Picoso Restaurant: Mobile Application Plan - Benefits and Alternatives

This report presents a mobile application plan for Picoso, a Mexican restaurant, aiming to increase customer engagement and sales. It compares the benefits of a mobile application to a web-based order entry system, highlighting the mobile app's user-friendliness and ease of access. The report includes a work breakdown structure for in-house development, detailing activities, durations, and resource allocation. It also suggests alternative strategies, such as website updates and social media promotion, while emphasizing the mobile app's effectiveness in customer retention. The analysis concludes that a mobile application is the most effective approach for Picoso to enhance customer experience and boost sales turnover. The report also mentions factors such as cost, schedule, and investment recovery as important considerations before launching any software in internal operation.

Introduction to Systems Design

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................. 1
3.2.1 Benefits of mobile application compared to a web-based order entry system................1
3.2.2 Work break down structure for in-house development...................................................2
3.2.3 Suggesting alternative in-house development of mobile application...............................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................. 5
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................6
List of figures
Figure 1: Work break down structure............................................................................................2
List of tables
Table 1: Mobile application plan....................................................................................................2

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The management of different project activities is the crucial task under which project
manager has to be cautious towards its outcome, schedule and cost. The report under
consideration is based on mobile application plan in the Mexican restaurant for increasing
number of customers and retaining them for longer time span. It has been found that mobile
application would be effective for customers to get the take ways products and refer good
quality of services offered by restaurant. Furthermore, alternative options such as official site of
the business can be used for the ordering process.
INTRODUCTION
Project management refers to the process of integrating all the activities with the
purpose of accomplishing certain objectives. It helps the organization to save the time and cost
so as to determine its competitive edge in the marketplace (Cleland and Ireland, 2006). The
present report is based on the mobile application project plan of a Mexican restaurant; Picoso.
In this regard, benefits of mobile application compared to a web-based order entry system are
analyzed with the use of several sources. Furthermore, work break down structure has been
prepared to demonstrate several activities associated with the project and time taken for the
same. Moreover, suggestions are provided for the alternative options to the mobile application
which assists management of Picoso to go for the suitable option.
3.2.1 Benefits of mobile application compared to a web-based order entry system
According to the case study, Picoso is planning to apply the mobile application for the
customers so they can easily place the order for the food which is to be delivered at home. In
this regard, web-based order entry system is relatively typical because customers have to suffer
from high traffic to reach to the exact site of the business (Top 5 Benefits of Selecting Android
for App Development, 2012). However, a mobile application makes it easier to place the order
and pay for the ordered products and services. It is more user-friendly which facilitates to cater
the requirement of customers in an effectual manner. This helps the corporation to track all the
orders and meet the expectations of customers. This proves to be effective increasing sales
turnover and an overall rate of return of the business (Turner, 2008). It leads to cater the
requirement of all related stakeholders and accordingly, a company can easily expand.
On the other hand, the mobile based system is easy to access and compatible for
corporations. Moreover, it is easy very easy for users to share their sites and get the right kind
of products and services within the stipulated time span. However, web-based order entry
system is difficult to share. In addition to this, installation of the mobile application is also easy
whereby users do not get difficulties in reaching the suitable users or customers (Kerzner,
2013). On a critical note, web-based order entry system might not create the positive impact as
it attracts customers at the store. However, mobile application facilitates to approach buyers in
relatively less time as it is easier to development and maintenance of the same it quite cheaper.
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In the current era of competitive edge, a mobile application is effective because
corporations can easily handle the complex calculation and reporting of the same is also easy.
At the same time, web-based order entry system might make it typical in case of poor network
connections. Apart from this, the mobile application is quite interactive which help to connect
and create more customers for the business (Heimonen, 2009). Not only this but mobile
application proves to be effective for retention of customers for longer time span. Therefore,
the mobile application is more effective in comparison to web-based order entry system
wherein management do not require invest a huge amount of money and generate a higher
rate of return. Hence, Picoso can easily install the mobile application for easy access to
customers to its varied range of products and services.
3.2.2 Work break down structure for in-house development
The work break down structure has been prepared for in-house development which
helps to Picoso to place the order for varied products and services. The below-mentioned table
consists of several activities associated with the project (Fling, 2009). It also reflects that total
16 weeks are needed for the completion of mobile application project installation. The
resources requirement and collection of information are two major activities of the project
through which project manager can have better control on the project. This in turn company
can effectively increase sales turnover.
Figure 1: Work break down structure
Table 1: Mobile application plan
Sr. No Activities Predecessors
Duration
(weeks)
1 Stating the objectives 0 1
2
Mobile
applicatio
n project
Stating the
objectives
Arrangin
g
resource
s
Allocati
ng the
task to
project
team
Assig
ning
the
deadli
ne
Collecting the
information
Starting
the
work
Monitorin
g
Modifica
tion
Execution

2 Collecting the information 1 1
3 Arranging necessary resources 1 2
4 Allocating task 2,3 2
5 Assigning the deadlines 4 1
6 Starting the work 1 2
7 Testing 5 3
8 Monitoring 6,7 1
9 Modification 1,4 1
10 Execution 8,9 2
Total 16
From the above table, it has been found that first of all management of Picoso state the
objectives which are mentioned as follows-
 To increase the sales turnover
 To increase the volume of customers
 To enhance the profitability of the business
In order to meet these objectives project plan related to a mobile application has been
initiated. In this regard, information is collected from customers and internal environment
of the business. This facilitates management of the business to arrange necessary resources
and accomplish the respective task on time (Bosworth and et. al., 2007). At this juncture, in-
house department of the Picoso will be communicated regarding placing the orders and
accordingly increase sales turnover of the business. On the other hand, necessary resources
can be arranged on time by deciding deadline. The actual work will be started by the project
manager at the completion of all initial activities (Lau and Bruno, 2010). Furthermore,
testing phase aids to test the effectiveness of mobile application by using the same on the
particular group of customers. However, a project manager will continuously monitor the
work.
Moreover, a plan will be executed on the right time so as to ensure successful
completion of all the related activities. The work break down structure is showing that
mobile application of the Picoso is based on its specific objectives related to meeting the
expectation of customers and increasing their satisfaction level (Islam, Islam and
Mazumder, 2010). This proves to be effective in delivering good quality of services to
customers and building brand image of the business in the marketplace. However, the plan
will be implemented in relatively less time with the application of suitable project
management techniques.
3.2.3 Suggesting alternative in-house development of mobile application
According to the analysis of an aforementioned situation, it has been found that
management of Picoso can update its professional website to attract customers. This site can
be promoted by using effective social media such as Facebook, YouTube and another attractive
mode of communication. It would be effective for business to make it site more attractive and
approachable to customers (Burke, 2013). However, an option of home delivery should be
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updated with the site separately so as to get the attention of the buyer. On a critical note,
mobile application would be more effective because it provides a chance for customers to share
the information with each other as it is more interactive.
Still, the alternative option of making the site more attractive is beneficial for the
business. It is the suitable option because management will easily attract more customers and
create the competitive edge of the business in the marketplace (Campbell and et. al., 2006).
Yet, the mobile application proves to be more effective but it would not provide a chance to
update the daily information. But, updating of website and its continuous promotion over the
social media is the right strategy for the corporation to get the attention of customers. In this
regard, a company can hire an expert who looks over the site of the business and ensures the
post new and attractive strategies over the same so as to retain the buyers for longer time
span.
Web-based order entry system can be continued with the option of cash on delivery.
This would make it possible for customers to book their order by making a call and paying for
the dishes at the time of delivery (Salud, 2004). This in turn customers gets the convenient
option for ordering their desired products and services. At the same time, feedback can be
taken from customers regarding the delivery options and taste of products and services. It
provides the scope of the improvement and accordingly business can easily cope up with the
changing scenario. Furthermore, suitable techniques related to the retention of customers can
be applied such as credit scores and loyalty point (Cleland and Ireland, 2006). It would be
effective to increase the sales turnover. Therefore, several alternatives are available for the
business but the application of mobile is effective for engaging more customers and increasing
the sales turnover of the business.
CONCLUSION
The aforementioned report concludes that mobile application in the restaurant chain is
effective as it helps in meeting their expectations in the more effective manner because the can
place the order in relatively less time. It can also be said that review of cost, schedule and
recovery of initial investment are some crucial factors which must be considered by the
management before launching any kind of software in the internal operation. Furthermore,
company expert team or project team can be hired to assess the feasibility whereby cost and
time can be reduced to a great extent. This in turn business can easily implement the project
and utilize the limited resources in an effectual manner.
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REFERENCES
Bosworth, A. and et. al., 2007. Mobile application cache system. U.S. Patent Application
11/857,348.
Burke, R., 2013. Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey, USA.
Campbell, E.M. and et. al., 2006. Types of unintended consequences related to computerized
provider order entry. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 13(5),
pp.547-556.
Cleland, D.L. and Ireland, L.R., 2006. Project management. McGraw-Hill Professional.
Fling, B., 2009. Mobile design and development: Practical concepts and techniques for creating
mobile sites and Web apps. " O'Reilly Media, Inc.".
Heimonen, T., 2009, September. Information needs and practices of active mobile internet
users. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Mobile Technology,
Application & Systems (p. 50). ACM.
Islam, R., Islam, R. and Mazumder, T., 2010. Mobile application and its global
impact. International Journal of Engineering & Technology (IJEST), 10(6), pp.72-78.
Kerzner, H., 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Lau, J.K.Y. and Bruno, J.P., Microsoft Corporation, 2010. Location and contextual-based mobile
application promotion and delivery. U.S. Patent Application 12/854,157.
Salud, S.E., 2004. Implementation and initial evaluation of a Web-based nurse order entry
system for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Peru. Medinfo, 107, p.202.
Top 5 Benefits of Selecting Android for App Development. 2012. [Online]. Available through:
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/15f2967dafc65629>. [Accessed on 17th
October 2017].
Turner, J.R., 2008. Handbook of project-based management. McGraw-Hill Professional
Publishing.
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