Salford Business School

House Renovation

By Hunar Salar Abbas

Student Number: @00540874

PMLS Assignment submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of The University of

Salford for the degree of MSc Project Management

Supervisor: Mr. Alin Stefaniu

12 May 2019
Abstract

Based on the request of a large property investor in the UK, we have been appointed to
rehabilitate a house. With limited resources; only two workers the project has to be accomplished
with the timeframe of 30 days. Before putting the project into the implementation phase, a
critical path analysis network has been used to shape the stages of the project in a diagram and
identify the most critical activities. The advantage and necessity of using the critical path
analysis have been questioned and answered. Furthermore, a thorough risk analysis, expected
and unexpected threats and opportunities were scored and mitigated via a risk analysis table and
a clear scoring system. Finally, the lack of motivation and sprite of teamworking, adaptability
and flexibility of Kevin are discussed. The paper is concluded on how to address ways of
increasing the motivation of Kevin and how effective the team and the workable environment
will be if the motivation of Kevin increased.
Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4

Network Diagram and Critical Path of House Renovation Project...............................................................5

Advantages of using Critical Path Analysis to plan this project:..................................................................5

The Idea of Using Only Two Workers to Complete this Project...................................................................7

Risk analysis………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8

Risk analysis related to the house renovation project:...............................................................................8

Opportunities discussion...........................................................................................................................10

Why might Kevin lack motivation..............................................................................................................10

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . 13
Introduction
Project management is crucial for the success and outcome of what we opt to do. It ensures that
what is being delivered is what was planned for and aligns with the strategic goals, and how to
advance these goals. To deliver the investor’s objective, and renovate the house within a tight
deadline, and limited workforce, there should be proper usage of Project management items;
Strategic Alignment, Realistic Project Planning, Risk Management, and Leadership.

This paper will show how to execute on the goals of the investor by creating a CPA (critical path
analysis) network diagram. Through this diagram, the most critical activities will be identified and
the minimum required time for completing each activity will be put in the project timeframe. The
investor is requesting us not to use more than two workers, despite knowing that this request is not
realistic, but the possibilities of delivering this objective have been discussed, and the diagram is
used as evidence to show the capability of the team member in completing assigned activities within
the project timeline. Hereby, the advantages of using Critical Path Analysis for planning this project
also been discussed. Good project management practice needs project managers to consider all
potential risks by carefully analyzing them, Identifying, developing a mitigation plan against them.
Furthermore, due to a tight deadline and limited manpower, the project of rehabilitating the house
may have several potential risk events. Therefore, a developed risk mitigation plan against these
potentials has been used to convert the opportunities into success and eliminate threats. If the project
management is left behind without leadership and motivation to the team to work out by themselves,
the team will work without being aware of the goals and strategic outcomes, the project will face lack
of focus, and the objectives will be missed up. This was likely about to happen with the team, since
every project team does not have a perfect team of hardworking, motivated, and being skilled
technically. Kevin, who is assigned to support the renovation process by providing management
solutions to the team is very good at solving technical problems. However, he has an issue with a
lack of motivation, which is very crucial and cannot be ignored. This paper will discuss why Kevin
might lack motivation; through case examples and review of the literature, we will suggest ways in
which Keven may be motivated.
Network Diagram and Critical Path of House Renovation Project

Advantages of using Critical Path Analysis to plan this project:

Initiating any projects requires, management guidance, to implement the project in line with
professional and internationally practised project management methods, all items of project
management should be used. The core of any project is about time and resource; for a construction
project, timing is more crucial rather than other projects. Listing activities, allocating timing per
activity is harder than allocating a huge budget. One of the solutions for controlling project progress
is using Critical Path Analysis (CPA) of project management. It breaks down all activities, indicates
the required time for completing each acidity and prohibits overlapping. Via
Critical Path Method, tasks will be well distributed, and the roles of workers will be clear. By
diagraming activities, the critical path’s line will be the core of the project and receives more
attention from the project manager.

Moreover, the rapid solution will be suggested if the progress is not according to the schedule. In
definition, the “critical path analysis is a method of determining the longest path in the network,
and hence of finding the least time in which the whole process can be completed” (Clapham &
Nicholson, 2009). According to Maylor (2009), by using a CPA, the elements of the project will
be defined, and their resistance against any delays will be known, whether it affects the
completion date or not.

A delay in a project do not only affect the project manager and the company, but it also reflects
on all the stakeholders and counterparts involved, it causes loss of revenue and time When a
project’s completion time (Ambani, 2007).

Below is a list of some advantages of using a CPA in the implementation plan of a project:

• The clear vision of the entire project activities, with activities, requires more time, which can
be delayed without causing the delay in completion date (theconstructor, 2016).

• Critical path identifies the most critical tasks and activities of the project; hence the activities
having a direct impact on the completion date will be known.

• By diagraming the activities and identifying the critical path, the project manager and project
team can evaluate the stags and expect the changes in case a delay happened. The consequences
of the delay will be responded more sufficiently.

• Providing an economical overview, expense breakdowns and proper budgeting activity by the
project board.

• Can help in identifying dependent and independent tasks to avoid overlapping and estimate
the impact of any problems if occurred.
The Idea of Using Only Two Workers to Complete this Project

Based on the network diagram of the project shown above, having only two workers can get the
project done within the project schedule which is six weeks. However, this does not mean that the
idea of having two workers is the best approach to renovate the house; the best approach means
minimum time and cost-effective. Regardless of what the investor believes in by only assigning two
workers, but in reality, it brings more cost and longer time to get the house renovated. The cost does
not only mean cost of labour and manpower; there are other things that have an indirect impact on
increasing the cost compared to only having two workers such as the cost of items like trailer renting,
office equipment, utilities like water and electricity, etc. (Mubarak, 2018). In the investor's point of
view, its only workers who cost him money, but in reality, the initiating project cannot be transferred
to the implementing phase without having risk management assessed. The opportunity of any worker
to fall sick or get injured is not avoidable; human beings are possible to face a problem or accident
during the work, that time it will be too late to assign another worker, while for example having four
workers will cut the completion time by half (14.5 days).

It is obvious that adding two more workers will increase the direct cost, but at the same time, it
reduces the indirect cost and makes the house renovated in 14 days which is in line with the core of
any project. As mentioned, in the assumption by increasing the number of workers into four the time
of completing any activity will cut by half, that way the indirect cost will cut by half as well.

Moreover, completing any project is subject to the nature of activities progress, in real life things
may change and there is no project that can be delivered 100% according to the project plan,
therefore, the factor of risks will have more impact on the project completion by only having two
workers compared to four workers. Factors like weather (mostly rain, since we are working in
the UK), excavating hard rock, slippery soils, equipment failure, or even a worker being sick or
injured can cause delays in the project.

By only being given six weeks to complete the house renovation, any small problems can make
delays, and any small delays in completing an activity have a direct impact on the following
activity. As a result of this, the project cannot be completed within the deadline. Therefore, to
give the project some breathing spaces in the event of any setbacks that might occur, it's
encouraged to use more workers.
Risk analysis

Risk management activities are conducted based on the qualitative and Quantitative data by
undertaking further analysis on how risky the event. Different tools are used to gather
information and people’s idea to analyze identified risks. Classifying level of the risk by
assessing and ranking of the risks. Likelihood, probability, and Impact is classified based on
the occurring risk, expressed as low, medium, or high on a 1-3 scale or 1-5, 1-10. The ratings
are obtained by gathering opinions. (Smith, Merna, & Jobling, 2014)

Figure 1 Probability impact chart

Lloyds TSB and Rolles-Royce used the method above showed in the figure, the highlighted
sections in red required action and cannot be ignored. other sections highlighted in green or
yellow requires mitigation. This is because anything with green or yellow may still have
probability of occurrence and may cause low, medium or high impact (Maylor, 2010).

Risk analysis related to the house renovation project:

Below lists a summary of managing risk in construction projects established by Smith, Merna, & Jobling, (2014).
Provided a list of typical risks happening in construction projects; examples of risk mentioned by the authors
are:
 Type of Risk Risk example
Physical Nature, foundation conditions, weather, physical obstructions

Design Incompletable design, information, specifications and

standards, changes in construction causes design during
construction.
Construction Preparing foundation and resources, factories, industrial
relations, construction time, manpower, contractors,
suppliers, contracts etc.

Technology Developing and updating new technologies. New costs for

adopting new technologies. Need for research and
development

All construction projects have risk, our project of house renovation will also have risks, below
table shows the risks have identified as well as indicated their probability and impact on the
project. These risks have been mitigated by using a common way of conducting risk analysis in
the construction field introduced by (Smith, Merna, & Jobling, 2014).

Risk Probability Impact Mitigation

Natural Medium High Flooding, heavy rain, snow can delay the work,
disasters this will be difficult to mitigate since this is
outside human beings control, however weather
forecasting should be mentioned for every day
during the project life cycle and the delays has to
be mentioned according to the forecast.

Employee’s Medium High Providing additional employees to replace the

illness and position. Safety standards has to be followed and
accidents set in place.

Transportation Low Medium Make sure that the roads to project site allows
big truck to deliver renovation materials.

Supply Medium High Check the market and assure supply of needed
materials by signing a contract, in case of
shortage, there should be an alternative.
Opportunities discussion

Risk is about unexpected events, not all unexpected events causes risk to the project, some
unexcepted event might bring positive impact. Risks ca be transferred in big successes to the
company, having only two workers is a risk, but if the two workers managed to complete the
work, then this is a positive impact. Risk does not necessarily refer to negative impacts or
downsides, it can also be referred to possible positive impacts, where this sometimes can
benefit the company in many ways. (Smith, Merna, & Jobling, 2014)

Why might Kevin lack motivation

Motivation is it an essential aspect in the workplace; motivation can help Kevin be a better team
player and increase his performance and productivity of the team in the house renovation project.
As mentioned by Ramadanty & Martinus, (2016), Every human action is inspired by motivation;
the beginning of a business starts with challenges, it is not only about managing machines and
materials, employees also need special attention, and their efforts have to be acknowledged by
senior management. When you are a manager, your role cannot be limited only into releasing
orders, employees’ skills, feelings, and emotions need to be considered to keep the productivity
of the team as high as possible. Ramadanty & Martinus, added that motivation is a vital tool to
achieve the organization's milestone. Emotions interfere with productivity; therefore, it cannot be
isolated from the workplace. The negative emotions can be caused by a specific event. There
many definitions for motivation, the most globally accepted definitions of motivation cited by
Craig C. Pindar where he defines motivation as: “a set of energetic forces that originate both
within as well as beyond an individual’s being, to initiate work-related behavior, and to
determine its form direction intensity and duration.” (Pinder, 2011).

In the working environment, both parties have to be satisfied with each other's service; the employee
has to receive sufficient guidance from the manager, and the manager has to deliver this guidance
using his/her management and leadership skills to integrate motivation in his leadership
style. That way, both parties will be satisfied, and their achievements can be delivered. The
relation between motivations and satisfaction come together and result in causality (cause and
effect) (Hauser, 2014). According to Hauser, motivation is the cause, and satisfaction is the
effect. The author was defined by researchers Herzberg, Mausner, and Snyderman that there are
two types of work motivation; Intrinsic motivation (internal, direct and individual) and extrinsic
(external, indirect, and organizational).

Intrinsic motivation is non-tangible more emotional needs like recognition, achievement, interest in
work, progress, etc. Extrinsic motivation is more tangible basic needs (rewards) like salaries and
benefits, working conditions, job security, position, status, etc. According to Hauser offering
extrinsic rewards will lead to intrinsic motivation that will encourage employees to deliver more and
hence increase managers percentage of achievement. In opposite to Hauser’s study, Kuvaas, Buch,
Weibel, Dysvik, & Nerstad, (2017), led a research on how intrinsic and extrinsic motivation link.
According to their study, awards or incentives reinforce extrinsic motivation, at the same time
weaken intrinsic motivation. Therefore, those two motivation factors should not be undoubtedly
correlated. The Scholars hypothesized that intrinsic motivation is associated with doing positively,
while extrinsic motivation is negatively related to performance. To test their theory, the authors
conducted three different studies that consisted of surveys of over 8000 employees over multiple
areas and locations to estimate intrinsic to extrinsic work motivation. The findings proved that there
is an adverse relationship between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in all studies. The authors also
observed that intrinsic motivation was positively connected with positive outcomes (work
performance) and negatively associated with negative outcomes (turnover, burnout, and work-family
conflict) while Extrinsic motivation was negatively associated with positive outcomes and showed
that it was positively associated with negative outcomes.

Reiss (2012), an expert in the field of psychology, conducted a study on Intrinsic and extrinsic
motivation, by analyzing dualism (intrinsic and extrinsic) and multifaceted motivation. According to
the author, intrinsic motivation is basically what one makes for his interest, while extrinsic
motivation is what one does for the sake of an instrumental goal. The author argued that human
motives are very diverse and cannot be split into just two classes. according to his argument, a better
approach to assume human motivation is by an appraisal tool he invented, which is called
the Reiss Motivation Profile (RMP). Which is based on 16 requirements which every human is
motivated at.

Figure 2psychometric scales of RMP, source: (Reiss, 2012)

Reiss concluded by stating that researchers have validated and applied the 16 scales of human
motivation to a wide range of phenomena including school motivation, business coaching, and
relationships. Inceoglu, Segers, & Bartram, (2011) studied work motivation differences related to
age. Their hypothesized that extrinsic rewards like material, career progression, and status is less
motivating to the older age group, while intrinsic rewards like freedom on how to do work, and
not being constrained to a pre-determined structure is more motivating. The authors conducted
two studies that measured work motivation of over 11500 individuals all over Europe within
various age groups from 16- 56+ years. The author's findings confirmed that their hypothesis of
intrinsic rewards was more motivating for the older age group. Meanwhile, self-concept theory
assumes that motivation can also derive from faith. It is assumed that when rewards and
accomplishments are not great, and goals are not able to be evidently specified, people might be
motivated by faith due to having a sense of hope for having faith in an enhanced future is an
intrinsically satisfying circumstance (Shamir B., House R. J., & Arthur M. B., 1993).
Conclusion

The idea of assigning Keven because he is old and experienced in project management does not
means that he can bring motivation to workers to achieve, first Kevin has to be motivated then
he can transfer the motivation to the workers. Based on the mentioned theories, Kevin has to get
motivation in an intrinsic way. Rewarding Kevin under extrinsic methods such as increasing
salary or giving him higher position, may not cause positive change. Deriving Kevins motivation
under intrinsic method by giving him more freedom and independency, consultation and listen to
he wants to be the best to increase the achievements. As cited by Reiss, people who are
intrinsically motivated are happier with what they are doing, this is because they are doing it for
their own interest and sake, while other people whom motivation is derived extrinsically are
doing it for the matter of reward and thus will lose motivation once the reward has been
achieved.
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