Question 4

The project in Question 3 has started on time and the A-Team is fully functional as planned.Planning is proceeding apace as is project management. Unfortunately, consultations with vendors of display units has hit a snag because there are too many options to choose from and your Client has not been available to make a decision on the options that you have recommended. As a result, the only spending in Quarter 1 was A-Team design $11,000 and A-Team project management $4,180 exactly as budgeted.This leaves the project $6,820 (some 30%) underspent. Is this a problem? What should the project manager (PM) do?

Question 5

Further to Question 4, you notice a sales catalogue from a different Australian tradeshow booth marketing company on the desk of the Client's Receptionist when arriving to speak with the Client Representative about recommended options.Asking the receptionist about the catalogue, the answer is that the Client Representative ordered the catalogue from a good friend at the marketing company. During the meeting, you subtly raise the matter and learn that the Client Representative's best friend works at that company, but don't feel under pressure to use them. Reading the writing on the wall, you instruct the A-Team to see if there's a problem using that firm and learn that their products and prices are very much the same as any other Australian marketing firm's.The list of recommendations is then tweaked, the new firm's product added, and the amended recommendation goes forward. Surprise, surprise, the Client approves the revised recommendation at the midway point of the 2^nd Quarter. Placing the order, you learn that delivery of the unit will be the middle of the 3^rd Quarter. The impact of this delay is:

• Scope - no apparent impact
• Time - first show is delayed 1 quarter to 4^th quarter Year 1. Each subsequent show is pushed back one quarter.
• Cost - The A-Team will need to be extended by an estimated 150 hours to assemble, train staff, test and crate the display unit for transport. No additional expenses will be incurred.
• Quality - no apparent impact.
• A Change Order will be raised to cover the schedule delay and cost overrun.

Update the graphical project progress report from Question 3 for quarters 1 and 2. Include the explanation of the apparent underrun that you would include with the progress report.