You have just bought your first apartment and moved into a brand-new cooperative housing society that has recently been completed. The housing society consists of over 100 apartments, and all the residents are new occupants. There is still a considerable amount of work remaining in the backyard and the area around the buildings: laying down lawns, installing playground equipment and benches, creating flower beds, and more.
While some services can be ordered from suppliers, it has already been agreed that residents will handle almost all of the work and organizing purchases themselves. There is an urgency to get everything in place. The leaders of the housing society ask if you can be the project manager for this, given your project management education. They request you to explain and highlight the following:
Why is this suitable to be executed as a project?
This is well-suited for a project approach due to its clear defined objective, specific timeline, and a set of tasks that need completion to achieve the desired outcomes. The project involves specific tasks related to upgrading the outdoor areas of the housing cooperative, requiring careful planning, coordination, and execution to achieve the desired results.
How would you classify this project, and what reasons would you give to support your classification?
This project can be categorized as either a construction project or an upgrade project. It involves building and upgrading the outdoor areas of the housing cooperative. There is a need for concrete physical changes and the installation of new structures, such as lawns, playground equipment, benches, and flower beds. Therefore, it fits into the category of construction or upgrade projects.
What are some key elements associated with the “project management triangle” for this project?
Time: Ensuring everything is in place within a specific timeframe to allow residents to enjoy the outdoor areas as soon as possible.
Cost: Keeping expenses within a defined budget and ensuring residents are not burdened with unexpected costs.
Quality: Ensuring that the work is executed in a manner that guarantees high-quality outdoor areas, meeting the residents’ expectations.
What do you believe is particularly important to pay attention to for this project, and how would you justify it?
Coordination and Collaboration: It is crucial to coordinate and collaborate with the residents to organize tasks, allocate responsibilities, and ensure that the work is carried out efficiently and in line with their preferences.
Communication: Maintaining effective communication with the residents, keeping them informed about progress, changes, and potential challenges, will foster trust and ensure their active participation and engagement.
Resource Management: Efficiently managing resources, both human and material, is essential to ensure that the tasks are completed within the designated timeframe and budget.
Quality Control: Conducting thorough quality control checks and ensuring the standard of work meets the residents’ expectations is necessary to ensure the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the outdoor areas.
This case is taken from the book “Verdiskapende Prosjektledelse” – 2022, 2. Edition, by Torgeir Skyttermoen og Anne Live Vaagaasar.
