Project Planning Unit 4&5
Project Planning Unit 4&5
2. Post-Completion Audits:
Post-completion audits are conducted after the project's completion to assess
its overall success and performance.
They involve a comprehensive evaluation of the project's objectives,
outcomes, costs, and benefits.
Lessons learned from the audit are used to improve future project
management practices and decision-making.
3. Abandonment Analysis:
Abandonment analysis is a technique which is used for existing projects and
even for new projects that whether the existing project terminated or is to be
continued.
Abandonment analysis assesses the feasibility of continuing or discontinuing a
project before its completion.
It involves evaluating the project's current status, potential future benefits,
and the cost of completion versus the cost of abandoning it.
Abandonment may be considered if the project is no longer viable or aligns
with the organization's goals.
Most of the
investment has Most of the investment
Investment already been made. is still to be made.
5. Agency Problem:
The agency problem arises when there is a conflict of interest between the
shareholders (principal) and management (agent) of a company.
Managers may prioritize their interests over the shareholders' interests,
leading to potential agency costs.
In project review, the agency problem may be considered to ensure that
project managers act in the best interest of the organization and its
stakeholders.
Project appraisal is a critical process that involves evaluating the feasibility, potential
impact, and alignment with organizational objectives before embarking on a project. In the
contemporary context, several emerging issues and considerations have come to the
forefront of project appraisal:
3. Technological Advancements:
With the rapid advancement of technology, project appraisal now includes an
assessment of integrating cutting-edge technologies into projects.
Embracing emerging trends like artificial intelligence, block chain, the Internet
of Things (IoT), and automation can significantly enhance project efficiency,
reduce costs, and improve outcomes.
Project managers need to stay updated with the latest technological trends
and assess their relevance and potential benefits for each project.
6. Ethical Considerations:
In an era of increased scrutiny on business ethics, project appraisal takes into
account ethical considerations in decision-making.
Evaluating the ethical implications of a project, such as human rights, labor
practices, and social justice, ensures that projects adhere to ethical standards
and avoid reputational risks.
7. Cultural Sensitivity:
With globalization, projects often involve diverse cultures and communities.
Project appraisal considers cultural sensitivity, understanding local customs,
norms, and practices to ensure the project is respectful and accepted by the
community it impacts.
6. Principle of Risk: Risk is a part of every project. A project without associated risks is
unimaginable. Risks are anything that alter the objectives or end goals of the project
and can be positive or negative. But whatever the type of risk, it must be identified
and mitigated to ensure that the project is not adversely affected.
4. Zoho Projects: Zoho Projects is a cloud-based project management software that offers a
comprehensive set of tools for project planning, collaboration, and reporting. It provides
task management, issue tracking, document sharing, and time tracking capabilities. The
software's interactive Gantt charts and resource utilization view aid in efficient project
scheduling. Zoho Projects also integrates with various Zoho and third-party applications,
ensuring seamless connectivity with other business tools.
5. Trello: Trello is a popular and easy-to-use project management tool known for its visual
Kanban boards. It allows teams to create boards, lists, and cards, representing tasks and
their status. Trello's simple and flexible interface makes it suitable for personal task
management, team collaboration, or project tracking. While Trello is more lightweight
compared to some other tools, its simplicity and integrations with numerous apps make it a
favorite for various project management needs.
6. JIRA: JIRA, developed by Atlassian, is a powerful project management and issue tracking
software primarily designed for software development teams. It provides tools for agile
project management, allowing teams to plan and track projects using Scrum or Kanban
methodologies. JIRA's robust customization options, advanced reporting, and integration
with development tools like Bitbucket and GitHub make it a top choice for software
development projects.
Project Financing
Project financing is a specialized method of raising funds for specific ventures or initiatives,
typically large-scale projects with long-term investment horizons. It involves securing
capital to finance the development, construction, and operation of projects such as
infrastructure developments, energy plants, real estate ventures, and other capital-
intensive undertakings. Unlike traditional corporate financing, project financing relies
primarily on the project's expected cash flows and assets as collateral, rather than the
creditworthiness of the project sponsor.
2. Financing Stage
a. Arrangement of Finances - In order to take care of the finances related to the
project, the sponsor needs to acquire equity or loan from a financial services
organisation whose goals are aligned to that of the project
b. Loan or Equity Negotiation - During this step, the borrower and lender
negotiate the loan amount and come to a unanimous decision regarding the
same.
c. Documentation and Verification - In this step, the terms of the loan are
mutually decided and documented keeping the policies of the project in mind.
d. Payment - Once the loan documentation is done, the borrower receives the
funds as agreed previously to carry out the operations of the project.
3. Post-Financing Stage
a. Timely Project Monitoring - As the project commences, it is the job of the
project manager to monitor the project at regular intervals.
b. Project Closure - This step signifies the end of the project.
c. Loan Repayment - After the project has ended, it is imperative to keep track of
the cash flow from its operations as these funds will be, then, utilised to repay
the loan taken to finance the project.
Project Implementation
Project implementation is the process of putting the plans, strategies, and activities into
action to achieve the project's objectives. It involves the execution of all the tasks and
activities outlined in the project plan to deliver the intended outcomes within the defined
scope, timeline, and budget. Successful project implementation requires effective
coordination, communication, and management of resources to ensure that the project is
completed efficiently and meets its goals.
Advantages of Project Implementation
1. Achieving Goals and Objectives: Effective implementation ensures that the project's
goals and objectives are pursued and, ultimately, achieved. It is the phase where the
intended benefits and outcomes of the project are realized.
2. Resource Utilization: Proper project implementation ensures efficient utilization of
resources, including human resources, financial capital, and time. It optimizes
resource allocation to achieve maximum productivity and minimize wastage.
3. Risk Management: By actively managing risks during implementation, project teams
can address potential challenges promptly and prevent them from escalating into
major issues. This proactive approach improves the project's resilience and chances
of success.
4. Problem-Solving Opportunities: Implementation often brings unforeseen challenges
and obstacles. However, these challenges also present opportunities for creative
problem-solving and innovation, leading to improved project outcomes.
5. Measuring Performance: Implementation allows for the measurement of project
performance against predefined metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). This
tracking provides valuable insights into the project's progress and success.
6. Generating Value: Successful implementation generates value not only for the
project sponsors but also for end-users and stakeholders. It brings about positive
change and improvements in the targeted areas.
Project Control
Project controlling is the process of gathering data on the progress of the project schedule
and the cost incurred, and ensuring that it is on track.
The project controlling process includes evaluating the project progress, forecasting the
future based on current measurements and then implementing measures to improve
performance.
Since the project environment is dynamic and unpredictable, controlling projects is fairly
challenging as things don’t always go the way planned.
Benefits of WBS
Improved planning. Complex projects are difficult to plan from start to finish, and it’s
easy to overlook something in the process. WBS makes it much more manageable by
visualizing scope and enabling you to set clear timelines, ensure no tasks get
overlooked and understand the resources needed to complete the project within
time and budget.
More accurate budget allocation. Because all tasks are well-defined, it’s much easier
for project managers to assign specific costs to them – ensuring that the cost of the
tasks doesn’t exceed project budget.
Enhanced visibility. Having all the tasks, timelines, and budgets visualized in the WBS
make it easier for everyone to understand their responsibilities and see the project
progress.
Easier progress tracking. The high level of visibility makes it easy to keep your team
members and stakeholders up to date with everything. Moreover, it’s also a great
way to identify possible bottlenecks sooner and make sure your project doesn’t go
over time and budget.
Behavioural Considerations
Behavioural considerations refer to the factors, concerns, or aspects related to human
behaviour that are taken into account when making decisions, formulating strategies, or
designing systems or processes.
In the context of project management, behavioural considerations involve understanding
and addressing the attitudes, motivations, emotions, and communication dynamics of the
people involved in a project. This includes the project team members, stakeholders, clients,
and other individuals who may be impacted by the project's outcomes.
Strategic Considerations
Strategic considerations in project implementation refer to the process of analyzing and
addressing the broader, long-term objectives and goals of an organization while executing a
specific project. It involves aligning the project's objectives with the overall strategic
direction of the organization and ensuring that the project contributes to the organization's
mission and vision. Strategic considerations guide decision-making and resource allocation
throughout the project's life cycle, with the aim of maximizing the project's impact and
value for the organization.
Organisational Considerations
Organizational considerations in project implementation refer to the factors and aspects
within an organization that influence the planning, execution, and success of a specific
project. These considerations take into account the internal structure, culture, resources,
and processes of the organization, as well as the people involved, and how they impact the
project's implementation. Understanding and addressing these organizational factors is
crucial for ensuring that the project aligns with the organization's capabilities, values, and
objectives.
Here are some key considerations for tax planning while financing projects:
1. Entity Structure Selection: The choice of business entity can significantly impact the
tax liability of a project. Different structures, such as sole proprietorship, partnership,
corporation, or limited liability company (LLC), have varying tax implications. It's
important to consider factors such as liability protection, ease of administration, and
tax treatment before selecting the most suitable structure.
2. Tax Incentives and Credits: Be aware of any tax incentives or credits offered by the
government or local authorities for specific types of projects. These incentives can
include tax breaks, deductions, or credits that may reduce the overall tax burden and
make the project more financially viable.
3. Timing of Income and Expenses: Proper timing of income recognition and expense
deductions can have a significant impact on taxable income. By strategically
managing the timing of receipts and payments, you can potentially defer taxes to a
later period when the project is generating higher income.
4. Cost Segregation: For construction projects or projects involving real estate, cost
segregation can be beneficial. It involves identifying and reclassifying components of
the project to accelerate depreciation and claim larger deductions early on, reducing
taxable income.
5. Tax Treaties and International Considerations: If the project involves international
financing or operations, consider tax treaties between countries to avoid double
taxation and optimize tax efficiency.
6. Utilize Tax Losses: If the project faces losses initially, these losses can be utilized to
offset taxable income in other areas of the business or project, potentially reducing
overall tax liability.
7. Financing Structure: The financing structure of the project can impact the tax
implications. Different sources of financing, such as equity, debt, or grants, have
different tax consequences. For example, interest on debt may be tax-deductible,
while equity financing may involve issuing shares and could lead to capital gains
taxation.
8. Withholding Taxes: Be mindful of any withholding tax obligations on payments made
to suppliers, contractors, or stakeholders, especially in international projects. Non-
compliance with withholding tax requirements can lead to penalties and added tax
burdens.
9. Local Tax Regulations: Each jurisdiction may have specific tax regulations and rates.
Understanding and complying with local tax laws is crucial to avoid penalties and
legal issues.
10.Tax Professionals: Engage qualified tax professionals or consultants who have
expertise in project financing and tax planning. They can help you navigate complex
tax matters and ensure you make the most tax-efficient decisions for your project.