Project Management and Evaluation of Cloud Computing Implementation

This report discusses the objectives, benefits, scope, changes, lessons learned, and risks of a project on implementing cloud computing in a company. It also provides recommendations for future projects.

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Outline the objectives of the project and indicate if they were achieved or not and if not, why
not?..............................................................................................................................................1
Benefits that have been achieved and if these were expected or unexpected..............................3
Did the project stay within its original scope? This is the project’s timescale, the budget, and
the projects tolerances..................................................................................................................4
Explain the changes that were made in the run up to the completion of the project - These are
changes made in original plan. Also, what were effects of these changes on this project?.........4
Summarise the lessons learnt during the project, what went well and what you would do
differently next time. Think about the project’s successes and areas which need to be
improved and explain any recommendations you would have for future projects......................5
Were there any risks which you felt you could have identified earlier on in the project? What
do you feel prevented you from identifying them, or were they unavoidable and unpredictable?
.....................................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Project management is considered as the processes, skills, knowledge, method as well as
experiences for attaining the specific project aim and objective according to project and its
standard. It is also determine as final deliverables which are forced to a finite budget as well as
timescale set by the management. By conducting effective project management company able to
attain its desire goal as well as objectives successfully. Organization selected for respective
report is an assumption based firm i.e. ABC Plc. Respective company planning to enhance its
information technology system by adopting the cloud computing in their business operations and
functions. The respective project is based on the evaluation of appropriateness and limitations of
the respective project management plan as well as it are also including principles of the project
management. In addition to this, it also includes some theories as well as models so determining
whether the project aim conducted properly or not.
MAIN BODY
Outline the objectives of the project and indicate if they were achieved or not and if not, why
not?
The objective of this project is to launch advance information technology services that is
cloud computing to ABC Plc company. The reason for conducting this project in to update the
business activities and services of client company (Meredith, Shafer and Mantel Jr, 2017). The
motive or goal of conducting this project is to launch effective and efficient information
technology which is as per the needs to client as well as enhance business performance. Cloud
computing will be very useful technology as it will assist organisation to increase business
capabilities along with this reduce the time and cost of company for performing organisational
task.
Yes, the objective of this project is successfully accomplished and respective organisation
is able to deliver product on right time to its potential clients. LMC organisation has considered
PRINCE 2 model approach for effectively conducting this project that will lead to correctly
perform and carry out business practices in correct manner.
PRINCE2 approach
This is effective and useful approach that is consider by project manager in order to
successfully control and organize different activities of the project. Project management process
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is very complicated as it includes different activities and task that needs to be implemented
correctly. It is essential for project manager to determine most effective and efficient way of
controlling project activities. PRINCE 2 model refer as the project in controlled environment.
This is a process based method that includes different stages for managing project activities in
order to attain desired goals and objective (Walker, 2015). PRINCE 2 includes seven different
stages which is significant in management of project activities in order to accomplish set
outcome. Different stages of model is mention below –
 Start up the project – This is the first stage of starting the project as well as collecting
required information that will help in successfully completing different activities of the
project. A project start when someone has submitted the request of new project along
with the approval to start the project. It includes the brief of business case as it contain
information and detail about the requirement of the project as well as desired outcome. It
is crucial for project manager to set the standards of project so that all activities can be
performed accordingly.
 Initiate the project – When project has started at the stage of initiation project manager
will identify and determine different elements of the project so that it can be performed
correctly and accurately (Kerzner, 2017). In this stage project manager needs to address
several questions such as reason for performing project, risk factor that is included in the
project, benefits that will be attain by completion of project as well as other aspects of the
project. During this stage cost, risk, advantage, quality of project will be analysed
properly in order to successfully perform the task and carry out project activities.
 Direct the project – This is significant stage as it help on providing direction to project
manager for completing the project. In this step of project management process different
important and crucial decision in respect to the project will be taken. This consist of the
distributing authority of different team member as well as delegation of responsibility for
successfully conducting project. In this decision for delivery of product as well as closing
of project will be taken so that all activities of project can work accordingly.
 Control stage – It is very important for project manager to control and manage different
activities of the project. At control stage project manager will monitor the current
performance of the project with the actual standards of the project (Fleming and
Koppelman, 2016). During project management process manager will break large and
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complex task into smaller parts so that all activities of the project can be correctly
controlled and managed. This stage is helpful in overseeing of the overall progress of
work package as well as coordinate with other team member in order to attain set
objective.
 Management of product delivery – During this stage it is the responsibility of manager
to check the progress of the project as well as make sure the delivered product is as per
the requirements. This step is helpful in controlling the quality of product along with the
meeting expectations.
 Manage stage boundary – At this stage project manager and project board will review
different stages in order to make sure the all activities of the project has been performed
according to the plan. This stage will help in determining whether to continue to the next
stage or make changes to attain objective.
 Close the project – This is the last stage of project management process and in this step
of PRINCE 2 approach all task and activities of the project is successfully completed. At
this stage project is close and desired objective is also accomplished.
Benefits that have been achieved and if these were expected or unexpected.
In order to complete a project in successfully manner a company need to adopt proper
project management because that will help in conducting operations or practices in effective
manner. Moreover it also helps in attaining the predetermined outcome in proper way so that
company successfully completes the project. Conducting project management activities is
beneficial for all firm every if they are providing services to the other firm. In respect of
respective report ABC Plc wanted to adopt information technology for conducting work
effectively and for this they decided to adopt cloud computing. The respective project of
information technology is going to handle by LMN Company. In respect of ABC Plc by adopting
effective project management activities they able to adopt could computing in effective manner
as well as it also help in upgrading their business operation as well as functions activities in
effective manner. On the other hand, it is also beneficial for the LMN Company such as
respective company able to increase their market value and goodwill because by implementing
project management they able to attain their desire goal successfully. It will also aid a company
in enhancing their profitability ration because they develop effective as well as good customer
relation which helps in attaining desire outcome in effective manner. So it is essential for each
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and every company to adopt or conduct project management activities as that ensure the
successful completion of project.
Did the project stay within its original scope? This is the project’s timescale, the budget, and the
projects tolerances.
Yes this project stayed with in the original scope. While starting the project, manager has
developed a proper plan that includes timescale, budget as well as project tolerance. It was
important for project manager to complete all activities and task of project in set time frame and
estimated budget. Time duration that was set for completing the project was 6 months and
project manager has developed effective plan to timely complete all activities and task of project
in desired time duration (Joslin and Müller, 2015). There was approx 50000 pounds. The
motive of project manager to complete the project in less cost as well as provide better quality
products and services to its client. Project manager has estimated various risk that can have direct
impact over the performance of the project. The major risk is related to higher cost, delay in
finishing the project, improper utilization of resources, any accident on site or strike of labour.
All of these are the major risk that can have direct impact on overall performance of the project
as well as influence accomplishment of the project on time. In order to overcome the risk of
project different strategies has been developed by project manager which is significant in
overcome the issues as well as enhance performance of the project. These strategies play
effective role in successfully completion of the project on time and meeting with the desired
objectives. strategies that is developed by project manager assist in staying of project with the
original scope.
Explain the changes that were made in the run up to the completion of the project - These are
changes made in original plan. Also, what were effects of these changes on this project?
There are some changes that are made in run up of the project which is significant in
completion of the project (Verzuh, 2015). It is essential for project manager to make changes
which is as per the need and requirement of the project or current situation. While development
of project plan, manager has developed estimated project estimated budget and time duration for
completion of the project activities. in actual implementation of the project plan there are some
changes made by project manager that is useful for meeting with the requirement of the project.
Changes required by client or some modification in development of actual project that is cloud
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computing services. It is important to project manager to consider the new changes or
modification in the product that is required by client in order to successfully meet with the needs
of client as well as developed strong relationships (Todorović and et.al., 2015). While execution
of the project plan, some changes has been made due to lack of resources to complete the task.
When there is required resources is not available with the project manager or supplier fails to
deliver raw material on time then project manager made changes in the project plan and carry out
different activities. This was useful in performing project activity and do not waste time in
waiting for the resources.
Summarise the lessons learnt during the project, what went well and what you would do
differently next time. Think about the project’s successes and areas which need to be
improved and explain any recommendations you would have for future projects.
This project was learning experience for me and I have learned different other things
while completing this project. Learning through this project will be beneficial for long term as it
helped me in identifying which activities will work best and which will not. I have learned that it
is important to develop a proper process for completing the project as it will lead to provide
guidance and help in timely completion of the project. Project management process work as the
direction according to which project manager can carry out different activities of the project. In
this project there are number of things that work well and can be consider as the reason of
successfully completion of the project. During the project, PRINCE 2 model approaches has
been used by project manager that was significant in providing guidance and direction to project
manager for timely completing the project activities and attain desired goals (Kivilä, Martinsuo
and Vuorinen, 2017). This project was completed on time and client was happy with the services
as well as quality of product that is delivered. All stakeholder of the project was impressed with
the overall quality of work and management of different activities. Apart from this there are
some elements of the project which does not work well and I will try not to repeat this in next
project. There are poor communication between the team member which will lead to have direct
impact over the activities of the project. Lack of communication was the major drawback of this
project as it will lead to confusion and misunderstanding in the project plan. In order to
overcome this issues, next time I will develop a proper hierarchy for communication that will
lead to reduce any type of confusion or issues (de Carvalho, Patah, and de Souza Bido, 2015).
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Communication in the project will follow as per the hierarchy that will assist in smooth
performance of overall project.
Were there any risks which you felt you could have identified earlier on in the project? What do
you feel prevented you from identifying them, or were they unavoidable and
unpredictable?
Risk includes all those activities which can have negative impact on the project as well as
influence successful accomplishment of the project. It is crucial for project manager to identify
and determine different types of risk in the project as well as track them correctly in order to
attain the outcome. Risk identification is crucial part in project management process and it will
help in reducing the chances of failure of the project. It is important for project manager to
determine various types of risk that can negatively influence the performance of the project as
well as take correct step in order to overcome the issues or risk. I feel that there are some risk
that needs to be identified earlier as it can also have major impact on overall performance of the
project (Todorović and et.al., 2015). Legal risk and technical risk as also major risk that was not
consider by project manager will analysing risk. Respective company is develop cloud
computing services for its client that is required new and advance technology. Lack of technical
support or any technical issues can have major impact on overall performance of the project.
Legal risk may arise due to changes in rules and legislation by government. These are
unavoidable risk that needs to be consider by project manager. It would be impossible for project
manager to successfully complete the project and deliver high quality of product to client due to
lack of technical support. It is essential to follow required changes and modification in the
project management process as per the new laws and legislations.
CONCLUSION
By analyzing above mentioned points it can be determine and summarized that for every
company it is essential to conduct project management because through that they able to
conduct all operations and functions related to project in effective manner. Moreover, it will
also help in attaining desire goal as well as outcome for the project. In addition to this,
effective or appropriate project management helps Host Company as well as Client
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Company. In order to conduct effective project management Activities Company need to
determine several aspects such as decide budget, train employees, motivate, allocation of
resources and many more.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Meredith, J.R., Shafer, S.M. and Mantel Jr, S.J., 2017. Project Management: A Strategic
Managerial Approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Walker, A., 2015. Project management in construction. John Wiley & Sons.
Kerzner, H., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Heagney, J., 2016. Fundamentals of project management. Amacom.
Fleming, Q.W. and Koppelman, J.M., 2016, December. Earned value project management.
Project Management Institute.
Verzuh, E., 2015. The fast forward MBA in project management. John Wiley & Sons.
Joslin, R. and Müller, R., 2015. Relationships between a project management methodology and
project success in different project governance contexts. International journal of project
management, 33(6), pp.1377-1392.
Todorović, M.L. and et.al., 2015. Project success analysis framework: A knowledge-based
approach in project management. International journal of project management, 33(4), pp.772-
783.
Kivilä, J., Martinsuo, M. and Vuorinen, L., 2017. Sustainable project management through
project control in infrastructure projects. International Journal of Project Management, 35(6),
pp.1167-1183.
de Carvalho, M.M., Patah, L.A. and de Souza Bido, D., 2015. Project management and its effects
on project success: Cross-country and cross-industry comparisons. International Journal of
Project Management, 33(7), pp.1509-1522.
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