HND Business - Managing Successful Business Project Report on Softwire

This report examines the project management practices of Softwire, a consulting firm, focusing on how digital technology supports small business growth and innovation. The assignment begins by establishing project aims and objectives, followed by the development of a performance management plan and a work breakdown structure, including a Gantt chart. The report then details small-scale research conducted to gather information and support the project, analyzes the collected data using suitable techniques, and communicates recommendations based on the research findings. The report also reflects on the value of the research in meeting objectives and assesses individual performance. The study highlights Softwire's strategies for enhancing client marketing through digital channels, emphasizing the use of social media, email marketing, and other online tools to attract new customers and improve brand recognition. The report also explores the roles of consultants in providing digital strategies, business transformation, and IT solutions, as well as the importance of communication and performance management within the organization. The report provides a comprehensive overview of project management principles and their application within a consulting context.

MANAGEMENT OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PROJECT BY
IMPLEMENTING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
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Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
Aim and objectives of the project (P1)............................................................................................2
Performance management plan (P2)................................................................................................3
Work breakdown framework and Gantt chart (P3).........................................................................3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................5
Conduction of a small scale research and gathering of information to support the project (P4). .5
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................6
Communication of suitable recommendation because of research and analysis of data to get
conclusion (P6)................................................................................................................................8
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................9
Reflection on the value of the research undertaken to meet the objectives and own performance
(P7)..................................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
Template for evidence collection to be attached with the report by the learner:...........................11
Template for Performance Review Template to be attached with the report by the learner:........16
Reference list.................................................................................................................................19
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Introduction
Project management is the fundamental phenomenon of every business. A large area has gained
importance in the last five decades. Here, the learner has chosen the organization Softwire to
discuss the project management plan and objectives of the organization. This is a small growing
company that provides consultancy services and innovation ideas to different software and
digital companies. This study will help to know the learner that how digital technology has
support in the growth of the business. It will also give a brief overview of the business project
management and develop an environment in which the team members of the project will feel
motivated in achieving the success of the project.
Task 1
Aim and objectives of the project (P1)
Softwire is a consulting firm and their objective is to deliver appropriate solution and innovation
ideas to the software companies. Their focus is to encourage their clients to think differently
from the other competitors in the market. They provide software development service to other
branded digital companies such as BBC, Yudu and many more. They help to plan the project of
various software companies digitally. It has been found that they help the company to identify
their aim and then proceed accordingly. They help in accelerating the capacity for innovating the
business so that they can get success in the business quickly. Their aim is to deliver high quality
of engineering projects and they treat all the projects as if it is their own project.
They understand the needs of the business and then develop software as per the requirements of
the project. The employees of the Softwire Company focus on developing the plan, design and
management of the projects (Larson and Gray, 2013, p.37). They provide technological
implementation and formulation to the companies in order to enhance the training skills and
operational services. They also provide digital marketing service various retail companies by
giving specialized training in online marketing. They help to target the appropriate customers in
an efficient way to enhance the profit of the business. They use the previous business model of
the company to analyze the potential of the market and they develop a marketing strategy to
achieve the goals of the business.
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Performance management plan (P2)
Kerzner, (2013, p.14) has stated that the fundamental objectives of performance management
plan is to enhance the effectiveness of the business. It helps to set the smart objectives of the
business. Softwire consultancy helps their client to market their business via online mode. They
help to connect the gap between the online world and the business. They focus on delivering
cost-effective and high quality projects to their clients.
They evaluate the performance management of the consultants of the firm by giving them
reviews on their performance. The managers have started giving rewards to the best performer of
the month. They enhance their client to give facebook advertising to target the consumers by
demographics. This generates awareness and interest in buying the products and the services.
This also helps to find the potential consumers who are active in buying the products based on
their search items. It has been found most of the consumers spend time on internet. Softwire
consulting firm helps to connect the suitable audience at the right time by indulging the online
marketing services to their clients. Key phenomenon of the performance management is as
follows:
Time: this plan made by Softwire will not require much time in delivering the products and
services to the consumers. This online process of marketing for the clients will help to gain profit
in the business in a very short span of time (Hwang, 2013, p.272).
Cost: this is a cost effective plan and there is no labor cost in implementing this plan in the
business.
Scope: the business will get a better chance to get success in the market. Scope can be evaluated
when the clients will implement the management plan in their business.
Risk: The performance management includes the area of improvement in the work with
the human capital and provides satisfaction to the employees regarding their job
environment. However, there can be ample amount of risk while performing the technique
of performance management. Without positive feedback, the process of performance
management gets confusing and lacks the productivity of the organization through
performance of the workers.
Resources: Resources are important for the effectiveness of performance management.
This is because human resources department is effectively related to this technique.
Without proper resource as for example fund, software, employee efficiency and training,
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performance management technique can never be applied with full effectiveness. Without
proper resources it is impossible to apply performance management technique effectively
in any organization.
Quality: Performance management relates to the improvement of productivity in any
organization through the improvement of the working efficiency of the employees. This
helps to build the standard of performance of any particular organization and makes that
particular organization to be more performance based. Quality improvement is the basic
requirement of performance management; it helps to develop the productivity of the
organization withgin a fair work friendly environment.
Communication: Communication plays an important part in developing the performance
management in any organization. This is because performance management technique is
related to the effectiveness of human resource department. Therefore, if the manager is not
communicative enough with the subordinate employees regarding their performance, then
the technique of performance management can never be applied to that particular
organization effectively.
Work breakdown framework and Gantt chart (P3)
Kerzner, (2013, p.14) has stated that work breakdown structure helps to manage the teamwork in
the manageable section. The following Gantt chart and work breakdown structure has been
prepared for the project:
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Figure 1: Gantt chart
(Source: self-created)
Figure 2: work breakdown framework
(Source: self-created)
M1
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The project management plan for the Softwire consulting firm is to provide new opportunities to
the business to indulge the existing consumers and also grab the new customers. They enhance
the performance of the marketing of their clients by evaluating the social media, email
marketing, and use these to develop new marketing methods. Their motive is to improve the
name of the brand in order to attract new customers. Moreover, the manager of Softwire
Company focuses on the involvement of the new clients by implementing the campaigns of
social media. They plan and research the marketing issues that a client faced in their business
and advise them accordingly.
D1
The executive manager of Softwire consulting firm focuses on the business plan of the
organization to assure the vision of the consulting company. The goals and objectives of the firm
are set after reviewing the performance of the employees. They help their clients by managing
the marketing campaigns through emails, mobile marketing, social media and many more.
Task 2
Conduction of a small scale research and gathering of information to support the project
(P4)
Softwire consulting firm develops business strategies and helps to target the suitable audience to
implement new chance in the business organization. They work with their clients and give them
innovative ideas that are required for the business transformation in order to achieve success in
the business. They help in expanding the business globally. It has been found that the consultants
provide digital strategy in business that is related to business objectives by implementing the
latest technologies to develop competitive advantages in the market (Svejvig and Andersen,
2013, p.278).
Softwire consultancy provides suggestion on developing advantages by implementing IT to
renovate the operational business. It has been found that they provide critical analysis to the IT
companies that involve technology, process and operation of the business. They do a cost
effective analysis by developing the organizational function of the business. The role of the
consultant is to coordinate the platforms like blogs and the website's pages with the help of SEO
to verify that all the ranks and the engine are highly cited in Google and other search engines.
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Todorović et al. (2015, p.772) has mentioned that consultants help the business owners and
entrepreneurs to create the business objectives in order to gain the goals, success and profit of the
organization.
M2
The consultants assist the business owners in implementing the plans in order to bring change in
the business. The IT department of the consulting firm is well organized to meet the required
objectives in the transformation of the business. They use numerous tools and accelerators to
meet the cost effective objectives by keeping in mind the present business performance of the
organization. Their digital business strategies help to engage customers in grabbing the business
clients. The change in technology has enhanced the business of Softwire to expand globally.
They have advertised about the consulting firm and their business in social media. This has
attracted clients from the entire world. They have started providing solution to the business in a
most effective method by using various technologies.
D2
Pemsel and Wiewiora (2013, p.31) has stated that project management process critically analyse
the work culture and increase the efficiency of the management team. Softwire provides the
information technology to supports the organization of their clients. Senior manager of the
consultant identifies and includes duration of the plan. They are responsible for evaluating the
time and cost required for completion of the project plan. Then, the coordinator project
management supervises the senior manager by giving reports about the stakeholders and other
issues that will be benefitted in the project. Based on the project, the consultancy will develop a
custom team who will look over the project.
Task 3
Analysis of data and research using suitable techniques and tools (P5)
The project management of the organization will help to implement the best practice and
encourage efficient use of the resource in order to achieve the competitive advantage in the
world of market. The enhancement of the project management will help the organization to
develop methodologies and structure of the project management. In the opinion of Hornstein,
(2015, p.291), there should be proper communication within the organization to enhance the
growth. There must be a connection between the process and the project in order to control the
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service and the product that will create opportunities in the business. On the contrary, Braglia,
M. and Frosolini, (2014, p.18) has contradicted that if there is any lack in the process and the
project then the entire business will go in loss. It is very important to evaluate the start and end
time of the project. The portfolio management is another part of project management that is
required to be focus by the organization. From the viewpoint of Softwire consultancy, it is
important to display the factors of every project for controlling the overall portfolio effectively.
However, Lawther and Martin (2014, p.219) has commented that in the beginning of
performance management, the organization should not care about the management of the project.
The only focus of the organization should be to make the project up to the next level. The
organization should evaluate the amount of cost that is going to be required for making the
project successful.
M3
The project coordinator of Softwire is capable of developing a good schedule and is able to
manage the employees of the organization. The project manager should be able to manage the
project and assign role to the employees accordingly. The major factor that is needed for
implementing the performance management is to develop PMO in order to optimize the project
globally. PMO is responsible for controlling the project costs and other important resources that
are needed in the project. Softwire consultancy helps the company of the clients to set the
computer networks in order to expand the business.
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Figure 1: Role of a project manager
(Source: Zhao, 2013, p.322)
D3
Project manager are responsible for carrying the project successfully. They ensure that the
project is strategically related to the profit of the organization. They should demonstrate the
projects to their business partners so that they get an interest to work with them. Moreover,
technology plays an important role in implementing the performance management of the project.
The study has identified various advantages of using technology in the performance of the
organization. According to Patikirikorala et al. (2015, p.101), technology should be developed to
satisfy the business needs and requirements.
Communication of suitable recommendation because of research and analysis of data to get
conclusion (P6)
Good communication skills are very important for the effective performance management of the
organization. Bento et al. (2014, p.29) has mentioned that to communicate effective the workers
must set a strong and effective work relationship with the co-workers. This will enhance to get
smooth feedback and information about the project. It has been found that the manager of
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Softwire has built a strong bond with the employees. The entire process of performance
management involves effective communication in the workplace. This ensures the growth and
success of the organization.
Task 4
Reflection on the value of the research undertaken to meet the objectives and own
performance (P7)
The manager of Softwire consultancy implements different techniques to execute better business
strategies in order to give better results. It is important to evaluate the performance of every
employees working in the organization. Softwire determines the performance of the employees
by evaluating the performance at an interval of one year. A midyear information meeting is
conducted by the organization and a yearend meeting takes place on the performance evaluation
of the employees. At some point of the year the manager, heal a discussion with the employees
to note the individual activities of the employees in order to enhance the goals and objectives of
the employees. The supervisor is smartly involve in the assessment of the employees by
providing them suitable training and coaching. The employees also get a chance to give feedback
to the trainer and the supervisor on the training that has been held for them. At the end of the
year, the review is given against the performance of each individual to develop the objectives for
the next year (Richards et al. 2014, p.1).
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Figure 2: performance management
(Source: Fullerton et al. 2014, p.414)
M4
Richards et al. (2014, p.1) has mentioned that performance management system helps to analysis
the performance of the organization. The planning of the project must be done to manage the
performance evaluation of the employees. Softwire consulting firm has indulge a linked the
performance management with the salaries of the employees. The executive managers of
Softwire consultancy serve as an efficient role model on the evaluation process of the
performance. The supervisor provides the additional training to the employees on how the
performance reviews will be organized at the end of the year.
D4
Softwire consulting firm operates using different organizational structure. The project manager
ensures that the project is appropriately implemented by the organization. They manage the
entire organization and understand the impact on various departments due to the new project.
They are responsible for checking whether all the employees are giving equal effort in
accomplishment of the project or not. This process is used in order to set the objectives and
assess the progress of the workers to ensure that the employees are accomplishing the objectives
and goals of their careers.
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