Project Management: Outsourcing, WBS, Staffing Analysis, and Lessons

This project management assignment analyzes a software development project for Megabyte Software Inc., focusing on outsourcing, work breakdown structure (WBS), stakeholder analysis, execution, controlling, and lessons learned. The project explores the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing, the WBS's role in breaking down the project into manageable phases (Initiation, Planning, Execution, Controlling, and Closing), and the implications of hiring additional staff, including potential compromises on functionality and project timelines. The analysis also covers the execution phase, including milestone reporting, and the controlling phase, with an evaluation of the impact of staffing changes. Finally, a lesson learned report summarizes the project's key insights, emphasizing the importance of team working, stakeholder management, and the use of tools like Gantt charts for improved project management skills. The project highlights the need for careful consideration of coordination, security, and quality control when outsourcing, while also acknowledging the benefits of expertise and cost reduction.

Project Management 2

Table of Contents
Part 1: Initiation...............................................................................................................................1
Critically evaluate advantage and disadvantage of outsourcing project.....................................1
Part 2: Planning................................................................................................................................2
Work breakdown structure..........................................................................................................2
Stakeholder analysis....................................................................................................................3
Part 3: Execution..............................................................................................................................3
Milestone report..........................................................................................................................3
Part 4: Controlling............................................................................................................................3
Critically evaluate functionality and task that need to be compromised while hiring additional
staff..............................................................................................................................................3
Part 5: Closing..................................................................................................................................4
Lesson learned report from entire project...................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

Part 1: Initiation
Critically evaluate advantage and disadvantage of outsourcing project
Megabyte Software Inc wants to implement software development project title as 'Color
Printer Driver Software Project' which Is handle by John Ashton. So biggest advantage of
outsourcing the project is high level of expertise which means company get the best project
which in turn leads to successfully implement the project in better manner. Flexibility is another
advantage o outsourcing the project and during that time, company focused upon other important
matters (Nichols, 2016). Apart from this it is also analyzed that cost reduction is another benefit
which Megabyte Software Inc may get because companies can secure competitive prices for
contracted services and through outsourcing firm may reduce the cost and this in turn assist
financial performance.
In addition to this, through outsourcing quoted company get their projects completed on
time as compared to other methods. That is why, it can be stated that this method provide cheap
work facilities but it can also be done faster. Overall, it is analyzed that outsourcing the project
will assist the companies to complete the project at time and also get high level of expertise and
technology which can be brought to bear on a projects.
However on the critically note it is also analyzed that there are some disadvantages of
using outsourcing such that coordination breakdowns. As to complete the task, project manager
hire different team members (professionals) from different areas, thus it require close
collaboration and manual adjustment which is not possible. That is why, this is consider as a con
of outsourcing a project. Also, due to coordination breakdown, conflicts may arises because all
the members are belongs to different place and culture which in turn leads to affect the project in
opposite manner as well. Security issue is also consider as a biggest disadvantage because as
Megabyte Software Inc wants to introduce new software and as a result, the chances of security
issues arises. That is why, it can be stated that confidentiality is another concern, so company
have to be very careful while doing outsourcing process.
Kerzner (2019) also present their views by stating that reducing quality control is another
con while companies perform outsourcing process. Such that in order to complete the task in
specified tenure, most of the project managers do not focus upon quality control and this in turn
leads to affect the project in negative manner.
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Part 2: Planning
Work breakdown structure
WBS is all about to break the project into smaller components. Such that it is a key
project deliverable that organize the team's work into manageable section which in turn leads to
complete the project in better manner. Also, the goal of WBS is to make large project in
manageable form so that it leads to better team productivity.
From the above work break down structure, it is analyzed that the project is divided into
five phases of project management such that Initiation, planning, execution, controlling and
closing. Under each phase, project manager John finalize the task which assist to complete the
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project in better manner. Such that to implement software within a business, project manager put
three task under first phase i.e. external specification, finalize the design for software and set up
a budget. In the first stage, project manager review the things and then in next stage makes a
planning which in turn leads to take a project into next stage. Such that during planning stage,
the design of the software is finalize and review all the necessary documents which are required
(Li and Lu, 2017). Further, third stage of project management is execution in which testing is
done because it is the last chance to test the installed software before release. Also, during this
stage, project manager further edit and publish notes and review all the activities in order to
implement the software in better manner.
Controlling is forth stage in which John wants to ensure that all the define task are
appropriately met and if any risk is identified then assist to solve the same. Moreover, closure is
the last stage in which Project manager release and ship the project to Megabyte Software Inc. in
proper manner (Abd Rahman, Zaki and Husain, 2019). Hence, it is analyzed that with the help of
Work break down structure, project manager break down entire work into smaller parts in order
to complete the project which leads to make the project easier and met with the set deadline as
well. Thus, Work Break down structure provides a visual of entire scope and determine the
communication points which assist to meet the project in well manner.
Stakeholder analysis
Part 3: Execution
Milestone report
Part 4: Controlling
Critically evaluate functionality and task that need to be compromised while hiring additional
staff
Due to Brexit uncertainties, project manager John has to hire additional staff and for that
different task can be compromised. Such that to recruit new team members, which require
additional time and for that the chances of delaying project increases. Thus, it is critically
analyzed that due to hampering of time, the project leads delay from its set time. On the other
side, it is analyzed that the quality of work is also affected, if team members wants to complete
the project on time (Meredith, Shafer and Mantel Jr, 2017). Therefore, it can be stated that due
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to hiring new employees, Megabyte Software Inc project progress is affected and this is solved
by recruit additional staff, but due to this, project manager require additional time with cost in
order to lead the project in better manner.
In addition to this, it is also analyzed that Aplha Site task got affected and once the
testing phase is compromised then it leads to creates negative impact upon the entire project.
That is why, project manager do not lead towards beta phase in which the final version of project
is delivered. However, on the critically note it is also identified that if the additional staff is hired
then the chances of delivering the project in effective manner is increases because project
manager hire those who possess strong capabilities which in turn leads to manage most of the
task in better manner (Kerzner, 2017). Also, Mark's work is being piled up and for that there is a
need to hire new employee and this in turn leads to manage the work in more precise manner
because they use their own ideas in order to arrange the work in better manner which leads to
deliver the project at its set deadline.
Hence, it is stated that by hiring new employees some task affected in negative manner
while other are in positive mode. As, it is only depend upon the amount which is being spend
upon new staff and skills which they posses. Overall, the quality of project may affected and this
in turn leads to affect the project in opposite manner.
Part 5: Closing
Lesson learned report from entire project
From the entire project, I learn tools from MS Project such that for time line, I use Gantt
chart which assist to improve the ICT skills. Moreover, I also perform work break down
structure in which I use MS word which clearly determine there is a need to bifurcate the project
into smaller project which in turn leads to attain the define task. Moreover, I also learn that
every stakeholder have their own importance within a project and they support members in order
to successfully met the define task. Overall, I also analyze if the team faces any issues, there is a
need to solve the problem and this clearly reflect the importance of team working.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Nichols, R., 2016. 47. Pros and Cons of Privatizing Government Functions. Privatization in
Practice: Reports on Trends, Cases and Debates in Public Service by Business and
Nonprofits, p.195.
Kerzner, H., 2019. Using the project management maturity model: strategic planning for project
management. John Wiley & Sons.
Li, D. and Lu, M., 2017. Automated generation of work breakdown structure and project
network model for earthworks project planning: a flow network-based optimization
approach. Journal of construction engineering and management.143(1). p.04016086.
Abd Rahman, W. W., Zaki, N. M. and Husain, M. A., 2019. A review of work breakdown
structure and man-hours estimation method used in shipbuilding
production. Technology.10(01). pp.1141-1158.
Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M. and Mantel Jr, S. J., 2017. Project Management: A Strategic
Managerial Approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Kerzner, H., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
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