Category: Management

While designing a grocery business, it is important to determine such competitive priorities as the on-time delivery, the delivery speed, flexibility in partnerships, and the top quality. In core processes, the capabilities to develop are the achievement of the on-time speedy delivery in relations with suppliers and partners, including food stores, and relations with customers. Moreover, it is important to develop flexible relations and communications with suppliers, partners, and customers. In the online order fulfillment, the focus is on proposing only high-quality foods that are delivered appropriately and on time (Krajewski, Malhotra, & Ritzman, 2015, p. 7). In support processes, the capabilities to develop include the effective scheduling and resource allocation to guarantee the on-time delivery.

The project can have one and more critical paths. When a project has multiple critical paths, project risks increase according to the number of paths. There are risks of decreasing capabilities, increasing costs, and decreasing the accuracy of the project management and monitoring. In this case, the total available slack can remain stable because several critical paths are usually realized in complex projects simultaneously. It is important to state that the resource dependencies increase as more resources are required to complete multiple paths (Jacobs, Chase, & Chase, 2010). As a result, the management of multiple critical paths also increases the project managers responsibilities regarding the costs and resources distribution and monitoring.

• Step 1  The start and registration of the customer/partner on the grocery business website.
• Step 2  The selection of required foods.
• Step 3  The order placement, provision of the address, and payment.
• Step 4  The support team contacts the store to confirm the address information, payment provision, and the delivery date.
• Step 5  The process of preparing the order according to the customers requirements.
• Step 6  The process of delivering the order to the customer.
• Step 7  The e-mail notification to inform about the order shipping.
• Step 8  The customer/store receives the order.

The Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory control model is used to minimize the amount of the utilized inventory in the organization. Company A operates the limited inventory which is required to cover the customers needs. Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model is used to determine the annual limits for the inventory in Company B to reduce the ordering costs (Russell & Taylor, 2013). They differ in terms of focusing on addressing the customers orders with the right quantity of inventory (JIT) and focusing on the fixed inventory amount (EOQ). While working with these companies, it is important to remember that Company B can fail to provide the required number of products on time if the order is changed and does not correspond with the fixed inventory.

To guarantee the quality of products and services, it is necessary to implement such Quality Control processes as the use of control charts and the identification of the process capability index. The Six Sigma Model can also be used to improve the quality of services (Galloway, Rowbotham, & Azhashemi, 2012). The measurement metrics include the number of non-fulfilled orders, the number of orders fulfilled with defects, and the number of orders not delivered on time among others.

The efficiency measures to refer to in the business development are the productivity as the possibility to complete a planned number of orders and the throughput as a possibility to work with a large number of customers at a time. The analysis tools appropriate to measure productivity include ratios (Krajewski et al., 2015). In addition, it is important to utilize such tools as the Pareto diagram, bar graphs, and histograms in order to analyze the efficiency and control the performance.

References

Galloway, L., Rowbotham, F., & Azhashemi, M. (2012). Operations management in context. New York, NY: Routledge.

Jacobs, F. R., Chase, R. B., & Chase, R. (2010). Operations and supply chain management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Krajewski, L. J., Malhotra, M. K., & Ritzman, L. P. (2015). Operations management: Processes and supply chains. New York, NY: Prentice Hall.

Russell, R., & Taylor, B. (2013). Operations and supply chain management. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Introduction

The report was requested in April 2022 for the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology. Its creation aims to find out whether the learning management system (LMS) Moodle is the best one or if there are any good alternatives. A recent study demonstrated that Moodle increases student achievement, satisfaction, and engagement (Gamage, Ayres and Behrend, 2022). There are investigations confirming that Moodle remains the most popular and preferred LMS (Altinpullic and Kesim, 2021; McCormack, 2020). It is proposed to compare Moodle with one of the leaders in the same area  the Mindflash tool. The comparison will be made on the basis of key features, user experience, and graphical interface.

Methodology

For the current study, a sampling method was used to analyze data on the advantages and disadvantages of each of the analyzed programs. Information from XLPro and eLearning Industry websites was examined to define the key features of Moodle. These sites were chosen because the articles published contain a critical review of the properties of the learning system (Kumar, 2018; Shanavaz, 2019). Next, TrustRadius proved to be a useful resource; there, the information on which program was better was presented in graphs. The statistics are confirmed by the opinion of experts from the IT industry, which makes this website an important reference (Moodle vs Trakstar Learn, 2021). A detailed analysis of how Mindflash (now called Trakstar Learn) functions is also available on the G2 website (Mindflash features, 2019). There, one can see user feedback and ratings on key metrics. In particular, information is posted about how good the systems graphical interface is.

In addition, it seemed important to mention an article on the Digital Project Manager website, which compiled the top of the best learning management systems. This resource was added because it is reputable, so the authors failure to include Mindflash in the ranking suggests that such LMS is not the best one (10 best learning management systems for 2022, 2021). McLaughlin and Martinez (2019) published a review containing the pros and cons of Mindflash, and Delos Santos (2022) wrote an article with similar content. These three authors are experts in the field of technology, which confirms the validity of their conclusions. The selected sources served as the basis for the present comparative analysis.

Results

Based on what the key characteristics of the system are, it is possible to understand how good it is. First, in Moodle, users can customize the course content significantly (Shanavaz, 2019). The program has extensive analytics possibilities, and there is a built-in chat for student interaction (Kumar, 2018). It is no wonder why this company regularly tops the best systems for learning. However, Mindflash is not inferior to Moodle  the program has built-in video calls, and creating a course is extremely easy (McLaughlin and Martinez, 2019). Mobile support is provided, and the analytics tools create tremendous opportunities for customized courses (Delos Santos, 2022). In general, there is no significant difference between the key properties of the two applications.

The next criterion for comparing the two learning systems is the graphical interface. An important role in the Moodle platform is played by plugins  modules that help change the design and expand the systems functionality (Moodle vs Trakstar Learn, 2021). Thus, the programs interface can be easily changed, which cannot but be considered an advantage of the system (Kumar, 2018). Members of the Moodle community develop the plugins, and for the most part, they are available for free. Mindflash does not support these features, and its interface design is predominantly white (Mindflash features, 2019). Customization is what is highly valued by customers, and therefore in terms of such criteria as the interface Moodle is a leader.

User experience is what ultimately determines whether a program will be in demand. Trastradius states that Moodle is slightly ahead of Mindflash in cumulative performance (Moodle vs Trakstar Learn, 2021). Moreover, many users have left more positive feedback on the program. However, the insignificant difference in the overall score between the two systems indicates that Mindflash may well become an analogue of Moodle.

Discussion (Conclusion)

In general, it can be concluded that Moodle is not an indispensable program for learning. An analysis of the functioning of this program with the competitor Mindflash showed that there is no significant difference between these too LMSs. At this stage, Moodle is more suitable for MCAST purposes since there is no need to switch to a new learning management system. Moreover, Moodle still remains the best learning management system in terms of customization and mobile app performance. To maintain Moddles leadership position, attention will need to be paid to those aspects in which the system lags behind its competitors.

Reference List

10 best learning management systems for 2022: comparison (2021) Web.

Altinpullic, H. and Kesim, M. (2021) A systematic review of the tendencies in the use of learning management systems, Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 22(3), pp. 40-54.

Delos Santos, J. M. (2022) Mindflash software review: overview  features  pricing, Project Management, Web.

Gamage, S. H. P. W., Ayres, J. R. and Behrend, M. B. (2022) A systematic review on trends in using Moodle for teaching and learning, International Journal of STEM Education, 9(9), pp. 1-24.

Kumar, O. (2018) 10 key features of Moodle LMS, XLPro, Web.

McCormack, K. (2020) Why Moodle workplace might be the best LMS for you, Synergy Learning, Web.

McLaughlin, M. and Martinez, J. (2019) Mindflash review, PCMag, Web.

Mindflash features (2019) Web.

Moodle vs Trakstar Learn (formerly Mindflash) (2021) Web.

Shanavaz, S. F. (2019) 8 reasons why Moodle is still awesome, eLearning Industry, Web.

This paper will be responding to a quote by Harold Kerzner. According to the man, The importance of a good methodology cannot be understated (Kerzner, 2018), which ties in smoothly with the topic of the present discussion  project management methodologies. Project management remains among the central needs of any organization. Completing projects allows companies to achieve their production goals and satisfy shareholders and customers. Therefore, the process of project management must be developed accordingly.

A project management methodology, then, helps organizations to organize work according to a particular structure or a set of standards. Instead of developing a new plan for each new project, it becomes possible to apply the existing structure to the project management process. This approach is said to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of project management. As discussed in this weeks materials, there are many potential ways to manage a project, and their frameworks can be adapted according to a companys needs.

Most commonly, organizations distinguish between the traditional and the agile style of project management methodology. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the project length, its response to change, team size, and many other factors (Montserrat, 2015). In addition, applying a methodology is said to bring other potential benefits to an organization. The particular advantages are reliant on both the specific organization and its approaches.

Management methodology is customizable, bringing the flexibility necessary to fulfill different project objectives, meet deadlines and change approaches on-the-fly. Furthermore, the existence of a methodology makes it easier to engage employees, requiring less learning (Montserrat, 2015). Overall, project management methodology is an important part of corporate organization, remaining crucial to implementing new solutions in the workplace.

References

Kerzner, H. (2018). Project Management Methodologies. In Project Management Best Practices: Achieving Global Excellence (4th ed.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Montserrat, G. (2015). Why use a project management methodology? Nae.

Executive Summary

In 2032, Brisbane is a city in Australia with the honor and privilege of hosting the Olympics Games. The games will allow the community, local businesses, and the government to showcase what they can do best by hosting such a high-profile sporting event. Therefore, a venture of such magnitude needs dedication through enterprise management to become a success. In this case, the project manager will be very instrumental in ensuring that the project is completed within the stipulated time and observing the budget. The plan also needs the consideration of organizational framework and financial budgets. Brisbane program needs a clear plan with key deliverables and metrics so that it does not lead to adverse outcomes. Some of the issues that should be considered while evaluating the projects viability include environmental impact assessment, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and promotion of customer requirements. The enterprise needs a charter that will enumerate the road map to the completion of the project and make it an official definition of the work to be done.

Introduction

Brisbane is one area that has been chosen for the 2032 Olympic Games. Being chose as the host destination is a great honor because of the many interests associated with such a privilege. As a result, there is a need for Brisbane to have a dedicated project manager who will be involved in all the planning and execution of policy so that it can become a success. The project involves many stakeholders so that they can feel like part of the forthcoming games. The presence of the stakeholders will lead to safety and reliable access to the amenities. The project will bring tremendous benefits that will leave a legacy and support local tourism and businesses. Although Brisbane will affect the image and the environment where the sports will be held, it will benefit the people considerably.

Whether the Project is Demonstrating Scope Creep

The project is not demonstrating scope creep and lacks all the necessary information on what needs to be done. For example, as mentioned earlier, all the vital works to complete the project are lacking, leading to a lack of demonstration of scope creep (Qazi & Dikmen, 2021). In this project, there is a lack thereof of deliverables, activities, and tasks. In addition, the project lacks a scope statement which acts like a project planning tool where the project scope is defined (Hefaidh & Mébarek, 2020). The project does not demonstrate changes affecting resource allocations, costs, budget, or project schedules. In addition, the project does not explain how it might compromise the completion of goals and milestones of the intended purpose.

The project also does not demonstrate new requirements, which entails rules and regulations that involve such undertakings. In this case, no stakeholders seem interested in adding new requirements to the existing project. Although such stakeholders are mentioned in the project, they do not seem to provide any additional requirements they need to implement (Qazi et al., 2021). In many cases, stakeholders contribute tremendously to shaping projects by providing valuable opinions and advice on how they would want such projects to be. The plan should also highlight the information on what additions such stakeholders bring to the table (Hefaidh & Mébarek, 2020). Therefore, the project team is expected to complete the project within the stipulated budget as no extras are needed.

Justifying the Knowledge Areas

Some program areas include cost management, quality management, time management, risk management, stakeholder management, and procurement management. Others include communications management and human resources management (Zanfelicce & Rabechini Jr, 2021). In this case, all the functions mentioned are vital to completing the task. The success of a project needs careful planning to achieve the desired goals and objectives. However, the enterprise manager has to be careful in listing the essential requirements of the plans successful implementation.

A strategy involving Brisbane Olympics needs a robust approach to time management. In this case, such a plan should be divided into various tasks that are well documented, focusing on budgets, deadlines, and start dates (Qazi et al., 2021). In every assignment, time is essential, and such endeavors must be completed reasonably. Cost management is also necessary because the program has to have a budget of what it will cost when it is completed. Therefore, a project budget requires good estimating tools that ensure the allocated finances accuracy and consistency. There is a need to have a plan of the available finances so that they can last for the entire project. If not the case, additional budgets have to be sought so that the plan can be completed.

Creating a Risk Matrix

Some of the most significant risks that might affect the project include technology, communication, health and safety, performance, and operational market. Most of the risks can be mitigated, mainly when the project manager is knowledgeable with the right skills and competencies (Qazi & Dikmen, 2021). For example, market dangers could be mitigated by understanding what the environment wants from the project. A successful project has a danger analysis monitoring system that acts like the watchdog for any project eventualities. Such monitoring also ensures failures and hazards are minimized substantially (Zanfelicce & Rabechini Jr, 2021). A project manager keen on succeeding has to identify potential dangers and, simultaneously, have a formula for evaluating the consequences. Most performance risks arise because the organization lacks adequate finances for expansion purposes.

Table. Risk Matrix

Discussing and Justifying the Particular Personal Competencies

There are personal competencies that every project manager should possess. In project management, some core abilities are required for those in charge. The skills and competencies allow the project manager to finish their work with a lot of efficiency (Qazi & Dikmen, 2021). Enhancing the project management skills for all will significantly influence the growth of the business. Some core competencies required in projects include negotiation, communication, leadership, motivation, and interpersonal schools. A project that is well conceived and has adequate finances has the potential to transform the company. Additional resources are necessary for the project, including consultants and specialists who are highly experienced in the task ahead.

Some skills and competencies needed in the project include conflict management, policy knowledge, leadership, risk management, interpersonal, and research. Other competencies include active listening skills, report writing, communication, motivation, problem solving, and team management (Qazi et al., 2021). For example, a project manager needs to negotiate the behavior of the project owner. Therefore, having good negotiation skills is necessary because such a person will negotiate on behalf of the company. A project manager should negotiate terms with stakeholders, clients, and suppliers. Besides negotiation, a project manager must have critical problem-solving abilities. In such a case, a project manager should gather information and develop the best solution for the company.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Brisbane 2032 Olympics game is a vast project that deserves significant attention for it to be successful. The project of such magnitude requires remarkable leadership to complete successfully. The project manager must demonstrate the requisite skills and competencies to deliver to the project owner. For example, such a person requires excellent leadership skills to manage teams. The project did not demonstrate creep because there is a lack of activities, deliverables, and tasks that are usually synonymous with projects of such magnitude. Some knowledge areas necessary for the project include time management, quality management, risk management, and stakeholder management. For example, stakeholders are very useful to the project, and their needs should be safeguarded.

References

Hefaidh, H., & Mébarek, D. (2020). A conceptual framework for risk matrix capitalization. International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, 11(3), 755-764.

Qazi, A., & Dikmen, I. (2021). From risk matrices to risk networks in construction projects. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 68(5), 1449-1460.

Qazi, A., Shamayleh, A., El-Sayegh, S., & Formaneck, S. (2021). Prioritizing risks in sustainable construction projects using a risk matrix-based Monte Carlo simulation approach. Sustainable Cities and Society, 65, 102576.

Zanfelicce, R. L., & Rabechini Jr, R. (2021). The influence of Risk Management on the project portfolio success  proposal of a risk intensity matrix. Gestão & Produção, 28(2).

Introduction

An organization must invest in technology if it wants to meet the evolving needs of its customers. Remarkably, it should be based on extensive research and analysis, not just a ballpark figure. This is to ensure that the best technology is selected and implemented appropriately. The essay addresses culture in my organizational behaviors, challenges experienced currently, technological changes, and the plan to evaluate and acquire technologies and PMBOK project management concepts.

Organizations Culture Behaviour and Three Challenges

My organizational behavior is influenced by various factors, including business culture, individual aspirations, and leadership. In addition, it includes the opinions of the workforce toward the company. For instance, the implementation of new technology is accomplished after acquiring views from the staff. As a project manager, I have to assess the acceptance of the new technology and plan for its implementation. This will focus on the organizational culture that demands the involvement of all affected parties.

Remarkably, cultural variations, methods for increasing efficiency, and a lack of communication are a few issues the firm experience regarding employee behavior. The main issue entails getting through racial and cultural barriers. Employees with various origins and multiple norms, ideas, and opinions on carrying out specific tasks inside the company are a significant challenge. Outstandingly, it becomes challenging to persuade workers to put aside their cultural preferences and cooperate to achieve the organizations objectives (Chin, 1). Leaders in my organization have been struggling to include diversity workshops and training to address this concern.

Another issue witnessed in my organization involves finding ways to inspire employees with the intention of increasing productivity. Each workers contributions are significant in increasing the organizations productivity. Teams require incentives like pay raises, company events, and rewards to stay motivated while performing their job. Motivating employees boost their loyalty to an organization, gives them the morale to work harder, increases the output and profits, and gives them a sense of belonging.

Moreover, selecting the perfect candidate who fits the organizational culture is the firms significant problem. Whether working alone or with others, the applicant should be capable of increasing productivity (Chin, 1). A suitable employee is one who not only possesses the requisite knowledge and abilities but also has a thorough understanding of the companys culture while making every effort to increase output and performance.

Technology Changes to Address Key Challenges

The implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered analytics can help explore and lessen prejudices resulting in the elimination of cultural disparities in the firm. Technology developed in a certain nation is likely to be based on the native peoples needs and preferences (Martínez-Caro, 3). Such techniques are not culturally sensitive and hinder the achievement of diversity. However, the implementation of AI can help emphasize cultural differences in the firm by identifying and eliminating behaviors, actions, words, and phrases that hinder workplace diversity.

The issue of employees motivation can be addressed by allowing the use of personal or preferred devices and technology to accomplish their work. This will enhance their motivation because they will not have to travel to the firm to complete their daily duties. For instance, employees who are allowed to use their internet, laptop, or smartphone to work can do so at their place of residence. The organizations system can permit file sharing through various applications for workers who work from home using personal devices. Technological advancements such as telecommuting have recently enabled individuals to work from their residences without traveling to their offices. This technological development can be established in the firm to motivate workers by helping them avoid the stress associated with moving to and from work.

Moreover, computer programming should always be done focusing on the companys job description and specifications to ensure the selection of the best candidate. For instance, the website can capture a list of job profiles and requirements for individuals seeking the post of HR analyst to enable them to review the firms preferences. Job requirements must correspond to the information on the provided Curriculum Vitae. The applicant can proceed to the next level of the application process if their qualifications match the firms job profile. Talemetry program can help the firm ensure the right individuals apply for the advertised positions. This will avoid wasting time interviewing applicants who do not meet the job requirements.

Plan to Evaluate and Acquire Technology

IBM Company will be contacted for pilot testing and implementation of an analytics solution driven by AI. Funds will be set to outsource this technology to help address workplace diversity issues. Several AI businesses can be obtained and evaluated if there is an increase in workforce diversity. Well-known businesses include Sigma Data Systems, 7EDGE, and Light IT. The business whose financial limits will match will be taken into consideration.

Google Company will be contacted to set up a cloud server in the firm for system files to permit operation using any other device or technology. Using any internet-connected gadget enables individuals to work from anywhere and on any device. Google can help implement and monitor telecommuting to ensure that employees benefit from it. The finished project will automatically be uploaded to the cloud and distributed to the other team members. The technique will be under study for a year. If the deployment is successful, the business will contact Google Company to integrate the technology across the entire firm.

Jobvite will be contacted to establish Talemetry in the firm to help in managing the best hiring. The IT sector will be referenced, and the changes that need to be executed will be thoroughly detailed to make adjustments in the programming system. Jobvite will collaborate with the companys IT specialists to handle the technology changes. A review meeting will be scheduled with the Human resource manager, Jobvite team, and IT director to identify and eliminate the bug in the system if the modification proves unsuccessful.

Project Management Concepts from PMBOK

The project implementation process requires fundamental knowledge, which the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) offers. The goal of system analysis should be to make the most difference in the companys performance. PMBOK is a knowledge management principle that fosters positive workplace relationships (El Yamami, 2). The technology will enable access to and analysis of the historical details of the employees, which is the central area of concern regarding diversity. The matched and mismatched characteristics of the personnel can be ascertained using those facts. Matchless factors will be sought for reduction, while matched variables will be aimed at strengthening even more.

Another advantage of using the PMBOK approach to implement the system is managing costs and risks. Any businesss goals are to increase productivity and reduce losses. Although team collaboration technologies may appear an appealing solution for multinational corporations, they confront numerous obstacles to good performance, such as coordination and communication difficulties. However, once the technology is fully implemented, the language barrier will be eliminated, and communication will be improved. Loss risks will also be reduced because the institution will be linked and informed about the newest goods and services, enabling the officials to go above and beyond and provide high-quality goods.

Conclusion

Each business organization has a unique culture that distinguishes and gives it character. Unfortunately, there is not much of a positive culture within organizations today. A corporation stands out from its rivals in the eyes of its stakeholders, nonetheless, due to an influential corporate culture. Always remember that an effective organizational culture includes respect for staff members on both sides of the aisle, a clearly articulated vision and objective, enhanced open communication, and lower team turnover for better performance. Excellent approaches to boost employee morale and, as a result, the companys reputation and productivity are introducing incentivized targets, embracing technology, rewarding, and empowering employees.

References

1. Tachia Chin. 2021. Business models in the Asia-Pacific: dynamic balancing of multiple cultures, innovation, and value creation. p. 331-341. Web.
2. Abir El Yamami. 2018. An Ontological Representation of PMBOK Framework Knowledge Areas. p. 1-6. Web.
3. Eva Martínez-Caro. 2020. Digital technologies and firm performance: The role of digital organisational culture. p. 119962. Web.

In the process of arranging business processes, precise planning of activities is necessary. Thus, within this aspect, schedules are of particular value, which is especially useful for the correct distribution of time and tasks between employees. It is also worth noting that in this context, it is necessary to use the Project Evaluation and Review Technique or PERT model. However, there may be cases with misleading results, which requires finding alternative ways to determine an unbiased project schedule. These may include premature risk assessment, involvement of a third party, and collection of external and internal data.

The first alternative may be to consider in advance the risks and assumptions that may arise during the development of schedules. Thus, awareness of these aspects can provide managers with the opportunity to weigh all possible problems that may arise when implementing a project schedule. Isah and Kim (2021) state that achieving the desired productivity and project success corresponding to the value of forecasted spending in the report hinges upon the effective management of project objectives (p. 650). One of them may need to follow the deadline, for example, due to insufficient qualifications of the employee who was assigned the task. Another circumstance that may cause this risk may be insufficient time to complete a specific goal. Premature consideration of risks and assumptions provides an opportunity to correctly distribute the main components of the schedule of a project. In addition, it can limit the possibility of prejudice regarding the assigned tasks and the time to complete them.

Further, the following alternative that can be used to develop an unbiased project schedule is a way to collect information. Therefore, managers need to be based on external factors and data and not listen exclusively only to personal opinion and knowledge (Klastorin & Mitchell, 2020). As a result of this action, employees will take into account a more significant number of factors that will help them form the most effective schedule. In addition, managers can explore external data from similar projects, which will allow them to identify strengths and weaknesses that can be reflected in the future schedule.

The third alternative within the framework of this work may be the involvement of a third party in the development and maintenance of the proposed schedule. This is due to the fact that an additional employee will be able to provide a distinctive third-party opinion about the project and suggest edits to bring greater impartiality. Moreover, a third party can timely identify aspects that should have been noticed by the original developers. Thus, an external perspective on the schedule being created can provide a unique advantage for managers.

In conclusion, drawing up schedules for any projects or processes requires special attention and deliberation. This is due to the fact that its effectiveness and efficiency depend on the correct scheduling and work plan. Thus, despite already existing project evaluation plans, such as the PERT model, managers are still at risk of unsatisfactory results and inflexible schedules. Therefore, alternative ways of developing schedules play an essential role, which should be taken into account. The most useful may be the involvement of an outside expert to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the project, the analysis of both external and internal data, and risk assessment before the implementation of the proposed schedule.

Reference

Klastorin, T. & Mitchell, G. (2020). Project management a risk management approach. Sage Publication.

Isah, M. A., & Kim, B. S. (2021). Integrating schedule risk analysis with multi-skilled resource scheduling to improve resource-constrained project scheduling problems. Applied Sciences, 11(2), 650. Web.

Starting a project aimed at addressing a specific problem is the first step towards improving the overall performance of the organization (Kerzner, 2014). A project, however, needs to comply with a set of specific standards, which concern determining goals, objectives, criteria and expected outcomes.

Although the research conducted by Wan and Zeng (2013) has several minor problems in the scope of their research, it still can be viewed as a rather legitimate analysis of the problem and a feasible project, as it contains a detailed study of the subject matter and a very thorough outline of the actions to be taken.

The case study in question has been performed rather skillfully, the selection thereof being based on the visibility and accessibility of the site to be analyzed in the process. The specified approach can be deemed as rather reasonable, seeing that the concept of quality management improvement is rather hard to quantify.

However, the author also assigned selection criteria to a range of factors, marking them as low, such as the product quality, and as high, e.g., the phase removal rate (Wan & Zeng, 2013, p. 161). Therefore, it can be assumed that the project selection criteria have been chosen after careful elaboration and, thus, reflect the problem in the specified domain and point at the necessity to locate available solutions.

Split into six key phases, i.e., conception, planning, development, validation and release, the initiation process has been carried out rather adequately in the case study under analysis. Although the authors do not identify the phases mentioned above at the very start of the case study, Wan and Zeng (2013) mark them as essential to the evaluation of the overall project success at a certain point of their study.

As a result, the authors allow assuming that customer satisfaction is the key objective of the study and that the quality management process needs to be improved first for the company to attain its major objectives: This paper applies customer complaint handling to reflect customer satisfaction of W company after implementing the improvement program of the quality management of new product development project (Wan & Zeng, 2013, p. 161). Thus, Wan and Zeng (2013) create a very convincing prioritization system for the project to be developed in.

As far as the initiation and planning of the project is concerned, the fact that the authors of the paper never define the scope of their project deserves to be mentioned. On the one hand, omission of the above-mentioned element of the project analysis can be justified by the fact that Wan and Zeng consider only one form; thus, the scope of the project in question is automatically reduced to the analysis of the W Company.

On the other hand, for the project to be represented and analyzed properly, one has to spell out the key details, including the scope. By omitting the characteristics in question, Wan and Zeng make their project more vulnerable and considerably less stable. Likewise, the lack of control over the financial resources, which the project under analysis displays, is a major dent in the overall design of the study.

Although Wan and Zeng (2013) should be credited for focusing on the control issues and, therefore, developing a very strong system of project supervision, the lack of stress on the financial concerns also makes the case quite feeble. The essential stakeholders, on the other hand, are identified rather precisely, as the authors mention the connection between the latter and quality measurement as one of the crucial constructs of the study: external quality assurance provided for customers and other stakeholders (Wan & Zeng, 2013, p. 154).

The set of steps outlining the implementation of quality promotion designed for addressing the issues of the company can be defined as the basis for the project planning process (Burford, 2012).

Despite the obvious problems with the scope of the project, the authors perform the tasks related to scheduling quite successfully. Particularly, Wan and Zeng (2013). Apart from locating the tasks to be performed and getting their priorities straight, the authors of the study also create a grid, in which the key steps to be taken.

Specifically, the stages of the project implementation, such as the development of the quality plan, the promotion of quality assurance based on regular checks, and the control of quality, need to be listed (Wan & Zeng, 2013, p. 154). By identifying the inputs, the methods and skills required for improving the quality of the product, and the potential outcomes related to the quality improvements, Wan and Zeng make the concept of their project quite feasible.

Although the project under analysis has several rather significant vulnerabilities caused by omission of certain project management elements, the overall structure and methods employed for addressing the quality issue faced by the company are rather strong. By working on the problem concerning the limitations and the scope of the project, the authors of the study will be able to improve the companys quality standards significantly.

Reference List

Burford, L. D. (2012). Project management for flat organizations: cost effective steps to achieving successful results. Plantation, Florida: J. Ross Publishing.

Kerzner, H. R. (2014). Project management 2.0. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Wan, J. & Zeng, M. (2013). Case study on improving quality management of W Companys new product development project. Technology and Investment, 4(3), 153-163.

Everybody knows that if a project is planned properly, the work is half done. To prevent possible disasters, managers often add extra time to the project schedule. In theory, it allows the participants of the project to feel comfortable and gives employees additional time in case if something goes wrong. However, these theoretical reflections rarely coincide with the practical situation. In reality, many projects take much more time than planned even considering these additional time resources, and, thus, a project arrives behind schedule.

Gray and Larson (2014) address this problem as one of the diseases that plague the time estimating process. To explain the nature of the problem, they employ Critical-Chain Project Management (CCPM). CCPM was developed by Dr. E. Goldratt (1997) in the late 90-s as a methodology of planning, fulfilling, and operating projects, as well as overcoming the problem of poor performance, in order to improve all the processes associated with project fulfilling.

Gray and Larson mention several explanations within the CCPM approach that can help understand why the projects arrive behind schedule. According to Parkisons law, extra time added to the schedule makes workers relax and feel that there is no need to hurry. The self-protection theory states that workers afraid to report earlier finishes out of fear that the next time the manager would establish a shorter deadline. The dropped baton metaphor illustrates the following tendency: one worker or group does their part of the project earlier, and another worker or group is not ready to do the next stage yet. The so-called excessive multitasking means that one and the same employee has to work on several projects simultaneously, which leads to problems with deadlines. Resource bottleneck refers to the shortage of resources necessary for fulfilling the task. Finally, procrastination makes employees delay the start of the work (Gray & Larson, 2014).

All the mentioned explanations sound surprisingly familiar to me and are relevant to my own working experience. While I do agree with these explanations, as I have witnessed how the reasons specified by Gray and Larson lead to a failure to meet a deadline, I am convinced that this is not really a result of poor time management or project scheduling, and these problems have little to do with time. Self-protection is a result of the lack of collaboration between a manager and an employee. Often, managers assign equal time for easy and difficult tasks, and it is natural for an employee to pretend like they need more time for an easy task in order to protect themselves from future failures with harder tasks.

Dropped baton and multitasking are clearly caused by mismanagement, as well as excessive multitasking and resource bottleneck. Procrastination, to my belief, is an outcome of the poor motivation and the low level of job satisfaction of an employee, which needs to be addressed by managers and those responsible for human resources management. In general, projects would not arrive out of schedule if the collaboration between managers and employees is maintained on a high level, and the deadlines for tasks are established as a result of an agreement between a worker and a manager.

In conclusion, project coming behind schedule is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Gray and Larson mention several explanations forged within the CCPM approach. While I do agree with these explanations, I am sure that such problems are results of the lack of collaboration between managers and workers rather than poor time management.

References

Goldratt, E.M. (1997). Critical Chain. Barrington, Massachusetts: North River Press. Web.

Gray, E.W., & Larson, C.F. (2014). Project management: The managerial process (6th ed.). New York City, New York: McGraw-Hill. Web.

Clearly, define a project and identify the main steps or stages in a project?

A project can be defined as a designated ally of tasks that aims at accomplishing a certain task within an organization; it has a period, expected expenditure, expected outcome, and a work framework or schedule. The following are the steps/stages in a project:

• Initiation;
• Planning and development;
• Project implementation and execution;
• Monitoring;
• Closure (see the appendixes for the process).

In general, what are the objectives of Project Management?

The following are the main objectives of a project management:

• to plan, organize and control activities
• manage activities and organize resources (both human and physical) for the project
• putting all the logistics of a project into place so that there will be full attainment of project goals and objectives
• Ensuring that the project is accomplished in time with the available resources and if possible have some new strategies of completion of tasks that is better than the original plan.

Sketch and clearly show the elements that can be found in Project Management triangles. Consider the consequences of changing one element of these PM triangles.

When the time of the project is increased, there are chances that the cost of the project will increase; this is so because more human capital will be required to accomplish the task; alternatively to click a balance the project may have an increased time but the number of employees slashed, this is likely to reduce maintain the cost.

What is the role of a Project Manager?

Project leaders are mandated with the task of ensuring that a project is run effectively and is completed within the set period. When making objectives of a project, managers should ensure that they not only have the goals and objectives set but should be pioneers of policies to see their attainment. In case a management fails to fulfill its leadership role, then the project is likely to fail. Interlink and collaboration of a number of micro-projects calls for integration of management and their skills so as micro-project leaders can enjoy from intellectualism from the other.

Describe the various levels of decision-making styles in a company and show how these decision making styles can also be found in project management.

Decisions are made in the following levels:

• Top management or board decisions: they come up with the overview decisions; they can be seen as the head of a project
• Operational level: they are supervisors and managers of a project
• Team level: they are the team leaders who come up with some project implementation decisions.

Describe the major difference between Project Management and Operational Management?

Project management is specific to certain undertaking that an organization aims at doing; it involves coordinating the activities and processes in a project for successful completion of a project on time having utilized resources effectively.

Operational management on the other hand has a wider approach to the process, it involves ensuring that processes within an organization are coordinated effectively; it involves even ensuing that certain projects are running but gives the final control of the project to project managers.

Clearly identify the characteristics of successful projects/teams&

The definition of project team is wide and covers different aspects; however, a team can be defined as a group of people with a common objective to meet within a certain period work. They range from small teams of two people to an entire organization can be referred to as a team. The following are the characteristics of an effectively managed team:

• decisions are made in a democratic manner but the team leader has the final hammer on the decision.
• all members understands their roles, functions and they are well equipped to perform them.
• Team members work for the general good of the organization and the team; organizations are run through different teams that are made to meet certain corporate objectives.
• Team leader effectively manages operations mandated with the task of coordinating and ensuring that things are flowing within a team; he is involved in daily activities of the team but is the reference point in the team.
• Good communication and common vision; the vision is to see the project completed in the right time using the right amount of resources.
• Have highly motivated staffs.

Clearly identify the characteristics of unsuccessful projects/teams&

In an ineffectively managed project or project team, the following are the main characteristics that it posses:

• De-motivated staffs; each staffs feels that he has no belonging to the attainment of the project objectives.
• Projects lag behind schedule.
• There is poor communication among the team members and the leader is the sole decision maker.
• Tasks are not effectively allocated and no one can be held fully responsible for a certain task.
• Self interests are vested first than project good.

Use example projects to illustrate your answers

Planning and Monitoring Techniques Using the information given in the table below: Activity Dependency Duration

1. None 5.
2. None 3.
3. B 6.
4. A 8.
5. B 7.
6. C 2.
7. D, E 4.
8. F,G 6.

Construct a dependency Gantt chart and identify the length of the project.

The time of the project is 23 days.

Construct, by hand, a critical path diagram using an activity-on-arrow network and identify the critical activities

The critical path of the project is using the path Start A-D-G-H.

The length of the project is 23 days.

Discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of Gantt charts

Advantages

• They offer project managers the chance to see the schedule of the project on a single page.
• They can be used to evaluate the progress of a project as they give the timeframes and the activity respected to be done during that period.
• When well managed, its an effective project management tool.

Disadvantages

• The tasks on a Gantt chart are independent thus there is high dependency.
• The charts assume that there will be no flexibility in the project, however at normal process, there are changes that arise in course of project process.

Identify the differences between AoA and AoN network diagrams

AoA illustrates the start of an activity from the start to the end of the activity, it shows the finish-to-start relationships of activities in a pert diagram; the arrows shows activities that have complicated relationships and dependencies.

AoN on the other hand shows the interrelationship that exists between activities; it shows those activities on a node that relationship is simple and can be well illustrated and any delay time removed.

What are the main differences between a standard critical path diagram and a PERT diagram?

The main difference is on the way each allocates time; in the case of Standard Critial path, the approach uses the expected time, which in most cases is the average of time to be used, while when it comes to PERT approach it times the best case; this is the expected situation and uses the worst-case approach. The formulae for the time used in PERT IS:

Average Time = (Best Case + (4 x Expected Case) + Worst Case) / 6.

Using the information given in the table above, using simple resource analysis determine how many people are required and when for this project. Assume that one person is required to carry out each activity.

Since the project has eight processes, and every process needs one person, the total number of people required will be eight of them.

Processes = 8 so people in the process = 8.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using Project Management software.

Advantages

• It monitors the progress of the project and ensure that incase there is a deviation from the expected, then it can offer some warnings
• They are simpler management tools that can be manipulated and results interpolated to calculate the best strategy and pathway for the program.

Disadvantages

• It is expensive to come with a system for every project
• They may offer some misleading information since they assume rigidity of processes.

Differentiate between a group and a team

A team is well organized with proper leadership and cohesion of members; it has some specified goals and objectives that it has to attain within a certain period using some specified levels of resources. In a team, every member has the sole aim of performing his own task, roles and undertaking responsibilities with the aim of meeting the teams objectives, goals, vision and mission.

A group on the other hand is a collection of people with something that creates identity among each other, for example, they may be people from the same locality, people who support a certain team, or even a group of mob doing something in common. In groups, there is no well-framed leadership and neither of the group members can be held accountable of the other or of a certain task undertaken.

Leaders within an organization should ensure they develop teams from groups, it is through the development of orchestrate teams that the team will attain its corporate goals and objectives.

Distinguish between a functional role and a team role

Teams have roles to play to ensure that their objectives as well as their firms objectives have been met effectively; form a broad angle, teams roles can be classified as functional and team roles:

Functional roles are the responsibilities that a certain team member is mandated to undertake in order to make the entire team to function effectively. For example in a construction project; the team may have someone responsible for supplying water to the project; the persons role will be restricted to that function and his effectiveness and efficiency in the areas will translate to overall good of the entire program.

Team roles are the roles that someone is allocated within the team, they are the responsibilities that a certain person is supposed to handle as far as the operation of the team is concerned. For example if team leaders have the role of ensuring that all processes are working according to the planned was and in line with the initiation documents.

List all of Belbins team roles. Describe in detail the strengths and allowable weaknesses of these roles.

According to Belbins team roles, the roles of a team can be divided into nine main areas as:

Plant

this involves placing the right person to the right task; when doing this, the team manager looks into talent, skills, and experience of the individual team members.

Monitor/Evaluator

The team should have some cohesion and have better approached to the situations in hand to ensure that any problem that arises has been solved in the best way possible. it is good to appreciate that in team, there are likely to have some conflicts, some challenges and some issues that might have been overlooked when enacting the program, managers should not let them ruin the success of their project.

Implementer

The idea behind a team is to come-up with the right combination of efforts tasks, powers, and strengths, when they are well blend, then the team can have some power and the strength to accomplish tasks together. When team efforts and powers have been combined, then there is the development of an orchestrate team and its success is almost guaranteed.

Team worker

The attainment of a teams goals and objectives depends on how well the human resources have been managed; managing project teams involves enacting policies and strategies that create an environment that team members can use their intellectualism to the good of the company.

Specialist

Teams have their efforts, skills and eyes focused on a certain area or something that they want to attain; this focus means they should have the skills, the focus and the direction they are following for their own good. Well-managed team should ensure they have the focus and clear direction.

Completer Finishers

As much as teams are there to attain certain objective, they are people, they need to socialize and have some social practices and matters; this will assist them in building cohesions good for an effective operation of a team. To have good socialization, team managers should develop effective communication channels.

Thinking

When team is operating effectively, they are using their thoughts, expertise and experiences to accomplish a certain task; the operating environment should be favorable for the growth of good thoughts and building of intellectual capacity.

Co-coordinators

Making decisions, planning, socializing all blend to the actual doing of the project; teams efforts should be made to facilitate good business in the company

Resource Investigators

Team are expected to manage the available resources and ensure that incase there is a better way of using the resources, the team should have the structures and mechanisms to realize and use them

Describe a team lifecycle, giving a brief description of each stage and commenting on the expected efficiency of the team at each stage.

Teams are made from available human resources and sourcing for external human resources. When developing a team, the initial point is defining the task, then interpolating the resources that a company has. The available internal resources should be scrutinized and enforced by other experts if they do not have the capacity. The task that need to be accomplished should be analyzed, objective and goals set; with the task understanding and understanding the potential at hand, then managers blend the resources effectively to the benefit of the task. Different personalities, expertise, age and experiences should be combined and team leader elected.

Team cycle has three main processes as:

• Forming this stage the management tries to merge the available resources, human capital and the available resources; it involves putting the skills, experiences, personal styles, habits and expertise together to have a winning team. This stage is crucial as the result determines the success of the outcome team all parameters should be considered.
• Storming: at this stage, the teams interpersonal differences come into play as people have differences and look for solutions to them; this stage assists is knowing the personalities of the team members for a better combination.
• Norming: at this stage, the team has resolved their differences and they have a common destiny; they respect each other and the spirit of teamwork is building.
• Performance/Dorming: this is making the team act in unison for the good of the project that they are initiating; team members should act not to compete with each other but to have common solutions to issues and be able to handle situations as they come.
• Adjourning: this occurs when there have been a change that suddenly calls for a shift of focus and a change of the team members tasks allocation and the way they perceive the operating conditions.

The following diagram illustrates the above roles of a team:

When a team follows the above roles, the successes of there are likely to be attained.

Project Management and Systems Theory.

Give a clear definition of a system

A system in a project means general management approach that integrates different tasks within a project and uses scientific information analysis to come up with the right approach to certain issue facing an organization. Its a management approach that attempts to looks at issues at hand from a holistic level rather than through the an analysis of individual components; when solving problems, they are looked into utilizing the available information at the focus is to the root causes rather than the symptoms.

When using system project management approach, there is the general believe that a certain operation in one stage is likely to transfer success or failure to the following; this makes the entire project be dependent with each other.

Clear explain what is meant by the terms environment, boundary with respect to general systems theory and project management.

An environment in system theory of project management means the situation of a certain outcome in course of the project; it can be divided into two main areas: dynamic and static. The main role of mangers as far as environments is concerned is to ensure that the environment that project is operating in it appropriate to give higher results

Boundaries are those areas that some processes should not go beyond or surpass, for example, a certain process may have the expected cost resources that it must utilize; the project should be operated within these limits, there are ceilings and floors of a project operation.

Describe the three main types of system

The three types of systems are

Cost systems

The systems and programs that aim at controlling the cost incurred in the project

Time systems

They are the policies and programs of checks that ensure that the project is operating within the set period

Quality system

Quality is crucial for a project; those programs that are encased to ensure that high standards are set in the outcomes are called quality systems.

Systems in Project Management and Project Management in other disciplines

Whether in project management or in the general operation of an organization, systems management approach is aims at ensuring there is a relationship and interdependence of different areas. The entire project works individually to see the project a success.

Costs

Differentiate between fixed and variable costs

In cost accounting, the most important thing is to determine the cost that should be associated with a certain product. After the cost has been ascertained, then any changes are implemented. There are two concepts in cost accounting; fixed costs and Variable cost.

Fixed costs are costs that do not relate to any production but exists as long as a business is there. They include license fees, rent, management salaries and security costs among others. When calculating the cost of an item, they are spread all over the products produced to determine the particular cost.

Variable cost takes a broader perspective than fixed cost; a cost that pertain a specific process or batch or one that can directly be associated with a certain unit produced. It also includes marginal production costs analysis, process costing and batch costing.

Name three of the most common costing techniques / accounting methods

The following are the most common method of costing:

• Standard costing
• Activity based costing and
• Batch costing

Sketch a break-even chart indicating the main features and briefly note how break-even charts can be used.

When calculating the amount of products that needs to be produced by a firm to cover its costs as well as the ones needed to make a certain profit, project managers use breakeven methods; it can be calculated using mathematical interpolations as well as through the use of a diagram. The diagram below shows how breakeven point can b calculated by a graph:

The following are the uses of a break-even graph:

• To advise the company on the amount of products that need to be produced to have the total costs and total revenue be the same; at this point, the profit of the firm is nil
• The approach can be used to calculate the amount of profit or loss that can be attained if a certain business was to operate at a certain level or a certain output is made from the process.
• It is used to interpolate sales revenue and production costs for an effective management.

A piece of software has been identified as potentially useful for the company.

This software is available as a basic installation at a cost of £8500 and as a professional edition at £10550. Investigations have demonstrated that the potential savings that can be made over the next six years are as follows:

Assuming an interest rate of 6%, use the discount tables in your notes, to calculate the NPV (net present value) for both editions of the software and give a purchase recommendation.

The company should use adopt a saving basic project since at the end of the life period of the project, it is expected to have a net benefit to the organization. The professional method savings will be lower than the initial outlay of capital in its initiation thus when implemented, then the organization is likely to suffer some losses. This should be avoided.

Quality

Give a definition of:

Quality

In project management, quality means a measure of excellence, conformity and the degree at which the output meets the standards of an expected outcome; when something is said to be of good quality, then it has no defects or the defects are not substantial.

Quality assurance

Process involves systematic monitoring and evaluation of the projects to ensure that the set standards conform to the requirements of the project in the efforts of ensuring that at the end of the project the output conform to the set standards and quality is maintained or attained.

Quality management

The overall strategic management of avoiding any risk that can lead to compromised quality, generally, it involves the following processes quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement; when every process is well undertaken, then the output of a project are more likely to offer satisfactory results.

Management system

A management system are tools enacted within an organization to ensure that processes are well conducted and operated in the best manner for the interest of coming up with good results as they had been expected or planned

Quality management system

The systems are put in place to ensure that the operating system has the best outcome in terms of quality, and the results are generally within the accepted defects limit. The programs aims at ensuring that all loopholes that are likely to bring unsatisfying results have been looked into and sealed where possible.

Indicate how quality can be controlled within projects

Quality management and controlling starts with the initial planning and preparations that a project manager has undertaken, after planning, the manager and team members should continue to monitor and ensure that the set procedures and processes are undertaken in the best manner possible. The following is the approach undertaken in when controlling quality of a project:

• The management should set some predetermined standards that define the best outcome of every process in a project.
• Have some quality specifications and work packages as well the derivable that are expected from individual processes.
• Have well defined procedures that need to be followed in the attainment of overall project objectives.
• Have quality audits well planned and spaced to ensure that from the start, quality and compliance is adhered to.
• After the completion of some work, there is need to have a quality compliance revision.

Discuss the difference between monitoring and controlling a project.

Monitoring involves in ensuring that the enacted programs, processes and tasks are operated in the best way; it involves ensuring that the project can be finished using the available resources effectively.

Controlling means creating a level of efficiency and ensuring that the resources of a project are well allocated and they are distributed in the best manner possible to facilitate the attainment of project objectives and goals.

Discuss the benefits and major issues regarding project monitoring and control.

Monitoring and control are crucial stages of a project; they have the following benefits to the project:

• It ensures that resources (time, money and human) are effectively managed
• It ensures that the initiation documents are respected and the entire project is operated following the set standards.
• When a project is well monitored and controlled, it ensures that the objectives and goals it was made to attain have been attained in the most efficient manner.

Despite the benefits that come with monitoring and controls, the following issues are faced:

• The management may have some conflicting issues
• Sometimes the monitors and controllers may overlook some things that eventually leads to failure of the project
• Monitoring may consume some time and resources of a project and hinder the attainment of the set goals in time and costs as planned.

Discuss the options that may be available if there is a problem with a project in terms of timescales, costs or quality.

In case there is a problem in time, costs or quality, managers should be flexible to make decisions depending with the situation at hand. When there have been a delay, managers can opt to extend the time, if not possible they can work for longer hours, they can also subcontract some tasks or even adopt faster technology.

When the issue facing a project is on costs, the management should interpolate the situation and see the best way they can manage the costs, managing costs can be through using other materials (they should be careful not to use substandard materials). They can also opt to substitute some expenses, for example, they can use machinery instead of human resource if the method will offer a reduced cost. In a well-planned project, managers should have a provision that the costs may change upwards so they should have some supplementary budget or miscellaneous expenses budget, they can be used.

Non-compliance of quality standards offers project managers the hardest task; there is no option to offer lower quality to a project, to rectify low quality issues, the managers should get back to the drawing board and start improving the quality from where the right step was lost.

Appendix

Introduction  Executive Summary

Innovative technology allows moving a company forward by establishing new options for communication with its stakeholders and increasing the quality of its services and products. However, the described change also suggests facing several challenges associated with resistance to change among employees and teaching them to use new equipment (Adeleke, Lawal, Adio, & Adebisi, 2015). In the case under analysis, the integration of task management software into the workplace processes is expected to minimize time spent on managing responsibilities, as well as prioritize assignments among staff members.

Combined with the assistance of a Health Information Professional (HIP), the strategies geared toward staff education and increase in the level of their proficiency are expected to produce a tangible impact on the current levels of data management quality and efficacy of implementing critical project goals. Therefore, the introduction of the strategies aimed at increasing the current employee engagement rates, reducing the levels of fear and reluctance toward changes among them, and building an HPW-based project management system are the primary objectives.

Purpose of Project Management Plan

The purpose of the project management plan is to introduce the framework for integrating task management software into the setting of the selected organization. In the process, staff members should be prepared and willing to use innovative task management tools in order to prioritize their workplace responsibilities and transfer data within an interdisciplinary environment effectively. The project management plan will establish a clear framework for

Project Charter

The purpose of the project charter is to outline the roles and responsibilities of each participant and outline the tasks to be accomplished, as well as the criteria based on which the extent of the project implementation success will be measured. In addition, the key stakeholders will be outlined in the process. As the project charter below indicates, the stakeholders are represented by the team of nurses, patients to whose needs the nurses will cater, the vendor, investors, the healthcare organization, in general, and the local community on the whole when considering the public health scope.

Figure 1. Project Charter for Introducing Task Management Software.

As the charter provided above shows, the project is expected to be implemented with the support of an HIP expert. The issue of communication and negotiation with staff members requires further elaboration, as well as the role of incentives in boosting employee engagement rates. Additionally, the problem of employee engagement along with the notions of employee motivation and employer engagement will be scrutinized to structure an optimum framework for meeting the stakeholders needs.

Project Scope

The current project scope embraces the needs of patients in the facility and, on a broader scale, the local community. The needs of a larger community may need to be taken into consideration in further projects. Thus, the project will gradually expand to focus on global issues.

Procurement Plan

Cost Estimate

Figure 2. Cost Estimate.

The current analysis of risks and expenses associated with the introduction of task management software shows that the salary offered to the HIP expert, the purchase of the tools form vendors, and the provision of incentives to team members will take the greatest a number of investments. The total costs of the project can be reduced by reconsidering the options for the task management software and the range of skills that the staff will acquire with the help of the HIP. Nevertheless, the current range of expenses should be seen as the most probable one.

Procurement Plan

As the plan for procurement shows, it is critical to lay the foundation for the introduction of task management software into the designated setting. The process of increasing awareness of the necessity to change will also take a certain amount of time (Hovenga & Grain, 2016). The education process along with the management of critical data by an HIP will constitute the greatest amount of time, whereas the assessment of results and the location of future goals will be carried out at the end of the project implementation.

Baseline Management and Staffing Plan

The current base line management plan includes the following steps:

The rationale behind choosing the specified quality criteria concerns the necessity to introduce team members to the idea of continuous learning and independent development of critical competencies for managing the software. In addition, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration should remain prominently high.

[Insert the projects Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM), and base line management plan that describes the rationale behind your RAM.]

Risk Assessment and Quality Plan

The process of managing risks will require introducing incentives for staff members to maintain engagement and enthusiasm. One should also mention the challenges associated with the rearrangement of the current standards of quality and principles of assigning roles and responsibilities to staff members (see Fig. 2). Nevertheless, the application of the communication practice that involves openness and employee engagement will help to overcome the described issues.

According to the projects Risk Matrix, the issues associated with the transfer to the new framework of managing patient data is expected to pose the greatest threat to the viability of the entire project. Therefore, the current quality plan has to be updated to contain very clear criteria for high-quality performance in the target setting.

Project Communication Plan

Stakeholders and Documentation

Currently, it is critical to ensure that employees are fully aware of the changes that are going to take place in the management of data, as well as the importance and legitimacy of these changes. The role that education about the use of software and the understanding of its functions is another priority that the project in question targets to attain. Therefore, staff members are seen as the key stakeholders (Hornstein, 2015).

They include nurses, physicians, and other healthcare department members. Each of the stakeholders will receive documentation detailing their roles and responsibilities in managing the schedule and data with the help of the new software. In addition, concise yet accurate and clear guidelines will be included in the documentation to ensure that employees manage the software properly. Finally, information about the training sessions will be offered to employees to ensure that they receive proper guidance and support from an HIP.

Project Communications Plan

• Project Title: (Add the title here.)
• Project Sponsor: (Add the sponsors title or role here.)
• Project Manager: (Add your name here as the project manager.)

(List all project communication types in Table 1. Provide the applicable information in each column for each communication type listed. Add rows to the table, as needed.)

Table 1: Project Communications.

Stakeholder Communications

Introducing employees to the goals and development of the project allows addressing two major concerns simultaneously. Being aware of the objectives and progress of the process, the participants will be less afraid of negative outcomes and, thus, less reluctant to participate in it. Moreover, with a clear layout of the stages of education an integration of the time management software, the staff members will be able to control their professional development and figure out the pace at which they will absorb new knowledge most effectively. Herein the significance of communicating project data and information lies.

For this purpose, strategies such as the use of active listening will be used due to the opportunity to engage staff members in a discussion (Butt, Naaranoja, & Savolainen, 2016). As a result, employees are expected to build a substantial amount of prowess in managing the time management software to increase their productivity and prioritize key tasks.

Tools for Communicating the Progress to Stakeholders

The choice of the approaches toward communication between the team leader and the participants will have a profound effect on the success of implementing the proposed change, specifically, educating staff members, avoiding the associated risks, and reducing the threat of high reluctance levels in the target audience. For the project to be implemented fast and have a lasting impact, a combination of traditional and digital communication tools should be deployed.

Using openness in a direct dialogue with team participants will help to establish the atmosphere of trust, whereas the application of digital conferencing tools will help to time conversations to meet the needs of all participants. In addition, the application of digital conferencing tools may spur the process of knowledge sharing among participants, which will establish a more comfortable atmosphere and be conductive to staff members accepting the new innovation-driven corporate philosophy.

References

Adeleke, I. T., Lawal, A. H., Adio, R. A., & Adebisi, A. A. (2015). Information technology skills and training needs of health information management professionals in Nigeria: A nationwide study. Health Information Management Journal, 44(1), 30-38. Web.

Butt, A., Naaranoja, M., & Savolainen, J. (2016). Project change stakeholder communication. International Journal of Project Management, 34(8), 1579-1595. Web.

Hornstein, H. A. (2015). The integration of project management and organizational change management is now a necessity. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), 291-298. Web.

Hovenga, E., & Grain, H. (2016). Learning, training and teaching of health Informatics and its evidence for informaticians and clinical practice. Evidence-Based Health Informatics, 222, 336-354. Web.