...Project Management Recommendation OPS/571 March 21, 2014 Dear Mr. Gritsch, First and foremost, my name is William Claasse, and I am the senior project manager at Claasse Consultation Ltd. I would like to take the opportunity to personally thank you along with your vice president Mr. Deirelein for instilling faith and trust in our organization to aid Piper Industries Corp. in making an informed decision in regards to which of the three proposed projects to invest in. Our team has performed extensive analysis of the figures and data in which you have provided, and we feel Piper Industries would benefit the most from investing in project code name Palomino. A large portion of our decision/recommendation is based around the premise of greatest return on investment (ROI) along with minimal risk. Details of analysis are outlined below: As you may or may not be aware, each and every project undertaken by an organization needs to follow five basic phases. For your review, please allow me the opportunity to provide you with a brief overview of each stage within a project prior to illustrating our analysis. 1. Project Conception and Initiation: This is the period of time where an idea for a specific project will be carefully examined to determine if the overall effect of the project will ultimately benefit the organization. This is also where the current state of your proposed project lies and will require a detailed feasibility study prior to any investment decisions. ...
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...Week Five Project Management Recommendation Week Five Project Management Recommendation The project management recommendation paper this week focuses on examining various information regarding potential projects, evaluating the information, making informed recommendations for how to pursue the project, and providing advice on how to manage the project effectively. There are three projects that are being analyzed, they are: project code name Juniper, project codename Palomino, and project codename Stargazer. The objective of the team assignment is to determine which project the company Piper Industries Corp. should move forward with. Piper Industries Corp. requires the project to be completed and generating revenue within twelve months. The five phases of the project, as well as the key deliverables for each of the projects will be presented in the paper. The following points will be addressed in the paper: the key deliverables of the project, the recommended project phases, and which project will be implemented based on the data collected. Implemented Project According to the on-line reference Encyclopedia of Small Business (2007) “a feasibility study is done by an organization in order to determine if a particular action makes sense from an economic and operational standpoint” (“Feasibility Study”, 2007). Businesses conduct feasibility studies “to determine whether or not a certain plan of action is likely to produce the anticipated result” (“Feasibility...
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...Dear Mr. Gritsch, My team and I would like to thank you for considering our input. The company is aiming to complete a project in 12 months and produce revenue. After a lengthy discussion, we feel the best project to invest in is the Stargazer project. The main reason is because research and development has already begin working on new widgets. The phases of a project are the development, implementation, and termination. In the development stage project managers negotiate a team, assign project staff, define objective, understand customer needs, write the project plan and develop a schedule, determine budget and resources, develop a schedule, determine resources and risks, and some form of evaluation In the implementation phase, this is when managers set up cost accounts, obtain facilities, collocate teams, develop a monitoring system, issue work orders, start contacting vendors, hire and train personnel. In the termination phase, deliver product to customer, recognize team members for contributions and reassign personnel, pay vendors and send invoices to customers, lastly, close facilities disposing of equipment that is no longer needed. There is an estimated cost to bring this product to market of $575,000 of this $450,000 is already spent. Just on this alone investing in another option would be a financial loss. The product only has a 7-year life span, but there is a forecasted return on investment of $300,000 the first year $500,000 the second year, and $750...
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...Project Management Recommendation OPS/571 September 21, 2014 Project Management Recommendation Dear Mr. Gritsch, In continuation of your email dated September 15, 2014, the team has completed an analysis of the three projects: Juniper, Palomino and Stargazer. The risk levels in Juniper, Palomino, and Stargazer are low, medium, and high respectively. It is in the best interest of Piper Industries Corporation to move forward with the Stargazer project. As noted by you the selected project should generate revenue within 12 months of next week’s PMO Review, and that we should also consider the degree of risk involved with on-time completion, the critical path requirement and cost and, the effective life cycle and forecasted ROI. Stargazer is selected due to its feasibility and risk level. From market feasibility study, some strategic customers have already indicated interest in the product. Therefore, I would recommend that the board invest in the project, Stargazer; particularly because the company has already invested $450,000 and the ROI is very high. My feasibility study focused on five areas which includes the anticipated Return on Investment (ROI), length of project, break-even analysis, risk level and overall benefit to Piper Industries. Please see below for the results and excel worksheet attached. Juniper Cost of the project: $325,000 Critical path: 6 months Return on investment (ROI): 77% or $250,000 for a period of 2 to 3 years (Break-even): A little under...
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...Also known as Ishikawa diagram or fishbone diagram. It shows the relationships between causes and problems. Critical path chart - A chart of critical tasks in a project. If any task in the critical path is delayed, the entire project will be delayed. Firewall - Firewalls filter traffic to ensure that unwanted traffic does not reach vulnerable systems. Firewall appliance - A self-contained firewall solution. It includes hardware and software to provide security protection for a network. Firewall policy - A document that identifies what traffic to allow or block. A firewall policy is often used to implement rules on the firewall. Gantt chart - A bar chart used to show a project schedule. Gantt charts are commonly used in project management. Gantt charts can be used in risk management plans. Milestone - A scheduled event for a project. It indicates the completion of a major task or group of tasks. Milestones are used to track a project’s progress. Milestone plan chart - A graphical representation of major milestones. It shows the time relationship of milestones to each other. It also shows dependencies, if any. Plan of action and milestones (POAM) - A document used to track activities in a risk management plan. A POAM assigns responsibility for specific tasks. It also makes it easier for management to follow up on the tasks. Risk statements - Statements used to summarize risks. Risk statements often usean “if/then” format. The “if” part of the...
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...CanGo Final Report Senior Project Table of Contents Introduction to CanGo……………………………………………………….. Page 3 Issues and Recommendations….………………………………………………Page 3 References……………………………………………………………………...Page 11 Appenix A………………………………………………………………………Page 12 Appendix B……………………………………………………………………..Page 12 CanGo Analysis Introduction CanGo is a cutting edge company that was founded in 2006 by Elizabeth. CanGo is an online company that offers a variety of products ranging from books and videos to online gaming. CanGo is known for having the best service in terms of product and support. Although CanGo is a break-out company, there are some issues that have been identified when it comes to the company having a complete vision for what the company wants to accomplish as well as where the company sees itself in the future. During the course of six weeks, there have been many issues identified regarding the structure and function of the company. Along with these issues that have been identified and the recommendations that were made, if CanGo puts these ideas into practice, this company can go above and beyond original company and market expectations. Issues and Recommendations The first issue was brought to our attention was the fact that the organization had no vision for the future. Due to the fact that there was no initial vision for CanGo, the company likely missed out on a lot of opportunities over the years. Any opportunity can be an opportunity for growth and achievement...
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...Hudson Chamber of Commerce meeting to discuss her strategic management process that contributed to the success of CanGo, she realized that the strategic planning process of her company was haphazard and emergent. Its success has more to do with “luck” rather than deliberate strategies and planning. CanGo’s management would have to make a decision about how to institute a strategic management process in the implementation of a successful online gaming system to their business, so they can develop a competitive advantage. As an external consultant hired by CanGo, our job is to advise the management team as to the appropriate courses of action needed to address various challenges facing the firm. We will observe CanGo’s personnel, their interactions in various group settings, and other business functions. Based on these observations, we will address CanGo's notable challenges; develop our recommendations for its resolution and improvements that are focused on improving the business processes, operations, and profits of CanGo. Based on our observation from week 1 and 2, below are the 6 issues that our team determined that CanGo is facing, followed by our recommendations. 1. The first observed issue: The current strategic planning process of CanGo is risky and emergent. Recommendations: It is recommended that Liz follow the strategic planning process in order to develop a more strategic management process. The strategic planning process consists of four elements...
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...Team B Video Analysis Report of CanGo Innovative Financial Management & Consulting Services BUSN 460 Based on the first two week of observation, Innovative Financial Management & Consulting Services (IFM) has noted the following issues and our recommendation for your review. ISSUE #1: No Mission Statement or Company Vision RECOMMENDATION: It is the recommendation of IFM that a formal mission statement and company vision be defined. A mission statement defines why the organization exists and what it does, and is also a way of ensuring that everyone in the organization is on the same page. A mission statement also serves as a base line for effective business planning. A vision statement focuses on the organization's future; it can also robustly communicate the company’s purposes and inspire your team or organization. IFM consultants will meet with the Board of Directors to help define the company’s mission statement and vision. ISSUE #2: No Strategic Plan RECOMMENDATION: Once the CanGo mission and vision have been finalized and approved by the board, IFM consultants will develop a strategic plan through the following process: • Conduct a SWOT analysis • Review SWOT analysis and outline CanGo’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats • Define objectives, key strategies and short and long term goals • Define operational plan Once the strategic plan has been fully developed and approved by the CanGo Board of Directors, IFM will...
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...Project Management Recommendation OPS 571 Project Management Recommendation University of Phoenix Material Project Management E-Mail Dear Project Manager: We have three project proposals to consider in next week’s Project Management Office’s (PMO) Review. Piper Industries Corp. needs the projects to be complete and to be generating revenue within 12 months of next week’s PMO Review. Wendell Deirelein, our vice-president, has assigned your team to analyze the three projects below and make a recommendation on which project the company should invest in. The recommendation must include your team description of the five phases of the project and the key deliverables (project completion date and cost) for each project. Project Code Name: Juniper • This is an enhancement of a current widget being offered by our company. • Risk of completion of this project on time is low. • Product plan shows the critical path to be 6 months at a cost of $325,000 to bring the product to market. • Product is forecasted to have a ROI of $250,000 for a period of 2 to 3 years. • The third year is forecasted to be the end of life for this product line due to advances projected in technology. • This is a standard product line that marketing believes many customers will want to purchase. Project Code Name: Palomino • This is a new line of widget products including enhancements using existing technology. • Risk for completion of this project on time is medium. • Production...
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...Sabah We have progressed What do we want? Maximise value of investment Reference Model Competitive Tourism Highly respected SUSTAINABILITY Quality Environmental friendly Energy Efficiency Safety Issues, enablers and recommendations Issues 1. Clarity of outcomes 2. Strategic and integrated planning 3. Innovative Procurement 4. Life Cycle Costing Enablers 1. Human capital development 2. Construction technology 3. ICT Strategic map for improved project delivery in Malaysia Plans ONE MALAYSIA PEOPLE FIRST PERFORMANCE NOW Competitive Reference Model Sustainable Highly respected Safety Quality Tourism Clarity of outcome Strategic and integrated planning Innovative procurement Life Cycle Costing Enablers Human Capital Construction Technology ICT Cost and Impact vs time Impact/Cost Can make fundamental changes Effort not cost effective Less opportunity Consumes valuable time Influence Curve More work needed Little effort Limited to contract matters Effort Curve Not going to change anything Time Implementation Phase Outcome definition PLAN DESIGN TENDER CONTRACT CLOSING 1. Clarity of Outcomes Issues 1 2 3 4 Outcomes versus Output Project alignment to National Physical Plan Competitive edge Alignment to stated policy - labor (e.g IBS), energy efficiency, etc...
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...Business Outcomes 4 1.2 Strategic Fit 4 1.3 Detailed Description of the Business Need 5 1.3.1 Problem/Opportunity Statement 5 1.3.2 Prioritized Requirements (High Level) 5 1.3.3 Assumptions 5 1.3.4 Constraints 5 1.3.5 Dependencies 5 1.4 Scope 5 1.4.1 Boundaries 5 1.4.2 Stakeholder Analysis 5 Phase 2: Analysis and Recommendation 7 2 Preliminary Options Analysis 7 2.1 Evaluation Criteria 7 2.2 List the Possible Options 7 2.2.1 The Status Quo 7 2.2.2 Describing the Option 7 2.3 Screening of Options 7 2.4 Rationale for Discounted and Viable Options 7 3 Viable Options 9 3.1 Alignment 9 3.1.1 Strategic Alignment 9 3.1.2 Alignment with Desired Business Outcomes 9 3.2 Costs 9 3.3 Cost-Benefit Analysis 9 3.4 Implementation and Capacity Considerations of Viable Options 9 3.4.1 Contracting and Procurement 9 3.4.2 Schedule and Approach 9 3.4.3 Impact 10 3.4.4 Capacity 10 3.5 Risk 10 3.5.1 Option Risk Summary 10 3.5.2 Risk Register 10 3.6 Benchmark 10 3.7 Policy and Standard Considerations 10 3.8 Advantages and Disadvantages 11 4 Justification and Recommendation 12 4.1 Comparison Summary 12 4.2 The Preferred Option 12 4.2.1 Recommendation 12 4.2.2 Deciding Factors 12 4.2.3 Costs 12 4.2.4 Risks 12 4.2.5 Implementation Plan 12 Phase...
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...have created a report to analyse the problems faced by Ramesh Patel of New Horizon and the necessary steps to be taken. I have recommended that Ramesh Patel counsel Gibson to arrive at a position so that back log works from Gibson’s part can be completed before deadline. This will enable Ramesh Patel to get the part pending from Gibson done and make desired impression at the New Horizons Board presentation. By implementing this he can also make his Image as a team player better in front of Maria Hernandez and Senior Management alike. Also friendship with Gibson will not take any hard falls. The following pages will give a detailed analysis, an evaluation of the available alternatives, recommendations and action steps. Executive Summary Ramesh Patel faces a difficult situation where in his delivery to New Horizons Board and hence chance to create an impression in front of Senior management looks bleak. New Horizons Board has the task to develop recommendations for new titles for Aragon Entertainment. The delivery Patel was counting on was a cumulative effort from his team to analyse customer data on one of Aragon’s promising new video game to access the potential of a sequel. The team as consists of Maria Hernandez, Ramesh Patel and Jeremy Gibson started on with dividing the workload among them based on their field expertise. All interlinked to each other and required for teams success. Team decided on having regular progress meetings before the final presentation at New...
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...effective solution to CIO of VWoA Dr. Matulovic regarding the new priority management system for approving important IT project and also making right decision in spending IT project budget. IMPACTS OF INSUFFICIENT FUNDS * Estimated project budget was $170 Million but the parent organisation allocated only $60 Million. This reduced the efficiency of VWoA’s final result as most other projects were unfunded. Recommendations: CIO Dr. Matulovic could have raised for more IT project Budget from parent corporation VWAG. Board members of VWAG and Dr. matulovic could have discussed about requesting fund from government as government – private partnership or made partnership with any other private organisation for funding or could have applied for Bank loan. * Failure of SAP implementation over supply chain management domain caused a major loss to the organisation. Recommendations: As this was highly important and most costly ERP system implementation process they can guided and funded completely by VWAG parent company. As they are very critical ERP system and their failure cause adverse effect, Dr. Matulovic and IT steering committee could have fully funded the project from the allocated $60 Million budget CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ISSUES * Poor governance of internal structures, internal operations and lack of communication or reporting services lead to lack of upward communication. Recommendations: Dr.matulovic should have made strong corporate governance by assigning tasks...
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...selection process, to be implemented within the next three months. Create a scope management plan or some other form of relevant document that colud be accessed by a project management team to identify and define the scope of a project. The exact details of the project are up to you. You can find exaples of scope management plan templates online to assist you in developing the reqired documentation. I am a supervisor of the Australian post. I need to make a project were the goal is to develop a new staff recruitment and selection proces when hiring people to work in a position of customer service. New proces need to be implemented in 3 months. WHAT – Information that needs to be communicated are goals, pointers that we get from the centre and discussions we did with other staff and departments WHO – Target audience are ours stakeholders, in this case people we will consider for the job WHY – Purpose is to hiring get less expensive, faster and to ensure that the best people for the job are chosen WHEN – This project will be used every time Australian post need to hire someone in the position of customer service 2. You are employed as a supervisor at the local mail distribution centre. The centre wishes to develop a new staff recruitment and selection process, to be implemented within the next three months. You have been assigned the responsibility of project manager. Develop a project plan including timelines, work breakdown structure including roles and responsibilities...
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...The Reluctant Workers Essay BUS/375 April 29, 2012 Managing projects within time, cost, and performance is easier said than done. The project manager’s environment can be extremely brutal and is composed of numerous meetings, reports, conflict resolution, planning, communication, and crisis management. This essay will briefly discuss the case study of the reluctant workers and cover the core skills that were in play with the scenario, along with an analysis of skills and the effectiveness of the project manager’s skills. Additionally, this essay will discuss what kind of support the project manager received and any recommendations for the project manager and his executives. Analysis of Core Skills, Execution, and Effectiveness After analyzing the scenario, the author found some inconsistencies of the way the project manager was handling his team first, one of the responsibilities of a project manager is using his or hers team-building skills. Team-building entails a whole range of management skills required to identify, commit, and integrate the various task groups from the traditional functional organization into a single program management system. He or she must have good interpersonal relations, expertise and resources, good program leadership, open communications, clearly defined goals and objectives, and team members who are committed to the program (Kezner, 2009, p. 149). Motivation is a personal choice and Mr. Aston should understand that he cannot...
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