How to Write the BILD 361 Project Management Plan: Proving a Good Schedule, Linking BIM and Writing the RFI
BILD 361 Assessment 2 asks you to switch from writing about project management to doing it: build a schedule, cost it, simulate it against a BIM model, raise an RFI and then justify all of it in 3,000 words. Students who lose marks usually have the files but cannot explain why their schedule is any good.
Quick answer: Start with an assumptions register, build a logic-driven schedule in MS Project or Primavera, link it to the model in Navisworks, make sure both cost reports use the same structure, and raise one precise RFI in PlanGrid. Then spend most of your words explaining why the schedule is credible, using recognised scheduling practices and lessons from Assessment 1.
What BILD 361 Assessment 2 asks for
The assessment is individual, worth 50%, and due through Nuku on 19 October 2026. It builds on Assessment 1 and gives each student a residential BIM project on an allocated Wellington site. Read the full task on our BILD 361 Assessment 2 question page.
| Deliverable | Tool | What the marker checks |
|---|---|---|
| Project schedule | MS Project or Primavera | Logic, durations, critical path |
| Cost breakdown | MS Project cost report | Structure and stated assumptions |
| 4D schedule | Navisworks Manage | Model elements linked to tasks |
| Cost breakdown | Navisworks Manage | Consistency with the first cost report |
| RFI and response | PlanGrid | Clarity, mark-ups, impact |
| Report | PDF, 3,000 words | Why the schedule is “good” and how you communicated |
The brief also asks for the Revit, Primavera and Navisworks files alongside the PDF, with your name and ID in the page footer.
Step 1: write your assumptions first
The brief says detail is limited at the feasibility stage, so state your assumptions clearly. Cover the working calendar, consent timing, construction method, procurement lead times and weather allowance.
Each assumption should explain its effect on the schedule or cost. Markers treat a clear assumptions register as evidence of professional judgement.
Step 2: build a logic-driven schedule
A schedule with hard-coded dates looks tidy but cannot be defended. Every task should have a predecessor and successor, with constraints used only where there is a real reason. The US Government Accountability Office (2015) lists best practices that make a strong checklist for the justification section:
- capture all activities, including procurement and inspections;
- sequence activities with logical relationships;
- assign resources and set realistic durations;
- confirm the critical path and check that float is reasonable;
- analyse schedule risk and keep a baseline.
Step 3: link the schedule to the model
In Navisworks, TimeLiner connects schedule tasks to model elements. Group elements into selection sets that match your work breakdown, then run the simulation to check that the sequence makes physical sense.
Eastman et al. (2011) describe this 4D use of BIM as a communication tool, so say what the simulation revealed and what you changed as a result.
Step 4: make the two cost reports agree
Students often produce two cost reports that cannot be compared. Use one cost breakdown structure for both, organised by phase and resource type. State where rates came from and keep contingency as a separate line rather than hiding it in task costs.
Step 5: raise an RFI that a site manager would respect
A good RFI asks one question, points to an exact location in the model or drawing, states the impact if it is not answered and proposes a solution. Add mark-ups in PlanGrid so the issue is visible at a glance.
Then write the response as the designer would, and explain in the report how this exchange shows communication skill.
Step 6: connect it all to Assessment 1
Pick two or three lessons from your earlier essay, such as supply chain risk or resourcing, and show the specific planning decision each one led to. PMI (2021) frames project management around principles such as stewardship, stakeholder engagement and tailoring, which can help structure this reflection.
Our BILD 361 project management plan sample shows an assumptions register, logic table, cost structure and RFI layout, for reference only.
Checklist before you submit
- Assumptions register with effects on time and cost.
- Every task linked by logic; critical path visible.
- TimeLiner simulation checked and findings reported.
- Both cost reports use the same structure.
- RFI with mark-ups, impact and proposed solution.
- Clear links to Assessment 1 lessons.
- Footer with name and student ID on every page; files named as instructed.
- APA 6th referencing and a 3,000-word body.
Common mistakes
- Describing building design instead of project management decisions.
- Screenshots of the software with no explanation of what they show.
- Unexplained constraints that force tasks to fixed dates.
- Missing project files in the submission.
For more support, see our engineering assignment help, report writing help and Wellington assignment help pages.
About the expert
Sophie McKenzie – Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand; Construction & Project Management Specialist. Sophie specialises in construction reports, project management assignments, feasibility studies and industry-based coursework. View Sophie’s expert profile.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Primavera instead of MS Project?
Yes. The brief allows MS Project or other planning software and asks for a Primavera (.xer) file in the submission.
Do references and appendices count towards the 3,000 words?
No. The brief excludes references and appendices from the word count.
Am I marked on building design?
No. The brief states that you are assessed on project management, not building design.
How many RFIs do I need?
The brief asks for an RFI and response. One well-documented RFI with mark-ups is better than several vague ones.
Which referencing style is required?
APA 6th edition, as stated in the brief.
How should I name my files?
Follow the format in the brief, BILD361_AS2_SurnameFirstname.pdf, and keep a backup of everything you submit.
References
Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., Sacks, R., & Liston, K. (2011). BIM handbook: A guide to building information modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Project Management Institute. (2021). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide) (7th ed.). Newtown Square, PA: Author.
U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2015). GAO schedule assessment guide: Best practices for project schedules (GAO-16-89G). Washington, DC: Author.
