Du Keystone Conference Budget Issues

Running head: Ducks Unlimited

DU KEYSTONE CONFERENCE: BUDGET ISSUES

BUS 517: Project Management

May 12, 2011

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 3

Create a new WBS using the new budgeting parameters 4

Describe how you would develop cost estimates of this project 4

Describe a project network that could implement this project plan 5

Describe how you would allocate resources for the project 6

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Ducks Unlimited is known as a world leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. It was started during the Dust Bowl of 1937. The Dust Bowl cause a drought in North America that caused the waterfowl population to plunge to unprecedented lows. A small group of sportsmen decided to join together to form what is now known as Ducks Unlimited.

Ducks Unlimited mission is to conserve, restore and mange wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. These habitats not only benefit waterfowl but also other wildlife and people. There vision is to maintain wetlands that are sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever (Ducks Unlimited Leader in Wetlands Conservation).

During your work on the Keystone Conference you have been notified that your budget has been cut tremendously. The overall budget for the Project has been decreased from 1,200,000 million dollars to $280,000 and the project completion is to be within 21 months. There has been an approximate cut of about .23333333% from the original budget. The project scope has been changed to accommodate the new project budget, which means resources have been reallocated and cost cut has been made across the board. Instead of the original two representatives from each state requirement at the conference, it will be cut to one representative per region for the East, West, North, South, and Central. The teams have gone from ten teams to five teams with four team members per team. A reduction in attendees has also been made to reach our budget of $280,000 and maintain a successful project.

Create a new WBS using the new budgeting parameters. The new Work Breakdown Structure below shows the new budget constraints. It is condensed and displayed as follows:

Describe how you would develop cost estimates for this project. The overall budget for the Keystone Conference Project has been reduced from 1,200,000 dollars to $280,000 dollars and the project completion is to be in 21 months. There has been an approximate cut of about .23333333% from the original proposed budget. The project scope will have to be changed to accommodate the new project budget, which means a resource reallocation and cost cuts across the board. Instead of the two state representatives required at the conference, it will be cut to one representative per region for the East, West, North, South, and Central. This will cut the hotel cost by 50% from $30,000 to $15,000. This will also reduce the number of teams from ten to five with four members per team. This will result in a total savings of approximately $15,000 in accommodation cost and food expense will be displayed in the resource allocation breakdown in question 4.

Describe a project network that could implement this project plan. A project network is used to plan, schedule and monitor project progression. The WBS is used to develop a project network. The network project shows activities to be completed before beginning the next step of the project. It also shows the sequences, the interdependencies of the activities to be completed and the start and end phase of the project