Developing a Decision-Making Software: A Project Management Approach

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This project details the development of decision-making software for Globex Corp.

ITC505 – ICT Project Management
Assessment 3
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Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................4
Part One...........................................................................................................................................5
Measurable Organizational Value (MOV)..................................................................................5
Identification of the desired area of impact.................................................................................5
Identification of the Value:..........................................................................................................6
Development of a metric:............................................................................................................7
Quantitative Targets: It consists of:.............................................................................................7
Time framing for achieving MOV:..............................................................................................8
Summary:.....................................................................................................................................8
Part Two...........................................................................................................................................9
Scope and Scope Management....................................................................................................9
Scope In and Scope Out...............................................................................................................9
List of Resources.........................................................................................................................9
Part Three.......................................................................................................................................12
Work Breakdown Structure.......................................................................................................12
Part 4..............................................................................................................................................17
Project risk analysis and plan........................................................................................................17
Documentation of assumptions..................................................................................................17
Risk identification in decision-making software development.................................................18
Analysis of identified risk..........................................................................................................19
Part five..........................................................................................................................................22
Quality Management Plan.........................................................................................................22
Team Philosophy Statement......................................................................................................22
Set of verification activities.......................................................................................................22
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Set of Validation activities.........................................................................................................23
Part Six...........................................................................................................................................24
Closure and Evaluation..............................................................................................................24
Annotated Bibliography.............................................................................................................24
Closure checklist........................................................................................................................25
Project Evaluation......................................................................................................................25
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................27
References......................................................................................................................................28
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Introduction:
Globex Corp is an Australian Company which aims to cover highest market share by providing
higher quality goods to its customers at low prices. It outsources a project of development of the
software to Virtucon Company so that Globex can make better decisions in its business
operations. The Globex Company is planning to develop“Decision-making software” so that it
can take better and informed decisions about the pricing of the products, strategies in order to
accomplish the desired targets, products manufacturing according to the needs of the customers,
etc.
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Part One
Measurable Organizational Value (MOV)
Every project shall be finalized by taking decisions after taking into consideration the project's
effect on the measurable value of the organization. Measurable organizational value is an
alternative method in order to make optimum use of return on investment. Return on Investment
(ROI) is used to measure the success of the project by comparing the project’s profit to the cost
of the project. Measurable organizational value is a term used to measure the failure or success
of the organization’s project in relation to the desired impact of the project, which can either be
stated in financial or non- financial terms. Each and every MOV is a verifiable measure and an
agreed to which helps in the reflection of the value of the project's results regarding the goals of
the organization. The desired impact of the project can be used to provide higher quality products
to the customers, increase the sales of the company, penetrate new marketplace, increase margins
in the products, etc. By using the MOV, the Globex can be ensured that the company will make
maximum use of resources of the company in its project so as to produce social, strategic,
operational, financial, or customer benefits (Nordmeyer, 2017).
Identification of the desired area of impact
The Globex Corp. as planning to develop decision-making software by outsourcing it to the
Virtucon Company focuses on various areas which have a huge impact on the success of the
project. It ranks these areas on the basis of their importance (Gerhart, et. al., 2016). These areas
include:
1) Operational: The “Decision-making software” was developed for taking better
decisions in the company and to attain higher profits. The decisions making process is an
important process as incorrect decisions can result in heavy losses to the company and
can also result in failure of the project. The decisions regarding any operations of the
business are important so that the management can consider all the pros and cons of the
specified project and take corrective measures to accomplish the desired objectives and
goals of the Globex Corp.
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2) Customer: The Globex Corp is planning to develop the software so that they can make
decisions about the products to be produced after analyzing the needs of the customers.
The decisions are also to be made regarding the pricing of the products after considering
the paying capacity of the customers. The decision-making software will play an
important role in accomplishing the goals of the company within the stipulated time
period.
3) Financial: Finance is the most important factor for any organization. The companies do
businesses ultimately to earn profits. The better decisions in the business can lead to
better outcomes of any business operations and can result in an increase in revenues of
the company. The financial decisions are very important as the ultimate motive of Globex
Corp. is to earn higher profits after providing higher quality goods to its customers.
4) Social: The Company is required to develop the decision-making software to decide how
to publicize and advertise its products on social media websites. As social sites is an
important method of promoting products by covering a huge segment of the market.
Decisions in relation to the posting of the advertisements of the products and services of
the Globex on the social media needs focus and management of the Globex shall by using
the decision-making software make decisions as to strategies used by the company to
post on the online portals.
5) Strategy: Globex and Virtucon are the two already established companies of Australia
and do not require much focus on this field. Though in order to promote the products and
services of the Globex Corp. decisions are to be taken by the management. For this,
Globex will develop decision-making software with the support of Virtucon Company so
as to attain organizational goals and meet the targets of the company.
Identification of the Value:
1) Better: Decision-making software is useful in making better decisions in the company
and will result in attaining higher revenues. The better decisions will result in the
production of higher quality goods and compete against the competitors.
2) Cheaper: The decision-making software is cheaper software with high benefits. The
company will be able to make decisions at low cost and it will be beneficial to the
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company as well as to the customers. The decisions will help in the production of the
products at low cost and thus the pricing of the products will be low.
Development of a metric:
Targets: It consists of:
a) The software shall be useful in making decisions about financial and non- financial terms.
b) It shall consist of operations of the company, the time frame within which the project of
the company shall be accomplished, etc.
Stakeholder Expectations: The stakeholders of the Globex play a vital role in the decision-
making process of the company as they have a share in the profits of the company. The
stakeholders have different expectations from different people. These are as follows:
a) Web Developer: He would develop the software which would easily be accessible.
b) System Analyst: All the problems while developing the software will be discussed
thoroughly.
c) Computer Technician: He will upload the software into the computers so that the
employees can start using it.
d) Globex Corp.: They will take informed decisions so as to accomplish the goals of the
company.
e) Business Analyst: The communication will be two way between Virtucon and Globex.
f) Virtucon Company: The Company will be able to provide proper training about how to
use the software to the staff of the company.
g) Project Manager: He is responsible to manage all the expenses and resources of the
project from the beginning to the completion of the project.
h) System Architect: He will provide optimum resources for the development of the
software.
i) Customers: They will buy more products from the company and provide positive
feedbacks (Kerzner, 2017).
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Quantitative Targets: It consists of:
a) An increase in the revenues and profits of the Globex by 88% in 6 months.
b) An increase in 75% of the customers’ retention (Rossberg, et. al., 2017).
Time framing for achieving MOV:
Sr. No. Activities Time
1. The beginning of a software development project 10 days
2. Outsourcing of project to Virtucon 3 days
3. Project execution 9 days
4. Project implementation 15 days
5. Software installation 4 days
6. Providing training 2.5 days
7. Closure 2 days
8. Evaluation 1 day
Total 46.5 days
Summary:
The decision-making software will aid in making better decisions of the company and helps in
accomplishing set targets of the company.
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Part Two
Scope and Scope Management
The scope defines the boundaries or limits of the project. It is a part of the planning of the project
which includes the determination and documentation of the list of specific goals of the project,
tasks, deadlines, deliverables, and costs. The scope will help in defining the desired goals and
targets of the company. The Decision-making software has a wider scope as it helps in taking a
better decision in the company which will result in increased profits of the company. The
decision-making software will be helpful in achieving targets of the company and help in
attracting more customers (Rouse, 2015).
Scope In and Scope Out
Items to be inclusive in scope in are:
a) Computers are required so as to install the software.
b) The Internet is required for the development of the software.
c) Mobile phones, tables, etc are required for the purpose of communication.
d) Printers are required for taking out important prints.
e) Pen drives are required for transferring of important data.
Items to be inclusive in scope out are:
a) The database is required in order to store vital information about the company.
b) The project charter is required as it helps in defining the purpose of the project.
Scope Management: The items which are included in the scope in and scope out are the
project’s scope for the development of the decision making software and it can be useful in
effective management of the project by providing a list to the manager of the Globex Corp.
which includes all these scopes in and scope out items (Heagney, 2016).
List of Resources
For the purpose of the development of the decision-making software, the Virtucon needs various
types of resources. The different types of resources are:
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Image: Types of resources
Source: By Author, 2019.
People (Human Resources): These are the employees which contribute to the development of
the software by taking efforts. Employees of the company play a huge role in the
accomplishment of the goals of the company. For the purpose of the decision-making software
development, the Globex and the Virtucon requires experienced personnel. These are:
a) System Analyst: He will identify the risks associated with the development of the
software.
b) System Architect: He will develop the software by fulfilling the needs of the company.
c) Business Analyst: They will be responsible for the building of the contacts with the
customers and creating a sense of trust within them.
d) Project Manager: He will manage all the costs and expenses related to the project. He
will be responsible for planning, executing, implementing, and managing the customers
effectively.
e) Computer Technician: he is the one who will be responsible for the management of the
servers.
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Human Resources
Technology
Facilities
Other

f) Web developer: He/ she will be held responsible for the website development of the of
the decision-making software.
Facilities: In order to develop decision-making software, employees require various types of
facilities, such as servers, computer, internet, finance, etc. The facilities will be helpful in the
timely development of the software.
Technology: There are several kinds of tools and technologies which are required for the
development of the software. The tools and technologies can be notepad, smartphones,
computers, internet, laptops, tablets, mobiles, cloud technology, etc.
Others: The other types of resources which are required in the development of the decision-
making process are training and development. The Vitucon Company shall provide efficient
training to the staff members of the Globex Corp. so that they can make effective use of the
software. The employees of Globex Corp. shall ask all the queries from the Virtucon
Company in relation to the use of the software and clear all their doubts so that they do not
face hurdle while using the software (Sun, et. al., 2016).
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Part Three
Work Breakdown Structure
The process of undertaking a project successfully involves numerous activities that need
accomplishment on time and within the scope. It becomes difficult to conduct project completion
activity as a whole. Therefore, work breakdown structure provides a platform to the project
managers to adopt a systematic approach for managing these activities. The whole project is
divided into tiny sections along with their timeframe and cost structure. Work breakdown
structure makes it clear what will be done by whom and within what time period and at what
cost. The Virtuon Company has been identified the need of using WBS in the project of
developing a decision-making software (Niazi, et. al., 2016). The main aim of the company using
this planning technique implies the project accomplishment within the prescribed time frame in a
manageable way. Using this structure, the company would be able to demonstrate the roles and
responsibilities of the project manager and other personnel involved. Moreover, the company has
utilized the Gantt chart technique for the illustration of the tasks with the timeframe. Gantt chart
states the visual representation of the work breakdown structure. Development of software is
considered as one of the complex projects that require high consideration in the form of cost,
resources and time schedule (Colomo-Palacios, et. al., 2018).
The timeframe for the Activities
Tasks Duration
Project Initiation 11 Days
On-site Meetings 4 Days
Discussion with stakeholders 7 Days
Milestone 1 Achieved 0 Days
System Analysis 20 Days
Analysis of Existing systems 15 Days
Documentation of Analysis 5 Days
Milestone 2 Achieved 0 Days
Software Designing 39 Days
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