The Purpose Of This Assignment Is To Create A Work Br 368986

The Purpose Of This Assignment Is To Create A Work Breakdown Structure

The purpose of this assignment is to create a work breakdown structure (WBS) for a given project. Complete Case 4.1: Manchester United Soccer Club - see below. In addition to the items requested for Question 1 in the case, complete the following for Question 1 using Microsoft Project: Create a list of tasks in Microsoft Project. At a minimum, 30 lowest-level tasks are required. Using Microsoft Project’s task indent tool, create a WBS for your project. Include summary tasks to effectively identify the key areas of work for the project. Ensure that the WBS column is displayed. Respond to Questions 2, 3 and 4 in the case. Ensure each response includes at least 100 words. APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

Case 4.1: Manchester United Soccer Club Nicolette Larson was loading the dishwasher with her husband, Kevin, and telling him about the first meeting of the Manchester United Tournament Organizing Committee. Nicolette, a self-confessed “soccer mom,” had been elected tournament director and was responsible for organizing the club’s first summer tournament. Manchester United Soccer Club (MUSC), located in Manchester, New Hampshire, was formed in 1992 as a way of bringing recreational players to a higher level of competition and preparing them for the State Olympic Development Program and/or high school teams. The club currently has 24 boys and girls (ranging in age from under 9 to 16) on teams affiliated with the New Hampshire Soccer Association and the Granite State Girls Soccer League.

The club’s board of directors decided in the fall to sponsor a summer invitational soccer tournament to generate revenue. Given the boom in youth soccer, hosting summer tournaments has become a popular method for raising funds. MUSC teams regularly compete in three to four tournaments each summer at different locales in New England. These tournaments have been reported to generate between $50,000 and $70,000 for the host club. MUSC needs additional revenue to refurbish and expand the number of soccer fields at the Rock Rimmon soccer complex.

Funds would also be used to augment the club’s scholarship program, which provides financial aid to players who cannot afford the $450 annual club dues. Nicolette gave her husband a blow-by-blow account of what transpired during the first tournament committee meeting that night. She started the meeting by having everyone introduce themselves and by proclaiming how excited she was that the club was going to sponsor its own tournament. She then suggested that the committee brainstorm what needed to be done to pull off the event; she would record their ideas on a flip chart. What emerged was a free-for-all of ideas and suggestions.

One member immediately stressed the importance of having qualified referees and spent several minutes describing in detail how his son’s team was robbed in a poorly officiated championship game. This was followed by other stories of injustice on the soccer field. Another member suggested that they needed to quickly contact the local colleges to see if they could use their fields. The committee spent more than 30 minutes talking about how they should screen teams and how much they should charge as an entry fee. An argument broke out over whether they should reward the winning teams in each age bracket with medals or trophies.

Many members felt that medals were too cheap, while others thought the trophies would be too expensive. Someone suggested that they seek local corporate sponsors to help fund the tournament. The proposed sale of tournament T-shirts and sweatshirts was followed by a critique of the different shirts parents had acquired at different tournaments. One member advocated recruiting an artist to develop a unique silk-screen design for the tournament. The meeting adjourned 30 minutes late with only half of the members remaining until the end.

Nicolette drove home with seven sheets of ideas and a headache. As Kevin poured a glass of water for the two aspirin Nicolette was about to take, he tried to comfort her by saying that organizing this tournament would be a big project, not unlike the projects he worked on at his engineering and design firm. He offered to sit down with her the next night and help her plan the project. He suggested that the first thing they needed to do was to develop a WBS for the project.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a fundamental step in project management that facilitates organized planning, resource allocation, and effective execution of complex projects. In the context of organizing the Manchester United Soccer Club’s inaugural summer tournament, a well-constructed WBS can serve as a vital tool to streamline activities, clarify responsibilities, and mitigate common planning issues encountered during initial meetings. This paper explores the key deliverables for the tournament project, illustrates how a WBS can enhance organizational efficiency, identifies sources for additional information, and discusses how the WBS supports accurate cost estimation, ultimately ensuring successful event execution.

Major Deliverables for the Tournament Project

In planning a soccer tournament, several major deliverables are critical to its successful execution. First, logistical arrangements must be organized, including securing facilities, equipment, and permits. Specifically, venues such as local college fields must be booked, requiring coordination with institutions and local authorities. Second, program development involves setting the tournament schedule, defining age brackets, and designing the competition format. Third, marketing and sponsorship are essential to generate revenue—this includes recruiting sponsors, designing promotional materials, and selling merchandise like T-shirts and sweatshirts.

Another key deliverable is volunteer and staff coordination, which entails recruiting referees, officials, and event volunteers. Ensuring qualified referees involves hiring or recruiting trained officials and verifying their credentials, while staffing responsibilities include registration desk management, scorekeeping, and field supervision. Additionally, a financial management plan must be established to determine entry fees, team screening processes, and awarding mechanisms such as medals or trophies. Lastly, safety and compliance measures need to be addressed, including first aid services and adherence to local regulations. These components collectively form the core of the WBS, each with detailed sub-tasks under them.

Constructing a Multi-Level WBS for the Tournament

Developing a three-level WBS involves identifying each major deliverable as a high-level task, breaking it down into logical subcomponents, and further detailing specific activities. For example, “Facility Arrangements” as a top-level task can be subdivided into securing fields, obtaining permits, and arranging for equipment. “Marketing and Sponsorship” can be decomposed into sponsor outreach, merchandise design, and advertising campaigns. This hierarchical structure promotes clarity and control, as each lower-level task can be assigned to responsible individuals, scheduled within the project timeline, and monitored for progress.

The visual representation of this WBS via Microsoft Project’s task indent tool allows for organized tracking. Incorporating at least three levels ensures that granular activities such as confirming referee qualifications or designing silk-screened shirts are clearly identifiable. Summarizing related tasks into higher-level categories (e.g., “Event Logistics”) helps in managing overall progress and identifying potential bottlenecks. A comprehensive WBS not only offers clarity but also enhances accountability and provides a foundation for detailed scheduling and resource planning.

Benefits of WBS in Organizing and Planning

The creation of a detailed WBS can significantly alleviate the issues faced during the initial unstructured planning meeting. First, it transforms a free-for-all of ideas into a structured hierarchy, clarifying priorities and responsibilities. Each task can be assigned to specific team members, preventing overlaps and misunderstandings. Second, by visualizing all activities, Nicolette and her team can identify dependencies and realistic timelines, reducing the risk of overlooked critical tasks such as securing referees or finalizing sponsors.

Furthermore, a WBS aids in process control by providing a clear map of project scope and progress. It enables team members to focus on their assigned tasks, making meetings more productive. Additionally, it facilitates communication among stakeholders by offering a shared understanding of project status, responsibilities, and deadlines. Overall, the WBS serves as a roadmap that guides the team step-by-step, enhances coordination, and promotes proactive problem-solving.

Sources for Additional Information

To develop an effective WBS for the tournament, Nicolette can leverage various resources. Project management textbooks such as “A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)” published by PMI offer comprehensive guidance on WBS creation and best practices. Online project management tools and templates, including Microsoft Project’s resources, provide practical examples and structures to adapt. Consulting with experienced event organizers and local sports organizations can also yield valuable insights. Additionally, industry-specific publications, community forums, and local government or educational institution websites can supply relevant standards, permits, and logistical considerations for sports events. Collecting information from these sources will help ensure that the WBS is thorough, realistic, and tailored to the tournament’s specific needs.

Using WBS for Cost Estimation and Budgeting

The WBS serves as an essential framework for generating accurate cost estimates by breaking down the project into manageable, quantifiable tasks. Each lower-level task can be assigned a specific budget based on historical data, supplier quotes, or market rates. For example, costs associated with venue rentals, referee fees, trophies, shirts, and promotional materials can be itemized and aggregated at each level. This detailed costing process allows Nicolette and her task force to identify funding gaps, prioritize expenditures, and explore cost-saving opportunities.

Incorporating cost estimates into the WBS enhances financial control, improves decision-making, and supports transparent reporting to stakeholders, including sponsors and the club’s board. Knowing the precise costs associated with each activity also facilitates contingency planning, reducing the risk of overspending or underfunding critical components. Ultimately, the ability to estimate costs accurately ensures the tournament remains financially viable while fulfilling its objectives of generating revenue and supporting the club’s growth efforts.

References

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• Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
• Meredith, J. R., & Shafer, S. M. (2019). Project Management: A Managerial Approach. Wiley.
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• Heldman, K. (2018). Project Management jumpstart. Wiley.
• Larson, E., & Gray, C. (2017). Project Management: The Managerial Process. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Mitchell, J. (2016). Managing Sports Events. Routledge.
• Marshall, S. (2015). Sports Event Management. Routledge.
• Day, M., & Kólica, J. (2018). Event Planning and Management. Routledge.
• Peeling, D., & Hashimoto, T. (2019). Developing Effective Sports Facilities for Youth Soccer. Journal of Sports Management, 33(3), 167-181.