Project Management Report: Batchelors UK New Soup Product Launch

This report presents a comprehensive project management plan for the development and launch of a new instant soup product for Batchelors UK. The project aims to introduce new soup flavors to the market, expanding the company's product range and increasing revenue. The report includes a detailed analysis of the project context, rationale for the proposed plan, and the selected methods used. Key techniques applied include PESTLE analysis to evaluate external factors, a work breakdown structure (WBS) to organize tasks, a Gantt chart for scheduling and budget estimation, risk analysis and management strategies, a RACI matrix for assigning responsibilities, and a stakeholder management strategy. The report also provides a critical appraisal of these methods, demonstrating their application in ensuring the project's success, adherence to budget, and timely completion. The project plan addresses potential political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors, ensuring compliance and market acceptance. The report concludes with a discussion of the project's overall strategy and its potential impact on Batchelors UK's market position and revenue streams.

Running Head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Launch of New Premium Soup: Case Study of Batchelors UK
Name of the Student
Name of the University

1PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Project Context................................................................................................................................2
Rationale for the Proposed Plan and Choice of Methods................................................................3
Description, Application and Critical Appraisal of the Selected Methods......................................6
PESTLE Analysis of the Project..................................................................................................6
Work Breakdown Structure.........................................................................................................7
Gantt Chart...................................................................................................................................9
Risk Analysis and Risk Management Strategy..........................................................................11
RACI Matrix..............................................................................................................................13
Stakeholder Management Strategy............................................................................................14
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................18
Appendix........................................................................................................................................20
Tool 1: PESTLE Analysis.........................................................................................................20
Tool 2: Work Breakdown Structure..........................................................................................21
Tool 3: Gantt Chart....................................................................................................................21
Tool 4: RACI Matrix.................................................................................................................22
Tool 5: Risk Management Strategy...........................................................................................23
Tool 6: Stakeholder Management Strategy...............................................................................24

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Introduction
The project focuses on the development and launch of a new instant soup product in the
market for Batchelors, UK. This company sales a wide range of instant and fast food products
like pasta, noodles, rice, “Cup A Soup” and others. The company has been successful over more
than a century and has a strong customer base in UK. Currently, the company is planning on the
development and launch of a new soup with brand new flavours entirely different from the
current soups that the company sells. The soups will be instant soup in which soup powder will
provided to the customers will packets. The soup powder can be converted into soup easily by
boiling in water for a few minutes.
In this report, the project plan for the development and launch of the new soup has been
analysed and discussed.
Project Context
Batchelors is an instant food manufacturer and seller that has been operating in UK since
around 1895. After starting with some basic canned food items, the company grew in popularity
in the country and the introduction of new products just as per the market trend has allowed the
company to be sustainable for over a century. As a part of the business strategy and after
analysing the existing market, the company has decided to launch a new soup in the market
whose unique range of flavours will help the company to gather more new customers and
increase the sales of the company. However, the company needs to ensure the flavours of the
soup are acceptable to the customers and also the launch of the product abides by several legal,
environmental and other factors.

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Since the company is significantly popular in the UK market, the management has
decided to go ahead with the plan to undertake a large scale launch event in which the new soup
will be presented in front of some selected guests and invited customers. This is the new
marketing strategy of the organisation that will help to increase the sales of the products
significantly that will aid the revenue stream of the organisation as well. Moreover, a large scale
launch event can also provide international exposure on the company that will help the company
to initiate international business through various sellers that ship products to other countries.
Rationale for the Proposed Plan and Choice of Methods
The proposed plan for the project includes development and testing of a new instant soup
product before releasing it in the market for the customers through some promotional and a large
scale launch event. The rationale for the proposed plan is discussed as follows.
Opening New Market Opportunities – Launching a new product in the market opens up
the window of opportunity for the organisation to open a new market segment or enhance an
already existing market segment (Bstieler et al. 2018). While the company already sells some
popular flavours of instant soup in the market, the new flavours will help to add more variety to
the existing products and also raise interest among a new customer base segment who will
purchase the new soup flavours.
Increased Revenue Stream – Successfully launching a new product in the market will
allow the company to gain an increased revenue stream that in turn will enhance the current
business of the organisation (Lee, Kim and Joshi 2017). While the company has been conducting
sustainable business for over a century, the added revenue stream will provide the opportunity to
the company to conduct some projects or expand beyond the current limitations.

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International Exposure – A large scale launch event will help the company to gain some
international exposure that will help them to expand beyond the country. The company has some
future plans to sell products outside UK through various international sellers like Amazon and
thus the launch event will help the company to take pace towards this particular goal.
In order to undertake the project, some specific techniques have been selected that will be
applied for the development of project plan. The rationale for choosing these techniques are
discussed below.
PESTLE Analysis – The success of this depends largely on various external factors that
may or may not be controlled by the company itself. As a result, it is important to evaluate these
factors so that suitable steps can be taken early for ensuring the success of the project. Hence,
PESTLE analysis technique has been chosen as it provides opportunity to evaluate some of the
major external factors associated with business.
Work Breakdown Structure – While developing a project plan, it generally becomes
complex with every detail and specification added to the plan. This type of complex plan is not
suitable for the project team as they have no idea how to proceed with the project or which tasks
are to be prioritised (Du, Yalcinkaya and Bstieler 2016). In order to aid the team in this case, the
work breakdown structure technique is to be used. The work breakdown structure will break
down the entire project into simple tasks connected to each other sequentially so that the team
can easily understand the specific nature and order of activities that they must follow throughout
the course of the project.
Gantt Chart – One of the major problems of project management is specification of
schedule for the entire project as well as time breakdown for individual projects. There are many

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examples of projects where the schedule breakdowns have not been specified and the projects
ended up being delayed significantly. In order to solve this problem in this project, the Gantt
chart will be used (Muethel and Hoegl 2016). The Gantt chart uses the work breakdown structure
of the project and schedules each individual activity in order to develop the final schedule of the
project. The Gantt chart also has the added benefit of budget estimation that is down through
bottom up estimation technique.
Risk Management – In any project, there are certain risks that must be identified early and
mitigation measures are to be taken such that these risks do not have any negative impact on the
project. For this project as well, the possible major risks need to be identified through
appropriate techniques and risk management plan needs to be developed to minimise the chances
of occurrence of these risks.
Responsibility Matrix – It is important in any project to specify responsibilities to the
stakeholders so that they are aware of their duties and responsibilities in the project. For this
purpose, the RACI matrix will be created that will be used to assign roles and duties to the
project stakeholders.
Stakeholder Management – Finally, after assigning responsibilities to the stakeholders, it
is also important to manage and optimise their activities for the benefit of the project. Moreover,
a communication also needs to be developed that will provide an idea to the stakeholders
regarding who and how to contact someone under certain situations in the project.

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Description, Application and Critical Appraisal of the Selected Methods
PESTLE Analysis of the Project
There are a number of external factors that may have significant impact on the project
and the business of the company as a whole. Hence, these external factors are analysed and
discussed using PESTLE analysis technique as follows.
Political – Political factors may play major role in determining the success or failure of
the project. Political situations like “Brexit” may force the company to change plans for the
project or change the scope of the project entirely. These types of situations are out of control of
the organisation and thus, the project plan must be developed considering major political
situations and events in the country.
Economic – Economic factors will have major influence on this project. The entire
project is based on marketing and gaining more revenue and hence, if the current economic
factors in the market and the country as a whole, the goals of the project may not be reached and
the expected revenue increase may not be achieved.
Social – Social factor also plays an important role in the project. The product is being
developed considering the choices of the customers and hence, if the customers are not happy
about the new soup flavours, the business will not grow as expected and the project will be
considered as failure.
Technology – Technology needs to be utilised for blending and manufacturing the instant
soup powder. Further use of technology will include setting specific quantities like 50g, 100g

7PROJECT MANAGEMENT
and others and also packaging the specific quantities of the product into environment-friendly
food packets that can be sold to the customers.
Legal – Legal problems may occur and cause serious complications in the project. If the
new soup is not tested and verified properly before launch, there may be some legal problems.
Since the new product is a food item, the company must ensure the contents of the soup does not
negatively affect the health of the customers or else the product can also get banned in additional
monetary compensation payment. Moreover, there are various legislations in the country
regarding manufacture and sale of consumable products that must be fulfilled before launching
the product in the market.
Environmental – Various environmental factors are at work in this particular project. The
packaging of the soup should be environmentally sustainable so that they do not affect the
environment. Biodegradable packaging materials are recommended for this purpose. Again, the
wastes created due to the production of the instant soup should be dumped at a specific dumping
ground instead of throwing away to a river or a random residential area.
Work Breakdown Structure
As the project plan is gradually developed, the complexity of the project can be
understood especially if it has a wide range of scope. Project plan with high degree of
complexity is not suitable for the project team as they have no idea how to proceed with the
project or which tasks are to be prioritised (Golder and Mitra 2018). In order to aid the team in
this case, the work breakdown structure technique is to be used. The work breakdown structure
will break down the entire project into simple tasks connected to each other sequentially so that

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the team can easily understand the specific nature and order of activities that they must follow
throughout the course of the project.
The work breakdown structure for the project is shown in the diagram.
Development and Launch
of a New Soup
Team Meeting and
Discussion Regarding
New Product
Conduct Team
Meeting among Board
Members and Product
Development Team
Discuss the
Developnent of New
Product and Possible
Impact on the Market
Consider New
Flavours of Instant
Soup for the New
Product Launch
Consider Other
Relevant Options
Regarding the
Product
Conduct Survey
among Customers
Regarding the
Popularity of their
Instant Soups in the
Market
Conduct Survey
among Customers
for Suggestions
Regarding New
Flavours of Instant
Soup
Develop Project
Proposal for the
Project
Documentation of
New Proposed
Flavours and the
Target Market for
the New Product
Submission of
Document to
Company Owner for
Approval
Receive Green
Light to Proceed
with the Project
Development of the
Product and Quality
Testing
Assign the Product
Development Team to
Proceed with the
Project
Conduct Study on
the Possible
Ingredients of the
New Premium Soup
Prepare Instant Soup
Powders with the
Ingredients
Forward to Quality
Team for Quality
Testing of the Soup
Test Soup
Ingredients and
Check for Any Side
Effects on Body
Selection of a Few
Flavours from All
Preparation of the
Soup in Bulk
Quantities
Final Quality Testing
of the Soup by the
Quality Analysis Team
Packaging of the
Soup with
Ecofriendly and
Biodegradable
Materials
Documentation of
the Preparation of
the New Soup
Products Made Ready
for Sale and Dispatch
and Forward Samples
for the Launch Event
Approval to Proceed
with Arrangements for
the Launch Event
Project Planning and
Marketing for the Launch
Event
Define the Scope of
the Project
Determine the
Objectives for the
Launch Event
Estimate Budget for
Hosting the Event
Determine the
Number of Guests
who will Participate in
the Event
Develop Final Project
Plan for the Event
Recruit Event
Management Team
Send Out Invitations
to the Guests
Conduct Detailed
Marketing Campaigns
for Promoting the
Event and the New
Product
Preparations for the
Launch Event
Rent Venue for the
Event
Decorate the Venue
for the Event
Installation of
Counters
Installation of the
Seating Areas for
Guests
Installation of Sample
Testing Area for the
Guests
Set Up Soup Cooking
Counter for Sample
Testing of the Guests
Installation of
Facilities and
Important Amenities
for the Guests
Finalise the Event
Event Exeuction and
Closing of the Project
Receive Guests on
the Event Guests
Conduct Detailed
Launch Event
New Premium Soup
to Each Guest
Conduct Interactive
Session Regarding
the New Product
Provide Dinner to
the Guests
Clean Up Venue
after Event End
Review the Entire
Project
Complete All
Remaining and
Pending Payments
Documentation of
the Entire Project
Modify Food Menu for
the New Product
Approval to Sell the
Product Commercially
Stakeholder Sign
Off
Project Closing

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Gantt Chart
The Gantt chart uses the work breakdown structure of the project and schedules each
individual activity in order to develop the final schedule of the project. The Gantt chart also has
the added benefit of budget estimation that is done through bottom up estimation technique.
The schedule of the project is developed from the work breakdown structure as follows.
Project Components Timelines (Start and End Date)
Development and Launch of a New Soup Mon 04-11-19 Thu 16-07-20
Team Meeting and Discussion Regarding New Product Mon 04-11-19 Wed 11-12-19
Conduct Team Meeting among Board Members and Product Development Team Mon 04-11-19 Tue 05-11-19
Discuss the Development of New Product and Possible Impact on the Market Wed 06-11-19 Thu 07-11-19
Consider New Flavours of Instant Soup for the New Product Launch Fri 08-11-19 Mon 11-11-19
Consider Other Relevant Options Regarding the Product Tue 12-11-19 Wed 13-11-19
Conduct Survey among Customers Regarding the Popularity of their Instant Soups in
the Market Thu 14-11-19 Mon 18-11-19
Conduct Survey among Customers for Suggestions Regarding New Flavours of Instant
Soup Tue 19-11-19 Thu 21-11-19
Develop Project Proposal for the Project Fri 22-11-19 Fri 29-11-19
Documentation of New Proposed Flavours and the Target Market for the New Product Mon 02-12-19 Thu 05-12-19
Submission of Document to Company Owner for Approval Fri 06-12-19 Mon 09-12-19
Receive Green Light to Proceed with the Project Tue 10-12-19 Wed 11-12-19
Development of the Product and Quality Testing Thu 12-12-19 Thu 16-04-20
Assign the Product Development Team to Proceed with the Project Thu 12-12-19 Fri 13-12-19
Conduct Study on the Possible Ingredients of the New Premium Soup Mon 16-12-19 Fri 27-12-19
Prepare Instant Soup Powders with the Ingredients Mon 30-12-19 Fri 24-01-20
Forward to Quality Team for Quality Testing of the Soup Mon 27-01-20 Tue 28-01-20
Test Soup Ingredients and Check for Any Side Effects on Body Wed 29-01-20 Tue 18-02-20
Selection of a Few Flavours from All Wed 19-02-20 Fri 21-02-20
Preparation of the Soup in Bulk Quantities Mon 24-02-20 Fri 13-03-20
Final Quality Testing of the Soup by the Quality Analysis Team Mon 16-03-20 Fri 27-03-20

10PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Packaging of the Soup with Eco-Friendly and Biodegradable Materials Mon 30-03-20 Fri 03-04-20
Documentation of the Preparation of the New Soup Mon 06-04-20 Fri 10-04-20
Products Made Ready for Sale and Dispatch and Forward Samples for the Launch Event Mon 13-04-20 Tue 14-04-20
Approval to Proceed with Arrangements for the Launch Event Wed 15-04-20 Thu 16-04-20
Planning of Execution and Marketing for the Project Fri 17-04-20 Fri 22-05-20
Identify and Specify the In-Scope and Out-of-Scope Items of the Project Fri 17-04-20 Mon 20-04-20
Specify the Project Objectives and Goals Tue 21-04-20 Wed 22-04-20
Determine Total Funding Required to Execute the Project Thu 23-04-20 Fri 24-04-20
Identify the Number of Premium Customers and Guests Attending the Event Mon 27-04-20 Wed 29-04-20
Finalise the Overall Project Plan for the Project Thu 30-04-20 Wed 06-05-20
Hire Team for Managing the Event Thu 07-05-20 Wed 13-05-20
Prepare and Send Out Invitation Mails to the Guests Thu 14-05-20 Fri 15-05-20
Conduct Detailed Marketing Campaigns for Promoting the Event and the New Product Mon 18-05-20 Fri 22-05-20
Preparations for the Launch Event Mon 25-05-20 Wed 10-06-20
Select a Suitable Venue for the Event Mon 25-05-20 Tue 26-05-20
Decoration of the Event Venue Wed 27-05-20 Tue 02-06-20
Setting Up Retail Counters Wed 03-06-20 Wed 03-06-20
Set Up Seating Areas Thu 04-06-20 Thu 04-06-20
Set Up Sample Testing Area for the Guests Fri 05-06-20 Fri 05-06-20
Set Up Soup Cooking Counter for Sample Testing of the Guests Mon 08-06-20 Mon 08-06-20
Installation of Facilities and Important Amenities for the Guests Tue 09-06-20 Tue 09-06-20
Finalise the Event Wed 10-06-20 Wed 10-06-20
Event Execution and Closing of the Project Thu 11-06-20 Thu 16-07-20
Allow Guest Entry at the Start of the Event Thu 11-06-20 Thu 11-06-20
Initiate the Launch Event for the New Product Thu 11-06-20 Thu 11-06-20
Serve the New Product Sample to Guests Thu 11-06-20 Thu 11-06-20
Conduct Feedback and Interactions Session with the Guests Thu 11-06-20 Thu 11-06-20
Arrange Dinner for the Guests Thu 11-06-20 Thu 11-06-20
Clean Up Venue after Event End Fri 12-06-20 Fri 12-06-20
Conduct a Detailed Review of the Project Mon 15-06-20 Fri 19-06-20
Finalise Pending Payments in the Project Mon 22-06-20 Wed 24-06-20

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Create and Submit Project Report Document Thu 25-06-20 Wed 01-07-20
Develop Marketing Plan for the New Product Thu 02-07-20 Wed 08-07-20
Receive Approval for Commercialisation of the Product Thu 09-07-20 Wed 15-07-20
Sign Off from the Stakeholders Thu 16-07-20 Thu 16-07-20
Closing of the Project Thu 16-07-20 Thu 16-07-20
The Gantt chart is developed as follows.
Components of the Project Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Team Meeting and Discussion
Regarding New Product
Development of the Product and Quality
Testing
Planning of Execution and Marketing for
the Project
Preparations for the Launch Event
Event Execution and Closing of the
Project
Risk Analysis and Risk Management Strategy
As evident from the cases of all projects, there are certain risks that must be identified
early and mitigation measures are to be taken such that these risks do not have any negative
impact on the project (Bstieler et al. 2018). For this project as well, the possible major risks need
to be identified through appropriate techniques and risk management plan needs to be developed
to minimise the chances of occurrence of these risks.
The main categories of risks that may occur in this project are as follows.