Principles of Project Management: Uber New Mobile App Case Study

This document discusses the principles of project management and their application in the development of Uber's new mobile app. It covers the impact of PMBOK knowledge areas and processes, comparison of different project management approaches, project management tools and techniques for managing risks, and effective leadership styles for project success.

Running head: PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Principles of Project management: Uber New Mobile App case study
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1PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Table of Contents
Overview..........................................................................................................................................2
1. Understanding PMBOK knowledge areas and processes............................................................3
1.1 Impact of PMBOK knowledge areas and processes in PMI’s code of ethics and project
management prcatices..................................................................................................................3
2. Comparison and contrast on different project management approaches.....................................4
2.1 The roles of project management approaches.......................................................................4
3. Project management tools and techniques for managing risks....................................................6
4. Leadership styles for managing project situations and their personal capacity to succeed those
situations..........................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Overview
Project management is referred to as a process or techniques widely used by the project
associates for managing different situations. For achieving long term project success different
knowledge management areas and PMI ethical codes are necessarily followed (Larson & Gray,
2017). The case study chosen for this assessment is development of Uber New driver’s
application to give wider opportunities to the Uber drivers. After analyzing the case study the
different project management approaches, practices, leadership style risk management plan
learned throughout the course are applicable for this case are elaborated in the paper.
According to this new app the drivers would be able to get alert and notification for
selecting passengers. The modified version is much reliable, flexible and user friendly. It is
recognized that, while developing this particular app all project management practices and
suitable approaches are followed by the project managers and approved by stakeholders as well.
The new application is beneficial for both the driving partners and drivers as well. A status bar
available in the app will let the delivery partners and driver know that whether they should keep
on driving or stay at a particular location. Moreover, it can be said that role of principle of
project management practices in terms of theories; models and reflections for managing and
implementing project are elaborated here.

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1. Understanding PMBOK process and knowledge areas
1.1 Impact of PMBOK knowledge areas and processes in PMI’s code of ethics and
project management prcatices
Throughout the project lifecycle period the project manager must follow each of the
PMBOK knowledge areas and practices individually. I have learned about various PMBOK
knowledge areas present that are to be maintained and managed by the project associates include
resource management plan, schedule and cost management plan, communication and quality
management plan and scope management plan. Before initiating any project the project
managers must prepare a scope statement and share that to the rest (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017).
The project scope statement should be understood appropriately by the project stakeholders. For
accomplishing the project proper resources that are essential must be identified and collected.
Apart from that, for reducing the work complexity the PM should use Work Breakdown
Structure (WBS) and Gantt chart to divide the large project into smaller segments. For each
segment individual resources are timelines should be set (Harrison & Lock, 2017). After setting
the timeline it become the responsibility of the assigned project resources to accomplish the
project activities within that assigned timeline and budget.
Apart from that the other practice used for managing projects are stakeholder
management plan. Before understanding the stakeholder’s responsibilities their interests should
be analyzed. Before initiating the project the potential risks that may interrupt the project success
should be identified, analyzed and prioritized accordingly (Hopkinson, 2017). In addition to that
based on the risk complexity the project managers develops risk mitigation strategies also. The
New app for Uber drivers are designed considering the requirements an expectation of the

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driving partners and drivers and it is determined that most of the knowledge areas are considered
for the project success. The communication plan that should be approaches by the project
associates while sharing information is open communication. This approach allows all the team
members communicate over a common platform and share their point of views for success with
other.
On the other hand, according to the PMI code of ethics the different ethical aspects
required to be followed by the project team members are honesty, professionalism, fairness,
responsibility and respect (Cagliano, Grimaldi & Rafele, 2015). I have realized that while
working as team each must possess respect for each other and necessary professionalism and
honesty on the work environment. Throughput the project development life cycle period the PMI
code of ethics takes active role play.
2. Comparison and contrast on different project management approaches
2.1 The roles of project management approaches
I have learned about different project management methodologies such as waterfall,
agile, scrum, iterative and spiral. However I feel that PRINCE project management methos is the
best suited project development approacg that should be used while implementing the Uber new
driver app. I feel that the Uber new driver app development project is a successful one after
analyzing the functional and operational activities.
Event chain project approach: According to this exact project management approach a
single constraint is capable to create a constraints chain and also block any project. For example,
in a project is several departments depend on each other then constraints of any department may

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negatively impact the departmental productivity (Schwalbe, 2015). In order to implement any
project past data can also be used by the project managers and project stakeholders. In order to
track the project chain reliable real time data collected over time can be used by the project
associates. One of the most suitable and widely used project event chains tracking tool is Gantt
chart.
Traditional approach: The early approach of project management is consists of
different sequentially managed phases. For each phase individual timeline and resources are also
assigned by the project managers (Paquin, Gauthier & Morin, 2016). I have learned that as soon
as the resources and timeline is assigned it become their responsibility to accomplish the project
within that timeline and budget. The main issue associated to this approach is that one phase
cannot be started before complete and successful completion of its immediate previous phase
because each f theses phases are internally connected to each other.
Critical chain approach: I have learned about another critical chain project management
approach called critical chain approach which uses one constraint that is either behavioral or
process related. In order to remove, predict and analyze any project related constraint either
behavioral or mathematical science is recommended to use. For sending quality project to the
clients as per the objectives critical chain approach is the most suitable one that has to be used by
the project managers.
Extreme project approaches: The project passing through dynamic situation must use
this project management approach (Hornstein, 2015). Apart from that, the cases where enough
projects related data are not available this particular approach should be used. For implementing

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requested change management plan based on the changing market situation, the project managers
should use extreme project approaches.
There is different project management software available in the market and in order to
track the project suitable software can also be used by the project manager and project team
members (Olechowski et al., 2016). I think that for this particular project the most appropriate
and applicable project management approach is critical the early project management process.
3. Project management tools and techniques for managing risks
During the design and development of project some important risk management tools and
techniques are required to be sued by the project managers. The different type of tools and
techniques are as follows:
Root cause analysis: Root cause analysis is referred to as one of the most essential tool
that is used for identification of risk triggers (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017). Based on the cause or
root respective presentation mechanism should be taken by the project managers.
Cause and effect analysis: It is the other tool used to define the cause of potential risk
and its future negative and positive both impacts.
Risk urgency: Risk urgency assessment is a qualitative risk analysis technique. With the
help of this approach, risk causes, its impact possibilities if occurrences all can be identified
easily.
Assumption analysis: It is another approach used for revealing inconsistency of
assumptions or uncovers all problematic assumptions associate to the project.

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4. Leadership styles for managing project situations and their personal
capacity to succeed those situations
Different leadership styles are available and based on the features of the project the most
suitable leader is required to be assigned (Larson & Gray, 2017). I think that, appropriate
leadership style is desirable for managing the project and the project team associates too. The
tools and techniques to be used by the project owners to improve the quality f the new app
development project are Gantt chart, Critical path method and WBS. The WBS will help to
refuce the complexity of the project and also help the owners to track the project progress.
However, for most of project the project managers should act like a leader. The leadership styles
are elaborated n the below section:
Charismatic leadership: This leadership style is very effective for project success. The
leader who possesses this style inspires the project team members to put all cent percent
contribution on the project objectives throughout the project development lifecycle period.
Laissez Faire leadership: This leadership style helps the team members to enhance their
creativity and self motivation without any external manipulation (Hopkinson, 2017). In other
words this leadership approach is applicable for employee empowerment.
Transformational leadership style: These types of leaders are capable to found high
level trust among the project staffs and also assemble those around the shared project vision and
goal.
Autocratic leadership: In order to keep the project on track through this leadership style
is used for quick and strategies decision making.

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I think that, while implementing the project “App for the Uber drivers” the project
manager should have followed the leadership style called transformational leadership style.

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References
Cagliano, A. C., Grimaldi, S., & Rafele, C. (2015). Choosing project risk management
techniques. A theoretical framework. Journal of Risk Research, 18(2), 232-248.
Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge.
Hopkinson, M. (2017). The project risk maturity model: Measuring and improving risk
management capability. Routledge.
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.
Hu, X., Cui, N., Demeulemeester, E., & Bie, L. (2016). Incorporation of activity sensitivity
measures into buffer management to manage project schedule risk. European Journal of
Operational Research, 249(2), 717-727.
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2017). Project management: The managerial process. McGraw-
Hill Education.
Olechowski, A., Oehmen, J., Seering, W., & Ben-Daya, M. (2016). The professionalization of
risk management: What role can the ISO 31000 risk management principles
play?. International Journal of Project Management, 34(8), 1568-1578.

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Paquin, J. P., Gauthier, C., & Morin, P. P. (2016). The downside risk of project portfolios: The
impact of capital investment projects and the value of project efficiency and project risk
management programmes. International Journal of Project Management, 34(8), 1460-
1470.
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Vanhoucke, M., Coelho, J., & Batselier, J. (2016). An overview of project data for integrated
project management and control. Journal of Modern Project Management, 3(2), 6-21.
Zhang, Y. (2016). Selecting risk response strategies considering project risk
interdependence. International Journal of Project Management, 34(5), 819-830.