Question 1 (Marks: 10)

Case study:
Your campus projects team:-VoiceOnCampus would like to start a podcast providing insightful
interviews and talks from industry professionals, as well as providing students with helpful tips
about career-based topics such as drafting CVs, preparing for interviews, and how to conduct
oneself in the workplace.
Considering the project life cycle, answer the questions that follow:
Q.1.1 Discuss which phase would include laying out a roadmap or game plan for the
podcast and how this would be done.
(5)
Q.1.2 Describe a baseline plan and explain three(3) pieces of information to include in a
baseline plan using examples from the case study.
add harvard referencing

Q.1.1 The phase that would include laying out a roadmap or game plan for the podcast is the Planning phase. During this phase, the team would develop a detailed plan that outlines the objectives, goals, and strategies for the podcast project. This plan would serve as a roadmap for the team to guide them throughout the project.

To create the roadmap or game plan for the podcast, the team would need to conduct thorough research and analysis of the target audience, industry professionals, and career-based topics. They would also need to define the format, duration, frequency, and style of the podcast episodes. Additionally, they would outline the necessary resources, such as equipment, software, and team members, needed to produce and distribute the podcast. The roadmap or game plan would also include a timeline that outlines the key milestones and deadlines for each phase of the project.

Q.1.2 A baseline plan in project management is a reference point that establishes the initial scope, schedule, and cost of the project. It helps measure the progress and performance of the project against the original plan. In the case of the podcast project for VoiceOnCampus, three pieces of information that can be included in a baseline plan are:

1) Scope: This includes the specific objectives and deliverables of the podcast project. For example, in the case study, the scope could include producing 10 episodes per semester and covering career-based topics such as CV drafting, interview preparation, and workplace etiquette.

2) Schedule: The baseline plan should include a detailed timeline that outlines the start and end dates of each phase of the project. For instance, the schedule could include the planning phase from Week 1 to Week 2, the production phase from Week 3 to Week 8, and the distribution phase from Week 9 to Week 12.

3) Cost: The baseline plan should also include the estimated costs associated with the podcast project. This could include expenses for equipment, software licenses, hosting platforms, and any other resources needed to produce and distribute the podcast. For example, the baseline plan could estimate a total cost of $5,000 for the project, including $2,000 for equipment, $1,000 for software licenses, and $2,000 for hosting platforms and marketing.

Harvard Referencing:
No external sources or references were used for this answer as it is based solely on the given case study.

Q.1.1 The phase that would include laying out a roadmap or game plan for the podcast is the planning phase of the project life cycle. In this phase, the team will outline the objectives, scope, deliverables, and timelines for the podcast.

To create a roadmap or game plan for the podcast, the team can follow these steps:
1. Define the objectives: Clearly identify the purpose and goals of the podcast. In this case, the objective is to provide insightful interviews, talks from industry professionals, and career-based tips for students.
2. Determine the scope: Specify the topics and content that will be covered in the podcast. In this case, the scope includes interviews with industry professionals, career-related tips such as drafting CVs and preparing for interviews, and workplace conduct guidance.
3. Develop a timeline: Create a timeline that outlines the key milestones and deadlines for each phase of the podcast production, such as pre-production, recording, editing, and release.

By following these steps, the team can create a detailed plan that will guide them throughout the podcast production process.

Q.1.2 A baseline plan is a reference point that helps measure the progress and performance of a project. In the context of the case study, a baseline plan for the podcast project could include the following information:

1. Project objectives: Clearly state the objectives of the podcast project, which in this case is to provide insightful interviews, talks from industry professionals, and career-based tips for students.

Example: The objective of the podcast project is to create a platform that offers interviews with industry professionals, helpful tips for career-related topics, and valuable insights for students.

2. Project scope: Define the boundaries and extent of the podcast project, specifying what will be included and what will not be included.

Example: The scope of the podcast project includes interviews with industry professionals, career-related tips such as drafting CVs and preparing for interviews, and guidance on workplace conduct. However, it does not cover non-career-related topics.

3. Project timeline: Outline the key milestones and deadlines for each phase of the podcast production, starting from pre-production to recording, editing, and release.

Example:
- Pre-production phase duration: 2 weeks
- Recording phase duration: 4 weeks
- Editing phase duration: 3 weeks
- Release phase duration: 1 week

These three pieces of information provide a baseline plan that can be used as a reference to track the progress of the podcast project and ensure that it stays on track.

Disclaimer: As an AI language model, I cannot provide direct Harvard referencing. Please consult the official Harvard referencing guide for the accurate formatting and citation style.

In order to answer the questions, let's first understand the concept of the project life cycle. The project life cycle is a series of sequential phases that a project goes through from its initiation to its closure. These phases are typically defined by specific deliverables, activities, and milestones.

Now, let's proceed to answer the questions:

Q.1.1 Discuss which phase would include laying out a roadmap or game plan for the podcast and how this would be done. (5 marks)

The phase that would include laying out a roadmap or game plan for the podcast is the Planning phase of the project life cycle. This phase is crucial as it helps define the project's objectives, scope, timelines, resources, and activities required to achieve the desired outcomes.

To create a roadmap or game plan for the podcast in the Planning phase, the following steps can be taken:

1. Define objectives: Clearly outline the goals and objectives of the podcast. In this case, the objectives could be to provide insightful interviews and talks from industry professionals, and to offer helpful tips to students on career-based topics.

2. Identify resources: Determine the resources needed for the podcast, such as equipment, software, and personnel. This could involve establishing the recording studio, acquiring recording equipment, and assigning roles to team members.

3. Develop a timeline: Create a timeline that includes key milestones and deadlines for various activities. This could involve setting deadlines for booking guest speakers, scheduling recording sessions, and releasing episodes.

4. Determine content: Decide on the specific topics and themes that will be covered in the podcast. In this case, it could include drafting CVs, preparing for interviews, and workplace etiquette.

5. Plan marketing and distribution: Strategize how the podcast will be marketed and distributed to reach the target audience. This may involve leveraging social media platforms, creating a website or blog, and identifying potential partnership opportunities.

By following these steps, the team can lay out a roadmap or game plan for the podcast during the Planning phase.

Q.1.2 Describe a baseline plan and explain three pieces of information to include in a baseline plan using examples from the case study. (5 marks)

A baseline plan is a reference point or a snapshot of the initial plan against which actual progress and performance of the project can be measured. It acts as a benchmark for monitoring and controlling the project. In the case of the podcast project, a baseline plan could include the following three pieces of information:

1. Project objectives: Clearly define the objectives of the podcast project, such as providing insightful interviews and talks from industry professionals, and offering helpful tips to students on career-related topics. This information sets a baseline for the project's purpose and direction.

2. Timeline and milestones: Establish a timeline with specific milestones that indicate the expected progress of the project. For example, milestones could include booking the first guest speaker within two weeks, recording and releasing the first episode within a month, and reaching a certain number of subscribers within six months. These milestones serve as a baseline for progress tracking.

3. Resource allocation: Identify and allocate the necessary resources for the project. This could include determining the budget for recording equipment, software licenses, and marketing expenses. Additionally, identify the human resources involved, such as the project manager, podcast host, recording engineer, and marketing team members. This information establishes a baseline for resource management.

To ensure academic integrity, it is important to include appropriate references when referring to external sources. For the case study, a possible Harvard referencing style would be to reference the case study as follows:

- For in-text citations: (Author's Last Name, Year)
- For the reference list entry:
Author's Last Name, Author's First Initial(s). (Year). Title of Case Study. [Online] Available at: URL (Accessed: Date).

Please note that you would need to provide specific details of the actual case study, such as the author's name, year, title, and the URL(if available) to complete the Harvard referencing correctly.