Cadbury Project: Evaluating Project Life Cycle & Methodologies

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the project life cycle (PLC) as applied to Cadbury's on-site catering project. It details each stage of the PLC, including project initiation with a business case outlining the background, goals, impact, stakeholders, scope, and budget, project planning with a workflow document and Gantt chart, project execution, and project closure. The report also analyzes the project methodologies and tools used, such as Six Sigma and Lean principles, and critically evaluates the effectiveness of the PLC using appropriate theories and models, including inbound logistics, operations, and outbound logistics. The study concludes with a discussion on the application of the project life cycle and changes for small and large projects. The aim of the project is to improve employee well-being and reduce congestion during breaks by providing on-site catering services.

Part 2: Project Portfolio
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to your selected project, including
supporting documentation for each stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-benefit
analysis and work breakdown structure):...............................................................................3
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used...........................................................7
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC in application to given project
using appropriate theories, models and concepts...................................................................8
Application of project life-cycle and changes for small and large projects...........................9
Evaluation of PLC through practical and theoretical exploration of its effectiveness and
recommendations for improvements....................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
Project life cycle is referred to the time duration that the project requires in order to meet
the needs and objectives of an organization. The project life cycle is mainly segregated in to four
stages namely project initiation, Project planning, project execution and project closure. Project
life cycle of every organization has a beginning stage, middle period stage and further an end.
The middle stage is basically an execution of the project goals and objectives whereas the lend
can either be successful or unsuccessful (Ahmadabadi and Heravi, 2019).
Cadbury is UK based manufacturing organization. The organization is the second largest
confectionery brand in the world. It was formerly known as Cadbury's and at present it is fully
owned by Mondelez International. The organization was founded in 1824 at Birmingham. The
study revolves around the issue of online catering faced by Cadbury (Andersson and et. al.,
2020).
Overview of the case study-
The case study is about a manufacturing unit which is Midland based and aims to
accomplish the business goals in order to help the employees with lifestyle development. The
organization also aims to decrease the congestion at common areas of the organization during the
recess. The on-site catering project of Cadbury will make efforts to foster the employees with
healthy food in the organization premise and further help in accomplishment of business
objective of Cadbury. Use of effective project methodologies will be adopted for ensuring
effectiveness of work being produced in the workforce. In addition to this, deep evaluation of
project methods is being done in terms of their efficiency. This will ensure their effective use
under various business situation in which respective firm is operating its operations (Cox, 2018).
Main Body
An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to your selected project, including
supporting documentation for each stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-benefit
analysis and work breakdown structure):
The Project life cycle is is a process that involves various stages like project
initiation,project planning, project execution and project closure. The stages are discussed in
aspect of Cadbury which are used by project managers of respective firm to ensure better
individual efforts being produced at the working site. By following such stages managers of the
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given corporate can ensure completion of given project at the specified period of time and within
the given resources. Through implementation of various principles derived from use of project
stages can concentrate better on performing each tasks in precise manner.
Project initiation- Project initiation phase in when the organization launches a product in
the market. The first thing that Cadbury does is to identify the various business opportunities for
the product that the organisation aims to launch. The manager of Cadbury will aim to foster the
on-site catering needs of the individuals and accomplish the business objectives (Estanqueiro
and et. al., 2018).
Business case
 Background- Cadbury will look for various solutions in order to provide healthy food to
their worker during the lunch. It will accomplish the issue of healthy eating and lesser
crowding in the local surroundings. Standards of effective working environment are
being set upon use of different project methodologies. Through use of such
methodologies managers of the corporate firm can ensure better use of resources and
effective quality management techniques can be ensured. Goals- The on-site catering will help Cadbury to accomplish the CSR objectives and
further it will reduce the movement of the staff that could have hazardous impact.
 Impact- The on-site catering will provide the workers with ample satisfaction from their
job and the organization. It will further decrease the chances of off the job accidents.
 Stakeholders- The stakeholders in order to complete the project will be the employees of
the organization, managers and the caterers who will supply the food.
 Scope- The scope of the project is considered as high. The project will involve
identification of likes and dislikes of employees in aspects of food and further decrease
the burden upon the employees.
 Budget- The estimated budget for the project to bring into action is-
 Milestone- The milestone is to offer the on-site catering to the employees at Cadbury and
reduction of employee congestion outside the premises of Cadbury. The another
milestones is to promote healthy eating at employees of Cadbury.
 Project approval- In order to initiate the project it is important for the organisation to get
the project improved by the management of given company.
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Project planning: This stage is an inclusion of detailing about several project tasks
which further are presented in planned manner for approaching to respective objectives of the
organisational firm. Respective stage is considered to be an important stage for the given
company based in Midlands i.e. Cadbury. Managers of the corporate firm undertakes principles
of this stage which initiates effectiveness of work being produced in the firm. Given stage
develops better standards of working in the provided firm which creates efficiency of
coordinative work for performing tasks in several functional areas of the corporate firm (Foster
and et. al., 2021).
Work flow document
Gantt Chart
Gantt chart is a tool of project management which illustrates lists of several activities
which are to be carried by management department for completion of a given project. It
represents various tasks to be performed for a given project in the presented manner. Gantt chart
for Cadbury is presented below;
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Gathering Resource: The financial resource for the given project portfolio will be
obtained from overdraft. Catering suppliers will be employed to provide regular supply of
catering services on-site. Plan is to provide food and related services through company's
transportation services (Groome and et. al., 2020).
Estimated Budget
Particulars Calculation Amount
Sales £50*200 £10000
Less: variable cost £3*200 £600
Contribution Sales-variable cost £9400
Less: fixed cost £1500
Less: estimated cost of sales £10*200 £2000
Net profit £5900
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Project execution: This respective stage briefs about implementation of several project
plans being adopted in the given company. It is an inclusion of important measures which are
adopted in the given firm which dedicates towards pulling maximum of efficiency out of
respective work being produced in the corporate firm. For the given context for a company
which is based in Midlands is suffering from issues relating to on-site catering services being
faced at the site.
Project closure: This stage in project planning is a crucial one as in this stage various
dedications are taken into consideration regarding team efforts in the organisational firm. Team
working in this stage plays a crucial role in concluding the project activities as, in inclusion of
this stage it is important for project managers to lay-off the project task or project completion on
a good note.
In the given context, in which issue relating to on-site catering services is being
highlighted. Managers of the given firm i.e. Cadbury develops better standards in operational
firm through adoption of the above mentioned project stages. Being in the position of project and
programme officer reflecting to the issue provided related to on-site catering services falls under
responsibility of the respective department.
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used
Variety of project methodologies used in the given project to solve issues or challenges
related to on-site catering developed better opportunity for the given corporate to function well in
given business market. Managers at site by using such methodologies gains benefit in terms of
low production cost and quality of production can be ensured. Furthermore, such methodologies
can be useful in terms of gaining competitive advantage as proper working structure in given
corporate firm can ensure better brand image and also increase market presence of the respective
company (Long, Taylor and Aldred, 2019).
Description
Six Sigma In the given approach of six sigma which helps firm to develop effective
potential of the corporate firm in terms of customer satisfaction, employee
satisfaction and improvement in bottom line. Possible reason for realisation of
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effective output from use of this approach could be of dedicating firm's
activities towards right or correct decision of working.
Lean
manufacturing
Company's operations being engaged in delivering of consumer goods in
various markets have to comply with several business production standards. In
the process efforts over use effective operational techniques are being taken
into consideration. This ensures reduced operational cost and enable working
with effective use of business resources.
Business
process
redesign
This process enhances efficiency of the given corporate through defining
relevant standards as per business external environment in which operations of
the firm is being governed. By adopting this technique managers of given
company can promote effective use of business resources which further can
contribute towards pulling better productivity of the business firm.
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC in application to given project using
appropriate theories, models and concepts
In the given scenario there are multiple functions or activities which are performed by
management in chosen corporate i.e. Cadbury. Managers of the corporate engages respective
activities of the firm with use of project management theories. This aids towards enhancement of
firm's activities in regards to several business operations being produced in the corporate firm.
Evaluation of PLC in application to a given project with support of theories, models and
concepts are as follows;
 Inbound logistics: Respective model is placed at the foremost stage in given operational
management process of PLC in given organisation i.e. Cadbury. The managers at given
firm is benefited with use of such techniques as, they are able to develop better standards
in operational working of the corporate firm.
◦ Strengths: Develops better standards of working in a corporate firm through
dedicating resources with respect to managing internal affairs in given operational
firm. Therefore, through adopting to this approach management of the corporate firm
can establish better coordinative work at the provided site.
◦ Limitation: The given process of inbound logistic includes regular monitoring
function which leads to incurring of high operational cost. Therefore, this process can
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prove to be high cost consuming process which at the end contribute towards
limitation for the given approach.
 Operations: Operations of Cadbury being engaged in customer centric services have to
adopt through effective operational management techniques. This enables managers of
the respective firm to seek better brand image and increase company's market presence
undertaking operational task for delivering said product or service. Therefore, managers
of respective firm can develop better standards of working in which flexibility of
operations and ultimate goals of given corporate firm can be meet (Zamani, Sandin,
Svanström and Peters, 2018).
◦ Strengths: Cadbury have various stores which are operating in different regions of the
world, therefore undertaking several techniques of operational management can
enable effective working of the corporate firm.
◦ Limitation: Operational management extract best possible performance from human
as a resources working in the said organisation. However, techniques of operations
management fails to show its efficiency in dynamic business environment
 Outbound logistics: The following third stage of project life-cycle is a stage in which
coordinative approaches are being taken into consideration. Seeking to present scenario
in which influence of COVID-19 pandemic is major on business operations. This acts as
a greater threat to an individual organisation which further can be realised to its best
efficiency with use of project life-cycle operational management approaches. In the given
heading given firm i.e. Cadbury emphasis on home delivery services to various customers
which engages firm's activities towards complying its resources in accordance with
COVID-19 guidelines (Wentworth, 2020).
◦ Strengths: Seeking to current market situation given firm by use of outbound logistics
can develop better coordinative work. In addition to this, better use of corporate
resources can be encouraged in given operational firm.
◦ Limitation: This step is an inclusion of developing employee personalisation which
sometimes may lead to conflicts and disputes in given organisational firm. The
employee working in the firm might misbehave or show improper behaviour when
not actions or authoritative decisions are not taken in their favour (Varajão, 2018).
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Application of project life-cycle and changes for small and large projects
Project life-cycle is an inclusion of techniques adopted in a corporate firm to regulate
better productivity of the firm when regulating business operations in uncertain market
conditions. In the given context, project working was being dedicated on developing an effective
plan through which congestion issue caused due to movement of staff workers at lunch due to
unavailability of on-site catering services. In project planning stage, managers of the corporate
firm undertakes principles of this stage which initiates effectiveness of work being produced in
the firm. Given stage develops better standards of working in the provided firm which creates
efficiency of coordinative work for performing tasks in several functional areas of the corporate
firm. In the next stage i.e. gathering resources, catering suppliers will be employed to provide
regular supply of catering services on-site. Plan is to provide food and related services through
company's transportation services. Project execution stage includes taking considerations of list
of activities which were planned in previous stage. In the last stage i.e. project closure, managers
of the given firm i.e. Cadbury develops better standards in operational firm through adoption of
the above mentioned project stages. Being in the position of project and programme officer
reflecting to the issue provided related to on-site catering services falls under responsibility of
the respective department.
Evaluation of PLC through practical and theoretical exploration of its effectiveness and
recommendations for improvements
PLC refers to techniques adopted by a project manager to ensure effective regulation of
project work throughout the project life cycle. There are various effective ways through which its
effectiveness can be defined; Clarity of project objectives: PLC provides clarity of objectives which is important to
avoid wastages of resources. Guidance of project activities: An effective guidance is provided in terms of deriving
effective project activities.
 Result focus: Ultimate focus is can be dedicated towards project result.
Conclusion
From the analysis of above report project it can be concluded that, stages of project life
cycle is being illustrated plays an important role in undertaking operational task in a given
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organisational firm. The contribution of PLC can be extended in scope of development and
designing of effective operational strategy which contributes towards better working of given
operational task of an organisation. Further, in the report presentation of several project
methodologies are also being highlighted in their relation to continuous improvement plan.
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