Discussion Forum ( main Question )
With regards to project management theory and techniques discuss why and how this project was deemed necessary. What would you consider to be appropriate justification for these projects and what would constitute project success?
Learning Outcomes
To explain and evaluate different approaches to the practice and analysis of project management planning, reporting and resources allocation
Post by my colleague to reflect on the Discussion:
The Eurotunnel project was meant to solve transportation and connectivity problems between the UK and France, run underneath the English Channel carrying Eurostar freight and trains between the two countries. The need for this project was considered based on the underlying explanations of what project management entails. For instance, the need for the project considered the services to be offered to the customers, their expectations, different needs of the stakeholders (Wysocki, 2020). Also considered was the overall impact that the project would have, both for the UK and France residents. In project management terms, the forecasted need for improved movement and locomotion between the two countries was akin to how project management must fit with the organizational goals. Project managers must align with the needs of the stakeholder (Turner & Muller, 2002)The project was also intended to provide revenue, and these projections led to cost overruns. It was meant to improve ferry operations between the two countries. Also expected was that through the tunnel, there could be improved service and pricing among the ferries, which would have led to retained market share. The project would include the tunnel completion within the schedule and the budget, as well as proper collaboration between the British and French teams.
Question: What
are some of the project management challenges highlighted in Eurotunnel project
To writer: Guidelines for discussion responses:
Please
write a response on the following question and reflect the post in the same
scope:
" Question: What are some of the project management challenges highlighted in Eurotunnel project? " first thank the writer on sharing the post.
· limit the reply post to 200-300 words maximum, so that others may be encouraged to reflect on, and respond to your ideas.2 - 3 References (Harvard Style ).
·
Add words that express
your opinion of agreement or disagreement
I take this opportunity to
thank my colleague for sharing their reflection on the discussion. Indeed, the
Eurotunnel was foreseen as a solution to the transportation problem, with the
aim of enhancing connectivity between the UK and France.
Project management skills and
techniques must be applied for such a project to succeed. Through project
management, three stages are followed in developing a project: planning,
scheduling, and controlling (Schley and Lewis, 2017, p. 412). Detailed plans
have to be established to ensure that the key drivers of the project are
realized. According to project management, achieving customer satisfaction is
one of the significant drivers of any project (Schley and Lewis, 2017, p. 414).
Therefore, the Eurotunnel project needed to satisfy the expectations of the
various stakeholders and customers. Moreover, there was a need to enhance
transportation services and connectivity between the UK and France residents.
The justification of this project was mainly based on the necessity to provide
a solution to the transportation problem between the two countries. Enhancing
the transport sector would have increased economic growth for both countries. However,
even though the goal was valid and beneficial to society, the justification of
the project should have gone beyond and addressed the project's financial
feasibility to deem it a success. Amidst the expected outcomes, several
challenges were encountered in the project delivery. These included;
underestimation and poor costing of logistics, alterations in the final and
fixed equipment jobs, and underrating the rolling stock cost (Grant, 1997).
Therefore, all these led to unforeseen expenses, which affected the cost
estimates for the project.
The Eurotunnel project had set
out to solve the transportation problem across UK and France. However, the
project has been deemed a failure due to poor project management in terms of
financial estimation. This emphasizes the importance of establishing accurate
cost estimations for any project.
References
Grant,
M., 1997. Financing Eurotunnel. [online] Ejrcf.or.jp. Available at:
<https://www.ejrcf.or.jp/jrtr/jrtr11/pdf/f46_gra.pdf> [Accessed 17 August
2022].
Schley,
D. and Lewis, D., 2017. ‘The theoretical foundations of project management’, Journal
of Business and Economics, Volume 8(No. 5), pp. 407-419.