MECH 3170 – PROJECT MANAGEMENT

EXERCISE – 2011

CF-5 AVIONICS UPDATE PROGRAM

Malcolm Symmonds

April 4, 2011

Team 6

Thibault Bourgvignon – 7681255

Dylan Guenette – 7616141

Thomas Laskowski – 6852934

Gelleen Sicat - 6854657

Question 1

The WBS is based on the deliverables, the output products of the project. It is derived from
the project objective, that's why it is important to clearly define the deliverable of the
project since the WBS will be drawn from it. Depending on customer requirements, the
project manager will have to be limited to a defined budget, so he must choose resources
limited by the budget. However, resources needed may be reduced by increasing the
duration of the project. If the constraint is "fixed resources," the manager will again share
the resources available in several tasks which may lengthen the duration of the project. If
the project is time limited, the manager may need to see if there are less expensive
resources that can be assigned to task or increase productivity by hiring new staff and or
purchasing new equipment, or even subcontract a part of the project.

All these issues will influence the way in which a project manager organizes the WBS, he
may have to organize it according to the customer requirements.
Question 2

Question 3

CF-5 Avionics Update System

WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE (WBS)
DICTIONARY AND CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
 CF-5 Avionics Update System
WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE (WBS)
DICTIONARY AND CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

INDEX ITEM NO: REV: LEVEL: 3

WBS ELEMENT: AE-AC DATE:
WBS TITLE: GSE Test
SPECIFICATION NO:
SPECIFICATION TITLE:
APPLICABLE SOW:
CONTRACT LINE ITEM: N/A QTY: N/A
CONTRACT END ITEM: N/A
ASSOCIATED SUBCONTRACTOR: N/A
COST DESCRIPTION: FFP
MPC/PMC: N/A
ELEMENT TASK DESCRIPTION:
Summarizes the Program Office tasks needed to test the Ground Support
Equipment (GSE) after design and manufacturing so as to be able to do
the ground and flight testing.
Question 9

You could find this information from the Human Resources department, speak with
managers from each group, Hire a new worker or get a contractor. Each of these options has
their pros as well as their downfalls. Taking a look at each of these and listing their pros and
cons:

Human Resources:
Advantages Disadvantages

 You will acquire the entire database  Not necessarily a current and
of workers which may be suitable in the updated list
company  May not be the best candidates
 Can be done quickly  Unknown work quality/productivity


Speaking with managers:

Advantages Disadvantages

 Will know exact experience of  Managers may not want to give up

candidates good workers and therefore tell you they
 Managers will know more detailed have no one with the skills you are looking
info about their workers than HR for.
 Have info on worker’s productivity,  Slow process
work ethic, work quality ect.

New Hire:
Advantages Disadvantages

 May bring new and better methods  Unknown quality of work/skills

of doing certain jobs  May be un reliable
 New hires are easy to mold into  Cost
company’s standards  Long wait time before worker is
hired
 Training period

Contractor:
Advantages Disadvantages

 Is the best in the area of specialty  Highest cost (salary + living

 If the job is only needed for the expenses, daily allowance etc.)
project  Unreliable (May decide to leave at
any time)
Question 10

You prepare a list of long lead components for a project because you need to know which
products will take a long time to be ordered and brought in so your whole project can go
smoothly and not have unexpected downtimes due to shipping/production issues.

If you make this list as well as have this time set aside in your project plan and decide not to
use this product, then this will be an empty time slot and will become a non-productive time
in your project completion.

Question 11

It is important to pay attention to managing scope since if a project scope changes half way
through, it usually means that there will be greater risks, added cost and an increase in the
project’s completion time. Usually the failure of a project is due to many small scope
changes rather than one big scope change therefore scope management is essential.

At half way through the

design stage you will need to
first look at if the change is
even possible to make next
you will require approval
from the business owners of
the project (ie. Senior leaders,
Project sponsors, Change
Control Board and the
Steering Committee). You will
next need to redefine the
project and check the
resources/skills you have and
what you will need. Following
this you will go over the
requirements then proceed to
conceptual design which will
set you back on track to
where you were before.

HTTP://
WWW.EPMBOOK.COM/
SCOPE.HTM
Question 12

Depending on the resource skill that was recently lost, different actions can be taken. A
possibility is to outsource the section of the project where resources are no longer available
for it to be completed. Since this will almost definitely set back the completion of the entire
project, the Change Control Board should be notified of the new schedule. The Change
Control Board should also approve of the new implementations before further actions are
pursued.

Question 13

The first thing to do is to get the peoples who manage project expenditures together to
determine why the budget was exceeded, which step was not done correctly or what was
not part of the budget. If necessary, we have to discuss with the customer or management to
decide what to do.

If the contract is “fixed price”, we can fix the problem as follows:

To get a project back on budget, we have to get more work done for the same price. We may
for example swap inexperienced and less productive resources for ones that are more
experienced and productive (or unpaid overtime). We may need to see if there are less
expensive resources that can be assigned to task. If deadline is less important than cost
containment, we may take more time to work if, ultimately, project can be completed
successfully at a reduced cost. It may also be possible to utilize less costly materials,
supplies, or services than were originally budgeted. Well, we satisfy the original budget but
using a less-costly alternative. We must also work with the client (or manager) and team
members to ensure that absolutely no unplanned work is being requested or worked on. All
resources should go into costs reduction and completing only the work defined in the
contract. If we are still over budget, as a last resort, we can look at the work remaining and
negotiate with the client to remove some of it from the project.

Question 14

The first main aspect of the customer relationship management is to know the client. Each
client must be known individually to develop an individual relationship and propose a
suitable offer. The purchase history of a client or his favourable payment methods are
information to know.

Develop customer relationships by developing skills such as interpersonal trust between

the company and the customer, or create long term lasting relationships.

Customer relationship also involves the mastery of communication networks. The customer
for example wish to communicate at any time with the supplier by using mail, phone ... but
also feel a personalized dialogue with meaningful content.
The last aspect of the customer relationship management is to be able to provide a
personalized offer to the customers, regarding to the offer itself or the cost of the offer. It is
the culmination of the customer relationship. The company will design a service that
perfectly correspond with the client requirements (sometimes in cooperation with the
client) or be able to control its costs.

Question 15

Cash flow is the movement of money into and out of a project which is measured during a
finite amount of time. Cash flow is important since you can measure many company
parameters with it. With cash flow the project’s rate of return/ value can be measured, a
company’s liquidity (a company can fail due to a shortage of money but still be profitable)
and also used to calculate the quality of income by accrual accounting i.e. Income composed
of large non-cash items which deems it low quality

Question 16

Based on the layout of the matrix organization, the higher authority is the General Manger.
This individual oversees all Line Managers and Project Mangers. If there is a problem that
cannot be solved at a lower level of management than the General Manager should be
consulted as they have the power to delegate the tasks and resources. The General Manger
is also the individual who is responsible for personnel management such as motivation,
delegation and team building.