Assessment Brief 2022

5WBS0016
(ONL)
Module Title: Project planning and control Module Code:
5WBS0031
(SDL)
Report – Maximum 25 pages 30% groupwork
Assignment Format & Assignment
(Incl Appendices) following (CW1) + 20%
Maximum Word count weighting
HBS report writing guidance (MCQ)
Date: 13/03/2024 Coursework return Within 4 weeks
Coursework Submission: by 23:59 (London Time) Date returned to of submission
Method: Canvas students:

Module Leader Sunmi Sijuade First marker Sunmi Sijuade

Approved
Internal Moderator Module Board name
Date:
Approved
External Examiner Module Board date TBC
Date:
Module eligible for an
extension on submission YES / NO
date (subject to UPRs)

Assessment Criteria
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding assessed in this assignment:
 The characteristics of projects and project management and how these differ from line and
functional activities and management;
 Methods, processes and techniques for planning, evaluating and controlling projects.
Learning Outcomes: Skills and Attributes assessed in this assignment:
 Apply specified methods, processes and techniques for planning, evaluating and controlling
techniques;
 Interact in a project team environment to meet project objectives.
Transformational Opportunities:
E.g. Use LinkedIn Learning to improve skills


Feedback /Marking criteria for this Assignment
 Performance will be assessed using HBS Grading Criteria (Rubric)
 Feedback for improvement will be given in writing via your Canvas module site within 4 weeks of
submission
 Lateness Penalty: For each day or part day up to five days after the published deadline, coursework
relating to modules submitted late will have the numeric grade reduced by 10 grade points until or
unless the numeric grade reaches the minimum pass mark (UG 40/PG 50). Where the numeric
grade awarded for the assessment is less than the minimum pass mark no lateness penalty will be
applied. If the coursework is submitted more than 5 days after the published deadline, it will not be
marked and a grade of zero will be awarded. Please note: Referred coursework submitted after the
published deadline will be awarded a grade of zero (0).”

 Extensions: Students do not have an automatic right to an extension. If you require an extension,
this must be requested in advance of the submission deadline. Please give your reason(s) for
needing an extension.

Detailed Brief for Individual / Team Assignment

Assignment Title: Project Initiation Document for HarmonyFest

Description of the assignment, task, content and structure:

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Assessment Brief 2022
‘HarmonyFest, is a private sector company, which has been operating across England planning and
organising music festivals. In response to the global call for solidarity through the universal language of
music, the team at HarmonyFest aims to develop a comprehensive Project Initiation Document (PID) for
a charity event. This festival seeks to unite diverse cultures through music, showcasing international
artists and promoting the spirit of giving.
This project will be the first of its kind for HarmonyFest and if successful they will bid to manage the
development of further music festivals in 2024/25. There is a growing demand for different music
festivals to suit a range of audiences. Music festivals are increasing in popularity (though this has been
impacted by the pandemic) and HarmonyFest would like to focus their business into organising these
events. They have just been appointed to plan and organise an international charity music that will take
place on the 10th of September 2024, open from 1pm for entry with music from 3pm-11pm.

The project sponsor is the development director of HarmonyFest who has been approached by a
reputable global philanthropy to set up an international charity music festival at Trafalgar Square,
London to emphasis cultural diversity and philanthropy and raise funds for the vital life changing medical
care they provide in South Asia. They have already got international planning permission to host this
event through the local council provided all the health and safety regulations are followed. You would
need to obtain licences though for the music, serving drinks (including alcohol) and having food vendors
on site for the event as well as any other licences that you identify would be needed for an event like
this.

Having secured the site and dates for the event, you are required to develop a project plan to
encompass all the activities that would be required to be organised for a successful event. This would
include, but is not limited to, designing the layout, getting sponsorship from firms to support this cause,
securing international artists to perform, planning the staging and venue in terms of amenities just as
cloakrooms to leave belongings, toilets, first aid and other essentials that your team research and agree
is required for an event like this. You need to consider lighting, sound, security and entry requirements
as well as the hospitality available at the event. Included in this project is also the delivery of a
marketing plan to raise awareness and to attract bands to perform, companies to make sponsorship
pledges and the public to want to buy tickets to attend this event on one or both days.

The project will run between 1st May to 31st August 2024 and needs to be ready at this point to hand over
to the operational team ready to put into action in terms of setting up, being tested, signed off and
running the event on the day.

Although a budget has not been set, it is desirable to keeps costs as low as possible and to try and
maximise sponsorship from businesses and perhaps free services from local and international
contractors and suppliers for the project so that maximum funds can be raised for the charity.

To contextualise what is involved in setting up an international music festival albeit at a larger level, see
these links:
 https://www.rosterfy.com/blog/how-to-organize-a-music-festival-rosterfy
 https://iff.rocks/
 https://www.tomorrowland.com/home/
 https://events.com/blog/how-to-plan-a-music-festival-a-complete-guide/

As part of this assignment, you will work in groups of 2 or 3 to produce part of a Project
Initiation Document (PID) for this project.

Your group work will contain the core elements of a Project Initiation Document (PID) and will need to
include all of the activities required to successfully complete this project.

Project Requirements

Your group, as employees of HarmonyFest should develop a Project Initiation Document (PID) for this
charity event.

The areas to be covered are

 Defining the requirements of the event in terms of location of the stage, design of

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Assessment Brief 2022
designated space and overall design for the event.
 The target audience will comprise diverse demographics, and hospitality
amenities will reflect an international flair, catering to various cultural preferences.
 Building and designing a plan for the event based on the details above, obtaining
quotations from suppliers and contractors, gaining sponsorships, securing artist to perform,
gaining licences for hospitality and so on. You will need to develop and implement a
marketing plan for the event to be ready for handover to an operations team who will be in
charge of setting up and running the event.
 You will also need to plan and design the event including all amenities ensuring all
permissions are obtained and all health and safety requirements are met.
 In terms of costings and budgeting and the design of your venue, you need to come up
for costs for one medium size stage, security hoardings/ barriers, toilet hire and band
expenses (see assumptions) and other aspects like generators to be able to access power
where needed.

 You do not need to worry about the operational team and all their activities to set up, test
and run the event and any activities for the duration of the music festival are not of concern
here. Also, all required international planning permissions are obtained.

The scope of your project includes planning, sourcing and completing a plan for the work above and you
are not responsible for any operational issues related to this project. Your focus is just the project and to
do all of the planning and securing of licences, funding and artists as well as all the supplies and
contractors to meet the specifications provided so that a successful music festival can be planned and
implemented.

The Project Initiation Document (PID) is to have the following contents:

Group Work

 Introduction
 Project Objectives
 Constraints of the project
 Assumptions made
 Layout plan for the event
 Description of event layout including target audience, hospitality and amenities included
 Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
 Scope (Summary of the main headings of the WBS)
 Precedence table
 Network diagram including PERT and a Gantt chart where possible for higher marks
here
 Roles and responsibilities
 RACI matrix
 Budget for project

The PID will be presented to your project sponsor in April 2024 with the project implementation period
being from 1st May 2024 – 31st August 2024.

Assumptions

 A rate of £250 per day needs to be applied for any external contractors used.
 A rate of £100 per day will be applied for any of the project team who work for
HarmonyFest
 A goodwill charge of £1000 per performer (or group) to cover expenses as it is a charity
event, and it is hoped they will not charge a fee for performing.
 Cross-Border Approvals: Assuming all required international planning permissions are
obtained.
 Sponsorship: Assuming successful collaboration with international and local sponsors.
 Other sensible assumptions need to be established and listed in the assumptions section
and you can assume all planning permissions needed for this project have been approved.

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Assessment Brief 2022
Your group should keep a record of team meetings in terms of when the meeting was, who
attended and what was agreed and this should be submitted in the Appendix. This will help the
module team if there are issues in the group. No other work is required in an appendix. Please
have all elements specified above in the main body of the report. A template for the assignment
has been provided.

Project Initiation Document (PID) Contents for assignment 1 – GROUP WORK

PID Contents Sub-sections

Terms of Reference for the
Feasibility Study for the pilot
project, include:
References
 Introduction
 Project Objectives
 Constraints of the project
 Assumptions made
 Layout plan for the event
 Description of event layout including target
audience, hospitality and amenities included
 Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
 Scope (Summary of the main headings of the
WBS)
 Precedence table
 Network diagram including PERT and a Gantt
chart where possible for higher marks here
 Roles and responsibilities
 RACI matrix
 Budget for project
 Team Meeting log: this should be meeting date
and what you discussed
For each of the key tools being used to produce the
PID such as the WBS, Scope, Network diagram,
constraints, objectives and so on provide a couple
of academic references in your introduction of that
section of the report. These can be from books,
professional body websites or journals. Submit as
per HBS Harvard referencing standards (See CASE
guide)

The PID must show references for the project management techniques used.

More Information will be made available to the team as their investigation and plans progress.

Assignment Submission

Coursework One must be submitted as one piece of work in electronic format.

One electronic copy for each team, containing one file in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, should be
submitted via Canvas no later than 23:59 13th March 2024 – One group member to submit only

The CASE website has guidance for teamwork, and it is important to be supportive and compassionate
when working in a group – Please do watch the video and go through the links to support your group
working.

A suggested template for this assignment has been provided in the assignment 1 support Unit
on Canvas.

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Assessment Brief 2022

Any specific instructions:

The HBS Grading Criteria (rubric) will evidence how marks are awarded for individual parts of
the assignment i.e. Presentation and Structure, Intellectual Curiosity and Referencing, Content, Analysis,
Discussion

How the marks will be awarded (30% of module mark)

Mark scheme Weighting

Introduction 4
Introduction to the project and what is contained in the report
Project Objectives – ensure these are SMART 4
These are specific to the project, such as how much it will cost, how long it will
take, what will be delivered etc
Should contain a short justification stating the importance of project objectives
using ACADEMIC SOURCES
Constraints 4
Items that restrict the way the project can be done, such as working week days
only, preservation of trees, etc
Should contain a short justification stating the importance of identifying constraints
using ACADEMIC SOURCES
Assumptions 4
Items that might prevent you carrying out the project that you assume will be ok,
such as, planning permission granted, access to the site, working hours etc
Should contain a short justification stating the importance of assumptions using
ACADEMIC SOURCES
Plan of the building and layout plans 8
Sketch/ drawing of the event space which includes all requirements for the event.
A short description of the layout and amenities that will be available (please do not
spend too much time on this – this is required to contextualise the rest of your
work and has a small proportion of the marks)
Work Breakdown Structure 15
This should be numbered, hierarchically with the lower components clear subsets
of the higher item. Most of the items should be shown as work to be done (activity
based). All main requirements for setting up this venue should be included
Should contain a short justification stating the importance of WBS using
ACADEMIC SOURCES
Scope statement 8
A summary of what the project will achieve. A summary of the activity within each
of the top level activities in the WBS. Should also say what it will not cover, such
as day to day operation.
Should contain a short justification stating the importance of defining the scope
using ACADEMIC SOURCES
Precedence table and Network diagram 20
Schedule of activities - all activities and predecessors identified. Durations
identified, inclusion of PERT will add detail to estimation and therefore marks.
Network diagram - Key to denote what numbers and nodes mean, consistent with
precedence table, overall duration and critical path identified. Within the timeframe
allowed. Working days have been considered.
Inclusion of a Gantt chart to show the network diagram on a timeline will also
attract more marks.
Should contain a short justification stating the importance of network diagrams
and PERT (is used) in project planning using ACADEMIC SOURCES

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Assessment Brief 2022
Allocation of work 15
Roles and responsibilities defined for the project team with some academic
justification for the key roles such as the Sponsor, PM etc. Completion of the
responsibility, accountability, consulted and informed matrix (RACI) to show who
from the project team has responsibility and accountability for each identified task
on the precedence table and who may need to be consulted or informed. A short
justification of the importance of resource allocation using ACADEMIC sources.
Budget 10
Materials and associated costs of main materials including cost of stages,
amenities, artist expenses, etc. – key citations needed for costs.
Excel to be used to create a budget for the 4 months of the project (1 st May 2024 to
31st August 2024) with an overall budget for the project identified. Contingency
should be considered.
A short justification of the importance of budgeting using ACADEMIC SOURCES.
Presentation, references, academic writing style 5
Title page with group member names and ids, contents page with numbered
headings as per report writing guidance on CASE, page numbers, formatted well,
good use of academic English. Citations and References are academic and
formatted as per the CASE Harvard reference guide. Please make sure you use
academic sources (Books, Journal articles, PMI or APM websites for your
academic write-ups and ensure you paraphrase to make your words your own.
Work will be put through Turnitin and submissions with similarity index over 20%
will be investigated for plagiarism and marks could be deducted or the work could
be referred to the academic misconduct team. Case video on Plagiarism.
Diary – team meetings documented in appendix 3
Total 100

Please note that you will be required to complete an online peer – review for the group work in
WebPA where you will rate all your group members on the following:

 Brainstorming useful ideas and contributing to discussions

 Attending meetings and keeping in contact / communication
 Encouraging equal opportunities, listening, encouraging and acknowledging others
 Being objective and fair
 Working to the set objectives and completing the agreed tasks
 Monitoring progress and taking action to avoid/resolve any issues/conflicts
 Enthusiastic worker, taking initiative as required
 Being self motivated and managing time/work effectively
 Producing thorough work to a high standard

For each of the above you will rate your team members with a score from 1 to 6 where one would
indicate a poor score and 6 a very good score

You will be notified when this is ready for you to complete. Failure to complete webPA could
lead to a 5% reduction of your group mark
Your group mark will be adjusted based on the webPA rating. Your marks could go down if your
rating is calculated by the system as being below 1.

Academic Integrity, Plagiarism and Essay Mills

 You are NOT allowed to copy any information into your assignment without using quotation marks and a
reference – this is ‘plagiarism’ (a type of academic misconduct).
 You are NOT allowed to copy from other students (or allow other students to copy from you) – this is
‘collusion’.
 You are NOT allowed to copy from your own assignments on other modules – this is ‘self-plagiarism’.

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Assessment Brief 2022
 You must NEVER buy assignments from websites (essay mills) – this is called ‘contract cheating’ and it is
now illegal in the UK.
 If you commit academic misconduct, your mark will be reduced, and you will face disciplinary action for
repeat offences.
Contact academic-skills@herts.ac.uk if you are unsure of the rules or how to avoid academic misconduct, and
you will receive help.

Student Support and Guidance

 For further help on module content and assignment details, contact your Module Leader in his or her
drop-in / office hours or by email.
 Use the Learning Outcomes and HBS Grading Criteria (Rubric) to help inform you of the expectations of
the assessment.
 Use CASE (Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement) website resources: http://go.herts.ac.uk/CASE .
Attend CASE workshops and drop-ins to develop academic skills to meet HBS expectations (see timetable
on CASE website homepage or drop-in to CASE in L064, in the LRC).
 Visit the Academic English for Business Programme Site for tips on developing your academic English and
contact hbsacademic-english@herts.ac.uk if you have any questions.
 For help with Turnitin, look for the “Check your work (Turnitin Originality Report)” practice assignment in
the Assignment section of all of your modules. For help with understanding plagiarism and how to make
changes to your assignment, contact hbsacademic-english@herts.ac.uk.
 Use the Online Library to access quality business information resources:
o Library Search will help you find books, journal articles and more.
o Use the Subject Toolkit for Business to access to industry standard databases.
o Use Library SkillUP for guidance for searching and referencing.
o Get help: use SkilIUP module chat, visit the Study Success Hub, or book an 1:1 with a librarian.

Karen Robins - Updated June 2022