Project Management: Application of PMBOK in Tesco Loyalty Card Project

This report evaluates the use of PMBOK in Tesco loyalty card project. It discusses the definition and components of PMBOK project methodology, its advantages and disadvantages, and its application in Tesco project. The report aims to understand whether the project was implemented in an appropriate manner or not.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive Summary
The project management body of knowledge is a process and terminologies that helps in efficient
management and execution of a project. It is a collection of the different processes and the
knowledge areas that makes the execution of the project easier. This project management
methodology is followed globally as it is an internationally recognized project management
standard. The use of project management methodology in a project is essential in order to ensure
the effective management of the project. The Tesco Clubcard project aimed at launching UK’s
first contactless loyalty card programme. This card was designed keeping in mind the needs of
the customer and to make the process of shopping simpler. The project is a milestone for Thames
and Tesco UK loyalty as the contactless cards are a huge hit among the customer. The purpose of
the report is to evaluate the use of PMBOK in Tesco card project.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................3
2. PMBoK Project Methodology: Definition and Components...........................................3
2.1. What is PMBoK project methodology.....................................................................3
2.2. PMBOK Components...............................................................................................4
3. Advantages and Disadvantages of PMBoK project management methodology.............5
3.1. Advantages of PMBoK.............................................................................................5
3.2. Disadvantages of PMBoK........................................................................................6
4. Tesco loyalty card project................................................................................................6
5. Application of PMBoK in Tesco Project.........................................................................7
6. Pros and Cons of PMBoK in Tesco Project.....................................................................8
7. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................9
8. Recommendations............................................................................................................9
References..........................................................................................................................10
Bibliography......................................................................................................................13
Appendices........................................................................................................................14
Appendix 1: PMBOK....................................................................................................14
Appendix 2: The Tesco Contactless Clubcard...............................................................15

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1. Introduction
Thames card has undertaken and completed a project with Tesco in launching the first
contactless loyalty card programme. The contactless cards are proving to be a huge hit of the
consumer. Therefore, this project was a milestone for Tesco. The new card that is being designed
increases the security and value for the customers. The increase in the security and the value of
the card gives Tesco a better brand recognition and actionable data. The report aims at evaluating
the application of PMBoK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) methodology in
contactless Clubcard project of Tesco. The Project Management Body of Knowledge is a set of
standard methodology that provides proper guidelines for managing a project (Kerzner and
Kerzner 2017). This process provides the project managers with the fundamental practices that
are needed to achieve the organizational results and excellence for the practice of project
management. The use of PMBOK helps in managing and leading the project in a more effective
way. The use of PMBoK will therefore help in implementation and management of the project in
a strategic and planned manner ensuring project success (Turner 2014). It is a publication of
project management institute (PMI). The project involves development of a new Tesco loyalty
card that will be able the shoppers to simply tap their card at check out for payment thus making
the entire process even simpler (Atkins 2018). The following paragraphs evaluate the Tesco
loyalty card project on basis of PMBoK project methodology.
2. PMBoK Project Methodology: Definition and Components
2.1. What is PMBoK project methodology
PMBoK was first published in the year 1987 by the project Management Institute. It acts
as a project management guide that encompasses all the theories and the processes related to
project management. This project management methodology includes a dynamic and integrative
process that is updated on a frequent basis. This makes this project management methodology an
improved and updated one. The content of the PMBoK is accurately defined and tested by the
project management team making use of the methodology. The PMBoK guide is used by a
number of project teams across the world. With this guide, the project manager who is leading a
project can stay organized. There are a total of 47 individual processes that is organized by
PMBoK guide (Kerzner 2018). Apart from the process groups, there are ten knowledge areas that

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help in managing the projects in an integrated environment. Out of the ten knowledge areas, the
project integration management, time management and scope management is very important.
PMBoK ensures that a project, irrespective of its complexity is delivered within a scheduled
time. This is possible because PMBoK does not allow change in scope after the project has been
initiated. This helps in completing the project within a given schedule. Another significant
knowledge area of PMBoK is project quality management. A project cannot be considered
successful if a poor quality work is delivered. PMBoK establishes a specific set of policies and
objectives that make sure that the project is completed is completed in a manner that is useful for
the organization or the project owner.
The PMBoK project methodology further makes sure that good communication is
maintained among the project team members (Jeston 2014). Good communication is important in
any organization especially when it comes to the management of the project. With an appropriate
communication plan, the PMBoK project methodology ensures that all the project stakeholders
are informed about the project progress.
2.2. PMBOK Components
The project management body of knowledge is a guide that helps the project managers by
providing knowledge of certain fundamental practices that is needed to obtain a particular project
goal. This project methodology has five process groups, which include Initiation, Planning,
Execution, Monitoring and Controlling and project closing. The PMBoK project methodology
further deals with 10 knowledge areas and 47 processes that make the process of project
implementation easier (Heagney 2016). However, this methodology is a bit complex and
therefore, adequate experience is required to work with this project methodology. The 10
knowledge areas of project management include project integration management, project scope
management, project time management, cost management of the project, quality management,
Human resource management, communication management, risk management, procurement
management and stakeholder management (Heldman 2018). The PMBOK project methodology
is a globally recognized standard that act as a guide for the project management profession
(Bylok and Cichoblazinski 2016). The Tesco loyalty card project will be evaluated on basis of
this project management methodology and the 10 knowledge areas associated with it in order to
understand whether the project was implemented in an appropriate manner or not.

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One of the significant advantages of implementing a project with PMBoK project
management methodology is that, in PMBoK the entire project is divided into a number of
phases, which in turn helps in easier management of every phase of the project. The seven
process groups of the project further ensure that the project is implemented in a controlled and
manageable environment (Al Matari 2014). The seven process groups of PMBoK project
environment include starting up of a project, directing a project, initiating a project, controlling
the project stages, managing product delivery and managing the project closure (Kuster et al.
2015). PMBoK further ensure proper scope management, time, quality cost human resources and
communication management (Karaman and Kurt 2015). The following paragraphs give an idea
how the Tesco loyalty card project can be handled by making use of PMBoK project
methodology.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages of PMBoK project management methodology
There are a number of advantages and disadvantages of making use of PMBoK project
management methodology in any project (Too and Weaver 2014). The PMBoK project
management methodology includes dynamic processes that offer the benefit of continuous
improvement throughout the project implementation phase (Todorović et al. 2015). A project
management methodology ensures that any project is delivered in an acceptable condition to the
users. Use of PMBoK in the Tesco card project can certainly help in management of the project
and in ensuring its timely completion.
The advantages and the disadvantages of this methodology are discussed in the following
sections.
3.1. Advantages of PMBoK
In this section, the advantages of PMBoK project management methodology will be
discussed. One of the significant advantages of PMBoK project methodology is that, this
methodology is globally accepted and offers an effective business model through which the
project management plan can be formulated quite easily (Kerzner 2018). Project management
plan helps in easier project implementation as it acts as a guide for easier project implementation
(Skogmar 2015). Another significant advantage of making use of PMBoK project management
methodology in any project is that since it implements a project in a planned manner, it reduces

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the overhead cost of managing a project (Joslin and Müller 2015). Since PMBoK acts as a guide
to project management, having a proper knowledge of the contents of the guide further helps in
easy breakdown of the project management steps. Since PMBoK is a complex process there can
b certain steps which might be difficult to understand or implement. This problem can be easily
mitigated with the help of PMBoK guide thus making the process of project implementation
through PMBoK project methodology quite easier. PMBoK project management methodology
further offers tested methodologies and evidence based processes and practices to ensure
accurate project implementation (Roudias 2015). This further helps in understanding which
methodologies might work and which methodologies may not work. Above all, the use of project
management body of knowledge increases the accuracy of the project management process.
Therefore, PMBoK is one of the project management methodologies that can be implemented in
every project type. Therefore, the choice of project management methodology in Tesco
contactless card project is appropriate.
3.2. Disadvantages of PMBoK
The disadvantage of making use of PMBoK project management methodology is that the
methodology is quite complex and the project manager is needed to be experienced enough to
handle the project with the help of PMBoK project management methodology. An inexperienced
project manager might not have a proper knowledge about all the knowledge areas and the
process groups of PMBoK project management method and therefore it is essential to engage an
experienced project manager for the job of managing this project. Furthermore, since the project
management body of knowledge is quite complex, it is essential to train the project team
members accordingly (Seymour and Hussein 2014). This is one of the main disadvantages of
executing a project with the PMBoK project management methodology. Implementation of the
project in PMBoK project management methodology is that proper communication is necessary
in every project stage (Larson et al. 2014). The training program requires a huge investment and
lack of appropriate communication among the team members might result in failure of the
project. Therefore, it can be said that the implementation of the project with the help of PMBoK
project management methodology requires good knowledge and experience.
4. Tesco loyalty card project

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The aim of project is to design and develop a Tesco Clubcard to provide more benefits to
the customers. The aim of the project is to make the Clubcard simpler to use by introducing a
brand new contactless card. The card will be managed by a Smartphone application which is
very simple to use. The project will be making use of PMBoK project methodologies that will
ensure proper implementation of same. Tesco, the super market giant launched its contactless
Clubcard on 7th July 2017. The new Clubcard has been made easier for the customers to use. The
upgraded Clubcard application helps in easier management of the card. The upgraded card
provides most uniquely helpful things to the customers giving the company greater brand
recognition. Millions of customers are making use of this card with 66% global shoppers who are
enrolled in loyalty programmes (Atkins 2018). One of the significant enhancements that are
made in this card is the enhanced security that increases the customers’ trust and provides the
brand recognition. Since the new ClubCard is made simpler to use as it is made contactless. It is
a milestone for Thames, Tesco and UK loyalty. With the increase in the technological
enhancement, contactless Cards are a huge hit among the masses. Design, innovation and
simplicity comes together to shape the Tesco contactless card project. With a tight security and
ease of usage, the contactless cards are adopted by a number of customers. Thames has already
completed the personalization, processing and the issuance of 750000 cards per week over the
course of the project (Atkins 2018). The Tesco Clubcard scheme was mainly based on the
existing customers so that existing customers can help in attracting the new customers. The main
aim of this project is to make the shopping experience thrilling for the customers. The new
project accredited to several factors, among which the increase of the customer base system is
quite significant.
The Clubcard project of Tesco is a reflection of the different attributes of the Company
and commitment. This project if implemented with PMBoK project management methodology,
the project could have been implemented in a structured manner. The application of PMBoK in
Tesco project is discussed in the following section.
5. Application of PMBoK in Tesco Project
The application of PMBoK project management methodology in Tesco Project could
have helped in implementation of the project in a more structured manner. PMBoK describes an
idealistic project management environment that helps in implementation of the project in planned

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approach. In the initiation stage, the project must ensure that a structured project plan is made,
that will be used in the implementation stage as well. Good communication among the team
members is an essential consideration of successful project (Sánchez 2015). PMBoK project
management methodology ensures that a communication plan will be made at the beginning of
the project so that proper communication among the team members is possible (Gonçalves,
Drumond and Méxas 2017).
This is a customer based project and therefore proper requirements gathering are
essential. The requirements gathering are done at the beginning of the project so that
development of the project plan is easier. The project management body of knowledge
contributes to the better understanding of the different processes of the project. The PMBoK
project management methodology ensures planned project monitoring so that the flaws in the
project are detected at the right time. The project manager’s responsibility is to ensure that the
project is rightly tracked and monitored.
One of the significant aims of the Tesco contactless card project is designing a card that
will be simple to use. The project initiation phase therefore focuses on the setting up the
objectives of the project that will be followed in the implementation phase. The planning stage
includes scheduling the project till its release (Karaman and Kurt 2015). The use of PMBoK
methodology in this project therefore ensures the processing of the cards of the interested
customers so that the cards can be delivered to them in promised time frame.
The aim of the project is to let the shoppers have a hassle free shopping experience. The
Tesco loyalty card is rewarding and therefore, it is expected that the customer base for this
product will increase. The PMBoK project management methodology therefore proves to be
advantageous for the Tesco contactless card project (Elhameed 2017). The closing phase of the
project will be associated with the project release where the cards will be issued to the customers
which they can use right after the issue (Luiz, Souza and Luiz 2017). The pros and cons of
making use of PMBoK in Tesco Project are discussed in the following section.
6. Pros and Cons of PMBoK in Tesco Project

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With the number of advantages that PMBoK might offer to the Tesco project, there are a
number of disadvantages as well (Drob and Zichil 2013). This section will focus on the pros and
cons of implementing the Tesco project with project management body of knowledge.
The advantage or benefit of making use of PMBoK in Tesco project is that the entire
project is implemented in a planned approach (Huang 2017). The project will be delivered in the
set time which is a significant advantage of making use of this methodology.
One of the cons of PMBoK that might affect the project implementation is that proper
knowledge and skills are required for its implementation. An inexperienced project manager
might not be able to handle the project.
7. Conclusion
The report gives an idea of the project management and PMBoK project management
methodology. The report gives an idea of the process of project management, its advantages and
disadvantages. The aim of the report was to implement the PMBoK methodology in the Tesco
contactless card project. The Tesco project is discussed in the report and process of
implementing this project with the help of PMBoK is discussed in the report.
8. Recommendations
It is recommended that an experienced project manager should be considered for the
project. The Tesco loyalty card project can be implemented with the help of PMBoK project
management methodology provided the project is monitored on a regular basis and each and
every stages of the project is implemented in a controlled environment. The PMBoK guide can
help the team members in project implementation.

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Appendices
Appendix 1: PMBOK
Figure 1: Representing the PMBOK Processes

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Appendix 2: The Tesco Contactless Clubcard
Figure 2: Representing the Tesco Contactless Clubcard Operation