EBTH Business Case: Project Specs, WBS & Stakeholder Engagement Plan

This case study provides an analysis of Everything But The House (EBTH), an auction website that underwent a significant digital transformation, resulting in substantial sales growth from $8 million to $70 million. The analysis focuses on the project specifications, highlighting the effective use of data analysis to understand customer preferences and market scenarios. It discusses the application of the Waterfall methodology for project management, emphasizing a phase-by-phase approach, and the use of agile practices within the organization. The study also details the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), outlining the primary phases, sub-phases, activities, and sub-activities involved in the project. Furthermore, it addresses stakeholder engagement, including the identification of internal and external stakeholders, determination of their expectations, and the development of a stakeholder map with communication mechanisms and reporting structures. The conclusion emphasizes EBTH's rapid digital transformation, the successful use of the Waterfall methodology, and the importance of communication and reporting in achieving project goals. Desklib provides additional solved assignments and study resources for students.

Everything But The
House (EBTH)
Business Case Project Specifications, WBS,
and Stakeholder Engagement

 Cincinnati-based Everything But The House
 Auction Website
 Digital transformation to boost the sales
 Increase in sales from $8 million to $70
million
 Anticipated $120 million in the current year
Introduction

 Effective use of data analysis in the
business processes
◦ To determine the customer preferences
◦ Understand the market scenarios
◦ Gain a competitive edge
◦ Understand the customer expectations and offer
them with services accordingly
Business Case Project
Specification

 Use of Waterfall approach in determining
the business case
 Phase by phase approach
 Linear sequential set of phases
 Analysis using case study and data
collection methods
◦ Domain analysis
◦ Observations
◦ Interviews
◦ Group discussions
Business Case Project
Specification

 Organization follows agile and flexible
approach
 Analysis of the organization approaches,
methodologies, and practices
 Test at every phase
 Approval from the management
Business Case Project
Specification

 Analysis of the data collected
 Determination of the phases and steps
◦ Initiation & Planning
◦ Requirements Analysis
◦ Design & Development
◦ Testing
◦ Deployment
◦ Closure
Work Breakdown Structure

 Determination of the primary phases and
sub-phases
 Listing of the activities and sub-activities in
each phase
 Mapping of activities and phases
 Determination of the WBS levels
Work Breakdown Structure

 Use of business case specifications to plot
the WBS
 Hierarchical representation in the form of
packages and sub-packages
 Levelling as per the phases, sub-phases,
activities, and sub-activities
Work Breakdown Structure

 Identification of the stakeholders involved
◦ Internal Stakeholders
◦ External Stakeholders
 Determination of the stakeholder
expectations using the techniques
◦ Interviews
◦ Surveys
◦ Brainstorming sessions
Manage Stakeholder
Engagement

 Development of the stakeholder map
comprising of
◦ Stakeholder name
◦ Role of the stakeholder
◦ Responsibilities in the project
◦ Contribution level
◦ Interest level
◦ Co-operation level
Manage Stakeholder
Engagement

 Communication mechanisms and guidelines
as per the stakeholder map and details
◦ Meeting guidelines
◦ Ethical code of conduct
◦ Professional code of conduct
◦ Communication mediums and channels
◦ Facilitator of the communication process
Manage Stakeholder
Engagement

 Reporting Structure for stakeholder
engagement and communications
◦ Daily and weekly reports
◦ Mode of communication
◦ Nature and purpose of the reports
◦ Security of the report data
Manage Stakeholder
Engagement