Analytical Thinking and Decision Making Report - UWS Case Study

This report examines the decision-making challenges faced by UWS Technical Services, focusing on the adoption of new technology. The company is grappling with the choice between Software A, which guarantees customer satisfaction at a higher cost, and Software B, which is more affordable but less reliable. The report explores the application of group decision theory and project management principles to navigate these challenges, including marketing strategies to increase customer reach and market share. It also outlines a project management plan with defined tasks, durations, and predecessors, along with a discussion of potential challenges and references to relevant academic literature. The report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the decision-making process and offer practical recommendations for UWS Technical Services.

ANALYTICAL
THINKING AND DECISION
MAKING

Table of Contents
QUESTION 2..................................................................................................................................1
Identification of decision problems related to work....................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

QUESTION 2
Challenges faced by UWS technical services
UWS Technical services is a company which helps in providing technological solutions to
its clients with the help of software. Audience Response Systems (ARS), is one of the
technology that is offered by it which helps in providing equipment for higher education across
the globe. The current issue that any organization is continually facing these days is related to
lack of availability of appropriate technology so as to serve the requirements of customers. It is
due to this; the organization is facing difficulty in development of applications and web based
functionality. However, the decision-making issue that it has been facing is that whether it will
be beneficial and feasible for organization to opt for enhanced technology or not (Schmoldt and
et.al., 2013). Adoption of new technology can help in better development of capabilities and can
play an important role in development of products as well. There are two option s that are
available in front of the organization. These are Software A which involved 100% certainty that
they will be able to serve all the requirements of customers. Other is Software B which has lower
development cost, but the success rate through it is also lower.
The first objective behind technological expansion is to increase customer reach and
thereby revenue of the organization. However, if the company may not be able to generate
adequate amount of revenues out of investment being made, it will be quite difficult for it to
meet the requirements of cost being offered (Schmoldt and et.al., 2013). Further, another issue is
it can increase overall expenses of organization in comparison to overall revenue that may be
generated out of technological advancements. In this scenario, there are higher chances that the
organization ends up incurring loss if it opts for Software A, which is costly in nature.
Group decision theory can be adopted by the organization where all the available solutions
will be analysed by the management and best suited, as per the situation of the company, will be
implemented so as to generate best possible outcomes out of it.
Marketing plan that can be initiated for UWS technical can be prepared in the following
manner:
Objectives Plan
Marketing objectives  To increase customer reach by 20% and
thereby revenue of the organization
 To increase overall market share by 10%
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of the company in a manner that it can
enhance its brand value and thereby
loyalty of customers
Promotional techniques  Promote through television, radio, social
media platform, newspaper, e mail
marketing
Allocated Budget GBP 10,000
Key Performance Indicators  Number of customers
 Number of sales leads
 % repurchasing by customers
The main principles of project management must be opted by the organization so as to
ensure that all the important functions are taken into consideration. The common principles are,
planning, organising, establishing clear goals, defining each phase from initiation to closure and
risk recognition. A team must be hired so that each and every aspect of the technological aspects
can effectively be taken into consideration. Group interaction can help in making an assessment
of all the pros and cons that are related to it. There are certain general challenges that can be
faced by the company, in establishing the same. These are, management of new technology,
hiring technological experts, initiating constant upgradation, funding, etc.
The second objective behind this decision is to increase overall market share of the
company in a manner that it can enhance its brand value and thereby loyalty of customers. Due
to increase in the overall customer that comes to stores after expansion, an organization may be
able to reach to overall objectives. However, the concern can be related to what type of product
must be kept in the stores. In case of lower risk, Software B can be adopted by the company
(Gervais and Norenzayan, 2012). Understanding customers and supplying them accordingly can
help in effective enhancement of overall market share. It can help in ascertaining that which
software is actually required by them (Saaty and Peniwati, 2013).
Project management function can be initiated for UWS Technical services is below:
Task
Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Schedule
Analysis of aim and
objectives
5 days Wed 06/13/18 Tue 06/19/18
2

d
Auto
Schedule
d
Defining plan to be
implemented 3 days Wed 06/20/18 Fri 06/22/18 1
Auto
Schedule
d
Financial feasibility 2 days Mon 06/25/18 Tue 06/26/18 1,2
Auto
Schedule
d
Technical feasibility 6 days Wed 06/27/18 Wed 07/04/18 3
Auto
Schedule
d
Execution of plan 10 days Thu 07/05/18 Wed 07/18/18 2,3,4
Auto
Schedule
d
Monitoring and
controlling 5 days Thu 07/19/18 Wed 07/25/18 5
Auto
Schedule
d
Project Closure 2 days Thu 07/26/18 Fri 07/27/18 6
3

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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Gervais, W.M. and Norenzayan, A., 2012. Analytic thinking promotes religious
disbelief. Science. 336(6080). pp.493-496.
Saaty, T. L. and Peniwati, K., 2013. Group decision making: drawing out and reconciling
differences. RWS publications.
Schmoldt, D. and et.al., 2013. The analytic hierarchy process in natural resource and
environmental decision making (Vol. 3). Springer Science & Business Media.
Subramoniam, R. and et.al., 2013. Remanufacturing Decision-Making Framework (RDMF):
research validation using the analytical hierarchical process. Journal of Cleaner
Production. 40. pp.212-220.
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