SBM4305 IS Project Management Report: Case Study Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of an IS project management case study for Aussie Vacancies, a travel agency aiming to implement an internet-based booking system. The report begins by outlining the project's life cycle phases, including initiation, planning, execution, and closure. It then delves into the business case, analyzing the current situation, financial benefits, and recommendations for project success. A detailed SWOT analysis identifies the project's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Further, a stakeholder register is presented, identifying key stakeholders and their interests. The report also includes a project charter, describing the project's scope, objectives, deliverables, resources, budget, and assumptions. Finally, a network diagram illustrates the project's tasks and dependencies. The report concludes with a summary of findings and a bibliography of cited sources.

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

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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
1. Project Life Cycle Phases................................................................................................2
2. Business case...................................................................................................................3
2.1. Analysis of the Case.................................................................................................4
2.2. Financial Benefits.....................................................................................................4
2.3. Recommendations.....................................................................................................5
3. SWOT Diagram...............................................................................................................5
4. Stakeholder Register........................................................................................................7
5. Project Charter.................................................................................................................8
5.1. Project Description...................................................................................................8
5.2. Scope.........................................................................................................................8
5.3. Objective...................................................................................................................9
5.4. Deliverables and Schedule........................................................................................9
5.5. Resources..................................................................................................................9
5.6. Budget.....................................................................................................................10
5.7. Assumptions and Constraints.................................................................................11
6. Network Diagram..........................................................................................................12
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................15
Bibliography......................................................................................................................16

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Introduction
A well-established travel agency, Aussie Vacancies mainly specializes in providing
services that include rental of a superior quality and self-catering accommodation in Australia.
The agency was founded in year 2010 and is in possession of two friends, David Martin and John
West. The company has rapidly grown in this years and has established two main sales channels.
These channels include direct sell to the customers in form of Mailshots along with sales by the
travel agents of high streets. The sales through travel agents make up to 30 percent of the sales
while sales through mailshots and brochures make up to 70 % of the sales. However, the
Company is in need to including direct booking services through internet and therefore, Aussie
Vacancies has taken a decision of developing and implementing a new internet booking system
that will be computerized. Along with the development of an internet booking system, Aussie
Vacancies will also be enhance its Management Information System (MIS). The enhancement of
the existing MIS will enable trawling of the database to send targeted information to the
customers. Aussie vacancies lack skills needed in design and development of applications in e-
commerce, and therefore, the entire project of development of a based booking system based on
internet will be handled by a consultancy Company E-Con. The report discusses the major
phases of life cycle, the business case, SWOT analysis along with the analysis of the
stakeholders of the undertaken project.
1. Project Life Cycle Phases
Project life cycle can be described as the sequence of phases in which the project starts
from ignition to its closure. In the process of predictive life cycle, the specifications of the

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undertaken project are generally defined at the project initiation. There are certain fixed phases
of life cycle of a project, which are Project Initiation, Planning the Project, Execution,
Enforcing effective control on the project and the closure of the project. It is essential to know
the need of each of the phases of life cycle of a project, as it helps in identification of the major
tasks that to be completed in each of the phases. The viability of each of the phases of life cycle
of a project is indicated as follows-
Initiation: The initiation stage of the life cycle can be described as a process of ideation
or the conceptualization stage. This is an important stage as it enables effective identification of
the business along with work requirements of the undertaken project. The project needs are
identified with an aim of improving the business processes and creating the revenue for the
system. This stage is vital for identifying the objectives of a project.
Planning: The planning stage is another important stage related to management of a
project as in this particular stage, the project manager is in charge of creating a map for the
process of project execution and implementation. The planning stage is crucial for identification
of mission statement and for recognition of the major deliverables of the undertaken project.
Execution: The execution step of the chosen project is one crucial phase as it help in
realizing the identified objectives and the aim of the project. The execution phase is vital for
completion of the undertaken project in a proper manner.
Closure: The closure phase of the project is vital for checking if the undertaken project
has been capable of fulfilling all the important objectives of the identified project. The closure
phase is important for completion of all the documentations works as well.
2. Business case

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Business case is important for capturing and reasoning the start of a new project. It is
necessary to develop a business case for the project undertaken by Aussie Vacancies and E-Con.
A business case is prepared that analyses the project that is undertaken. The business case further
identifies the main financial benefits that the project could realize. The business case further
provides recommendation to improve the performance of the project.
2.1. Analysis of the Case
A travel agency Aussie vacancies lacks the presence of internet reservation system. The
business which was founded in the year 2010 has rapidly grown to get a turnover of nearly $6.75
million per annum. The Company employs a total of 85 staffs in two offices and is in possession
of two friends, David Martin and John West.
The Aussie Vacancies although contains a website, there is no option of online booking
in the website and therefore, the facility of secure bookings in to be introduced and for that a
project of internet based booking system is proposed. The proposed project has both business
and financial benefit and therefore the implementation of the project is justified. One of the
success criteria of the project is that the undertaken project is to be closed by June end.
2.2. Financial Benefits
As per the estimates of the project, it is decided that a system can be built within a budget
of $350,000. It is critical to evaluate the financial benefits that the company could gain from the
project before analyzing of the project is justified or not. The project aims in building booking
system based on internet and operating the system in the internet as a separate business. It is
estimated that at least $50,000 of the business can be obtained in a year through the internet.
There are chances of increasing 10-15 % of the new customers with the help of commerce. It is

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observed that almost $68,000 and $100,000 of business can be easily secured by the method of
web booking. Thus, even if the lowest business opportunities are considered, $118,000 worth of
business can be secured through web booking. Thus, it can be said that breakeven for this project
can easily occur within 3 years and therefore, implementation of this internet based booking
system is justified.
2.3. Recommendations
On basis of the case analysis and financial analysis, certain recommendations are made
that ascertain better implementation of the said project. These recommendations are documented
as follows-
1. It is recommended to prepare an effective plan for the undertaken project for
successful planning and execution of the internet-based booking system project.
2. It is recommended that the training to be implemented should be detailed as the staffs
of Aussie vacancies are not used to handling this system.
The above recommendations can ascertain execution and end of the undertaken project in
a successful manner.
3. SWOT Diagram
The SWOT diagram can be described as a business tool that can help in identification of
the strength, weakness, opportunities and the Threats linked with a project. Aussies Vacancies
has planned to implement an internet based booking system and therefore, analysis of the SWOT
characteristics of the project will help in examining if the implementation of the project is at all
justified.

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Strength Aussie Vacancies is quite effective in
the process of direct selling and
communication with the customers The company is aware of the fact that
there is an increasing public-demand
for booking holidays through internet
 The two founders have divided the
business into them
Weakness
 The Company has no internet booking
facility
 The IT department lacks skills in
designing of e-commerce
 The staffs are not accustomed to the
operations related to internet booking
services
 The entire project of development of
the internet-booking system will be
outsourced and will be management
by E-Con
Opportunities The implementation of internet
booking service will provide an
opportunity of gaining 15% more
customers The internet booking service to be
implemented will provide the
opportunity of increasing the profits
by $118,000 per annum
Threats
 Failure of implementation of the
internet service booking system would
eventually result in loss of the
customers
 Lack of any proper website or web
booking service can affect the
competitive advantage of the
company, which is another threat to
the company

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The above SWOT analysis indicate that Aussie Vacancies is in need of implementation
of an internet booking service that can help in addressing the threats and the weakness of the
organization so that the identified opportunities can be addressed.
The SWOT analysis help in identification of the internal strengths weakness and the
external opportunities as well as the threats linked with the organization. The SWOT is a
business tool that helps in identification of the business opportunities linked with an
organization.
4. Stakeholder Register
A stakeholder register can be described as a project management document that contain
the main information about the stakeholders of the project. It helps in identification of the
people, group or organization who are linked with the management of the project in a proper
manner. A stakeholder register is prepared to identify the main stakeholder who are linked with
the project of Aussie Vacancies.
Stakeholder Description Interest Power
David Martin Director High High
John West Director High High
Jack Hunt Customer Services
Manager
High Low
Barbara Currie Senior Supplier Medium Medium
Helen Winter Sales Supervisors Medium Medium
Mark Southam Resort Manager Low Low
Gail Hardie Aussie Vacancies’ Medium Low

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management
accountant
Normal Pierce E-Con’s quality
assurance manager
High Low
Table 1: Indicating the stakeholders’ Register
The stakeholder register in the above table indicate the main stakeholders linked with the
project of Aussie Vacancies. The power and the interest of each of the stakeholders in the
undertaken project is recognized. The stakeholder register that is prepared for the project
identifies the interest and the involvement of all the major stakeholders in a project.
5. Project Charter
5.1. Project Description
A project is undertaken to deliver an internet-based booking system to make a secure
booking online. The proposed system will be associated with the system, which is already
exisiting in the Company that can help the customers to book holidays online. With the
implementation of the system, the customers will be able to make secure payments.
5.2. Scope
The in-scope requirements of the undertaken project are documented as follows-
1. The new system will be merged with the existing computerized system
2. Training will be provided to the staffs of Aussie Vacancies

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5.3. Objective
The significant objective of the project is to increase the customer base with the new web
based system and to increase the business profits by a considerable percentage.
5.4. Deliverables and Schedule
The deliverables and the schedule for completion of the deliverables is shown in the
Gantt chart below-
Figure 1: Illustrating the Schedule and the Deliverables
5.5. Resources

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The main resources related with the development of an internet-booking system is shown
as follows-
Figure 2: Indicating the Resources Required
5.6. Budget
The budget set for the undertaken project are shown in the following figure-