Reference no: EM134002923

Project, Design and Construction Management

Assessment - Project, Demonstration, and Presentation

Project Scenario: The Westbridge Transit Precinct Upgrade Background

The Westbridge Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) has received State Government funding to upgrade the Westbridge Rail Station into a fully integrated transit hub. The upgrade is intended to increase passenger capacity, improve accessibility and connectivity, and modernise station facilities for the growing urban catchment area. You have been appointed as Project Manager for this project.

Scope of Works
The project comprises the following key elements:
Elevated Pedestrian Bridge
A 120-metre span steel and composite deck footbridge (with a deck width of 5 metres) connecting the existing rail station to a new bus interchange across a busy arterial road. The bridge is supported on two precast concrete piers with bored pile foundations. The bridge must comply with AS 5100 (Bridge Design) and include full disability access with lifts at each end. No AI shortcuts — Get genuine assignment help from experienced, real tutors.
Station Expansion Building
A two-storey reinforced concrete building (approx. 1,800 m² GFA) providing new ticketing facilities, retail tenancies on the ground floor, and a commuter lounge and amenities on the first floor. The building is constructed adjacent to and partially over an existing operational station platform. The existing heritage-listed station facade must be retained and incorporated into the new building design.
Temporary Works and Traffic Management
The project requires temporary shoring to support the existing station canopy during staged demolition works, and temporary traffic management on the arterial road during bridge pier construction. The rail station must remain operational throughout construction, with access restrictions limited to approved possession windows agreed with the rail network operator.

Project Constraints and Context
Budget: $45 million (design and construction, excluding land)
Programme: 24 months from contract award to practical completion
Operational continuity: The rail station must remain operational throughout; a minimum of two traffic lanes must be maintained during peak hours
Heritage: Heritage overlay applies to the existing station building facade; State Heritage Office approval required
Site constraints: Residential properties within 30 metres on the northern boundary; active rail corridor on the southern boundary

Stakeholders: Metropolitan Transport Authority (Client and operator), State Heritage Office (regulatory), Local City Council (traffic and planning approvals), Department of Infrastructure (funding body), adjoining residents and business owners, rail passengers, main contractor and subcontractors

Change Scenario (for use in Task 1, Section 5)
Change Event: Foundation Conflict
Eight weeks after construction commencement, geotechnical investigations for Pier 1 of the pedestrian bridge reveal a previously unidentified underground stormwater culvert at a depth of
4.2 metres, directly conflicting with the planned pile layout. The structural engineer has identified two resolution options:
Option 1 - Redesign the pier foundation to span over the culvert using a transfer structure. Estimated additional cost: $280,000. Estimated programme impact: 6-week delay to bridge works critical path.
Option 2 - Emergency diversion of the culvert (requires negotiation with the City Council's drainage authority). Estimated additional cost: $180,000. Estimated programme impact: 4-week delay, with risk of further delay if council approvals are not obtained within two weeks.

Assessment Criteria:
Your work will be assessed according to the following performance levels:
Basic: Minimum completion, limited realism, incomplete logic, weak discussion, or superficial analysis.
Proficient: Meets the stated requirements correctly with appropriate settings, logical structure, and analytical conclusions.
Advanced: Professional-grade submission demonstrating realistic decisions, clean and coherent logic, clear and well-structured justification, and high-quality presentation

Task 1 - Written Report
Submit an individual written report applying key project management principles from Topics 1-7 to the Westbridge Transit Precinct Upgrade. Your report must be structured with clear headings and subheadings that correspond to the five sections below. All arguments must be supported by reference to course concepts and, where appropriate, relevant standards or industry practice.
Format: Maximum 3,500 words (excluding tables, figures, and references).

Section 1: Project Overview and Delivery Mechanism Selection
Applying knowledge from Topics 1 and 2, address the following:
Project overview (2 marks): Briefly describe the project, its key objectives, scope, and the primary constraints that will influence project management decisions.
Delivery mechanism analysis (8 marks): Evaluate at least three project delivery mechanisms relevant to this project (e.g., DBB, DB, EPCM, ECI, Alliancing). For each mechanism, discuss how it would or would not suit the specific characteristics of this project, including the operational rail environment, heritage requirements, budget certainty requirements, and the client's in-house capability. Present your analysis in a structured format (table or narrative).
Selection and justification (5 marks): Select the most appropriate delivery mechanism for this project and justify your recommendation. Your justification must address how the
selected mechanism manages risk, allocates responsibility, and accommodates the project's
key constraints.

Section 2: Project Organisation, Stakeholders, and Communication Plan
Applying knowledge from Topics 2 and 3, address the following:
Project organisational structure (5 marks): Define and justify the most appropriate project organisational structure for the selected delivery mechanism (e.g., functional, dedicated project team, matrix, or network). Describe how authority and responsibility will be structured, and explain how the structure will address the multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder nature of this project.
Stakeholder identification and analysis (5 marks): Identify and categorise at least six key project stakeholders across internal and external, demand-side and supply-side groupings. For each stakeholder, describe their primary interests, level of influence, and potential impact (positive or negative) on the project.
Communication plan (5 marks): Develop a project communication plan for at least four key stakeholder groups. Your plan must specify: the communication purpose, method (interactive, push, or pull), frequency, content summary, and the party responsible for communication. Present this as a table.

Section 3: Design Management Approach
Applying knowledge from Topic 4, address the following for ONE of the two design elements:

Select either: (A) the Elevated Pedestrian Bridge, or (B) the Station Expansion Building. State your selection clearly at the start of this section and apply it consistently throughout.

Structural design requirements (5 marks): Identify and describe at least five specific structural design requirements for your selected element. Requirements must address multiple dimensions, including: functional performance, structural safety (with reference to applicable codes or standards), serviceability, durability, constructability, and sustainability. Where possible, express requirements in measurable or performance-based terms.
Design management methodology (5 marks): Describe how design management will be conducted for your selected element, including: the design approach (bottom-up, top-down, systems engineering, etc.), design lifecycle with key hold points (hard, soft, or fuzzy) and their purpose, design team collaboration strategy, and how constructability will be assured throughout the design process.
Quality Function Deployment (QFD) matrix (5 marks): Develop a simplified QFD matrix for your selected design element. The matrix must include at least four client/stakeholder requirements (rows) and four design response criteria or technical characteristics (columns). Assign a relationship score (e.g., strong = 9, moderate = 3, weak = 1) for each requirement-criterion pair. Identify and briefly discuss the key trade-offs revealed by the matrix and how they would inform design decisions.

Section 4: Construction Methodology and Temporary Works
Applying knowledge from Topics 5 and 6, address the following for the same design element selected in Section 3:
Construction methodology (3 marks): Outline the planned construction methodology for the critical construction phase of your selected element. Describe the key construction sequence (step-by-step) and explain why this sequence has been selected. Identify the key resources required (plant, equipment, personnel), any constraints on methodology arising from the operational environment (active rail, road traffic), and how the methodology supports the design requirements defined in Section 3.
Temporary works and factors of safety (4 marks): Identify at least three temporary works requirements for the chosen construction phase. For each temporary work, describe: its purpose, the key design considerations (loads, stability, structural integrity), the factor of safety requirements and the basis for their selection (with reference to applicable standards or codes), and the associated safety and contractor responsibilities during erection, use, and dismantling.

Section 5: Change Management - Response to the Change Scenario
Applying knowledge from Topic 7, address the following using the Change Scenario (Foundation Conflict) described in the Project Scenario section:
Change identification and classification (2 mark): Identify and classify the change according to its type (scope, baseline), source (design, unplanned site condition, etc.), and dimensions (planned/unplanned, internal/external, direct/secondary). Briefly justify your classification.
Change management process (3 marks): Apply the key steps of the change management process to this change event. This must include: completing a change control form summary (description, reason, options), trade-off analysis of Option 1 and Option 2 against the project's cost, schedule, and risk parameters, and your recommendation with justification.
Direct impacts (3 marks): Identify and describe the direct impacts of your recommended option on: project scope, cost, schedule, and at least two key stakeholder groups. Distinguish between added scope/expenditure, delay impacts, and design uncertainty, where applicable.

Task 2 - Practical Demonstration
In this task, you are required to develop a project management tool applied specifically to the Westbridge Transit Precinct Upgrade. The option assigned to you is determined by the final digit of your student identification number:
Final digit even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8): Complete Option A - Work Breakdown Structure and Project Schedule.
Final digit odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9): Complete Option B - Risk Register.
Your demonstration must be submitted as a standalone file and included as Appendix A to your written report. It will be assessed on the completeness and accuracy of the tool, the rigour and specificity with which it has been applied to the project scenario, and the overall standard of professional presentation.

Option A - Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Project Schedule
Develop the following for the full project scope:
WBS (Level 1 and Level 2): A hierarchical work breakdown structure identifying all major project deliverables at Level 1 and the associated work packages at Level 2. The WBS must

cover all three project scope elements (bridge, station building, temporary works/traffic management) and include project management as a separate WBS element.
Project Schedule: A tabular schedule (Gantt-style) for the full 24-month project programme, showing: WBS activities (Level 2), sequencing (predecessors), estimated durations, key resources, and at least five milestone dates. Activities must reflect logical construction sequencing and the operational constraints described in the scenario.

Option B - Risk Register
Develop a comprehensive project risk register with at least 12 risks across at least four of the following categories: design and technical; construction; stakeholder and community; environmental and regulatory; financial and commercial; and operational continuity.
Each risk entry must include all of the following fields:
Risk ID and a descriptive risk title that clearly conveys the nature of the risk event
Risk category and the primary source of the risk (design, site condition, third-party, regulatory, etc.)
Likelihood rating on a 1-5 scale, with a concise written justification specific to the project context
Consequence rating on a 1-5 scale, with a concise written justification specific to the project context
Risk rating (Likelihood × Consequence) and the corresponding risk level (Low / Medium / High / Extreme)
Proposed risk response strategy (Avoid, Transfer, Mitigate, or Accept) and specific mitigation or control actions
Residual risk rating following the application of the proposed response
Risk owner identified by project role (not by individual name)

Task 3 - Presentation

Presentation Requirements

Record a 10-minute individual presentation using PowerPoint slides or similar. Your presentation should communicate your project management approach for the Westbridge Transit Precinct Upgrade in a manner appropriate for a professional client briefing.
Required Content
Your presentation must address all three of the following areas:

Area 1 - Delivery Mechanism and Project Governance (approx. 3 minutes): Briefly introduce the project and present your recommended delivery mechanism. Explain the rationale for your selection and how it will structure the project team, allocate risk, and
meet the client's objectives. You may use a diagram to illustrate the project's organisational structure.

Area 2 - Design Management Strategy (approx. 4 minutes): Present your design management approach for the selected design element (bridge or station building). Highlight the key structural design requirements, your methodology for managing the design lifecycle and hold points, and the key insights from your QFD analysis. Explain how constructability has been integrated into the design approach.

Area 3 - Change Management Response (approx. 3 minutes): Present your response to the foundation conflict change scenario. Summarise the change, your recommended option, the trade-off analysis, and the direct impacts. Conclude with a brief reflection on what this scenario demonstrates about the importance of proactive change management on complex infrastructure projects.