Project management principles and practices

Project Management

The work of a project manager is essentially technical, especially with regard to deciding how particular tasks will be handled. Such planning began with large projects such as the Space Program in NASA and now extends to entertainment as well ("Project management," ). Therefore, the Rock 'n ' Reggae Outdoor Summer Music Festival project should be tailored according to a clear vision and understanding with regard to what the project management is setting out to achieve. What complicates this in this particular situation is that the elements enjoy a high level of autonomy. A lot is dependent upon the capacity of internal organization and the vision and leadership qualities of the project management team.

With regard to this, the project management team is striving to achieve quality work standards and to respond to the customer requirements with much flexibility and to meet the project standards. Therefore, it follows that the efficient and effective management of the music festival project relies on the clear understanding of the overall strategic objectives of the project. Such projects are based upon proper initial planning, effective communication and tackling technicalities before letting the show begin ("How to organise," 2008).

Section II - Work Breakdown Structure

Planners 'R Us Workers will be allocated to tasks each week during the project.

has agreed to complete the project in 10 weeks, finishing 2 weeks before the Festival commences. The activities and tasks are laid out in Table 1 and 2 to minimize the costs associated with the project. Task A will last weeks 1-3. Task B. will last weeks 1-5. Task C. will last weeks 1-2. Task D. 1-3. Task E. will last weeks 9-10. Task F. will last weeks 6-10. Task G. will last week for week 5. Task H. will last weeks 4-7. Task I will last weeks 1-5. Task J. last weeks 6-10. Task K. last weeks 6-10. Task L. will last weeks 7-9.

Table 1- Rock 'n' Reggae Activity Chart

Activity

Description

Duration

Immediate

(weeks)

Immediate

Predecessors

A

Contract negotiation with selected music groups

3

D

B

Find a construction firm & build the stage

5

C

C

Contract negotiation with roadies

2

A

D

Screen and hire security personnel

3

A

E

Ticket Distribution Arrangements

1

A

F

Organize advertising brochures and souvenir program printing

4

D

G

Logistical arrangements for music group transportation

1

E

H

Sound equipment arrangements

3

C, D

I

Processing of travel visas (for international groups)

5

F, H

J

Hire parking staff, and make parking arrangements

4

E, B, H

K

Distribute media passes and arrange for MTV recording

5

G

L

Arrange for concession sales and restroom facilities

2

F

Table 2-Tasks

Tasks to work on (Sub-tasks below)

# of employees per task

Tasks to work on # of employees per task

1

Contract negotiation with selected music groups

3

7

Logistical arrangements for music group transportation

4

Group Selection

Select Vendors

Contact Groups

Contact Vendors

Negotiation Follow-Through

Negotiation Follow-Through

Negotiation Completion/Contract

Negotiate

Contracts/Contract

2

Find a construction firm & build the stage

3

8

Sound equipment arrangements

4

Firm Selection

Select Vendors

Contact Firms

Contact Vendors

Negotiation Follow-Through

Negotiation Follow-Through

Negotiation Completion/Contract

Negotiate

Contracts/Contract

3

Contract negotiation with roadies

3

9

Processing of travel visas (for international groups)

3

Firm Selection

Send Applications

Contact Firms

Receive and Process

Negotiation Follow-Through

F/up with government

Negotiation Completion/Contract

Visa Issue

4

Screen and hire security personnel

4

10

Hire parking staff, and make parking arrangements

4

Review/Select Resumes

Review/Select Resumes

Contact People

Contact People

Interview

Interview

Hire

Hire

5

Ticket distribution arrangements

5

11

Distribute media passes and arrange for MTV recording

4

ID other Stakeholders

ID Leads

F/up Current Leads

New Leads

6

Organize advertising brochures and souvenir program printing

5

12

Arrange for concession sales and restroom facilities

Campaign Concept Creation

Select Vendors

Ad Creation

Contact Vendors

Content Marketing

Negotiation Follow-Through

Social Media

Negotiate

Contracts/Contract

Section III - Risk analysis

Any risk assessment relating to crowd safety at any concert event that is only based upon quantitative measurements is flawed at a base level. Rather, the issue needs to be seen from all angles to truly evaluate the needs and responses to these risks as they are identified.

a. List the potential threats and uncertainties associated with staging the Rock 'n'

Reggae concert using the information contained in this case description.

Threats will include drunken or otherwise inebriated fans, accidental fires (especially from electricity or smoking). Also, acts of God such as weather disasters must be factored in.

b. As noted in the scenario, the capacity of the stadium is 8000. Similar sized concert data were referenced in preparation for that given year in the United States. Deaths should considered to give an adequate barometer for preparation for a worst case scenario (Upton, 2004) .

In an international study that the team used in preparation for this project, 136 hundred and thirty-six victims died in 29 separate incidents that occurred in 20 different countries/territories: 32 died during entry to a concert, 29 died in front of (or by diving off) a stage during the performance, 13 died when people fell from balconies at arenas and stadiums, 9 died during their exit from a concert venue, 53 during egress from a concert venue directly into a railway station subway.

Also, a second level of analysis venue type was considered. Here it was found definitively that: 19 people died at temporarily constructed sites, 64 people died architecturally designed sites, 53 people died at a neighboring site (e.g., a railway station) (ibid).