Elanders 3D Printer Launch in Japan: A Project Management Report

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This report details Elanders' 3D printer launch in Japan.

Managing a Successful Business Project
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Executive Summary
The report has outlined the actions taken by Elanders to launch a new product in Japan
market. It has set some objectives based on which small research has been conducted.
A project management plan has prepared including timeframe, work breakdown
structure, scopes, risk assessment and others. Survey and interview have been carried
out to gather data. A performance review has been reflected in the report. Some
recommendations were given to increase the quality of the report.
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Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................... 4
a) Establish clear aims and objectives for the project......................................................5
b) Produce an appropriate project management plan which should include a work
breakdown structure and Gantt Chart to show timeframes and key milestones..............5
c) Conduct a small-scale market research to understand your market or how the product
is likely to be received....................................................................................................10
d) Analyse and draw conclusion of your findings...........................................................12
e) Recommendations.....................................................................................................18
f) Reflection on success of the project and performance review....................................18
Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 19
References.....................................................................................................................20
Appendix........................................................................................................................ 20
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Introduction
Globalisation is the movement of products and services across the cross border. It has
resulted in improvement in the global economy and an increase in trade between
countries. The increase in competition and economic shift is the result of globalisation.
Multinational companies are introducing new products and devising new strategies to
increase sale in the international market. The chosen company is Elanders, UK. The
company has launched a 3D printer, which has gained huge success in the UK. It is
going to launch this product in Japan. The project manager of Elanders, UK will plan the
launching ceremony for the successful introduction of the product.
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a) Establish clear aims and objectives for the project.
Project Definition
The project is based on the launching ceremony organised by the project manager of
Elanders, UK. Due to higher competition in the international market, the manager has to
devise strategies that will help in the successful completion of the project.
Problem Statement
Elanders, UK is a popular company dealing with printing and packaging. The innovative
and expertise approach has made it a successful company in the UK (sElanders.com.,
2019). Recently, every business is facing huge competition due to globalisation and free
trade policies. It has become an essential part of a business to gain a competitive
advantage by selling new products as per the customer demands.
Project Strategy
By conducting research, some important information regarding the new products and
market demands can be collected. The chosen project strategies for this project are
interviews and surveys.
Project Aim
The aim of the project is to launch the 3D printer introduced by Elanders in Japan
successfully.
Project Objective
 To assess the market demands of 3D printers
 To analyse the competition among printing companies in Japan
 To recommend marketing strategies that can help in the successful introduction
of the product
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b) Produce an appropriate project management plan which should include a work
breakdown structure and Gantt chart to show timeframes and key milestones
Cost analysis
Activities Cost (Hour) Time (Hour) Total Cost (£)
Primary Data collection
through interview and survey
10 30 300
Quantitative and qualitative
data analysis
15 23 345
Evaluation of final outcomes 10 12 120
Recommendation 5 5 25
Outlining the report 4 3 12
Total 44 73 802
Table 1: Cost analysis
(Source: Created by the learner)
Risk Assessment
Weeks Risks Level Types Effect Plan of Actions
1 Budget
allocation
High High Poor project
outcomes
Project planning
in association with
stakeholders and
consultants
2 Communicatio
n gap during
the project
Moderate Low Disputes
among
project
members
Application of
both verbal and
non-verbal
communication
method
3 Reliability and
accuracy of
primary data
High High Inappropriate
findings
Formulation of
structured
questions
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Table 2: Risk Assessment
(Source: Created by the learner)
Monitoring Plan
Activities Responsible person
Project objectives Management of Elanders
Research strategy Project consultant
Primary data collection Project guide
Data analysis Project guide
Outcomes and recommendation Project guide
Table 3: Monitoring Plan
(Source: Created by the learner)
Communication plan
What why when How Who
Qualitative
data
To know the
need, demand
and behaviour
pattern in a
descriptive
manner
After
formulation of
aim and
objectives
Interview Managers of
Elanders
Quantitative
Data
To analyse
the perception
of 3D printers
among
consumers
After
formulation of
aim and
objectives
Survey Customers
Project
evaluation
To test the
findings
After
completion of
data analysis
Analysing Past
researches
Supervisor
Table 4: Communication plan
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(Source: Created by the learner)
Quality management
It comprises of activities that can help in achieving the quality of deliverables (sTurner,
2014). Primary data collection methodology has been adopted to get updated data. In
order to maintain the accuracy of data statistical tools like graphs have been used. The
company has appointed a project supervisor to guide project members during the data
collection and interpretation.
Scope
Included Scope
The project will emphasise on analysing application and benefit of 3D printers along
with their competition in Japan market. It covers the qualitative and quantitative data
collection and interpretation.
Excluded Scope
The project is limited to a particular geographical region. The outcomes will not be
based on secondary research.
Deliverables
After completion of the project, the manager of Elanders will able to understand the
market demands, competition and another aspect of 3D printers in Japan. The product
will be launched successfully in the launching ceremony.
Success Criteria
It determines some measurable terms that determine a successful project outcome
(sBurke, 2013). The success factors are reliable data, level of accuracy in data
interpretation, sufficient resource availability and others.
Work Breakdown Structure
Activities Start Duration End Date
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Date
Aim and objectives 1/24/2019 4 1/28/2019
Cost analysis 1/28/2019 3 1/31/2019
Risk management 1/31/2019 5 2/5/2019
Determination of project scope 2/5/2019 3 2/8/2019
Research methods 2/8/2019 7 2/15/2019
Sample size determination 2/15/2019 5 2/20/2019
Data collection through survey and
questionnaires 2/20/2019 15 3/7/2019
Data interpretation 3/7/2019 7 3/14/2019
Conclusion 3/14/2019 2 3/16/2019
Documentation 3/16/2019 1 3/17/2019
Table 5: Work breakdown structure
(Source: Created by the learner)
Gantt chart
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Aim and objectives
Cost analysis
Risk management
Determination of project scope
Research methods
Sample size determination
Data collection through survey and questionnaires
Data interpretation
Conclusion
Documentation
1/24/2019 2/13/2019 3/5/2019 3/25/2019
Figure 1: Gantt chart
(Source: Created by the learner)
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c) Conduct small-scale market research to understand your market or how the
product is likely to be received
The researcher has used quantitative and qualitative data methods and instruments to
collect data (Quinlan et al., 2019). The researcher has collected qualitative data through
the interview process, where two managers have participated. For collecting
quantitative data, a survey has been conducted. Around 100 customers of Elanders will
participate in the survey process.
Quantitative Data collection
Q1. Specify the benefits of 3D printers Elanders.
Options Percentage of
Respondents
Number of
respondents
Total respondents
Creative design 23 23 100
Customisation
freedom
28 28 100
Easily accessible 22 22 100
Unlimited shapes
and geometry
27 27 100
Table 6: Benefits of 3D printers
Q2. Do you agree that the market demand for 3D printers is high in Japan?
Options Percentage of
Respondents
Number of
respondents
Total respondents
Highly agree 26 26 100
Agree 24 24 100
Neutral 5 5 100
Disagree 21 21 100
Highly Disagree 24 24 100
Table 7: Market demand of 3D printers in Japan
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Q3. What is the level of competition among manufacturers of 3D printers in
Japan?
Options Percentage of
Respondents
Number of
respondents
Total respondents
High 35 35 100
Moderate 32 32 100
Low 33 33 100
Table 8: Level of competition
Q4. How far do you agree that Elanders ‘s 3D printer will gain success in the
Japan market?
Options Percentage of
Respondents
Number of
respondents
Total respondents
Highly agree 26 26 100
Agree 23 23 100
Neutral 4 4 100
Disagree 24 24 100
Highly Disagree 23 23 100
Table 9: Agreeableness of respondents
Q5. How far do you agree that social media marketing strategy will be helpful in
the successful launch of 3D printers in Japan?
Options Percentage of
Respondents
Number of
respondents
Total respondents
Highly agree 28 28 100
Agree 21 21 100
Neutral 4 4 100
Disagree 24 24 100
Highly Disagree 23 23 100
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