Contents
INTRODUCTION 3
PROJECT LIFE CYCLE 3
TIME PLANNING 5
TIME DEFINITION 8
NETWORK ANALYSIS 10
COST PLANNING 11
COST DEFINITION 12
COST MONITORING AND CONTROL 14
EARNED VALUE ANALYSIS 15
CONCLUSION 16
RECOMMENDATIONS 17
LIST OF REFERENCES 19
APPENDIX 22
Description
Accurate costing and time planning are vital to the success of a project. Planning time considering practical constraints would provide a realistic picture of the project duration and project outcome. On the other hand, time planning without considering practicalities of execution of the project plan would result in extended timelines and the stress arising out of the perceived delay in completion of the project. The report analyses a sample project plan prepared for Dabur India Limited by a consultancy firm for the launch of new patented hair oil manufactured by Dabur. The report discusses various stages of project life cycle, time planning, time definition, network analysis and cost planning and cost definition. The report discusses the strengths and weaknesses of time planning presented in the sample project report and recommends to allow for contingency time schedule arising out of practical constraints such as unforeseen events that could disrupt normal public life. The sample project plan has a cost estimation plan that is aimed at senior management and the client. The report recommends to include break-up of costs of subtasks in the cost estimation. This would function as a guide to carrying out the tasks with allocated budget for each of the subtasks. The report also recommends the use of unit man-hour requirement while estimating human resource requirement and their costs in order to make the costing even more transparent for the stakeholders to see. The report finally recommends the project report be prepared not only for the stake holders such as senior management and the client but also for the use of team members that execute the project.