Project Management Approaches For The Development Of Saint Helena Island Essay.

Project Scope and Constraints

Saint Helena is a volcanic tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean, 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) east of Rio de Janeiro and 1,950 kilometres (1,210 mi) west of the Cunene River, which marks the border between Namibia and Angola in southwestern Africa. Saint Helena measures about 16 by 8 kilometres (10 by 5 mi) and has a population of 4,534 (2016 census). The island, one of the most remote islands in the world, was uninhabited when discovered by the Portuguese in 1502. It was an important stopover for ships sailing to Europe from Asia and South Africa for centuries. Napoleon was imprisoned there in exile by the British.

The island is associated with two other isolated islands in the southern Atlantic, also British territories: Ascension Island about 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) due northwest in more equatorial waters and Tristan da Cunha, which is well outside the tropics 2,430 kilometres (1,510 mi) to the south. Saint Helena is composed largely of rugged terrain of volcanic origin; the last volcanic eruptions occurred about 7 million years ago. Coastal areas are covered in volcanic rock. The highest point of the island is Diana's Peak at 818 m (2,684 ft). Much of the island is covered by New Zealand flax, a legacy of former industry, but there are some original trees augmented by plantations, including those of the Millennium Forest project, which was established in 2002 to replant part of the lost Great Wood and is now managed by the Saint Helena National Trust. The climate of Saint Helena is tropical, marine and mild, tempered by the Benguela Current and trade winds that blow almost continuously. The climate varies noticeably across the island. Temperatures in Jamestown, on the north leeward shore, are in the range 21–28 °C (70–82 °F) in the summer (January to April) and 17–24 °C (63–75 °F) during the remainder of the year. The temperatures in the central areas are, on average, 5–6 °C (9.0–10.8 °F) lower. Jamestown also has a very low annual rainfall, while 750–1,000 mm (30–39 in) falls per year on the higher ground and the south coast, where it is also noticeably cloudier.

There have been long patterns of emigration from the island since the post-Napoleonic period. The majority of ‘Saints’ emigrated to Britain, South Africa and in the early years, Australia. The population had been steadily declining since the late 1980s and dropped from 5,157 at the 1998 census to 4,257 in 2008, but rose after that, and as of the 2016 census, the population was 4,534. In the past emigration was characterised by young unaccompanied persons leaving to work on long-term contracts on Ascension and the Falkland Islands, but since ‘Saints’ were re-awarded British citizenship in 2002, emigration to 2 Britain by a wider range of wage-earners has accelerated due to the prospect of higher wages and better career prospects. In March 2005, the British government announced plans to construct an airport in Saint Helena. On 22 July 2010, the British government agreed to help pay for the new airport. In November 2011, a deal was signed between the British government and South African civil engineering company Basil Read, and the airport was scheduled to open in February 2016 with flights to and from South Africa and the UK. In March 2015, South African airline Comair became the preferred bidder to provide weekly air service between the island and Johannesburg, starting from 2016. The first aircraft landed at the new airport on 15 September 2015, a South African Beechcraft King Air 200, prior to conducting a series of flights to calibrate the airport's radio navigation equipment. The airport's opening was due in May 2016, but it was announced in June 2016 that it had been delayed indefinitely due to high winds and wind shear. Changes to the type of aircraft used for the airport have now allowed smaller planes to land, and the first commercial flight to carry passengers to St Helena was carried out by Airlink (South Africa) using an ARJ-85 plane.

The island had a monocrop economy until 1966, based on the cultivation and processing of New Zealand flax for rope and string. Saint Helena's economy is now weak, and is almost entirely sustained by aid from the British government. The public sector dominates the economy, accounting for about 50% of gross domestic product. Inflation was running at 4% in 2005. There have been increases in the cost of fuel, power and all imported goods.

The tourist industry is heavily based on the promotion of Napoleon's imprisonment. A golf course also exists and the possibility for sport fishing tourism is great. Three hotels operate on the island, but the arrival of tourists is directly linked to the arrival and departure schedule of the RMS St Helena, although the new airport and updated air-carrier contract should change that. Some 3,200 short-term visitors arrived on the island in 2013. Saint Helena produces what is said to be the most expensive coffee in the world. It also produces and exports Tungi Spirit, made from the fruit of the prickly or cactus pears, Opuntia ficus-indica (Tungi is the local St Helenian name for the plant). Like Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena is permitted to issue its own postage stamps, an enterprise that also provides a significant income.

Assignment Details As an expert in project scope, communications and stakeholder management, the project sponsor has asked you to undertake three activities, and you have elected to undertake a 4th task for your own professional development. The tasks are: 

Task 1 - To explore the stakeholder issues related to the project

Task 2 - To fully explore the stakeholder, communications & political issues related to the project 

Task 3 - To produce an outline business case based on the information you already have, and research you have completed to date

Task 4 - Relates to your professional development, and reflects back on the work you have just done for the assignment

A volcanic tropical island, Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean having dimensions of 4000 x 1950 kilometers marking the border between Angola and Namibia in the Southwestern Africa. It has a population of 4,534 individuals and measures about sixteen by eight kilometers. A project is being considered for the development of the island through transforming the existing operations and operational structures and providing the tourists and individuals looking forward to visit the island. The project is about to establish a marina near Jamestown Wharf in manner to complement the recently build airport and allowing better services to the tourists and others who are willing to take a tour to the island. The project will lead to shaping the surroundings those are around the hills in manner to release more flat building and lands within the existing environment of the island and creating more new and attractive facilities.  

This report presents the project management approaches those are necessary for the development of this transformation within the existing environment of the island regarding the logistical and engineering work. Consideration of the project management approaches and frameworks will be playing crucial role in the development of this project and leading towards the success. The constraints and information provided in this report can be utilized by the government for the development of the environment that can result in better profits for the UK government. Following report presents all the constraints those are necessary for the identification of a sophisticated scope for delivering the entire project.

The information gather techniques those could be utilized for the collection of the information related to the stakeholder perspective are interviews, face to face meetings, surveys, conference, telephonic interview and many more. The collection of the data through questionnaire distribution can be represented as the appropriate approach towards the successful and efficient delivery of the project. Following are some of the important concerns related to the identified stakeholders, their roles, and responsibilities throughout the project lifecycle.

Political issues

Local community needs to be agreed upon the changes and transformation being implemented within the environment that could lead to the political issues as the local community might resist the change and not willing to hand over their properties to the government.

Loan needs to be approved that means political aspects are necessary and it becomes crucial part to agree the government for paying the expenses needed for the delivery of the project. The political aspects are considerable factor as all the stakeholders need to be agreed on the same concept.

Stakeholder Analysis and Roles

The project will include the transport and logistics for connecting the island with the cities and thus, political agreement on this topic is crucial for the successful development and execution of the project.

The tourism is the major sector of concern for the development and execution of this project and hence, the tourists need to have proper passports and political approval for moving into the island ad availing the services being offered to them.  

Following are the issues those might affect the overall growth and development of the project from the perspective of then different stakeholders:

Communication gap: The communication should be executed in an efficient and effective manner as the project will run for long time and the stakeholders need to be well informed and updates should be provided on regular basis. Regular meeting in every month can be recommended as the best approach towards connecting with the stakeholders and analyzing the different perspectives related to the project execution.

Schedule escalation: there are the possibilities that uncertainties could lead to the enhancement in the schedule of the project and that can be eliminated through single action that include proper and effective project planning considering every sector of the project.

Cost escalation: Thus issue is related to many factors and it is capable of distorting the entire project constraints and leads the project towards failure. Cost is one of the crucial factor for stating that the delivered project is successful and should be managed in an efficient and effective manner.

Output is not satisfactory for the stakeholders: The project might lags in delivering the necessary output and the stakeholder’s dissatisfaction level can be limited. The success level of a project can be determined through determining the satisfaction level of the stakeholders.

Scope creep: This is one of the issue that must be considered while delivering any project and the deliverables of the project must consider the delivery and accomplishments those are considered while planning the project deliverables.

Environmental issue: Since the entire project will be executed on the island and thus, environmental factors will play a crucial role in the development and growth of the project. Tides, rain, storm, are some of the considerable environmental issues those might affect the growth and development of the project.

Political issue: Political issues have been discussed in the above section of this report describing how crucial could be the identification and consideration of the political issues while delivering this project.

Communication Plan

Background

Saint Helena Island can be a center from where the UK government can make better profits through developing an effective and efficient modifications those can attract the tourists. It is a vast project and needs to consider many aspects related to the management of the objectives and scope of the project as mentioned earlier. The proposed transformation will include establishment of the hotels, airport reshaping, transport and logistic network, mooring facilities, berthing facilities, sheltered marina complex, government facilities, and maintenance of the ocean boats.

Finance: Source of funds

The government and some private sponsors will be funding for the growth and development of the project. Loan proposal will be put in front of the UK government with a draft of the project proposing the crucial activities and possible benefits those could be gathered through the successful delivery of this project. Private sponsors will be offered promotion and advertisement of the company I exchange of the funds being provided for the development of the Saint Helena Marina project.  

Objectives and scope 

In-scope objectives of the project are:

• To propose a transformation that can enhance the tourism experience of the tourists moving to island
• To propose the managerial and leadership attribute those can led to the successful and efficient delivery of the project
• To establish a sophisticated model of activities for the execution of the changes being proposed within the project delivery
• To increase the traffic of the tourists through providing far better and effective services those can enhance the customer experience and attracting more tourists and reflect in the overall revenue of the UK government

Out-scope objectives are:

Core technical concept for the development of the design and constructions have been out of the scope for this report

The promotional campaign and advertisement of the island will be out of scope for the delivery of the project

Benefits

• Enhance the total revenue of the UK government collecting from tourism sections and increase the treasury of the government
• Increase the traffic of the tourist looking forward for touring an island and attract them towards the island through providing far better services
• Enhance the economic condition of the local community living on the island and UK society
• Providing innovative and better services to the tourists looking for a spectacular experience of the island

Summary of stakeholder issues

• Resource management: the resources need to be managed for the delivery of the project needs to be managed in an effective and efficient manner and reaching the resources to an island can be an issue for the development and growth of the project.
• Proper and effective communication: Communication gaps need to be eliminated while developing the successful project and every aspect of the project needs to be communicated among the stakeholders in an effective and efficient manner.
• Transporting: Since the project is about to be delivered on an island and so the logistic and transporting can be an issue for the growth and development of the project as it could be an obstacle in meeting the necessary resources.
• Total cost: The total cost of the project can be altered and manipulated if certain activities are being altered due to some uncertainties and thus, could affect the overall cost and budget of the entire project.
• Legal agreements: Legal aspects of the project delivery need to be considered while identifying the needs and requirements of the stakeholders and the project.
• Experienced manager or leader: The project will be a long run project and various aspects need to be considered and so, an experienced and well educated leader needs to take over the project.

Stakeholder management plan 

Regular meetings will be held with the proper documentation of the growth and development of the project will be proposed in front of every stakeholder in manner to discuss the different perspectives of the project. The roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders will be managed as per the information provided in the above report. Conflict management and proper communication are some of the other techniques those could be helpful in managing the stakeholders involved in the project.

Key milestones

High-Level Schedule

Project Budget

Risks

• Increase in the schedule
• Increase in the budget
• Resource lagging or jumping
• Communication gap
• Transporting
• Not meeting the project constraints

Assumptions

• Project draft will be approves
• Project will be executed as per the mentioned plan
• Milestones will be achieved in an efficient and effective manner
• High quality deliverables will be the output

Project communications

Face to face meetings, Conference calls, and Video conferencing are some of the ways for the communication purpose and weekly reports will be presented in front of the stakeholders regarding the growth of the project.

• Communication gaps should be eliminated
• Regular meeting with the development report should be communicated with the stakeholders
• Project evaluation should be carried out
• Roles and responsibilities should be mentioned clearly and concisely

I get to know that the project needs to consider every aspect of the project and the activities should be carried out in an efficient and effective manner under experienced and educated manager for the accomplishment of all the managerial activities those are considerable for the successful delivery of the project

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