Project Management Report and Analysis: Sam's Groceria's Strategy

This report provides an executive summary of project management practices at Sam's Groceria, a retail company utilizing self-checkout technology. The report delves into key aspects such as defining projects, estimating costs and time, developing projects through network computation, and managing risks. It highlights the importance of self-checkout technology for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, while also addressing organizational structure and project communication plans. The analysis includes factors affecting project quality, guidelines for time, cost, and resource allocation, as well as various methods for estimating project times and costs. The report further explores network computation processes, extended network techniques like CPM and PERT, and the risk management process, including risk identification, assessment, and response strategies. The report concludes with a discussion on monitoring and reviewing risks to ensure project success. The report provides a comprehensive overview of project management within the context of Sam's Groceria's operations.

PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Project management is a process that is very essential for a company to carry out as because this
will help in managing each and every aspect of a project. This will help organisation to perform
more effective and appropriate manner. Sam's Groceria is a retail company that is managing its
different project with the latest technologies. As at present time, people are very much aware of
every market aspect so they are also very much updated with the latest techniques for meeting
them company need to strategies and to manage accordingly. This report is focusing upon the
several factors that has to be concern by firm to effectively manage the project upon which
performances are done.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK1.............................................................................................................................................1
1) Introduction to modern project...........................................................................................1
2)Defining project..................................................................................................................3
3)Estimation of project cost and time.....................................................................................4
4) Developing project.............................................................................................................5
5) Risk management in project...............................................................................................6
6) Scheduling resource and costs...........................................................................................7
7)Reducing project duration...................................................................................................8
8) Managing project team.......................................................................................................9
9) Performance evaluation and measurement.........................................................................9
10) Project oversight.............................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Project management is an aspect which is very much required by any of the organisation.
This is very essential as because a company is able to perform in more effective manner. This is
a process which is used by a company so as to carry out new plans or existing plans of various
drawn project in an appropriate manner. It is very much required by companies, as this helps in
attaining organisational goals and objectives (Aliverdi, Naeni and Salehipour, 2013). It is
basically a structure which includes initiation, making plans, implementing
coordinating/controlling and closing the project as aim get fulfilled.
Sam's Groceria is a grocery retail store in Malaysia which is very much committed to
provide the quality services to customers. The products are availed to customers in very fast and
at reasonable prices, company is proud of their offering and updated technologies. They believe
to provide fresh, healthy and rights products to customers. Its total employees are 90 in size. In
this report, project management that company already executing will be discussed. Self checkout
technology is the project that is very appropriately used by Sam's Groceria.
TASK1
1) Introduction to modern project
Self checkout project is one of the techniques through which customers are able to
process their own purchases in a retail store with help of a machine. With help of a family
membership card that are availed to regular and respectable customers through which they can be
able to avail the services on self basis. They act as cashiers, they can scan the provided card and
then they can be able to pay the amount for their purchase. Also this system helps in self check-
ins and outs. As Sam's Groceria is using self checkout system they are getting some advantages.
Importance of Self Checkout technology
 Efficiency- With the help of technology that is been used by the cited organisation work
efficiency can be maintained and along with this proper work of retail store can be
attained. Services can offered to customers in more effective manner (Batselier and
Vanhoucke, 2015). Company is getting benefits from this as their productivity is growing
due to to self serving.
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 Less employees- As services are availed to customers with help of machines with
updated techniques. This lead in lesser employees, with this company need to pay less
money and ultimately saving and more investments can be introduced by it.
 Multiple payment of option – Customer have the option to pay the amount for their
purchases with numerous mode. Cash, coins or with use of plastic money. This become
more easier for clients to avail their services (DeMarco and Lister, 2013).
 Time saving- Using this technology company is able to save their times and can be able
to invest them on other major aspects.
(Source: Self scan machine, 2015)
The Sam's Groceria strategy includes following aspects-
Company is introducing new strategy through which it can be able to retain and survive in
market. Some considerable elements are:
 To acquire the right people for club membership.
 Transformation of experiences with digital technology.
 Growing with the higher household income members so that company can also earn more
revenues out of it (Eskerod and Huemann, 2013). To avail best services to clients dealing with.
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Self scan machine

Organisational structure of Sam's Groceria
Organisation's structure always differ due to size and services that being a retail
store offers. Hence as the company spans over 23,000 sq. ft. as it is very huge area that company
has covered. Therefore matrix organisational structure is the best opted way by company. This
will help in availing services to customers as departmental manner. Different sections are formed
for various goods and items. Jobs are very clearly defined to employees, and also the
technologies are adapted hence, it is also required to guide customers who will be availing self
checkout methods (Faria and et. al, 2013).
2)Defining project
Steps of defining project
As to better understand what actually the project is that company is adapting and how
they have to implement in an appropriate manner, for that it is very essential to consider few
steps that are very much helpful for knowing about the introduced project. There are basically 5
steps of defining a particular project-
 Project initiation- this is stage where project's nature and scope are defined. As self
checkout is project. It is very useful as because it will help customers to serve and to
process for their purchases by themselves.
 Project planning and development- At this stage organisation need to specify incurred
cost, time and all those resources that are required to execute the self checkout project.
 Implementation of planned project- At this phase implementation of project is needed
where actual execution of project get done.
 Monitoring- This is the stage where proper monitoring is done whether implemented plan
is efficient and effective enough to serve clients appropriately. Closing the project- If project is suitable then further it is been processed and is
unfavourable then project will get close or again all the steps are followed (Garel, 2013).
Responsibility matrices
This is the method through which roles and responsibilities are very well defined so that a
particular job or project can be attained in an effective and appropriate manner. This is very
useful for clearly clarifying the roles that has to be needed in cross functional projects.
Project communication plan
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This is plan which is used by organisation to to avail information to stakeholders. This is
a formal plan which defines who are responsible to convey the information and messages
regarding project and through what all modes and channel communication should be carried out.
3)Estimation of project cost and time.
Factors affecting quality
There are several aspect that can influence the quality of estimated project in Sam's
Groceria they are conflict among project participants, faulty project conceptualization, PM's
ignorance & lack of knowledge, hostile socio-economic environment, aggressive competition
and harsh climatic condition (Gopalan and et. al, 2014).
Guidelines for time, cost and resource
Time, cost and resources are very important aspect in a project as because they help in
carrying out planned project in more effective and appropriate manner. It is very essential to
make strategies so that company can use the limited resources in effective way. Time has to be
planned in such a manner that in a particular limit one can be able to attain the set standards and
objectives along with that cost planning can also be done this will help in reducing wastage. As
resources are very limited appropriate plan has to be carried out by company (Kerzner, 2013).
Top-down versus bottom-up estimating.
 Identification of tasks required in project.
 Estimate of task for project activity definition
 Identification of dependency of task.
 Identifying all resources required Determination of resources through which tasks can be attained.
Methods for estimating project times and costs
 Work break down structure
 Task cost
 Activity duration Cost and schedule
Types of costs and refining estimates
 Factors estimating
 Parametric estimating
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 Equipment factor estimating
 Lang method
 Hand method
 Detailed estimation
4) Developing project.
The network computation
process
The network computation is the method through which one is able to find out the ways
that is critical as well as easier to reach the aim and objective of the project. Basically there are
two terms included in this forward and backward pass (Larson and Gray, 2013). Forward pass is
a method through which a process can be moved forward and with help of diagram, this help in
calculating the time that will take place in performing an activity. Backward pass is vice versa to
it. This also help in knowing the exact time that will be taken so as to accomplish the tasks and
activities of the project.
(Source: Critical path, 2017)
Extended network techniques
Extended network techniques are the tools used by organisation while implementing the
project as Sam's Groceria is performing its activities with the help of new technology of self
checkout system. So as to implement the project in an effective manner network analysis is very
much required (Linehan, Comtois and Ward-Ciesielski, 2012). There are two main aspect of
networking they are Critical path method and Program evaluation and review technique.
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Critical path

CPM is process that are needed by company to plan out all critical and non critical
aspects, concerning about time constraints and other bottlenecks. This is a sequence of all those
activities that are required to accomplish objectives and goals of a project. It specifies the longest
path that will be taken as to reach ultimate target. It basically shows the critical and hardest time
that will take to complete a given project (Maravas and Pantouvakis, 2012). Whereas PERT is a
technique which is also used to determine the actual time that is required by company to
completely execute the project in its retail store.
5) Risk management in project.
Risk management process
Risk is an uncertainty that lies in any of the business activities. This is a factor that is
present in operations that are performed by a firm. As Sam's Groceria is carrying the operations
with help of self checkout system there can be many such aspect where company might face
several issues. As to manage the risk aspects of a project it is very essential for an organisation to
follow several steps that is very helpful in identifying the risk and methods can be determined
which will help in managing all the issues and problems. Following are risk management
process-
 Identifying risk- This is a stage where company need to first identify each and every risk
aspect that can take place while carrying out the project plans in retail stores where all
firm is operating.
 Analyse risk factors- As the identification of risk get done, next stage is to analyse its
consequences
 Evaluation of risk- Here project team need to rank several risk as according to that risk
can be prioritize and managed.
 Responding to risk- Now firm to need to take various actions so that risk can be reduces
to at time it take place remedial actions can be performed against them (Merriweather and
Sulzbach-Hoke, 2012). Monitoring and reviewing risk- At last its the duty to keep an eye upon all those risk
factors as because reviewing and monitoring will help an organisation to run a project in
desired and appropriate manner.
Risk identification
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The risk factors that company will face due to its self checklist system such as customers
will face difficulties in managing and performing process by themselves as many are not aware
about the use of system. Lack in personal interaction also a factor that will create big issues as
clients and company will not be able to convey information and requirements (Naeni, Shadrokh
and Salehipour, 2014).
Risk assessment
Sam's Groceria will prioritize and rank all the risk factors that they need to manage as to
satisfy customers and avail them services and products as per their needs. As customers are the
main and important factor therefore it is very necessary to make them know about use to
machine and then other factors will be worked upon.
Responding to risk
As identification and ranking has been done now the cited organisation need to perform
activities and to make plans to cope up with risk that is affecting company's operations.
Risk response control
Controlling aspect is very necessary as this will help company in retaining its customers
and to sustain in market. Strategic plans that is planned and implemented will be reviewed on
routine basis.
6) Scheduling resource and costs.
Resource scheduling is the methods and set of actions which is used by a firm so that
tasks and activities can be allotted in an effective and appropriate manner to right person. Ass per
the available resources start and end dates are also determined with this. It is very essential to
allocate the resources in most effective and efficient manner. Cost is also an aspect that is need to
be managed in an appropriate manner as because this is vital aspect, without this operations can
not be functioned (Stern and et. al, 2013). Company need to do following things-
 Identify the available resources.
 Find out all those areas where resources are required.
 Planning and making strategies accordingly.
 Implementing them.
 Reviewing as this will help in waste reduction.
Critical chain approach is the method through which company can be able to emphasize
upon various resources that are required by a company in project. Resources such as, manpower,
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raw materials, money land, equipments and tools, all these are very much focused with this and
proper allocation of resources can be done (Su, Wang and Roh, 2014).
7)Reducing project duration
Reducing the duration that will be required to attain the project's aims and objectives are
very much required, this will help in reaching the set standards in quick and fast way. For that
company need to keep a track record of time and factors that will take lots of time, it is necessary
to create a system, then understanding ways of working in efficient manner, collaboration of
works and its delegation is required, cutting down time and utilising it in other aspects of a
project.
Crashing is a method through which the time duration can be reduced or shorten from critical
path method to reach last stage of activities of a project. Basically it is the reduction of normal
time.
8) Managing project team
It is an important aspect that has to be considered by an organisation as because until and
unless project team is not prepared properly to function out all the activities, it become difficult
to carry out entire project (Wauters and Vanhoucke, 2016). It is very essential to build a strong
team to perform all the activities effectively otherwise risk factors can not be able to handled by
employees and management team. A virtual team need to made by company so that they can
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effectively work all the task appropriately. This team will be very actively searching all the
requirement of project and according to that company will be performing their activities
(Aliverdi, Naeni and Salehipour, 2013).
9) Performance evaluation and measurement.
At present era it is very much required to manage the employees as well as the projects
that is been implemented. With various tools and techniques of performance measurement and
evaluation projects are to be managed appropriately. Time of the projects performance has to be
timely reviewed and monitored. Cost forecasting has to be very appropriately planned and
several strategies are needed to be made so that cost controlling and wastage reduction can be
performed. Each and every task and operations need to be evaluated this will help in knowing
improvement areas.
10) Project oversight
Project oversight is the method which is used by company to check all the process of
introduced project. Whether it is been performed in appropriate way or not, what all areas are
there which requires to improve and develop. All these can be understood with the help of
project oversight. Reviewing all the project activities that are performed by Sam's Groceria in
Malaysia (Batselier and Vanhoucke, 2015).
CONCLUSION
This report help in understanding the need of project management in an organisation at
time of introducing projects or for making changes in already existing project plans. Importance
of project has been discussed here, various steps that are included in defining project is been
concluded. Time and cost management and its estimation has described along with this risk
aspect and its management is been understood in detail manner. Sam's Groceria's project
technology has also been discussed in this assignment report.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aliverdi, R., Naeni, L.M. and Salehipour, A., 2013. Monitoring project duration and cost in a
construction project by applying statistical quality control charts. International Journal of
Project Management. 31(3). pp.411-423.
Batselier, J. and Vanhoucke, M., 2015. Evaluation of deterministic state-of-the-art forecasting
approaches for project duration based on earned value management. International
Journal of Project Management. 33(7). pp.1588-1596.
DeMarco, T. and Lister, T., 2013. Waltzing with bears: Managing risk on software projects.
Addison-Wesley.
Eskerod, P. and Huemann, M., 2013. Sustainable development and project stakeholder
management: what standards say. International Journal of Managing Projects in
Business. 6(1). pp.36-50.
Faria, P and et. al., 2013. Modified particle swarm optimization applied to integrated demand
response and DG resources scheduling. IEEE Transactions on smart grid. 4(1) pp.606-
616.
Garel, G., 2013. A history of project management models: From pre-models to the standard
models. International Journal of Project Management. 31(5). pp.663-669.
Gopalan, R and et. al., 2014. Duration of executive compensation. The journal of finance. 69(6).
pp.2777-2817.
Kerzner, H., 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Larson, E. W. and Gray, C., 2013. Project Management: The Managerial Process with MS
Project. McGraw-Hill.
Linehan, M. M., Comtois, K. A. and Ward-Ciesielski, E. F., 2012. Assessing and managing risk
with suicidal individuals. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 19(2). pp.218-232.
Maravas, A. and Pantouvakis, J. P., 2012. Project cash flow analysis in the presence of
uncertainty in activity duration and cost. International Journal of Project Management.
30(3). pp.374-384.
Merriweather, N. and Sulzbach-Hoke, L. M., 2012. Managing risk of complications at femoral
vascular access sites in percutaneous coronary intervention. Critical care nurse. 32(5).
pp.16-29.
Naeni, L. M., Shadrokh, S. and Salehipour, A., 2014. A fuzzy approach for the earned value
management. International Journal of Project Management. 32(4). pp.709-716.
Stern, P.C and et. al., 2013. Managing risk with climate vulnerability science. Nature Climate
Change. 3(7). p.607.
Su, W., Wang, J. and Roh, J., 2014. Stochastic energy scheduling in microgrids with intermittent
renewable energy resources. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid. 5(4). pp.1876-1883.
Wauters, M. and Vanhoucke, M., 2016. A comparative study of Artificial Intelligence methods
for project duration forecasting. Expert Systems with Applications. 46. pp.249-261.
Online
Sam’s Club outlines new merchandising strategy, organizational changes. 2017. [Online]
available through: <http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/sams-club-outlines-new-
merchandising-strategy-organizational-changes>. [Accessed on 20th July 2017].
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