Brief of Bankaham Village Project

Introduction

Bankaham Village project is a project by John’s Luxury Properties that is situated in Banka, Ghana. The project is a modern village plan that will cover an area of 40 hectares and become a national and international destination. The Bankaham project is outstanding since it will showcase the contemporary architecture and the grand professionalism of John’s Luxury Properties. Bankaham Village will be a significant contributor to the region’s economy and a tourist attraction site. According to the master plan, Bankaham is expected to become a world-class destination that provides fashion and hospitality excellence. It will have modern holiday homes, educational facilities, recreational centers, healthcare facilities, aviation facilities, hotels, and retail facilities all in one unique and distinct area. The boost to employment that this project will bring to the area is also a factor to consider. The project will tackle unemployment and underemployment issues by providing full-time jobs and business opportunities.

Project Brief

Bankaham Village project is one of the major projects that have been done and completed by John’s Luxury Properties. The company is specialized in modern building and construction and provides the architecture for holiday homes. Bankaham project is one such project and will see an everyday living and travel destination space set-up. The project will have an explained before, modern holiday homes, hotels, and other vital facilities. The master plan for this project will have the project lie on a 40 hectares piece of land. The area is accessible through highways leading to the big cities; therefore, the village will be within reach. Modern building and construction will allow the living area of the project to include running spaces for people, parks, places for scooters and electric cars, and recreational amenities. The inclusion of an Airport2 lodge will ensure that airbus travel in and out of the village makes the village an international destination.

SMART Objectives

Specific Objective

The project owners and John’s Luxury properties have a grandmaster plan to see the project’s success. In the grand master plan, there exist several objectives that this project seeks to fulfill in its completion. However, the specific objective of the project is to ensure that the project becomes an international visitor destination and that the project improves the economy of the Bankaham area. The project will see business flourish, locals will get jobs and the general economy of the region will be improved.

Measurable

The objectives of the project are going to be measurable through key performance indicators such as the project process, number of business units and the number of visitors that frequent the Village after its completion. Monitoring these key factors will be the best way to ensure that the success of the project is achieved.

Attainable

The specific objective of the project has been tested and proven to be attainable. With the available resources and the skilled labor, the project is bound to be successful. The project’s sponsors have ensured that the teamed tasked with the completion of the project is able and well qualified for the work. The project’s timeline is also scoped perfectly to ensure that the specific objective will be achieved.

Relevant

The relevance of this specific objective is in line with the business and development goals of the project. The project also aims to ensure that there are complete fashion shopping outlets. These fashion shopping outlets are supposed to both develop and complement the current rural markets. Parks, open spaces, and big squares are also an objective of the project. These new living spaces for people will be significant amenities for the visitors. Providing unique, modern, and comfortable living spaces for people is part of the objectives of the project. Combining the special features of the rural setup and the new contemporary lifestyle is also a primary objective. All these goals lead to Bankaham village being an international travel destination and ensuring that it improves the economy of the region.

Time Bound

The project’s timeline is definite, and strict adherence to the plan will help achieve the objectives on time. The master plan will be completed by 2024, and the project will kick off immediately. By 2024, the village is expected to be a national and international destination. The village project is to become a significant contributor to the area’s economy by the year 2030. These are the project’s timelines and the achievements that each timeline should attain. The project’s target audience is global visitors and visitors from Ghana. The project aims at ensuring that by the year 2030, the Village will be a worldwide destination and that the people of Ghana will also enjoy the new destination. The other audience is the people around the region of Banka. The project aims to ensure that the people benefit more from the project. It will improve the lives of the people by providing employment and business opportunities.

RACI Matrix

A RACI chart like the one shown above is a document that shows the individuals who are responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed during the project period. The RACI matrix helps to solve the problem of who is supposed to do what. It gives a clear breakdown on the roles of each and every individual in the project (BRAC University, 2019). Functionality is a key aspect of every project. It is required that the project is running and all the systems operational for the success of the project.

Business Case

The Bankaham village project has imperative benefits to all its upcoming stakeholders. The village is designed to provide an environment that is recreational and comfortable yet promotes everyday life by creating an atmosphere of ordinary life. It is made possible by providing social amenities, retail shops, and services and still provides recreational services through their top-tier holiday homes. Bankaham project is one project that needs an elaborate business case. A business case is a document that provides the rationalization for commissioning a given project (Martins et al., 2018). It involves the assessment of costs, paybacks, and risks that are involved in the project. Through this provision, the needs of all affected stakeholders will be met.

For this project, stakeholders are the project endorsers who will fund the project, the project team whose purpose is to ensure the vision of the endorsers is realized, the Ghanaian government who gives permits for the creation of the establishment, the resource owners who are the community around which this establishment will be placed, business owners whose purpose is to make provision the said services possible, the employees who will provide the mentioned services and the customers who will ensure the village is profitable to its creators by enjoying the provided services. These stakeholder benefits include:

1. The customers are assured of a fulfilling stay within the Bankaham village, as their needs will be met. In the case of education or medical attention, facilities are provided to curb these needs. For shopping purposes, shops and retail centers will be available, and most importantly, for recreational purposes, high fashion centers, hotels, and services are a guarantee. All customer needs are expected to be met within this establishment.
2. The village will create various business opportunities for interested parties. All services provided within the institution are business opportunities for stakeholders with business intent to offer high-end services to customers.
3. Bankaham village will create employment opportunities for the community around it. In a country where there is a rising unemployment trend, these opportunities will help curb this problem. By 2020, the rate of unemployment rose to 4.4% in Ghana (Adeniran et al., 2020). This establishment aims to create over 1000 employment opportunities for Ghanaians. The increment in job creation will lower the unemployment rate by a small percentage which is a plus for the country.
4. Bankaham village is set to be a tourist attraction both locally and internationally. Since 2013, the contribution of Ghana’s travel and tourism to the GDP has gradually reduced. From a value of 7.1 in 2013 to 5.5 in 2020 (Gyamfi et al., 2020). As a tourist destination, this establishment will increase Ghana’s contribution to the GDP. Subsequently making a significant input to the country’s economy and ensuring the prerequisites of the government are met.
5. Lastly, the success of this project will bring forth income to all owners and project facilitators, thereby ensuring that their efforts are accounted for if the project scope is achieved.

In terms of timeline, this project is expected to start in 2022 and is set to be completed in 2024. By this time, the goals of the first phases of construction and physical completion should have been accomplished (Draft, 2021). However, the benefits are a long-term achievement; all stakeholders will be enjoying the fruits of this project after completion. In estimate, all benefits mentioned above will be realized by 2030.

The Bankaham village project is estimated to cost at least $600 million. This amount is expected to cover all construction expenses, facilitation of services and advertisement expenses, and all requirements during establishment. However, this estimate is placed on the higher side, where conditions are suitable, the project may cost less. The project costs will be monitored by accountants in charge of every entity in the project then brought forth to the overall accountant, who will relay the information to respective stakeholders. Therefore, the project will be divided into sections in relation to service and specific teams to deal with their particular specializations. The overall estimate assumed above also includes contingency funds in case of deviations in the critical path (Cronin, 2020). Table 1.1 represents the estimated costs of the project per phase. Phase I includes construction, landscaping, and design of the village; phase II constitutes the paperwork and marketing of the complete product.

Table 1.0

Deviations in the critical path may be caused if the project yields to the risks involved. For instance, if the community has conflicting interests with launching and continuation of the project. Government policies are another factor; if the project fails to adhere to Ghanaian construction regulations, completing the project will be hindered. The success of this project is also dependent on the capability of the world to embrace the Bankaham village. It is only when the project is appropriately welcomed will the benefits involved be achieved (Sebestyen, 2017). However, measures have been put in place to mitigate this risk and ensure the smooth running of the project.

Project Plan

Scope and Objectives

A project scope is a detailed outline of all the aspect of the project. It entails everything that is required to make the project a success, from the resources, stakeholders, timelines and the deliverables. The project scope also details the risks involved in the project, what the project is about and how to get the project done (Collins et al., 2017). The Bankaham project is supposed to be a ten-year project. All the stakeholders and the sponsors are on board and ready to push the project to a success. The resources for the project are all to be set ready and evaluated to ensure that the project is a completed. The deliverables of the project are to be achieved as part of the objectives. The objectives are to be aligned with the project timelines so that the achievements are significant.

Bankaham Village project is designed to provide a modern and serene living environment for the visitors. The project aims to provide basic but world-class amenities to the people who will be visiting. Top class architecture will be a core aspect of the project, and the environmental and landscaping scientists will also play a crucial role in the project. Having above-standard living homes, recreational facilities, healthcare facilities, and five-star hotels is the project’s main aim. The construction of this modern village on a 40-hectare piece of land will open opportunities to the locals. The locals’ benefits from the project are made clear by the community development and sensitization team. The engineering and architectural teams are tasked with ensuring that the project’s infrastructure is up and running. As per the project plan, the various departments are supposed to work together to ensure the project’s success.

Organization and Communication

The chief information officer’s office will be the primary reporting office. All project meetings are held in this office, and all the relevant project managers and supervisors are to communicate through the chief information officer. The project sponsors, the project management team, and the various department officials are expected to interconnect via the principal information office. Enabling this communication ensures that the project moves without any glitches and that the entire project is aware of what is taking place in every department. Communication between departments is essential as it allows for more effective and organizational management of the project (Muszyńska, 2018). The construction manager, engineering team, chief architect, survey team, interior and exterior designers, and the financial and marketing teams should report to the Chief information office. These meetings are necessary for updates on the deliverables of the project, the scope of the project, and the general progress of the project.

Organization Chart

Project Resource

The project resource is also an important part of the project plan. The project must have a working and operative staff. The staff is the backbone of the project, and without it, things will not be done. The project manager is in charge of the overall project (Momeni & Martinsuo, 2018). His or her responsibilities include; overseeing the work done, advising on chief decision-making, ensuring that all departments are operative, and checking on the project’s progress. The core team is the team that includes the construction management, engineering team, architecture, Landscaping and environmental specialists, interior and exterior designers, community development and sensitization team, and the finance and marketing teams.

Timeline

Bankaham Village project is a pilot project that is supposed to be completed by 2024; having a timeline for every phase’s completion is crucial. The first phase of the project will be completed by 2022; the second phase is to be done by 2024. The village is expected to be a pivotal contributor to the Banka’s region economy by 2030. The hotels, holiday homes, and other amenities are also likely to become employment sources for the people living in the area. Therefore, the Bankaham project is expected to solve the unemployment and underemployment issues facing the people of Banka. The project sponsors are to collaborate with the government, the local authorities, and the local people of Banka to ensure that the project becomes a success (Radujković & Sjekavica, 2018). The efforts and cooperation of all these entities will see the completion of the project.

Work Breakdown Structure

Initiation

To ensure that the project work will run effortlessly, a work breakdown structure must be developed. The work breakdown provides the ideal workflow and tasks to be covered during the project. The work breakdown structure gives a framework for organizing and managing the project. It presents the relationships between different tasks to be completed. It also helps the project manager to have an overview of the project duties and know who is responsible for each work (Elsye et al., 2018). The initiation stage of the project is the start of the project, where the piloting of the project takes place. During this stage, the evaluation and recommendation of the project are made. The development of the project chatter also takes place during the initiation stage of the project. The sponsor of the project should inspect the chatter and approve of it. Once approved, the signing and final approval of the chatter should then take place.

Planning

The next stage of the project is the planning stage. It is vital to ensure that a working plan is drafted and strictly followed. Creating a scope statement and having the project team announced are critical activities of the project. The team is the skeleton of the project, and it ensures that the scope and objectives of the project are achieved. The project plan should be determined and developed by the project team (Allahar, 2019). The documented project plan is then presented for approval by the project sponsors. A proper plan will ensure that the workflow and organization of the project are achieved.

Execution and Control

The execution phase of the project is the most crucial. During this stage, the project kicks off, and the theoretical plans and proposals are put into practice. Verification and validation of requirements for the project take place in this phase. All the tasked staff members are supposed to take charge of their various departments (Zita, 2020). The procured resources are brought to the site, and the work starts without any hesitation. The Bankaham village project is scheduled to begin after all plans and proposals have been approved. After the project kicks off, the next phase of the project will be the control stage. The control phase is the project management phase that ensures that information is distributed to every department for effective response. During this phase, risk management is also carried out to ensure that they are avoided as much as possible.

Closeout Phase

The last stage of the work breakdown structure is the close-out of the project. The project’s success depends on the audit report, which evaluates all the aspects of the project. The audit enables the stakeholders to get an overview of the project’s progress and success (Albert et al., 2017). Through this audit, the stakeholders can make decisions towards the project’s future and establish the lessons learned. Upon this review of the audit, the stakeholders set a closure meeting to prepare for the closure of the project. During the meeting, documentation of results, transfer of responsibilities, and preparation for financial payments occur. Evaluation of customer satisfaction is also done depending on the reports provided by the finance and marketing team.

Lessons Learned

Through the organization of this project, there have been several lessons learned. One important lesson that is there to be learned is that of team work. Team work is necessary for the completion of the project. Individual efforts should be brought together and brain stormed. Through this brain storming, valuable solutions are established and this ensures that the project is completed without failure. The other important lesson learned is that flow of information during a project is crucial for the success of the project. There should be efficient communication between the different sectors of the project management teams to ensure that the work occurs effortlessly.

Risk Management Plan

Risk Areas

The potential risks to the project are both external and internal risk factors. One of the significant external risks is that of Government policies. The project sponsors must ensure that the project is in line with the government policies. The local country’s economy is another great risk to the project’s completion. The shifting dynamics in the country’s economy can have a great effect on the project. The community can also be a great hindrance to the project if there are conflicting interests. Internal risks to the project would include human capital; since the human resource is local, they may come and go, leading to slow work progress. Lack of harmony between the various departments can also be a significant challenge to the project.

Risk Management

To avoid any interference from the local government, the project sponsors should ensure that the project is according to all the regulations and government policies. Ensuring that the contracts are signed and approved is crucial. For proper mitigation against economic fluctuations, the stakeholders should do prior contingency planning to ensure that the project runs regardless of the situation (Ayub et al., 2019). The community development and sensitization team ensure that the people are aware and in agreement with the project. Sensitization helps to avoid uncertainties and conflicts of interest between the locals and the project. Workers’ employment system should be developed to ensure clear terms of contracts and proper notice of work. Ethical behavior should be advised during the project, and equal distribution of resources and funding should be done with respect to the demands of each department (Řeháček, 2017). This will ensure harmonious cooperation among the various departments, which leads to the success of the project.

Personal Experience

As a project manager, it is very difficult to have all the plans and strategies in place. It is, however, a nice experience to be a project manager since you get to see the birth and growth of a project. Discussions towards the project kick-off are always debatable as the whole project team tries to push for their recommendations. Being a project manager comes with a number of responsibilities. As a project manager, you are tasked with supervision of the project and ensuring that the project is a success. Maintaining a clear line of communication is one of the tough tasks that exist when you are a project manager. It is the project manager’s duty to ensure that there is undistorted information between all the stakeholders in the project.

Conclusion

Project planning is a crucial aspect of project management and it requires ample time and focuses. Projects run on timelines and objectives, therefore, proper preparation and management of the project are imperative. Achieving the projects deliverables is also a main aim of the project plan and this is another reason why the plan must be comprehensive enough. The project will have its benefits and its downfalls, risks involved and lessons learned. The scope of the project and the plan for the project’s success are all important aspects of a project management plan.

Work Cited

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