Project Management and Risk Assessment for Pressure Ulcer Prevention Technology

Task 1: Rationale and Project Scope Analysis, Project Life Cycle, Methodologies, and Risk Management Strategies

As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Project Management and Risk assessment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.

1. Critically evaluate different approaches to the management of projects, key dimensions of contractual risks and risk management strategies
2. Distinguish between types of projects and the responsibilities of those involved
3. Identify, apply and critically evaluate legal and non-legal solutions to minimise risk
4. Apply principles of leading and managing project teams to solve complex problems

Task

Scenario:

Each year approximately half a million people in the UK will develop at least one pressure ulcer. Pressure ulcers usually affect people with an underlying health condition, often with high levels of frailty. Most pressure ulcers develop while patients are in their own homes. However, research and technology has tended to focus on the hospital setting.

Cornwall has a higher than average elderly population. Around five to seven severe pressure ulcers are reported each month. Some patients have said they are reluctant to use pressurerelieving equipment as it can be uncomfortable, hot and noisy. Continuous pressure monitoring technology can be used to identify ‘hot-spots’ of pressure, generated when patients sit in one position for long periods. For people in the community who have limited mobility, this innovative technology can identify pressure ulcer risk much earlier, allowing the patient to adjust their position accordingly and so help prevent actual damage occurring.

This project by Peninsula Community Health will focus on older people living in the community in Cornwall. By introducing continuous pressure monitoring, coupled with patient and carer education, it will be possible to determine if pressure ulcer risk can be self-managed by patients.

It is anticipated that over an 18-month period around 50 patients from across Cornwall will be recruited to the project. Improvements will be measured by investigating changes in incidence of pressure ulcers, size of ulcer formation, nursing time, level of patient/carer engagement in ulcer prevention behaviours, and satisfaction with the new technology.

You are selected as a project manager to deliver this project. The local authority has, however, asked that the training, designed for the 30 project staff, be enhanced for use by selected care partners in the borough after project completion. This will form a resource bank for supporting care worker inductions and refresher trainings. [Adapted from the Health

Questions:

Task 1:

Critically discuss the rationale and project scope and analyse the project life cycle and methodologies best suited to the project. Discuss the different types of risks (including contractual risks) that may potentially derail the project scope. Recommend risk management strategies to mitigate them.

Task 2:

Using a Mendelow matrix, map the relative/power interest of key stakeholders in your project, discuss, in detail, the role and responsibilities of at least 3 of the key stakeholders identified.Are there any comparisons to draw with projects of a similar nature in the local authority, England or beyond?

Task 3:

Evaluate the legal and non-legal solutions you will put in place to minimise risks in the project.

Task 4:

Critically discuss how team development theories such as Tuckman and McClelland could be used to support the team deliver on the project’s goal.