Project management assignment essay on: Ingersoll project
- Introduction
The Ingersoll project was an offshore development to extract oil and gas from a significant North Sea oil field with recoverable deposits of approximately 450m barrels, over a 20 year life of production. A consortium of oil and gas companies was to finance the $900m project. A US oil company Monocorp was the major partner (47.5% equity share) with other partners being the French oil company Sonoros SA (29%) and Prince Petroleum (23.5 %). The project was to be managed by a Monocorp project team based in Aberdeen, with some project management activities also undertaken by partners Sonoros in Paris.
The twin platform structure was designed in a modular format. Once the design of each module has been completed by an engineering contractor (under the supervision of the project team), tenders are invited from various construction companies to build each module. These tenders are evaluated by the project management team and construction contracts awarded. Several construction companies would normally be used to target onshore completion for each module at the same time – and therefore allow a well-coordinated offshore installation and project completion. Bringing the platform into production on schedule, and thus generating the revenue streams, is a critical influence on the strategy and tactical decisions of any project team. Conversely, any significant delays, irrespective of cost over-runs, may affect the fundamental economics and financial viability of the entire project.
- Commercial and contractual challenges and concerns:
Some of the commercial as well as contractual challenges which might concern the various investors, stakeholders, financial investors & project partners have been listed in this section of the report. It has been seen that, managing as well as coping with the changes both internally & externally within a particular project will lead to high levels of challenges for the project managers. They are as follows:
Þ The first & the foremost challenge which is being faced at Ingersoll Offshore Development project is the complexities attached along the same. With an increase in the levels of competitiveness amongst the competitors high levels of expectations are attached along the project managers. It is seen that, with the change in the requirements of the project, development skills & the efforts made by the project managers goes hand in hand. In a highly competitive environment, the skills to manage the changes are hardly found. This leads to one of the major challenge for the project managers handling the Ingersoll Offshore Development Project.
Þ The second challenge which is being faced at Ingersoll Offshore Development project refers to the various uncontrollable changes within the environment. It shall be kept in mind by the Ingersoll Offshore Development project that, the various types of changes will have a huge impact over the project. Such type of changes shall be handled with high levels of flexibility. A good project manager is one who would adapt the changes in the best possible manner keeping in mind the pre determined goals of the project. This will help to successfully track the levels of progress & count upon the outcomes of the project.
practice an effective communication amongst the people involved within project. It shall be seen that, proper communication shall be held which would help in maintaining cordial relationships between the project managers and the various personnel involved (Lichtenberg, 2005).
Þ The fourth type of challenge which is being faced at Ingersoll Offshore Development project is the levels of risk associated within the same. It has been seen that, most of the project managers prefer projects which are less risky and are easily manageable. It shall be kept in mind by the project managers handling the Ingersoll Offshore Development project that, projects which are high on risk would be due to the following reasons such as budgets involved, scarce resources, licensing problem, scarce capacity, etc (Saram & Ahmed, 2001).
Þ The next issue or challenge which is being faced at Ingersoll Offshore Development project refers to the non centralized flow of communication. This leads to misrepresentation of the key messages. Misrepresentation of the messages will lead to high levels of issues for the project managers. This refers to one of the major challenge which shall be avoided by the managers managing the Ingersoll Offshore Development project.
Þ Increase in the levels of complexities within the Ingersoll Offshore Development project will lead to high levels of scope which will lead to increased dependencies amongst the workers so as to accomplish the task on time. With an increase in dependencies, more number of variables would be aroused. Hence, it will be quite a difficult task for the project manager to manage all the variables within a stipulated time frame.
Þ Within Ingersoll Offshore Development project, managing the projects as well as dealing with people from different cultures, language, lifestyle, regions or countries has been referred to as one of the major commercial issues being faced at the project (Saram & Ahmed, 2001).
The conceptual problems or difficulties which are being faced at Ingersoll Offshore Development project have been highlighted as under. They are as follows:
Þ The first conceptual problem which is being faced at Ingersoll Offshore Development project is that some of the benefits reaped by the same are not in measurable terms.
Þ The second conceptual problem which is being faced at Ingersoll Offshore Development project is that when both the platforms are being made it is quite a difficult task to allocate the benefits of both the projects at the same time. The exact benefits reaped from the two platforms will not be able to attribute towards the benefit attained from the individual project. In such cases, the benefits from anyone of the projects will be difficult to realize (Lichtenberg, 2005).
Þ The third conceptual problem which is being faced at Ingersoll Offshore Development project is to have public system projects. This will lead to alterations amongst the income of the people involved within the project. The redistribution of the income will lead to high levels of alterations within the price structure attached to it. There would be wide variations in the price structure as compared with the initial feasibility analysis for the project (Rao, 2009).
3. Compare and contrast the critical path on the Nemo project plan with the high-level project schedule:
Nemo Construction based on the North West coast of France. Unlike comparable UK and Norwegian construction companies, Nemo did not have a particularly good track record in fabricating modules for North Sea projects, and the Monocorp team was concerned privately that the choice of Construction Company was based solely on Sonoros’ political preference for using a French contractor.
The planned start date for the project was 24th September but the high level plan for Nemo Project i.e. Gantt Chart shows a different starting date for the project (8th May – 20th October). The critical path analysis for Nemo Project mainly takes into consideration the fabrication schedule for D platform whereas on the other hand, High level plan for Nemo showcases the development of the entire module i.e. D platform & P platform. The major discrepancy which can be noticed within the two would be in terms of the activities or aspects covered within the two. The project manager at Ingersoll Offshore Development project shall make two different critical paths & Gantt chart for D platform and P platform. This will avoid any type of delay within the projects.
- Personal relationships:
A Monocorp management policy is to complete as much engineering and commissioning work as possible while the module is still at the onshore fabrication site, in order to minimize expensive work after installation at the offshore location. Personal relations at Monocorp can be seen with respect to the various people involved with the accomplishment of the project. Although technically competent, Schmidt had an abrasive personality and soon fell out with ThierryDubois, Nemo’s Contract Manager at its yard. Following a stormy meeting they hardly spoke and communicated thereafter only via formal letters and emails. Soon after this incident the work on D platform went behind the scheduled time. This situation only came to light when FrankRichards, the Monocorp commissioning manager, arrived at Nemo’s site to prepare for the onshore commissioning work on D platform – in accordance with the high-level Ingersoll project plan and strategy.
There are certain techniques which shall be kept in mind while managing personal relationships at Ingersoll Offshore Development project. Some of the techniques which shall be used to manage personal relations would be to practice effective communication amongst the people involved. Use of simple & unambiguous language will help in order to maintain cordial relationship between one another. Explain with in depth reasons for the proposal of the projects shall be made. Aggressiveness, and angriness shall not be done while performing a particular project. Being polite with all the people associated with the project shall be done. It shall be kept in mind that too aggressive as well as demanding people are thick skin people who generally hide things from them (Project Management informed solutions, 2007). The second technique to maintain personal relationship between Ingersoll Offshore Development projects would be to pay attention your relative status. It shall be seen that, we communicate to one another either as superior or subordinates or inferior or equal. It is seen that, we adopt different approaches for different type of individuals involved within the organization. It shall be seen that, problems arise either at workplace or at home due to the gap which is created when the expectations do not meet with one another (Lichtenberg, 2005).
While working within the Ingersoll Offshore Development project, the project managers & people involved within the accomplishment of the project should keep in mind that if your relationship with someone is in good terms or they dislike you then you should keep in mind whether you are signaling superiority or equality or inferiority. The project managers as well as the personnel attached along the project shall change its approach in order to meet the expectations. By changing the approach towards one another will help to maintain a peaceful environment within the Ingersoll Offshore Development project.
Lastly, it shall be kept in mind by the project managers that they will work with people as they are. This is because no one can change someone’s nature & modify them according to their own wish to be. While working with people who are born with varied types of nature such as practical, extrovert, creative, innovative, introvert, etc it shall be noticed that different approaches shall be followed which would help to assess the person as well as act sensibly. At the same time, the project managers & others involved shall adapt their nature according to the person dealing with. A mantra shall be kept in mind while working within a group i.e. “if you treat someone in a similar manner then you are certainly not dealing in an effective manner with others” (Saram & Ahmed, 2001).
- Options open to the Monocorp team to prevent further delays:
Delays refer to deviate from the stipulated delivery date or time of a particular project. Delays would lead to high levels of stress which might disrupt the progress of the Ingersoll Offshore Development project. Such type of delays might lead to destruction within the business or a project. Delay amongst the idea or project or management will lead to slower completion of the project or taking more time than the stipulated time to complete the given project. Delays will be referred to as one of the major challenges for the project managers at Ingersoll Offshore Development project (Lee, 2009). Hence, various tips or options shall be kept in mind to overrun the same. The options which are open to the team of Monocorp to prevent further delays & bring forward the completion of the D platform has been mentioned in this section of the write up. They are as follows:
Þ Focus upon the plan:
In order to complete the Ingersoll Offshore Development project on time, the project managers shall spend more time to focus upon a particular plan. It has been noticed that, majority of the project managers spend more time on the execution phase rather than focusing upon the plan of action (POA). It shall be kept in mind by the project managers at Ingersoll Offshore Development project that, the POA shall be smart & identify various shortcuts which would help them to produce the deliverables on time or before time. When the entire POA is formulated, the next step would be to review the activities in an in depth manner keeping in mind the time factor i.e. when to complete, what is to be complete & how. The project managers shall take into consideration the activities as well as locate the time span which would help to accomplish the task before time (Bibany, Paulson & Chua, 1980).
Þ Avoid manual activities:
The next option available to the project managers at Ingersoll Offshore Development project would be to practice better collaboration tools. With unavailability of collaboration tools with the project managers & spending the valuable time on tracking the activities, collecting facts and figures, etc will lead require investing huge amount of time. Therefore, the project managers shall try to avoid various manual daily activities such as track the status report, updating timeliness, weekly report, documentation, etc (ESI International an informa business, 2009). The managers shall not use various manual activities to do the same. They shall invest or buy software which would help to perform various types of task. With the help of software, the team will be able to update the levels of progress and summarize the information in an effective manner.
Þ Execution slowly:
The project managers shall keep in mind that, the execution phase of the project will help to monitor the plan in an in depth manner. It shall be seen that, the execution of the plan should be done which would ensure proper direction of the team i.e. accomplish the pre determined organizational goals in an effective as well as efficient manner. The project manager shall keep in mind the fact that, whether the people involved in the accomplishment of the project are on right track or not. Slower accomplishment of the goals can be practiced by minimizing the risks associated with the same as well as the issues which might arise & lead to unplanned activities (Bass, 2012).
Þ Multiply the resources:
In order to avoid delay within the Ingersoll Offshore Development project, the project managers shall try to assign double resources. Though assigning double resources would be regarded as one of the most expensive techniques but it shall be practiced if the budget associated with the project is huge. This will try to avoid the delay & carry forward the activities in a well defined manner. It shall be taken into consideration that, more resources shall be assigned to the critical activities. This will help to complete the task before time.
Þ Fix up priorities:
The project managers shall keep in mind the fact that, critical activities would be given more priority as compared to the supplement activities. While completing the project, the critical activities shall be initiated in the beginning of the project i.e. when the team members are fresh, passionate, have zeal to perform, etc. Adopting this approach will help Ingersoll Offshore Development project to finish the critical activities within a stipulated time frame. This will help to maintain high levels of quality as well as easier for the project managers to track all the activities (Angies List, 2012).
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