MN601 Network Project Management: Alfmeier Präzision SE Case Study T2

This case study analyzes Alfmeier Präzision SE's project management practices, highlighting challenges stemming from inconsistent use of project management solutions and the impact on cost, resource, and time management. It identifies key leadership characteristics needed to address these issues, including motivation, communication, decision-making, innovation, and accountability. The study emphasizes the importance of ethical values such as responsibility, honesty, respect, and fairness in achieving project success. The recommended solution involves implementing an ERP system to improve resource management, streamline project operations, and enhance security. Ultimately, the successful implementation of these strategies is expected to improve the company's operational efficiency, project outcomes, and global competitiveness.

Running head: NETWORK PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Network Project Management: Precision Engineering Company Alfmeier Präzision SE
Completes Complex Projects on Time and on Budget
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:

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Executive summary
This paper portrays application of proper project management prcatices and its impact on
organizational success. Alfmeier Präzision SE is facing different operational and functional
challenges due to lack of usage in technical excellence. The key issues that are interrupting the
project success and the ethical PMI values those are to be considered to lead to project success
are elaborated in the paper.

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Table of Contents
Key issues........................................................................................................................................3
Leadership characteristics................................................................................................................4
Project Success................................................................................................................................5
Ethical issues...................................................................................................................................6
Summary..........................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Key issues
Alfmeier Präzision SE is a global precision system solution delivery company. The
company is one of the leading suppliers in the medical and automotive industry. It has been
analyzed that, the project manager of the company was using multiple numbers of mixed project
management solutions with variety numbers of Microsoft office applications. Whenever a
manager would require analyzing the overall cost then he or she had to ask to individual project
manager [5]. It would take lots of time and the process of resource management, cost
management and reporting approach will also be complex and difficult.
Besides this, after implementation of SAP PS (ERP) and some other project management
tools, the company has discontinued using plethora system. As preferences of different project
managers are different from each other therefore, for overall result they had to ask to different
managers. As the projects were operating from different countries thus, some conflicts occurred
which required serious focus [3]. Apart from this, the time, resources and cost were also not
utilized accurately, which can be identified as another major issue.
These issues are required to be resolved sooner to avoid overrunning budget, over
allocation of resources and overrunning time. In order to manage and complete any project in
time and budget the project supervisor should maintain all the project development knowledge
areas in terms of cost management, resource management, quality, and time and scope
management. Alfmeier Präzision SE runs many projects at a time which impacts the entire
operation of the company. Each project has individual manager or supervisor, who deals with the
project cost, resources and time but theses details are not shared among all the project managers
[1]. When the executive requires finding out the total company he or she had to analyze the

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individual project report which is much time consuming. These significant issues are needed to
be resolved soon to gain global competitive advantages and commercial profits as well.
Leadership characteristics
The solutions are manufactured using pumps, controllers, valves, actuators etc. The
worldwide competencies of the company are industrial solutions, plastic technology, electronics,
fluid technology, mechatronics etc. In order to resolve the identified risk leadership strategies are
much crucial [2]. The important leadership qualities that the company executives requires to
possess include honesty, integrity, good communication skills, accountability, delegation,
empowerment, motivation, creativity, innovation, decision making abilities and empathy. The
detail of the leadership characteristics are as follows:
Motivation and inspiration ability: Motivation power and becoming an inspiration to
the company fellows is probably one of the most difficult jobs. It is possible only when the
company head can inspire their fellows with setting up good examples. Project leader should
think of both positive and negative approaches while governing any project. The actions taken by
each leader inspires fellow project team associates [6]. Alfmeier Präzision SE is facing intra
team conflict as the company has to operate more than 100 projects for the implementation of the
new system. Among those 100 of projects approximately 60 projects are running all well.
Good communication: Professional communication is the other important factor that is
required for the successful execution of any project. As Alfmeier Präzision SE is operating 100
of projects and 80% of the projects are consists of approximately 300 to 350 activities, therefore
proper communication is much essential to avoid conflict level errors. Different types of
communication approaches are there such as upward communication, horizontal, downward

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communication etc [7]. The PMO of the company should develop own norms and regulations
and all the members are required to follow the standards. Open communication is the best
possible approach helps maintain the behavior of project tem associates.
Decision making capabilities: A leader must have the capability to take proper decision
that will help to bring commercial profit and competitive advantages as well. It is recognized
that, any decision taken by the project leader impacts the mass either positively or negatively.
Before taking ultimate decision the project leaders must think and also discuss with the other
higher authority members [8]. However, for Alfmeier Präzision SE it is highly recommended
that, they should discuss with key stakeholders.
Creativity and innovation: Innovation is the only factors that discriminates a leader
from team associates. In order to get ahead with the fastest global business prcatices, creativity
and innovation plays crucial roles. As much the company will come up with out of box ideas a
unique thinking that much it would get commercial benefits and competitive advantages.
Accountability and flexibility: It is responsibility of the leaders to make sure that all
team members are aware of their regular job duties and responsibilities. Each team members are
needed to be motivated with rewards and effective incentives structures [1]. Ability of the team
members will improve if closer connection with team members is established.
Project Success
In order to measure the success of any project the different component those are to be
considered include critical success factor analysis, use of key performance indicators etc. The
project management solution which is recommended to be accomplished is based on Microsoft

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project server that is customized by approximately 100 user defined fields [6]. The solution must
be customized and authorized to ensure that none of the external and unwanted users are capable
to access the server. The factors that would lead the project towards success are as follows:
 Compliance with regulations
 Safety while using products
 Financial health of the company
 Profitability to the investors or sponsors
After implementation of the solution Alfmeier Präzision SE will be able to avail different
benefits. Each project management aspect in terms of scheduling, resource planning, planned
project cost, actual project cost and reporting will become faster and efficient than earlier.
Ethical issues
Different ethical values which require to be considered by Alfmeier Präzision SE to gain
commercial profit and competitive advantages as well as follows:
Responsibility: The supervisor and team associates are needed to be responsibility to
their assigned duties
Honesty: Honesty needs to be maintained throughout the project development life cycle
period.
Respect: The team associates should respect each other
Fairness: Associates must follow fair behavior

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Summary
The above discussion implies that, though Alfmeier Präzision SE is facing operation and
application level issues but theses can be resolved if proper leadership and ethical approaches are
followed. Each team associate must serve their assigned duties and responsibilities to meet
project requirements. If the system or solution is successfully implemented then it would
improve the operational efficiency of the company. Not only this but also, it will help the project
team associates to complete project in estimated budget and time. The new solution which is
recommended to be implemented is an ERP system. The ERP system will help to improve
resource management plan and the other large scale project components as well. It will save time
and other expense rates as well. The company would be able to operate global project associates
much easily. It will provide high level security to the information stored in the server.

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References
[1] P., Taylor,. Leading successful PMOs: how to build the best project management office for
your business. Routledge., 2016.
[2] J.R., Meredith, Jr, S.J.Mantel and S.M., Shafer,. Project management: a managerial
approach. John Wiley & Sons., 2017.
[3] E., Kutsch, J., Ward, M. Hall, and J., Algar. The contribution of the project management
office: A balanced scorecard perspective. Information Systems Management, 32(2), pp.105-118.,
2015.
[4] A., Badewi,. The impact of project management (PM) and benefits management (BM)
practices on project success: Towards developing a project benefits governance
framework. International Journal of Project Management, 34(4), pp.761-778., 2016.
[5] V.G., Carvalho, S.C.M., Barbalho, G.L. da Silva, and J.C., de Toledo,. Benefits Management
as a Path for Project Management Offices Contribute to Programs and Influence on Project
Performance. Business and Management Studies, 4(1), pp.20-30., 2018.
[6] Y.Y. Chih, and O., Zwikael,. Project benefit management: A conceptual framework of target
benefit formulation. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), pp.352-362., 2015.
[7] S. Paton, and B., Andrew,. The role of the Project Management Office (PMO) in product
lifecycle management: A case study in the defence industry. International Journal of Production
Economics, 208, pp.43-52., 2019.

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[8] E.J. Darling, and S.J., Whitty,. The Project Management Office: it’s just not what it used to
be. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 9(2), pp.282-308., 2016.
[9] S.C.M.,Barbalho, G.L. da Silva, and J.C., de Toledo,. The impact analysis of functions of
Project Management Office on performance of triple constraint of new-product development
projects. Dirección y Organización, (61), pp.19-31., 2017.
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