Project Plan for Whitbread World Sailboat Race

Running head: PROJECT PLAN FOR WHITBREAD WORLD SAILBOAT RACE

Project Plan for Whitbread World Sailboat Race

Adrian D Brown

University of Phoenix

Project Plan for Whitbread World Sailboat Race

In several months from now, on a misty spring morning the waters around London will be invaded by sleek designs of the latest sailboats technology has to offer. Approximately 14 countries will converge on the United Kingdom to participate in the Whitbread World Sailboat Race. One of the teams to participate will be lead by Trygve Wallvik, chosen helmsman to represent his country. Over the next 45 weeks, Bjorn Ericksen will manage the task of implementing the project to design and construct a sail boat, and train a crew to compete in the upcoming Whitbread race.

This paper will examine Ericksen’s project strategy, which initially start off with two parallel paths: one for the boat design and the other for crew training. As the project is laid out and the cost accounted, Bjorn and his team analyze the critical path of the project and determine ways to meet the time constraint on the project. Taking advantage of crash time, Ericksen’s team develops resources to get the project complete, maintain performance, at the cost of budget overruns. However, the overruns are tolerable based on the priority matrix chosen by this team. Lastly, implementation of project closure is discussed as the program makes a normal transition from a full fledge project to completion upon delivery.

Bjorn Ericksen Project Strategy Analysis

Bjorn Ericksen has been selected as project manager to represent his country for the Whitbread World Sailboat Race, because of his master helmsman experience and fame as the �best designer of racing sailboats on the world” (Gray & Larson, 2005, p.305). Proud to be chosen for this prestigious event, Bjorn has hand picked Karin Knutsen to be the chief design engineer of the new vessel for the upcoming race, and Trygve Wallvik its new master helmsman.

The project plan has two parallel paths running through the project—design and construction and crew training. While Karin is working on the new design and construction of the boat, Trygve will concentrate on building the team and getting them trained for the new vessel. Until the new entry is ready, the boat from last year’s race will be used to train until the new boat is built and ready for trials. The goal is to have the boat and crew ready for the race in 45 weeks, when the new entry must arrive in the United Kingdom to start the race.

In the kick –off meeting, the major activities for each path are discussed. Table 1 shows the deliverables and task. Figure 1 shows the network diagram of the project plan. On the design path the major activities identified are based on design, construction, and boat testing. Specifically, Karin will start off with the design which is slated for 6 weeks. Once the design is finished, construction of the hull can begin, taking about 12 weeks. In addition, the mast, sails, and accessories will be placed on order which will take up to 15 weeks to arrive (the accessories being the long lead items in this case). When the hull is completed the ballast tanks will take 2 weeks to be installed. Once this is done, coating the hull and building the deck can be accomplished simultaneously. The coating will be already be finished by the time the deck is done. At this point the ordered parts will have arrived and can now be installed by the crew on the new boat. The sails and mast will take two weeks and the accessories six weeks. After the parts are installed, boat testing can begin. Finally the boat will be ready for testing that is scheduled for five weeks. Based on this plan the schedule from items A to K will take 36 weeks top complete at an approximate cost of $2,520,000. No indirect costs included in this project path.

On the team training path, the major activities are focused around crew training. Securing both crew and housing will are parallel efforts and can start at the same time. Once the crew has arrived equipment can be selected and ordered. Likewise, efforts in developing a routine sailing and maintenance program can commence on the old vessel. As this maintenance program is developed, the crew will be able to use the new equipment as it arrives to complete development of the program. This will take about 15 weeks. When the preliminary routines are completed, the deck will be finished, and the boat parts (accessories, mast and seven sails) will be ready for