project management

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White Rim Trail Multi-Day Mountain Biking Adventure Project Analysis

 

2014    

Boston  University     Robin  Hoff  MET  AD642   Spring  2014  Prof.  Keegan   _____________________    

 

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Table  of  Contents  

                    Page  No.   Abstract                       3   Project  Introduction                     4   Project  Charter                     4   Project  Justification                     4   Project  Scope                       5   Work  Breakdown  Structure                   6   Project  Network  Diagram  and  Critical  Path               7   Resource  Planning                     8   Project  Schedule                     8   Cost  Estimation                     9   Risk  Planning                       11   Communications  Planning                   11   Monitoring  and  Controlling  Processes               11   Project  Close-­‐Out                     12   Project  Recommendations                   12   Appendices                       14-­‐38  

Appendices  List:  

1.    References                       14   2.    Project  Charter                     17     3.    Project  Scoring  Matrix                   19   4.    Scope                       20   5.    Priority  Matrix                     23   6.    Workbreak  Down  Structure  Diagram               24   7.    iTask  WBS                       25   8.    Sample  Work  Package  Estimate  A               29   9.    Sample  Work  Package  Estimate  B                 30   10.  Network  Diagram:  Critical  Path                 31   11.  Resource  Responsibility  and  Breakdown  Structure           33   12.  Macro  Cost  Estimate  (Top  Down)               34   13.  Bottom  Up  Total  Cost  Summary  (Bottom  Up)             35   14.  Risk  Register                     36   15.  Risk  Response  Plan                   37   16.  Communications  Plan                   38                                

 

 

 

 

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Abstract  

  This  paper  provides  a  critical  analysis  of  the  project  management  for  a  White  Rim  multi-­‐day  

mountain  biking  trip.    Beginning  with  the  charter,  critical  elements  of  the  planning  process  group  

including  the  scope,  project  justification,  work  breakdown  structure,  schedule,  cost  estimates  and  

risk  analysis  are  presented  and  discussed.  The  executing,  monitoring,  control  and  closeout  processes  

will  be  briefly  touched  upon.  Recommendations  are  presented  in  an  effort  to  improve  the  project  

management  process  and  to  support  justification  of  the  project.  The  overall  approach  and  specific  

tools  used  are  supported  by  research  in  the  project  management  field.  

   

 

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Project  Introduction  

There  is  nothing  more  rewarding  than  seeing  the  world  from  a  bicycle—peacefully,  at  your  

own  pace,  using  your  own  leg  power.    And  there  is  nothing  like  exploring  the  beautiful  backcountry  

of    Southern  Utah,  where  you  can  enjoy  the  quiet  serenity  of  an  unspoiled,  undeveloped  part  of  the  

Southwest  that  includes  expansive  views  of  Canyonlands  National  Park.  The  White  Rim  trail  is  a  100  

mile,  four  wheel  drive  (4WD)  jeep  road  that  is  fairly  non-­‐technical  and  can  be  navigated  by  4WD  

vehicles  and  bicycles.  There  is  no  food,  water  or  supplies  of  any  kind  available  along  the  trail,  so  

careful  logistical  planning  is  required  for  a  multi-­‐day  trip.    Everything  needed  to  complete  the  trip  

safely  and  enjoyably  must  be  planned  for,  packed  and  transported  with  you.  Planning  a  trip  can  be  

managed  as  a  project  because  it  is  a  “temporary  activity  with  a  starting  date,  specific  goals  and  

conditions,  defined  responsibilities,  a  budget,  a  plan,  a  fixed  end  date  and  the  involvement  of  

multiple  parties.”  (www.travelexploit.com,  2010).    

Project  Charter  

A  project  does  not  exist  until  the  charter  is  created,  and  its  purpose  is  to  “formally  authorize  

the  project  and  to  document  initial  requirements  that  satisfy  stakeholder  needs  and  expectations.”  

(PMBOK,  2013).    Typically  the  charter  is  developed  by  the  sponsor.  In  this  case,  it  was  developed  by  

the  intended  project  manager,  upon  request  by  the  sponsor.  The  charter  appears  as  Appendix  2.  

Once  signed  by  the  sponsor  the  project  can  begin.    

Project  Justification  

The  project  justification  is  important  for  the  sponsor,  who  in  this  case  is  also  the  client,  to  

understand  the  reason  for  doing  the  project  and  why  they  should  fund  it.  In  this  case,  the  motive  is  

not  profit,  but  to  offer  a  highly  customizable  trip  at  a  potentially  lower  cost  than  commercial  

 

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outfitters. Strategic  importance  and  client  satisfaction,  rather  than  financial  return,  is  most  

applicable  to  project  selection.  A  multi-­‐weighted  scoring  model  was  used  in  the  project  screening  

matrix  to  evaluate  two  options  the  client  has  available:    choosing  from  a  number  of  commercial  

outfitters  available  or  funding  a  private  trip.  Decision  criteria  and  importance  weightings  were  

determined  after  in-­‐depth  discussion  with  the  potential  client/sponsor.  The  project  screening  matrix  

appears  as  Appendix  3.  Based  on  this  scoring  model,  the  private  trip  project  was  selected  due  to  its  

much  higher  score  versus  that  of  the  commercial  trip.  “There  are  many  reasons  for  doing  projects—

some  more  tangible  than  others.”  (Warburton,  2014,  Lecture  3).  In  this  case,  financially  

immeasurable  factors  personally  important  to  the  sponsor,  rather  than  financial  return,  drove  the  

selection  process.  

Project  Scope  

The  scope  document  is  attached  as  Appendix  4.    “It  contains  the  user  requirements  and  is  the  

most  important  document  in  the  project.”  (Warburton    and  Kanabar,  2013).  A  priority  matrix    

(Appendix  5)  was  created  during  scope  development  to  help  manage  changes  during  

implementation.  By  creating  the  matrix,  it  helped  me  recognize  that  my  first  priority  was  ensuring  

the  safety  of  all  participants.  The  safety  aspects  of  the  trip  are  covered  by  the  deliverables  and  

technical  requirements  in  the  scope,  so  in  the  priority  matrix,  the  scope  is  constrained.    The  schedule  

has  some  flexibility  in  it  as  the  desired  timeframe  was  chosen  due  to  the  favorable  weather,  but  

other  dates  could  be  considered.  The  schedule  is  therefore  an  “enhance”  priority  in  the  matrix.    

Because  the  scope  is  driven  by  safety,  it  should  not  be  comprimised  to  accomodate  a  pre-­‐determined  

cost,  so  cost  is  an  “accept”  priority  in  the  matrix.    The  scope  is  typically  reviewed  and  signed  by  all  

 

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stakeholders.    In  this  case,  the  sponsor/client  will  represent  all  stakeholders,  since  the  majority  of  

them  won’t  be  identified  until  after  the  project  has  begun.  

Work  Breakdown  Structure  

The  next  step  in  the  planning  process  is  to  create  the  work  breakdown  structure  (WBS),  which  

“identifies  all  deliverables  required  for  a  project  and  is  a  standardized  way  to  organize  the  work.”  

(Warburton,  2014).  Starting  with  the  scope,  the  limits  of  what  the  project  will  and  will  not  include  are  

considered  and  work  packages  are  created.  The  WBS  was  designed  by  decomposing  each  deliverable  

necessary  to  complete  the  project.    The  level  of  decomposition  is  guided  by  the  degree  of  control  

needed  to  effectively  manage  the  project.  The  WBS  structure  may  be  created  using  various  

approaches,  including  top  down,  organization  specific  and  bottom  up.  (PMBOK,  2013).  Globerson,  

(1994)  suggests  that  several  possible  patterns  of  a  WBS  can  be  generated;  however,  “different  WBS  

patterns  call  for  different  organizational  structures  and  management  styles  during  implementation.”  

This  implies  that  the  designer  of  the  WBS  has  significant  impact  on  the  way  the  project  is  to  be  

managed;  in  this  case,  the  WBS  is  representative  of  how  I’d  like  to  implement  the  project.  

A  WBS  diagram  is  attached  as  Appendix  6  in  graphical  format,  which  enables  me  to  look  at  the  

high  level  activities  as  a  whole.  A  much  more  detailed  WBS  (created  using  iTask  project  management  

software)  appears  as  Appendix  7.  The  WBS  will  be  reviewed  with  responsible  individuals,  as  it  is  

important  to  include  all  team  members  when  creating  a  WBS.”  (Warburton,  2014).  There  are  a  

couple  of  reasons  for  this-­‐-­‐one  being  that  the  project  team  develops  confidence  in  its  goal.  Another  is  

that  responsibilities  are  clearly  defined,  resulting  in  accountability.      Lastly,  team  members  find  it  

easier  to  focus  their  attention  on  project  objectives  since  they  are  doing  the  work.  

 

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In  creating  the  WBS,  I  recognized  how  many  individual  tasks  are  necessary  to  complete  the  

project  that  weren’t  necessarily  reflected  in  the  deliverables  or  milestones  sections  of  the  scope  

document.      Creating  the  WBS  really  challenged  me  to  identify  every  minute  detail  necessary  to  

complete  the  project.  It  also  forces  a  level  of  discipline—using  the  scope  document  as  the  basis  for  

the  WBS  ensures  that  you  don’t  go  beyond  it  when  you  are  outlining  what  specifically  is  to  be  

included  (or  not).    The  WBS  provides  the  basis  for  both  the  schedule  and  project  budget.  

Network  Diagram  and  Critical  Path  

The  goal  of  the  network  diagram  is  to  produce  the  schedule  for  the  entire  project  

(Warburton,  2013)  and  it  is  built  from  the  WBS.    One  was  created  using  iTask  software  and  can  be  

viewed  in  the  attached  MS  Project  compatible  file.  Activity  durations  were  based  on  my  own  

experience  and  by  gathering  information  from  experts  in  this  type  of  trip  planning.    

The  critical  path  is  the  most  important  element  of  the  network  diagram  and  appears  as  

Appendix  10.  The  earliest  expected  finish  date  for  the  project  is  September  12,  2014.  Note  that  the  

project  management  process  appears  as  part  of  the  critical  path,  simply  because  it  spans  the  entire  

length  of  the  project.  It  has  no  impact  on  the  earliest  finish  date  of  the  project.  The  critical  path  

activities  include  the  addition  of  inflexible  constraints  where  appropriate.    An  example  is  the  task  of  

obtaining  the  permit  and  campsite  reservations.  They  cannot  be  made  more  than  four  months  in  

advance  and  since  the  client  wishes  to  hold  the  trip  in  September,  the  activity  of  getting  the  permit  

and  campsites  cannot  begin  until  May  1  and  the  trip  cannot  begin  until  September  1.  Without  these  

and  other  realistic  constraints  such  as  purchasing  food  and  ice  right  before  the  trip  is  to  begin,  the  

network  diagram  would  not  represent  a  feasible  start  and  end  date  to  the  project.  All  milestones  

identified  in  the  project  scope  will  be  met  under  the  proposed  schedule.    The  duration  of  the  get  

 

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permit/reservations  activity  has  the  most  impact  on  the  project  schedule,  due  to  its  potential  long  

duration  and  uncertainty.  If  the  permit  and  reservations  are  obtained  earlier  than  expected,    the  

entire  project  schedule  will  need  to  move  up  to  be  prepared  for  an  earlier  trip  start.    

The  skill  set  and  availability  of  personnel  resources  have  been  taken  into  account  in  assigning  

tasks  on  the  critical  path.  One  of  the  benefits  of  using  project  management  software  is  that  resource  

requirements  and  constraints  can  be  analyzed,  managed  and  tracked.  By  reviewing  my  initial  

resource  allocations,  overallocations  could  be  identified.    Changing  time  percentage  allocations  for  

some  individuals  to  complete  some  tasks  eliminated  all  overallocations.    

Resource  Planning  

A  necessary  step  in  the  planning  process  is  resource  planning.  The  WBS  provides  a  good  

estimate  of  the  total  resources  required  once  you’ve  laid  out  all  the  activities  that  need  to  be  

completed,  but  team  member  selection  and  task  assignments  are  very  important.  The  success  of  

project  work  is  naturally  affected  by  the  people  who  participate  and  a  satisfactory  outcome  is  not  

possible  if  the  right  people  are  not  on  board  or  they  are  not  clear  about  their  roles.  In  putting  

together  a  project  team  it  is  also  important  to  consider  the  optimal  team  size.    Advice  given  by  

experts  is  to  “have  just  enough  people  to  do  the  job  and  no  more.”  (Harvard  Business  Press,  2004).    

For  this  project,  an  experienced  trip  leader  and  volunteer  will  be  recruited  as  they  will  have  

familiarity  with  projects  of  this  nature  and  will  be  committed  to  its  goals.  The  resource  responsibility  

plan  and  breakdown  structure  appear  in  Appendix  11.  Personnel  resources  are  limited  for  this  

project  and  much  responsibility  falls  on  the  project  manager.  Part-­‐time  volunteer  support  is  available  

and  can  be  increased  if  needed.  

Project  Schedule  

Katy Zhu

 

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The  project  schedule  is  one  of  the  key  outputs  of  the  network  diagram.  The  GANTT  chart  is  

often  used  to  illustrate  the  project  schedule  because  it  is  easily  understood  by  most  everyone.  

(Warburton  &  Kanabar,  2014).  A  complete  project  schedule  can  be  viewed  in  GANTT  chart  format  in  

the  attached  Microsoft  project  compatible  file  and  will  serve  as  the  tool  to  track  the  schedule  going  

forward.  

Cost  Estimation  

Cost  estimation  is  one  of  the  hardest  things  to  do  on  a  project  for  many  reasons  .  For  starters,  

it’s  an  estimate  of  what  is  to  take  place  in  the  future  and  when  preparing,  even  experienced  project  

managers  tend  to  be  overly  optimistic.  (Warburton,  2013).  An  initial  budget  goal  was  included  in  the  

scope  document  primarily  for  the  benefit  of  the  client.  The  budget  estimate  was  based  on  a  quick  

review  of  what  commerical  outfitters  were  charging  for  similar  trips  and  estimated  material  costs,  

without  any  consideration  of  labor  costs.  The  project  budget  goal  quoted  to  the  client    was  not  to  

exceed  $4000  ($500/person),  assuming  eight  participants  exclusive  of  the  trip  leader.  

A  macro  project  estimate  using  an  analogous  estimate  of  cost,  is  shown  in  Appendix  12.  The  

calculations  were  based  on  2014  prices  of  comparable  White  Rim  trips  held  by  commercial  outfitters,  

which  I  then  converted  to  cost  based  on  an  assumed  25%  profit  margin.  I  also  factored  in  a  discount  

for  my  services  that  I  had  promised  the  client,  who  is  a  friend  of  mine.    The  top-­‐down  estimate  is  

$4208  ($526/person),  slightly  higher  than  the  budget  quoted  in  the  scope.  

A  comprehensive  micro  cost  estimate  was  also  constructed  using  a  bottom-­‐up  approach  to  

the  work  breakdown  structure  with  results  summarized  in  Appendix  13.  This  was  accomplished  by  

assigning  resources-­‐-­‐both  work  (labor)  and  material-­‐-­‐to  all  tasks.  The  parametric  method,  which  is  

comprised  of  mathematical  models  that  are  often  used  to  compute  project  estimates  (Warburton,  

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2013)  was  used  to  determine  cost  estimates  for  several  work  breakdown  packages.  Two  examples  

appear  as  Appendices  8  and  9.    The  rolled  up  micro  estimate  matched  the  macro  estimate  pretty  

closely:  $4396  versus  $4208;  the  $188  difference  represents    my  failure  to  adequately  predict  the  

time  needed  to  manage  the  project.    Both  estimates  are  slightly  above  the  estimated  budget,  with  

the  micro  estimate  coming  in  at  $550/person  versus  budget  of  $500/person.    As  previously  noted  in  

the  priority  matrix,  cost  was  an  “acceptance”  item  that  was  not  to  take  priority  over  the  scope  of  the  

project,  so  the  slight  budget  overage  of  10%  is  not  of  great  concern  at  this  time.  However,  project  

costs  will  need  to  be  monitored  and  managed  to  avoid  a  larger  cost  overrun.  Further  discussion  on    

monitoring  and  controlling  costs  appears  later  in  this  paper.  

While    analyzing  the  micro  estimate,  it  became  apparent  that  nearly  half  of  the  total  project  

cost  is  allocated  to  my  time  (even  at  a  discounted  rate)  -­‐-­‐primarily  the  project  management  (PM)  

component.  This  begs  the  question:  is  my  project  management  service  that  valuable?    A  recent  study  

found  that  there  is  a  clear  relationship  between  investments  made  in  PM  and  the  qualitative  and  

quantative  benefits  resulting  from  PM.  (Lappe,  2014).  I  take  this  as  a  yes—especially  for  a  trip  for  

which  detailed  planning  ensures  safety  and  satisfaction.  

There  may  be  an  opportunity  to  bring  the  cost  of  the  project  closer  to  the  budget.  The  

material  costs  for  the  project  are  fairly  fixed  as  is  the  labor  rate  for  the  trip  leader,  so  I  don’t  

anticipate  much  positive  cost  variance  for  these.  However,  it  may  be  possible  for  me  to  complete  

some  of  the  project  management  tasks  in  a  shorter  time  than  estimated,  resulting  in  a  reduction  in  

labor  costs.    According  to  Oberlender  (2001),  ”the  accuracy  of  an  early  estimate  depends  on  four  

determinants:  (1)  who  was  involved  in  preparing  the  estimate;  (2)  how  the  estimate  was  prepared;  

(3)  what  was  known  about  the  project;  and  (4)  other  factors  considered  while  preparing  the  

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estimate.”  My  early  estimate  was  fairly  accurate  due  to  my  knowledge  of  the  project  and  approach  I  

took  to  prepare  it.  

Risk  Planning  

Risk  planning  is  an  essential  component  of  the  planning  process  and  risk  management  is  

considered  by  Warburton  &  Kanabar  (2014)  to  be  “an  art  and  a  science.”    Risk  planning  and  

management  involves  identifying,  quantifying,  and  planning  responses  for  risks  in  case  they  occur.  A  

qualitative  risk  analysis  was  completed  and  appears  as  Appendix  14.  Both  the  likeliness  of  identified  

risks  and  their  impact  to  the  project  were  estimated.    The  risk  response  plan  in  Appendix  15  was  

created  to  address  the  known  risks  should  they  arise  during  the  life  of  the  project.  

Communications  Planning  

One  of  the  most  important  aspects  of  successful  project  management  is  communication—to  

stakeholders,  team  members,  the  sponsor,  etc.  To  ensure  that  the  communication  needs  of  the  

project  are  met,  a  communications  management  plan  was  created  and  appears  as  Appendix  16.  

Monitoring  and  Controlling  Processes  

The  planning  processes  of  a  project  are  highly  important  early  in  the  project,  but  once  the  

project  is  executed,  monitoring  and  controlling  processes  become  critical  to  ensure  the  cost,  

schedule  and  scope  are  under  control.  This  will  be  accomplished  by  comparing  current  project  

deliverables  status  to  established  baselines.  For  example,  the  baselines  for  schedule  and  cost  per  the  

GANTT  chart  and  WBS  cost  forecasts  will  be  frequently  compared  to  actual  work  completed  and  

costs  “consumed”.    The  earned  value  method  will  be  used  to  produce  schedule  and  cost  variance  

reports  which  will  be  reviewed  with  the  client  during  scheduled  status  update  meetings.  Significant  

variances  from  baselines  will  be  addressed  via  corrective  action  where  needed,  following  the  

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established  change  control  process.  Risk  status  will  be  monitored  through  risk  register  weekly  

reviews  and  responses  initiated  as  outlined  in  the  risk  response  plan.  

Project  Close-­‐Out  

The  project  close  phase  provides  an  opportunity  to  capture  lessons  learned  during  the  project  

for  future  consideration.  Valuable  feedback  will  be  obtained  via  an  evaluation  form  from  all  

participants.  A  project  wrap-­‐up  team  meeting  will  take  place  within  the  week  following  trip  

completion  to  obtain  team  feedback.    Additional  inputs  will  be  solicited  from  the  client  as  well.  

Recommendations  

Employing  a  rigorous  project  management  approach  using  the  appropriate  tools  to  plan  the  

project  gives  me  confidence  that  the  project  and  ultimately,  the  trip,  will  be  successful  and  that  the  

stakeholders  will  be  highly  satisifed.  While  it  is  difficult  to  quantify  the  value  of  a  “personalized”  

customizable  trip  like  this  one  versus  a  commercial  trip,  the  project  screening  matrix  helps  to  justify  

the  project.  In  addition  to  a  potential  cost  savings  of  $200-­‐$300  per  participant,  the  trip  will  meet  the  

exclusive  needs  and  desires  of  the  sponsor/client  and  those  of  the  friends  she  invites  to  join  her.  

Managing  all  stakeholder  expectations  will  be  a  bit  challenging  at  the  beginning  of  the  project  

because  the  participants  will  not  be  identified  until  the  project  is  well  underway.  Until  this  time,  the  

primary  stakeholder,  the  client,  will  serve  as  the  representative  for  all  stakeholders.  There  is  some  

risk  in  this  approach,  so  it  is  recommended  that  a  stakeholders  issue  log  be  created  to  address  any  

inconsistencies  between  initial  and  ongoing  stakeholder  expectations.  

The  project  plan  contains  most  of  the  elements  required  for  a  project  of  this  nature.  I  would  

recommend  that  some  quality  metrics  be  identified  around  customer  satisfaction.    These  can  then  be  

 

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measured  through  the  post-­‐trip  evaluations.  This  information,  along  with  feedback  from  the  post-­‐

project  team  meeting  will  provide  inputs  for  a  closeout  report,  which  is  also  recommended.  

It  is  highly  recommended  that  project  management  software  be  utilized  to  manage  and  

control  schedule,  costs  and  resources.  Programs  such  as  Microsoft  Project,  iTask  et  al  are  meant  to  

provide  managers  with  decision-­‐making  support  needed  in  planning,  organizing  and  controlling  

projects.  (Raymond  &  Bergeron,  2008).  The  goal  is  to  boost  efficiency  by  making  the  project  life  cycle  

more  visible  with  the  key  contribution  of  enabling  a  coherent  flow  of  information  between  project  

managers  and  team  members.  Project  managers  who  deal  with  single  projects  that  aren’t  perceived  

as  complex  may  not  be  willing  to  use  project  management  software,  because  they  don’t  feel  the  time  

investment  to  keep  the  system  updated  produces  benefits  that  outweigh  the  effort.  (Caniëls,  2012).    

I  found  the  use  of  iTask  greatly  enhanced  my  ability  to  produce  an  accurate  schedule  and  cost  

estimates  and  will  allow  me  to  track  project  progress  and  identify  variances  once  execution  begins.  

Utilization  of  PMIS    can  result  in  productivity  improvements  in  the  form  of  more  timely  

decision-­‐making    and  can  have  direct  impact  on  project  success  through  budget  and  project  deadline  

control,  as  well  as  fulfilling  technical  specifications.  (Raymond  &  Bergeron,  2008).  Potential  gains  in  

efficiency  can  also  lead  to  significant  cost  savings  and  an  increased  return  on  investment.  (Braglia,  

2012).  What  these  programs  do  not  do-­‐-­‐  is  the  work.  It  will  be  important  for  the  project  manager  to  

effectively  lead  and  motivate  team  members  to  ensure  they  continue  to  work  towards  the  project  

goals.  The  GANNT  chart  will  be  a  useful  communication  tool  for  client  and  team  updates  along  with  

the  earned  value  analysis  and  risk  register.  Now  that  the  project  has  been  carefully  planned,  its  

success  will  depend  on  effective  execution,  leadership,    and  timely,  informative  communication  by  

the  project  manager  to  stakeholders  and  team  members.    

 

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Appendix  1:  References  

Ahlemann,  F.    (2009).  Towards  a  conceptual  reverence  model  for  project  management  information  

systems.  International  Journal  of  Project  Management.  27(1),  19-­‐30.  

Auerbach  P.(2009).  Planning  food  for  wilderness  expeditions.  Risk  management  and  first  aid.  

Retrieved  from  http://outdoored.com  on  Jan.  21,  2014.  

Braglia,  M.  Frosolini,  M.  (2012).    An  integrated  approach  to  implement  Project  Management  

Information  Systems  within  the  extended  enterprise.    International  Journal  of  Project  

Management.  32(1),  18-­‐29.  

Caniëls,  M.C.  J,  Bakens,  R.J.J.M.  (2012).  The  effects  of  project  management  information  systems  on  

decision  making  in  a  multi-­‐project  environment.    International  Journal  of  Project  

Management.  30,  162-­‐175.  

Globerson  S.  (1994).  Impact  of  various  work-­‐breakdown  stuctures  on  project  conceptualization.  

International  Journal  of  Project  Management.  12(3),  165-­‐171.  

Korn,  D.  (2013).  Emergency  Preparedness  &  Outdoor  Adventure  Planning  Checklist.    Retrieved  from  

www.peakprosperity.com/wsldblog/81336/emergency-­‐preparedness-­‐outdoor-­‐adventure-­‐

planning-­‐checklist  on  Feb.  20,  2014.  

Lappe,  M,  Spang,  K.    In  press.  Investments  in  project  management  are  profitable  :  A  case-­‐based  

analysis  of  the  relationship  between  the  costs  and  benefits  of  project  management.  

International  Journal  of  Project  Management,  xx  (2013)  xxx–xxx.  

Managing  Projects  Large  and  Small.  (2004).  Boston:  Harvard  Business  School  Press.  

 

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Oberlender,  G.  and  Trost,  S.  2001.  Predicting  Accuracy  of  Early  Cost  Estimates  Based  on  Estimate  

Quality.  J.  Constr.  Eng.  Manage.,  127(3),  173–182.  

PMBOK  5th  Edition.  (2013).  Newton  Square,  PA.  Project  Management  Institute,  Inc.  

Project  management  and  travel:  What  you  need  to  know.    (2010).  Retrieved  from:  

http://travelexploit.com  on  Jan.  21,  2014.  

Raymond,  L.  and  Begeron,  F.  (2008).    Project  management  information  systems:  An  empirical  study  

of  their  impact  on  project  managers  and  project  success.  International  Journal  of  Project  

Management.  26,  213-­‐220.  

Resources  for  Bike  tours.  (2014).  Retrieved  from  http://bicycleuniverse.info/touring  on  Jan.  21,  2014.  

The  “How  to”  Guide  for  solo,  self-­‐supported  bicycle  touring.  (2014).  Retrieved  from:  

http://www.johneasley.com/specialpages/solotouring.aspx  on  Jan.  22,  2014  

Tools  for  Planning  a  Self-­‐supported  bicycle  tour.  (2014)    Bicycle  Touring  Pro.  Retrieved  from:  

http://bicycletouringpro.com  on  Jan.  22,  2014.  

USDA  Center  for  Nutrition  Policy  and  Promotion.  (2013).  Official  USDA  Food  Plans:  Cost  of  Food  at  

Home  at  Four  Levels,  US  Average,  December  2013.  Retrieved  from:  

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov.  on  February  13,  2014.  

US  Energy  Information  Administration.(2014).  Outlook  for  gasoline  prices  in  2014.  Retrieved  from:  

http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=287&t=10  on  February  13,  2014.  

Warburton  R.  (2014).  MET  AD642  Spring  2014.  Lectures.    BU  Online  

 

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Warburton  R.  and  Kanabar,  V.  (2013).  The  Art  and  Science  of  Project  Management.  Newport,  RI.  RW  

Press.  

 

   

 

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Appendix  2:  Project  Charter  

 

Project  Title:   White  Rim  Trip  

   

Start  Date:   April  1,  2014  

End  Date:     September  2014,  exact  date  TBD  

   

Description:   The  project  will  plan  a  customized,  three  day  self-­‐supported  mountain  bike   trip  on  the  White  Rim  Trail  in  Moab,  Utah.    

   

Justification:   The  client  wishes  to  organize  a  trip  with  a  group  of  her  close  friends.     Commercial  outfitters  are  available  to  take  groups  on  a  trip  of  this  kind,  but   do  not  provide  the  same  level  of  customization  and  are  fairly  costly.  

 

High  Level   Requirements:  

A  three-­‐day  self  supported  trip  in  September  to  be  guided  by  an   experienced  trip  leader.  All  food,  water,  and  other  necessary  gear  will  be   provided  along  with  a  support  vehicle.  Limited  to  eight  participants,  all  of   whom  must  be  able  to  physically  fit  to  bicycle  30-­‐35  miles  per  day  and  be   comfortable  spending  3  days  and  2  nights  in  the  backcountry.      Participants   must  provide  own  mountain  bike  in  good  working  order.  

   

High-­‐Level  Risks:   Permit/campsite  reservations  are  first  come,  first  serve  and  not  able  to  be   reserved  until  four  months  in  advance.  There  is  risk  that  a   permit/reservations  are  not  obtained  for  desired  month  of  trip.  Trail  closure   due  to  damage  and  severely  inclement  weather  are  also  risks.  

   

Success  Criteria  and   Approvals:  

1. Full  trip  attendance  (Participants  chosen  by  client,  Threshold   approval  by  project  manager)  

2. All  participants  finish  trip  safely  and  enjoy  the  trip.(Approval:   Project  manager)  

3. Follow-­‐up  evaluation  form:  At  conclusion  of  trip,  determine  level  of   satisfaction  with  the  trip.  (Approval:  Project  manager)  

 

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Project  Charter,  Cont.  

Stakeholder  List:   Key  Stakeholder:  Sponsor  (Client)  

Stakeholders:  Trip  participants  

Budget:  

Sponsor:  

$4,000  

Terri  Cheeseman  

Summary  Milestones:  

 

 

 

Summary    

Milestones:  

Draft  trip  itinerary  complete:  May  1,  2014  

Obtain  backcountry  permit  and  campsite  reservations:  June  1,  2014  

Finalize  itinerary:  June  15,  2014  

Identify  trip  leader:  July  1,  2014  

Identify  participants:  July  1,  2014  

Menu  and  shopping  list  finalized:  August  7,  2014  

Trip:  Completed  by  Sept.  30,  2014  

Project  Manager:  

Responsibility:  

 

 

Authority:  

Robin  Hoff  

Project  manager  has  responsibility  for  staffing  decisions  and  budget.  PM  to   provide  project  status  updates  to  client.  

 

PM  has  the  authority  to  select  project  team  members  and  to  allocate  funds   for  identified  resources  needed  for  project  completion.  

Signatures:  

 

 

PM:  

Date:  

Client:  

Date:  

 

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Appendix  3:  Project  Screening  Matrix  

 

Criteria   Cost   Schedule   flexibility  

Bikes   provided  

Custom   menu  

Group   size  

Selection  of   participants  

Score  

Importance   Weight  

2   3   1   2   2   3    

                Commercial   Outfitter  

5   5   10   2   5   5   64  

Private  Trip   10   8   0   8   10   10   110    

 

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Appendix  4:  Project  Scope  Statement  

OBJECTIVE:  

To  plan  a  safe,  self-­‐supported,  multi-­‐day  (3)  mountain  biking  trip  on  the  White  Rim  Trail  in   Moab,  UT  to  occur  in  September  2014  with  a  maximum  of  8  participants.  Budget  goal  is  not  to   exceed  $4000  or  $500/person  cost,  excluding  transportation  costs  to  and  from  Moab  UT  and   excludes  alcoholic  beverages.  The  project  management  planning  is  scheduled  to  begin  on  May  1,   2014.  

JUSTIFICATION:  

A  customized  trip  is  possible,  with  more  flexibility  on  daily  itineraries  and  menus,  with  the   possibility  to  achieve  it  at  a  lesser  cost  than  a  commercial  operator  would  charge.  

DELIVERABLES:  

Detailed  trip  plan  including  logistics  

Per  person  cost  estimate  

Support  vehicle  reservation  and  pick  up  

Daily  Menu    

Food  and  Water  supply  

Permit  for  backcountry  access  

Participant  “What  to  bring  list”  and  limitation  on  size  of  bag  

Bicycle  tool  and  replacement  part  list  

MILESTONES:  

Milestone   Due  Date   Owner  

Obtain  backcountry  permit   and  campsite  reservations  

June  1,  2014   PM-­‐Robin  Hoff  

Finalize  itinerary   June  15,  2014   PM-­‐Robin  Hoff  

Identification  of  Trip  Leader   July  1,  2014   PM-­‐  Robin  Hoff  

Identify  participants   July  1,  2014   Client:  Terri  Cheeseman  

 

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Finalize  menu   August  7,  2014   PM:  Robin  Hoff  

Conference  call  with   participants  

July  31,  2014   PM:  Robin  Hoff  

Trip,  September  2014   Sept.  30,  2014   Trip  Leader-­‐TBD  

 

TECHNICAL/PHYSICAL  REQUIREMENTS:  

Participants  must  provide  their  own  mountain  bike  (owned  or  rented)  in  good  working  order  

Participants  must  possess  a  level  of  health  and  fitness  to  ride  25-­‐30  miles  per  day  and  be   comfortable  spending  24  hours  per  day  in  the  outdoors  

Participants  must  have  friendly,  adventurous  demeanor  

Various  dietary  restrictions  must  be  accommodated  

Support  vehicle  must  be  a  high-­‐clearance  vehicle  and  have  capacity  for  essential  food,  water  and   gear  

Adequate  bicycle  repair  tools  and  replacement  parts  must  be  available  

Must  have  potable  water  sufficient  for  all  participants  for  duration  of  trip  

Daily  menus  must  meet  caloric  needs  while  mountain  biking  

At  least  one  participant  must  possess  adequate  bicycle  repair  skills  

Trip  leader  must  possess  CPR  and  first  aid  training  

ASSUMPTIONS:  

Daily  consumption  of  water  is  one  gallon  per  person  

Participants  are  responsible  for  bringing  own  mountain  bike,  camping,  inclement  weather  gear   and  adult  beverages  

Average  calorie  burn  for  an  individual  weighing  150lbs  is  approximately  600  calories/hour  

No  participants  have  chronic  health  issues    or  injuries  that  would  prevent  them  from    starting   and  completing  the  trip  

At  least  six  participants  are  capable  and  willing  of  driving  the  support  vehicle  as  needed  

 

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The  3  day  trip  will  occur  in  part,  over  a  weekend  (Sat,  Sun)  

LIMITS  AND  EXCLUSIONS:  

The  project  plan  does  not  include  planning  and  logistics  for  travel  of  participants  to  and  from   Moab,  UT  

Participation  is  limited  to  a  maximum  of  eight  cyclists,  exclusive  of  trip  leader  

Participation  is  limited  to  those  who  meet  the  physical  and  equipment  requirements  listed    

RISKS:  

Permit/campsite  reservations  not  available  for  September  

Trail  or  campsite  closures  due  to  inclement  weather  

Trip  leader  unavailable  due  to  illness  or  injury  

Provisions  for  maintaining  perishables  is  not  sufficient  

Daily  water  and  adult  beverage  needs  are  underestimated  

CUSTOMER  REVIEWS:  

Monthly  updates  from  PM  (Robin  Hoff)  to  client    

REVIEW  AND  SIGN  OFF  OF  FINAL  DELIVERABLES:  

Client  (on  behalf  of  all  stakeholders):  Terri  Cheeseman  

Project  Manager:  Robin  Hoff  

   

 

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Appendix  5:  Priority  Matrix  

  SCOPE   SCHEDULE   COST  

Constrain         

Enhance         

Accept         

 

   

 

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Appendix  6:  Work  Breakdown  Structure  Diagram  

   

   

 

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Appendix  7:  iTask  WBS  

 

 

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Appendix  7:  iTask  WBS  Con’t  

 

   

 

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Appendix  7:  iTask  WBS  Con’t  

 

   

 

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Appendix  7:  iTask  WBS,  Con’t  

 

 

 

 

 

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Appendix  8:    Sample  Work  Package  Estimate  A  

Parametric  Estimate  for  Food  Cost:  

USDA  2013  average  daily  cost  of  food  for  adult  19-­‐50  yrs  of  age  X  1.77  (multiplier  for  increased   caloric  needs  biking  35  miles  per  day)  X  duration  of  trip.    Unit  food  cost  (per  person)=  $11.30  X   1.77  X  3.5=  $70.00    

Work  Package  Description   Project  Title   White  Rim  Trip  

 

Work  Package  Title  

Purchase  Food  for  trip  

WBS  Code  

1.8.2  

 

Deliverable  

Food  supply  

Description  of  Work:    

Buy  food  supply  for  trip    

Predecessors  

Shop  for  food    

   

Successors  

Obtain  coolers  

   

Duration  

0.25  day  

   

Constraints  

Food  should  be  purchased  as  late  as  possible  to   avoid  spoilage  of  perishables  

   

Risks  

Food  spoilage  

   

Task   ID   No.  

Activity/Cost   Item  

Resource   Duration   (days)  

Labor   (hrs)  

Rate   Units   Unit   Cost  

Total  

73   Purchase   Food  

Volunteer   0.25   1.0   0.00       $0.00  

  Food     Material         9   $70.00   $630.00  

          Total     Cost     $630.00  

 

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Appendix  9:    Sample  Work  Package  Estimate  B  

Parametric  Estimate  for  Gasoline  Cost:  

Mileage  from  Denver  to  Moab  ÷    Average  mileage  of  Dodge  Ram  1500)  X  Estimated  cost  per   gallon  of  gasoline.  375miles  ÷    15mi/gallon=  25  gallons  X  $3.50/gallon=  $87.50  

Work  Package  Description   Project  Title   White  Rim  Trip  

 

Work  Package  Title  

Fill  gas  tank  

WBS  Code  

1.6.7  

 

Deliverable  

Full  tank  of  gas  in  support  vehicle  

Description  of  Work:    

Refill  gas  tank  for  backcountry  trip    

Predecessors  

Drive  to  Moab  from  Denver  

   

Successors  

Drive  to  Trailhead  

   

Duration  

0.5  day  

   

Constraints  

Gasoline  should  be  purchased  after  arriving   in  Moab,  so  tank  is  full  for  White  Rim  trip.  

Dodge  Ram  1500  gas  tank  holds  25  gallons.  

   

Risks  

Cost  of  gasoline  could  go  above  projections.  

   

Task   ID   No.  

Activity/Cost   Item  

Resource   Duration   Labor   (hrs)  

Rate   Units   Unit   Cost  

Total  

62   Refill  gas   tank  

Robin   Hoff  

  0.5   20.00       $10.00  

  Gasoline   Material         25   $3.50   $87.50  

          Total  Cost       $97.50  

 

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Appendix  10:  Network  Diagram  Critical  Path  

 

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Appendix  10:  Network  Diagram  Critical  Path,  Cont  

 

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Appendix  11:  Resource  Responsibility  and  Breakdown  Structure  

Project:  White  Rim  Trip  

1. Roles  and  Responsibilities:   • Project  manager  (PM)  is  responsible  for  the  success  of  the  trip  project.  The  PM  must  

approve  all  expenditures  and  communicate  with  the  stakeholders.  The  team  members   will  be  responsible  for  timely  execution  of  the  assigned  activities  and  the  quality  of  the   work  activities  should  meet  established  acceptance  criteria.  

• Volunteer  Support  staff  is  responsible  for  various  activities  related  to  gathering  all  items   needed  for  the  trip  including  food,  water,  camp  gear,  bike  repair  parts,  etc  

• Trip  leader  is  responsible  for  the  success  of  the  trip  itself  and  the  safety  of  all  who  will  be   participating.  

2. Organizational  Structure:   All  the  above  roles  report  to  the  PM.  The  PM  works  with  the  client.  

3. Staff  Acquisitions   The  project  staff  will  consist  of  internal  resources.  The  trip  leader  will  be  contracted.  

4. Staff  release   The  staff  will  be  released  from  the  project  one  day  after  the  completion  of  the  trip.  

5. Training   None  needed.  Trip  leader  will  be  pre-­‐certified  in  first  aid  and  CPR.  

Resource  Breakdown  Structure  

0  Project  White  Rim  Trip  

1. Personnel  Resources     1.1 Project  Manager   1.2 Volunteer  Support   1.3 Trip  Leader    

2. Equipment   2.1      Support  vehicle   2.2      Bike  repair  kit     2.3      Camp  Kitchen     2.4      Coolers   2.5      First  aid  kit   2.6        Bicycles   2.7        Stoves   2.8        Propane  tank   2.9        Pots  and  pans   2.10  Folding  tables  

3. Materials   3.1  Packing  boxes   3.2  Ice   3.3  Food   3.4  Water   3.5  Gasoline   3.6  Water  containers  

 

 

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 Appendix  12:    Macro  Cost  Estimate  (Top  Down)  

 

Similar  Projects   Current  Prices   Multiplier  to  

Determine  Trip  Cost  

Current  Project  

Estimate    

2014  prices  for  

commercially  

available  trips  of  same  

duration  were  

researched  

Average  price  is  

$781/person  

(obtained  from  4  

commercial  outfitters)  

Assuming  a  25%  

profit,  average  cost  of  

trips  is    

$781  X  

.75=$585/person  

Assuming  a  10%  

discount  being  

offered  to  client  thru  

reduced  labor  rates,  

$585  X  .9=  

$526/person  

 

   

 

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Appendix  13:    Bottom-­‐Up  Total  Project  Cost  Summary  

Resource  Type   Resource  Name   Total  Cost  

Work   Robin  Hoff   $1686.67  

Work   Trip  Leader   $313.26  

Work   Volunteer  Support  1   $0.00  

Material   Support  Vehicle   $1250.00  

Material   Food   $630.00  

Material   Ice   $100.00  

Material   Propane  Canister   $50.00  

Material   Permit   $30.00  

Material   Bike  Repair  Kit   $100.00  

Material   Gasoline   $196.00  

Material   First  Aid  Kit   $40.00  

TOTALS   Work  (labor)  Cost  

Material  Cost  

PROJECT  COST  

$1999.93  

$2396.00  

$4395.93  

 

   

 

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Appendix  14:  Risk  Register  

Risk   ID  

Risk   Likeliness  

Rating  

 

(H,  M,  L)  

Project   Impact    

(H,  M,  L)  

1   Inability  to  obtain  permit/campsite  reservation  for  month  of   September  

L   M  

2         Trail  or  campsite  closures  due  to  road  damage   L   H  

3   Trip  leader  unavailable  due  to  illness  or  injury   L   M  

4   Confirmed  participant(s)  unable  to  attend   M   M  

5   Daily  water  and  food  needs  underestimated   L   M  

6   Adult  beverage  supply  is  inadequate  (run  out  of  beer)   L   M  

7   Cooler  and  ice  system  insufficient  for  length  of  trip   M   H  

8   Support  vehicle  break  down   L   H  

9   Illness  or  injury  to  trip  leader  or  participants  while  on  trip   L   H  

10   Mechanical  issue  with  bicycle(s)     L   M  

11   Participant  (s)  do  not  pack  proper  clothing  and  gear  for  trip   L   L  

12   Participant  (s)  behave  poorly  (whining,  complaining,  drunkenness)   L   L  

13   Extremely  inclement  weather   L   M  

14   Cost  of  gasoline  is  higher  than  predicted   M   L  

15   Adult  beverage  supply  is  not  consumed  (leftover  beer!)   L   L  

 

   

 

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Appendix  15:  Risk  Response  Plan  

Risk  ID   Risk   Response  

1   Inability  to  obtain  permit/campsite  reservation  for   month  of  September  

Accept:  Another  month  could  be   considered  by  client  

2         Trail  or  campsite  closures  due  to  road  damage   Accept:  Have  client  consider  another   month  for  trip  

3   Trip  leader  unavailable  due  to  illness  or  injury   Mitigate:  Identify  a  back-­‐up    

4   Confirmed  participant(s)  unable  to  attend   Accept:  Have  client  consider  alternative   participants  

5   Daily  water  and  food  needs  underestimated   Prevent:  Published  daily  water  and   caloric  needs  used  to  calculate  

6   Adult  beverage  supply  is  inadequate  (run  out  of  beer)   Transfer:  Participants  responsible  for   own  adult  beverages  

7   Cooler  and  ice  system  insufficient  for  length  of  trip   Mitigate:  Ensure  enough  non-­‐perishable   food  is  packed  

8   Support  vehicle  break  down   Transfer:  Rent  vehicle  from  reliable  car   agency  

9   Illness  or  injury  to  trip  leader  or  participants  while  on   trip  

Mitigate:  First  aid  kit,  with  first  aid  and   CPR  trained  trip  leader  

10   Mechanical  issue  with  bicycle(s)     Mitigate:  Complete  bike  repair  kit  and   knowledgeable  repairman  in  group  

11   Participant  (s)  do  not  pack  proper  clothing  and  gear   for  trip  

Mitigate:  What-­‐to-­‐bring  list  will  be   reviewed  and  also  emailed  to   participants  

12   Participant  (s)    have  bad  attitude  or  behave  poorly     Transfer:  Client  has  been  advised  to   consider  group  dynamics  in  choosing   participants  

13   Extremely  inclement  weather   Mitigate:  Inclement  weather  gear   required  for  all  participants  

14   Cost  of  gasoline  is  higher  than  predicted   Accept  

15   Adult  beverage  supply  is  not  consumed-­‐-­‐leftover   beer!  

Accept:  This  is  rarely  happens  but  is   always  appreciated  

 

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Appendix  16:  Communications  Plan  

Activity   Description   Audience   Method   Frequency   Sender  

Kickoff   Meeting  

Review  goals   and  objectives   and  key   deliverables  

Client   (sponsor)   Project  team  

Conf  call   Once   PM  

Team   Meetings  

Review  project   status  and  status   of  deliverables  

Project  team  

Trip  Leader   (once   identified)  

Conf  call   Bi-­‐weekly   PM  

Client   Meeting  

Communicate   permit  dates  

Client   Conf  call   Once   PM  

Participant   Meeting  

Introduce  trip   Leader,  Review   trip  itinerary,   communicate   bag  size  limit,   review  what  to   bring  

Client,   participants   and  Trip   Leader  

Conf  call   Once   Trip   Leader  

Client   Meeting  

Review  menu   Client   Conf  call   Once   PM  

Monthly   Client   Updates  

Status  update  of   project  

Client   Email   Monthly   PM  

Final  pre-­‐ Trip  Team   Meeting  

Review   complete   packing  checklist  

Project  team   Conf  call   Once   PM  

Pre-­‐trip   Meeting  at   Trailhead  

Review  day  1   itinerary,  select   first  driver  

Trip  leader  

Participants  

Face-­‐to-­‐ Face  

Once   Trip   Leader  

 

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