The “Golden Bridge” software development project was scheduled to be completed in about 12 months. Two to six team members were planned to work on the project. Project progress control was based on a monthly report that would refer to each of the 32 activities to be performed and to the components;(1) risk item management,(2) timetable, and(3) project’s human resources utilization. The first six monthly progress reports submitted to management did not indicate any deviation from the plan. The seventh progress report presented a substantial overrun in terms of human resources utilization (overtime, etc.) as well as a one-month delay in the expected completion dates for many activities.

(1)Can you suggest possible reasons for the relatively late detection of the deviations from the plan? (2)For each of the above three components, describe the measures that could have been taken to prevent the deviations and their adverse effects. (3)Suggest some interventions that management should introduce to compensate for the project’s failures, including a narrative behind each intervention.