. Similarly, task 17 can be performed after task 9. All purchases can be done as soon as the quotes for the same have been obtained. Trees cannot be planted before the backyard has been levelled. The laying of walkway stones can happen after the levelling of the backyard and the purchase of stones. The bench can be set up after the trees are planted and tasks 16 and 17 are completed. Payments cannot be made until contractors complete their work and the bench is set up. The opening event can happen after all payments are made.

The cost of various products and resources required for this project is as follows:

S. No. / Resource Name / Cost in USD ($) / Measure
1 / John / 500 / Per day
2 / Mary / 500 / Per day
3 / Susan / 500 / Per day
4 / Contractor 1 / 500 / Per day
5 / Contractor 2 / 500 / Per day
6 / Tree / 50 / Each
7 / Bench / 800 / Each
8 / Patio stones / 200 / For the project
9 / Dustcart / 50 / Per day

Eight days after John began work on the project, he was able to save 1 day, because he got the quotes for purchases from a contractor. Mary was able to get a bench for $500. However, the patio stones cost $300. The contractor for the levelling work was paid the full amount, but he completed only half of the work and will need another day to complete the work.

On the basis of the abovescenario and utilising the software mentioned below, provide your answer for each of the following requirements:

  1. Develop a Gantt Chart
  2. Analyse all milestones to determine where the risks lie
  3. Develop a plan to manage and control the risks identified
  4. Write a report to management that indicates how well the project is progressing and provide alternative solutions if changes are required

You will need to use project management software to complete Requirement 1.

Two popular software packages used by PMs in the field are Microsoft Project ( and OpenProj ( Although you will only be using the Gantt chart capabilityfor this assignment, these products are routinely used to cover the many different facets of project management.

  • Using Microsoft (MS) Project:

Note: A login box for Villanova University may appear when you click on this link. Just click Cancel in the box, and you will go to the PowerPoint presentation.

  • Examples of Gantt charts in MS Project:
  • Example #1:

Example #2:

  • Using OpenProj

Note:Documentation for OpenProj is in a wiki. If you press F1 when you are in OpenProj, you will receive online help for the item directly underneath your cursor.

  • Example of Gantt charts in OpenProj:
  • Example #1:

Please make sure that you cite and reference all your outside sources properly, as per the Harvard Referencing System.