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ECA – July Semester 2022
BUS353
End-of-Course Assessment – July Semester 2022
Project Management
___________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS:
1. This End-of-Course Assessment paper comprises 16 pages (including the cover page).
2. You are to include the following particulars in your submission: Course Code, Title of the
ECA, SUSS PI No., Your Name, and Submission Date.
3. Late submission will be subjected to the marks deduction scheme. Please refer to the
Student Handbook for details.
IMPORTANT NOTE
ECA Submission Deadline: Monday, 05 September 2022 12:00 pm
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ECA – July Semester 2022
ECA Submission Guidelines
Please follow the submission instructions stated below:
A – What Must Be Submitted
You are required to submit the following THREE (3) items for marking and grading:
• A Report (you should submit this item first as it carries the highest weightage).
• A Video Presentation: Refer to Canvas L/LG course site’s announcement on “ECA Video
Submission Technical Know How”, which will be posted three weeks before the ECA cut off date.
• The set of PowerPoint slides, converted to PDF, upon which the video presentation is
based.
Please verify your submissions after you have submitted the above THREE (3) items.
B – Submission Deadline
• The THREE (3) items of Report, Video and Presentation Summary are to be submitted by
12 noon on the submission deadline.
• You are allowed multiple submissions till the cut-off date for each of the THREE (3) items.
• Late submission of any of the THREE (3) items will be subjected to mark-deduction
scheme by the University. Please refer to Section 5.2 Para 2.4 of the Student Handbook.
C – How the (3) Items Should Be Submitted
• The Report: submit online to Canvas via TurnItIn (for plagiarism detection)
• The Video: submit online to Canvas (refer to Canvas L/LG course site’s announcement on
“ECA Video Submission Technical Know How”, which will be posted three weeks before
the ECA cut-off date.)
• The Presentation Summary:
o Submit online to Canvas via TurnItIn (PPT must be converted to PDF and submission
is in PDF only)
o The PPT must contain at least 20 words
• Avoid using a public WiFi connection for submitting large video files. If you are using
public wireless (WiFi) connection (e.g. SG Wireless at public areas), you might encounter
a break in the connection when sending large files.
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ECA – July Semester 2022
D – Additional guidelines on file formatting are given as follows:
1. Report • Please ensure that your Microsoft Word document is generated
by Microsoft Word 2016 or higher.
• The report must be saved in .docx format.
2. Video • Showing your PowerPoint projection in the background is NOT
required.
• Time Duration: a minimum of 3 minutes and a maximum of 6
minutes
There are two methods for ECA video assignment submission; either
Record Media or Upload Media.
For Record Media
Video can be recorded via Canvas through desktop/laptop with built in webcam and microphone or through Canvas mobile app. Live
recording duration must be less than 10 minutes. No file size limit for
live recording.
For Upload Media
Video can be recorded using other recording devices and uploaded
as a media file. Do ensure that your video file conforms to these
requirements:
a) File Format: .mp4
b) File Size: No more than 500MB
Note: Refer to Canvas L/LG course site’s announcement on “ECA
Video Submission Technical Know How”, which will be posted three
weeks before the ECA cut-off date..
3. Presentation
Summary
• Your PowerPoint presentation must contain at least 20 words.
• Please ensure that your PowerPoint presentation is converted to
PDF format before you submit.
• The maximum number of slides is fifteen (15).
• Please do NOT download and use PowerPoint slide design
templates from the Internet.
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ECA – July Semester 2022
E – Please be Aware of the Following:
Submission in hardcopy or any other means not given in the above guidelines will not be
accepted. You do not need to submit any other forms or cover sheets (e.g. form ET3) with your
ECA.
You are reminded that electronic transmission is not immediate. The network traffic may be
particularly heavy on the date of submission deadline and connections to the system cannot be
guaranteed. Hence, you are advised to submit your work early. Canvas will allow you to
submit your work late but your work will be subjected to the mark-deduction scheme. You
should therefore not jeopardise your course result by submitting your ECA at the last minute.
It is your responsibility to check and ensure that your files are successfully submitted to
Canvas.
F – Plagiarism and Collusion
Plagiarism and collusion are forms of cheating and are not acceptable in any form in a
student’s work, including this ECA. Plagiarism and collusion are taking work done by others
or work done together with others respectively and passing it off as your own. You can avoid
plagiarism by giving appropriate references when you use other people’s ideas, words or
pictures (including diagrams). Refer to the APA Manual if you need reminding about quoting
and referencing. You can avoid collusion by ensuring that your submission is based on your
own individual effort.
The electronic submission of your ECA will be screened by plagiarism detection software. For
more information about plagiarism and collusion, you should refer to the Student Handbook
(Section 5.2.1.3). You are reminded that SUSS takes a tough stance against plagiarism or
collusion. Serious cases will normally result in the student being referred to SUSS’s Student
Disciplinary Group. For other cases, significant mark penalties or expulsion from the course
will be imposed.
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ECA – July Semester 2022
Important Note: Grading of TMA/GBA/ECA Submissions
Marks awarded to your assignment are based on the following guidelines:
1. 80% of the marks are allocated to the content of your answers:
• The marks awarded to what your answers cover depend on the extent to which they cover the
key points that correctly and comprehensively address each question.
• The key points should be supported by evidence drawn from course materials and, wherever
relevant, from other credible sources.
2. 20% of the marks are allocated to the presentation of your answers:
Wherever applicable, the marks awarded to how your answers are presented depend on the extent to
which your answers:
• form a sound reasoning by developing those key points in a clear, logical and succinct manner;
• provide proper and adequate in-text citations and referencing to content drawn from course
materials and other credible sources;
• strictly follow APA formatting and style guidelines[1], in particular for:
• in-text citations and end-of-report references;
• the identification of figures and tables;
• use, wherever relevant, the specialised vocabulary and terminology commonly used in
discussions about the topic(s) covered by each question;
• provide a reference or bibliography at the end of the main report;
• include the less relevant details in an Appendix;
• use sentence constructions that are grammatically and syntactically correct;
• are free from spelling mistakes; present the workings, numerical formulations and results in a
logical manner that follows the APA formatting and style guidelines;
• design and present graphs, diagrams and plots that follow the APA formatting and style
guidelines;
• are highly original;
• have proper formatting, which may:
• include a properly formatted cover page;
• respect the answer length/word count set out in the assignment guidelines, if any is
prescribed;
• present answers in paragraphs with proper spacing and page margins;
• include page numbers and appendices, if necessary.
[1] You can find a short tutorial on the APA formatting and style guidelines here:
https://apastyle.apa.org/index.
Additional details (pertaining to tables and figures) can be found here: https://is.gd/O4vDdT .
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ECA – July Semester 2022
Video Presentation Assessment Criteria
Note: Students will be assessed on the quality of the presentation and not the quality of the video
recording. However, the recording is expected to have video and audio clarity. Showing
your PowerPoint projection in the background is NOT required.
Organisation of Presentation /8
• Logical flow of presentation
Posture & Body Language /5
• Posture: Standing, straight back etc…
• Body language:
– Hand gestures supporting oral arguments, etc…
Eye-Contact /5
• Looking at the video camera
• No reading of slides or notes or cue cards
Pace & Articulation /7
• Pace: Speaks neither too fast nor too slow
• Articulation: Oral expression is clear and confident in the presentation.
TOTAL /25
Presentation Summary Assessment Criteria
Format and Style of Slides /3
• Layout, clarity of text elements, colour blends, graphical enhancements
Clarity and Coherence /4
• Proper flow – title page, introduction, body, results, recommendations /
discussion points, conclusion/summary; quick to understand, free from
grammatical errors
Creativity /3
• Ability to use creative elements to value-add to the presentation so as to
enhance understanding and clarity of difficult concepts
TOTAL /10
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ECA – July Semester 2022
(Full marks: 100)
Section A (65 marks)
Answer all questions in this section.
The Objective of this ECA
To provide an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge learnt in the course and to
develop/sharpen the necessary technical skills and knowledge on project management.
Please note that:
i. The details and names in the ECA case are fictional. Any resemblance to real-life
situation is purely coincidental.
ii. As information is given throughout the case and the questions may be interrelated, you
are advised to read the entire ECA document before working on the report. In some
situations, you need to make inferences from the information.
iii. Students who simply reproduce the course materials without relating to the ECA case
will be given low or no mark.
iv. Students shall not include the questions in the report.
v. Students are recommended to use Microsoft Project 2019 to prepare the project
planning.
You are required to compose a report for Section A.
PROJECT: Implementing a Video Helpant Referee (VAR) System
Background
The Country Sports Council (CSC) is a statuary board under the Ministry of Culture,
Community and Youth (MCCY). Its mission is to empower people to live better through sports
and help to bring sports into the lives of all citizens. It manages public sports facilities,
including the National Stadium. It also works with other ministries in organising events which
need its supports in sports related areas.
Assume now is September 2022. CSC is participating for the bid called by the International
Word Cup Committee (IWCC) for hosting the Youth World Cup 2024. One of the IWCC’s
requirements is the stadium must be audited with a Video Helpant Referee (VAR) System.
The outcome of the bid will be announced in January 2023.
A VAR System consists of many cameras installed in a stadium to monitor the movements of
a ball during a match. The videos captured are streamed to a control room and monitored by
three off-field referees to help the on-field referee to make ruling decisions. Although VAR
System has existed for a few years, it has yet to be implemented in the National Stadium.
Furthermore, with the advances in technology, new features, such as implanting sensor into the
ball to detect it though 5G communication network, can be incorporated. Data include the ball’s
location and velocity can be instantly fed into Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to analyse
the players’ performances for entertainment and training purposes.
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ECA – July Semester 2022
In view of the need to pass IWCC’s audit and the potential benefits, the CSC’s management
has decided to implement a Video Helpant Referee (VAR) System and called it the VAR
Project.
Section 1: Defining the Project
The CSC’s CEO, Mr. Mark Tay, has appointed the following staff to form a project team for
the VAR Project:
1. You, a CSC’s Senior Administrative Officer, is appointed as the VAR Project
Manager. You have managed a few projects successfully at CSC. The management
trusts that your resourcefulness and tenacity will help in this important project.
2. Mr. Fandi, a CSC’s Facilities Manager. He oversees National Stadium’s Maintenance
& Engineering (M&E) operations. He outsources some of the labour-intensive works
to local contractors.
3. Ms. Nancy Lim, a Software Engineer seconded from Gov Tech, the government
technology arm, helps to develop the VAR application software and data
communication system.
CSC also contracted Eagle Eye Corporation (EEC), a high-resolution camera manufacturer in
Germany, to design a new camera for the project. EEC has assigned its Engineer, Mr. Joachim
to this project.
The CEO briefed you on the management’s expectations:
• The project shall start on 1 October 2022 and be commissioned by 29 December 2022
as IWCC has scheduled to audit the VAR System on the next day.
• Besides meeting the IWCC’s requirements, the system shall incorporate as many AI
analytic features as possible.
• An appropriate budget must be worked out and submitted to the Ministry of
Community. The team needs to be prudent in spending, but he will approve any future
increments which are justified.
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ECA – July Semester 2022
Question 1
Appraise any five (5) conditions relevant to VAR Project in deciding whether to use the Top down or Bottom-up Estimates approach for the project cost. For each condition, relate it to the
VAR Project, and determine the estimates approach CSC shall adopt. Finally, recommend the
cost estimates approach CSC shall adopt for this project.
Note: You must answer in this format:
For __________ (condition): *Top-down/Bottom-up Estimates approach is preferred because
__________________ (reason). This *is/is not the case for VAR Project as
_____________________ (justification). Hence, CSC shall adopt the *Top-down/Bottom-up
Estimates approach under this condition. (Repeat the paragraphs for all five conditions),
Overall CSC is recommended to adopt the _________________ Estimates approach for the
VAR Project.
(21 marks)
Section 2: Developing a Project Plan
You conducted a pre-project discussion with your members. The team worked out the project
activities and details as shown in Table 1. The budget shown in Table 2 was derived using the
approach recommended in Question 1.
Table 1: Activity List for Video Helpant Referee (VAR) Project
Activity
No.
Task Name Duration
(Days)
Prede cessors
Resource Names
1 Video Helpant
Referee (VAR)
Project
2 Initial Meeting 1 PM, Nancy, Fandi,
Joachim
3 Design new VAR
camera
5 2 Joachim
4 Issue all purchase
orders 2 3 PM, Equipment
5 Deliver camera 14 4 Cameras
6 Design VAR
application
software
15 3 Nancy
7 Design data network 3 3 Nancy
8 Site preparation 4 4,7 Fandi, Contractor,
Joachim
9 Construct camera
enclosures 7 8 Fandi, Contractor
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ECA – July Semester 2022
10 Lay cables 6 9 Contractor
11 Install network
equipment 10 10 Nancy
12 Install VAR camera 11 9,10,5,7 Contractor
13 Tune VAR cameras 9 12,6,11 Nancy, Joachim
14 Test VAR Overall
System 4 13 Nancy, Joachim
15 Train CSC staff 5 14 PM
16 Publicise VAR
System 4 14 PM
17 Commission VAR
System 1 15,16 PM
Notes for the Activity list:
1. Joachim will support the project from Germany during the initial design phase. He
will join the team to support on site from Site Preparation onwards.
2. Fandi is responsible to vet the contractor’s work even if he is not shown as a resource
person for that activity.
3. Contractor is a collective term refers to the contractor and his team of workers.
4. You must use your surname instead of “PM” in the MS Project Resource Sheet and
Column.
Table 2 – Budgeted Cost
Activity No. Task Name Estimated Cost
S$
Cost Accrual
1 Video Helpant Referee (VAR)
Project
2 Initial Meeting 6,700 Prorated
3 Design new VAR camera 7,500 Prorated
4 Issue all purchase orders 22,400 Prorated
5 Deliver cameras 25,600 Prorated
6 Design VAR application software 25,000 Prorated
7 Design data network 11,000 Prorated
8 Site preparation 18,200 Prorated
9 Construct camera enclosures 21,600 Prorated
10 Lay cables 54,800 Prorated
11 Install network equipment 14,000 Prorated
12 Install VAR cameras 14,800 Prorated
13 Tune VAR cameras 25,500 Prorated
14 Test VAR Overall System 12,000 Prorated
15 Train CSC staff 6,000 Prorated
16 Publicise VAR System 7,700 Prorated
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ECA – July Semester 2022
Activity No. Task Name Estimated Cost
S$
Cost Accrual
17 Commission VAR System 2,200 Prorated
Notes for the Budgeted Cost Table:
1. All the costs are in Singapore Dollars which include manpower, equipment and material
costs.
2. Item 5 was quoted in Euro and converted to Singapore Dollars using the exchange rate
before the project started.
Notes on using MS Project for Q2 & Q3:
(1) The project schedule is based on a 5-day work week. Each day has 8 working hours (8 a.m.
to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.). No work will be performed on Public Holiday and beyond
office hours on weekdays. The member will not work on Saturday and Sunday unless stated
otherwise or when you deem necessary. Do not change any durations, predecessor
relationships or the resources assignments.
(2) You are required to find the official Public Holidays during the project implementation
period from Ministry of Manpower’s website. If a Public Holiday falls on Sunday, the
following Monday will be a Public Holiday in lieu. If that Monday is another Public Holiday,
the Tuesday will be the Public Holiday in lieu. There will be no holiday-in-lieu for Public
Holiday that falls on Saturday.
To mark in MS Project all Public Holidays and Holiday-in-lieu as Non-Working Days:
Click Project-> Change Working Time. Then enter the nature of the holiday and the date. Click
Details ->Click Nonworking.
(3) Click View->Gantt Chartà Gantt Chart, then View->Table->Entry to enter the Task Name,
Duration, Predecessors and Resources in the Gantt Chart Entry Table View. Do not change the
order of the activities (you are not required to rearrange the list into a Work Breakdown
Structure). Set Activity 1 as the higher-level activity by highlighting all activities before and
right indent them to second level. Then Click Project -> Project Information -> Set Start Date
as dictated by CEO. Right click on the Activity 1 to access its Information; Under Advanced
Tab, set Deadline as the date dictated.
(4) By entering the name of a resources item in the Resource column in the Entry Table, an
item is automatically created in the Resource Sheet.
(5) If only a resource needs to work on a Saturday or Sunday for a particular activity, you must
change his/her personal calendar so as not to affect parallel activities done by other
members/resources. Click View -> Resource Sheet. Right click on the resource to
change. Click Information -> Click “Change Working Time”. Enter a description in Name, the
chosen date, then click Detail-> Working-> Set the working time (or choose default time). You
are advised to do one day per row and check your data before applying it.
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ECA – July Semester 2022
(6) Enter the costs in Table 2 into Fixed Cost cells in the Cost Table (View-> Table -> Cost to
access Cost Table).
(7) To see all resource conflicts, select all task, right click to choose Auto Schedule, then
Resource Tab ->Clear Leveling. Observe any resource conflicts.
(8) Diagrams, charts, tables and relevant project outputs may be shown as images. These must
be appropriately formatted and presented so that they can be viewed comfortably.
Question 2(a)
(i) Construct a Gantt Chart (after Clear Leveling) with columns on Information (i), Task
Mode, Task Name, Duration, Start Date, Finish Date, Predecessor and Resource Name and
show these in a single diagram. Hence, state the project completion date and explain any
resource conflicts.
(5 marks)
(ii) The resource conflicts need to be resolved. Due to the specialised skills of the team
members in this intensive project, resource conflicts cannot be solved by member multitasking,
transferring the task to other members nor add in more people. The members will not be
working beyond 8 hours per day. At this stage, they do not want to consider working on
weekends. Hence, you shall use resource levelling to resolve the conflicts by the method below:
i. Right click on the task with conflict that has the smallest Task (i.e., Activity)
ID. Select “Reschedule to Available Date”.
ii. If an error message informs you that the conflict cannot be resolved, click
“Stop”.
iii. Proceed to the next items with conflict.
iv. Continue the above operation one at a time until all tasks with conflicts that
could be resolved are done.
Set up the process above. Explain what you observe at each step. Finally state and comment
on the project finish date.
Note: You are not required to show the Gantt Chart for Question 2(a)(ii).
(5 marks)
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ECA – July Semester 2022
Question 2(b)
The CEO approves the project schedule and cost you did in Question 2(a). Make the changes
to MS Project file. Set the Status Date (Project -> Status Date) as three days after the Start
Date. Save the updated MS Project as Baseline Plan (Project -> Save Baseline -> check Entire
project), which will be used to evaluate the project performance from here onwards.
Joachim arrived onsite to support the project. During the Site Preparation (Activity 8), he found
that some cameras’ views were blocked by building structures which were not shown on the
blueprints given to him in the design stage. He decides to revise the camera locations.
The Contractor is informed of the changes. He provides feedback that many new locations are
difficult to be accessed, resulting in additional works for Activity 12 “Install VAR cameras”.
He is not able to increase manpower nor get his team to work beyond 8 hours per day. However,
they are willing to work on additional days including weekends and public holidays. You have
intense bargains with him to reach the following terms:
• Additional days required for Activity 12 is four (4) days.
• The special cost rates are: $2,000 per Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday; and $,1000
per weekday.
(i) Examine the problem encountered in the project schedule due to the change in camera
locations. Explain how you solve the problem, e.g., by deciding which days to do the additional
works to minimise the impact. Evaluate the additional cost for Activity 12.
(8 marks)
(ii) Furthermore, due to the change in the camera locations, Nancy needs to implement more
test procedures for Activity 13 “Tune VAR System”. There is additional cost of $3,000.
However, she agrees to keep the duration unchanged.
The CEO approves all the changes.
You practise Change Control Management to handle disruptions in project. Appraise any three
(3) important accomplishments related to the change in camera locations with action(s) you
trigger all affected parties to take and the outcome(s) in each accomplishment.
(9 marks)
(27 marks)
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ECA – July Semester 2022
Section 3: Monitoring a Project Progress and Closing Project
Another issue occurred during the implementation period was: Due to worldwide supply chain
disruption, shipment cost increased. This resulted in an 8% escalation of the cost for Activity
5 “Deliver cameras”. The CEO approved the change.
The project progressed on till completion. VAR System passed the audit and IWCC was
impressed by some of the AI technologies incorporated into the system.
Make all the changes to the MS Project. Set the Status Date to four working days after the
project completion date. Update the project (Project -> Update Project -> Entire Project).
Question 3
(a) Prepare in a single diagram the Tracking Gantt Chart view of MS Project with
Information (i), Task Mode, Task Name, Duration, Start Date, Finish Date and Resource
columns shown. State the project completion date.
(5 marks)
(b) Present a MS Project Cost Report or Table with Cost Performance Index (CPI). State
the values for Budgeted Cost At Completion (BAC) and Estimated Cost At Completion (EAC).
Formulate Cost Performance Index and compute the final CPI manually.
(5 marks)
(c) Categorise each of the three project criteria (Scope, Time and Cost) initially set by the
CEO into a unique priority, i.e., no two criteria have the same priority. Discuss whether the
degree of achieving the priority is high, medium or low.
(7 marks)
(17 marks)
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ECA – July Semester 2022
Section B (25 marks)
Answer all questions in this section.
Question 4
As the Project Manager for Video Helpance System (VAR) Project, you decide to schedule a
meeting one week after the project completion to present to the CSC’s top Management the
following items from Questions 2 to 3 in Section A:
1. What are the priorities of the project?
2. What are the initial resource conflicts?
3. Are there changes in schedule and what are the contributing events?
4. Is there a cost overrun and what are the contributors for the cost overruns if any?
5. Are the project priorities achieved? Is the project successful?
Prepare a video recording of the presentation of at least 3 minutes but not exceeding 6 minutes.
There are two methods for ECA video assignment submission; either Record Media or Upload
Media. For Upload Media, please note that your file size should be no more than 500MB and
the format is in .mp4.
(25 marks)
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ECA – July Semester 2022
Section C (10 marks)
Answer all questions in this section.
Question 5
Develop a set of PowerPoint presentation slides upon which the video presentation is based.
Please note that the PowerPoint must be converted to PDF before submission to Canvas.
(10 marks)
—– END OF ECA PAPER —–
