QUESTION ONE [40] Read the following case study and answer the questions that follow: Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting in an MBA Project Management Scenario Background: A team of MBA students is working on a project to develop a new mobile application for a startup company. The project involves developing an innovative mobile application that will offer services in a completely new market niche. The team has been working on the project for the last six months and is currently in the execution phase. Objectives: The objective of the project is to deliver a high-quality mobile application that meets the needs of the target customers and offers a superior user experience. The project is expected to be completed within the agreed timeline and budget. Project Plan: The project plan includes the following phases:

Initiation

Planning

Execution

Monitoring and Control

Closure The Monitoring and Control phase is critical as it involves tracking project progress, identifying and addressing deviations from the plan, and ensuring that the project is on track to meet its objectives. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting: The project manager has set up a monitoring, evaluation and reporting system to track project progress and ensure that the project is on track to meet its objectives. The system includes the following elements:

1. Project Dashboard: The project dashboard is a visual representation of project progress and includes key performance indicators (KPIs) such as schedule variance, cost variance, and quality metrics. The dashboard is updated on a regular basis and is accessible to all project stakeholders.

2. Status Meetings: Regular status meetings are held to review project progress and address any issues or risks. The meetings are attended by all project stakeholders, including the project team, sponsor, and other key stakeholders.

3. Project Reports: Project reports are prepared on a regular basis to provide detailed information on project progress, risks, and issues. The reports are distributed to all project stakeholders and are used to track project progress and identify any deviations from the plan.

4. Risk Management: Risk management is a critical element of the monitoring and control phase. The project manager has set up a risk management plan to identify, assess, and mitigate project risks. The plan includes a risk register, risk assessment matrix, and risk response plan.

5. Change Management: Change management is another important element of the monitoring and control phase. The project manager has set up a change management plan to ensure that all changes to the project scope, schedule, or budget are properly documented, reviewed, and approved. Source: This case study is based on "Project Management Monitoring and Control Techniques" by Amol Gawade and Pranay Choudhary, published in the International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering. Questions:

1.1 Examine some of the key challenges faced by project managers when it comes to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting in a large-scale construction project, and discuss how these challenges can be overcome. (10)

1.2 Assess how project managers can use key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor the progress of a large-scale construction project, and outline some common KPIs used in this context. 10

1.3 Discuss the role that reporting plays in a large-scale construction project and describe some of the best practices for effective reporting. (10)

1.4 Explain how project managers can ensure that monitoring, evaluation, and reporting are integrated into the overall project management process and discuss the benefits of this approach. (10)