Project Management Consultancy Report: DropBox UK New Product Launch

This report is a comprehensive project management consultancy report focusing on the launch of DropBox's new encryption functionality service in the UK market. The report includes an introduction to project management principles and then delves into the specifics of the DropBox project, defining its outcomes, purpose, and SMART objectives. It specifies the project scope, provides a detailed cost estimation and budget, and clarifies the project schedule with a Gantt chart, work breakdown structure, and network diagram. The report critically analyzes the project's stakeholders and procurement strategies, and includes a risk register to assess potential uncertainties. The report also includes a reflective essay and concludes with references, providing a thorough analysis of the project from planning to execution.

FUNDAMENTALS OF
PROJECT MANAGEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
SECTION I: Project Management Consultancy Report..................................................................1
1.Defining project in terms of outcomes and purpose.................................................................1
2.SMART objectives of Project..................................................................................................2
3.Specifying the project SCOPE.................................................................................................2
4.Providing a cost estimation for the project BUDGET.............................................................3
5.Clarifying the project SCHEDULE, assuming the project planning........................................4
6.Gantt Chart for the delivery of the project, showing a detailed breakdown of all project
activities, the network diagram highlighting the critical path, and key milestones.....................6
7.Critically analyse the project’s stakeholders..........................................................................10
8.Assessing the project’s procurement strategies......................................................................10
9.Critically analysing the uncertainties that may affect the project’s objectives by creating a
risk register................................................................................................................................11
SECTION II: Reflective Essay......................................................................................................17
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................18
References......................................................................................................................................19

TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Gantt chart for new product launch project of DropBox.................................................7
Figure 2: Work breakdown structure for new product launch project of DropBox........................8
Figure 3: Network Diagram for new product launch project of DropBox......................................9
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Budget for launching new product of DropBox in UK market.........................................3
Table 2: Project plan for new product launch project of DropBox.................................................4
Table 3: Risk Register for new product launch project of DropBox.............................................11

INTRODUCTION
Project management can be defined as a process of completing number of activities for
attaining a specific and unique objective. It includes number of fundamental principles for
managing projects in effective manner. These principles focus on project planning, risk
management documentation, benefits realisation and customer management, etc (Dey, Clegg and
Bennett, 2010). The current research project is based on fundamentals of project management
and regarding this study has chosen a new product launch project of an organization, DropBox. It
wants to launch a new encryption functionality service to their enterprise plan customers, for
highly sensitive data file storage, transfer and sharing. ProjectPlus is a project management
consultancy which will provide an effective consultancy services to launching new product in
UK market. Report will include description about objectives and scope of the project. Further it
will also describe the estimation about time and cost which will be required for completing
project in effective manner. Along with this, study will use different tools and techniques for
completing different tasks of project in appropriate manner.
SECTION I: PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY REPORT
1. Defining project in terms of outcomes and purpose
DropBox wants to launch its new encryption functionality service to their enterprise plan
customers of UK. It will be effective for highly sensitive data file storage, transfer and sharing.
So, project manager needs to develop an appropriate project management plan for launching new
product in an appropriate Location of London (Hobbs, 2009).
Outcomes:
Development of project plan for new product launch will be the major outcome of this
project. It will attract target customers in effective manner which will increase the profitability
and revenue of DropBox. It will help in making the international presence of the organization.
Successful completion of the project plan is also considered as major outcomes of this project.
Outcome of the project includes the awareness of customers of UK about the new product of
DropBox. Accomplishment of project in estimated time and cost is also considered as outcome
of this project (Walker, 2007).
Purpose:
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Major purpose of this project is to launch new encryption functionality services of
DropBox in UK. Along with this, attracting significant exposure from recognized media outlets
and providing appropriate entertainment program are also included in major purpose of this
project. DropBox wants to target enterprise customers of UK for its new product, so, this project
will focus on this objective also. Project plan purpose is managing operations and logistics in
effective manner and maintaining health and safety of each and every audience (Zwikael, 2009).
2. SMART objectives of Project
For completing each and every project, manager of Project Plus needs to develop
SMART objectives. These objectives will help in developing appropriate project plan and also
help in making charity about every activity. SMART objectives for new product launch project
of DropBox are described as under:
 To develop appropriate project plan for launching new product of DropBox in UK.
 To complete new product launch project in maximum four months or till 12th October
2016.
 To accomplish new product launch project within a total budget of £150,000.
 To attract significant exposure from recognised media outlets (Martin and Guerin, 2006).
 To increase the profitability of DropBox by successful completion of this project.
3. Specifying the project SCOPE
 Objectives: To launch new encryption functionality service to enterprise plan customers
of DropBox is the major objective of ProjectPlus.
 Time: Estimated time for this project will be approximately 98 days. As per the given
information project must start on 4th July 2016 and end on 12th October 2016. Analysis of
past projects on similar subjects has reflected that it is sufficient time for completing this
project in effective manner.
 Cost: It is one of the important attribute which may affect the overall outcomes of the
project. The current project will be a costly project for DropBox but it will provide huge
profitability in future. As per the estimation it will take £150,000 amount of money in
accomplishment of this project (Levy, 2009).
 Resources: At the time of completion of this project, Project Plus will require different
sources such as human, financial, time and technical sources. So, for completing this
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projection Project Plus has been hired five consultants and one project manager. So, this
project will be completed by 6 human resources. Along with this, for making
arrangement of financial capital DropBox will sue bank loan and retained earnings
because these are cost effective financial resources for raising financial capital
(Kloppenborg, 2011).
4. Providing a cost estimation for the project BUDGET
As per the above discussion Budget of DropBox is £150,000. So, budgeted cost for this
project will be £150,000. It will play very important role in actual estimation and forecasting of
the cost on the basis of the project plan (Andersen, Dysvik and Vaagaasar, 2009). Development
of project budget is as follows:
Table 1: Budget for launching new product of DropBox in UK market
Data
Year Quarter Week Cost Baseline Cost
2016 Q2 Week 25 0 800
Week 26 0 400
Q2 Total 0 1200
Q3 Week 27 3560 560
Week 28 1920 720
Week 29 3200 520
Week 30 4000 400
Week 31 2800 560
Week 32 2000 400
Week 33 2760 320
Week 34 1800 400
Week 35 1960 400
Week 36 2000 400
Week 37 2000 720
Week 38 4000 800
Week 39 2680 480
Q3 Total 34680 6680
Q4 Week 40 1840 400
Week 41 2000 400
Week 42 2000 400
Week 43 3600 680
Week 44 2800 520
Week 45 2800 560
Q4 Total 15040 2960
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2016 Total 49720 10840
Grand Total 49720 10840
As per the above calculation new product launch project will be completed in £49720.
So, it has reflected that actual cost of this project will be low as compare to budgeted cost.
5. Clarifying the project SCHEDULE, assuming the project planning
Schedule:
It can be defined as a project management tool which helps in developing a project plan
with number of activities and respective time for completing these activities in effective manner
(Chiu-Chi and et.al, 2013). Schedule for new product launch project of DropBox is as follows:
Table 2: Project plan for new product launch project of DropBox
WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors Resource Names
1
Project for
launching a
new encryption
functionality
95 days Mon 7/4/16 Fri 11/11/16
1.1 Initial stage 22 days Mon 7/4/16 Tue 8/2/16
1.1.1 UK market
research 4 days Mon 7/4/16 Thu 7/7/16 Project manager
1.1.2
Analyzing
needs and
requirements of
DropBox
3 days Fri 7/8/16 Tue 7/12/16 3 Jessica D’Arcy
1.1.3
Determining
scope of the
project
5 days Wed 7/13/16 Tue 7/19/16 4 Phil Jefferson
1.1.4
Formulating
objectives for
launching new
product
5 days Wed 7/20/16 Tue 7/26/16 5 Project manager
1.1.5 Deciding
Milestones 5 days Wed 7/27/16 Tue 8/2/16 6 Susy Kamp
1.2 Planning
stage 38 days Wed 7/27/16 Fri 9/16/16
1.2.1
Developing
plan for
lunching product
10 days Wed 7/27/16 Tue 8/9/16 6 Tom Arnolds
1.2.2
Scheduling
and estimation
for each activity
of project
5 days Wed 8/10/16 Tue 8/16/16 9 Vladimir Kahn
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1.2.3
Marketing
and broadcasting
plan
2 days Wed 8/17/16 Thu 8/18/16 10,7 Project manager
1.2.4
Financial
management
plan
7 days Fri 8/19/16 Mon 8/29/16 11 Jessica D’Arcy
1.2.5 Communication
plan
2 days Tue 8/30/16 Wed 8/31/16 12 Susy Kamp
1.2.6 Entertainment
plan
2 days Thu 9/1/16 Fri 9/2/16 13 Phil Jefferson
1.2.7
Operational
and logistic
planning
2 days Mon 9/5/16 Tue 9/6/16 14 Vladimir Kahn
1.2.8
Risk
management
plan
8 days Wed 9/7/16 Fri 9/16/16 15 Vladimir Kahn
1.3 Implementation 25 days Mon 9/19/16 Fri 10/21/16
1.3.1 Implementation
of project plan
7 days Mon 9/19/16 Tue 9/27/16 16 Project manager
1.3.2
Making
necessary
arrangement of
required
resources
7 days Wed 9/28/16 Thu 10/6/16 18 Jessica D’Arcy
1.3.3
Use of latest
technologies for
different
activities
7 days Fri 10/7/16 Mon 10/17/16 19 Vladimir Kahn
1.3.4
Application
of tools and
techniques for
managing
project
4 days Tue 10/18/16 Fri 10/21/16 20 Phil Jefferson
1.4 Monitoring
and review 11 days Mon
10/24/16 Mon 11/7/16
1.4.1 Monitoring
project progress 2 days Mon 10/24/16 Tue 10/25/16 21 Project manager
1.4.2 Controlling 2 days Wed 10/26/16 Thu 10/27/16 23 Phil Jefferson
1.4.3 change
management
2 days Fri 10/28/16 Mon 10/31/16 24 Project
manager ,Susy
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Kamp
1.4.4 Measuring
performance 5 days Tue 11/1/16 Mon 11/7/16 23,24,25 Vladimir Kahn
1.5 Project closer 4 days Tue 11/8/16 Fri 11/11/16
1.5.1 Documentation 2 days Tue 11/8/16 Wed 11/9/16 26 Phil Jefferson
1.5.2 Project
closing 2 days Thu 11/10/16 Fri 11/11/16 28 Phil Jefferson,
Vladimir Kahn
Project planning:
As per the above discussed project plan Project Plus will complete this project in 95 days.
It will start on 4th July 2016 and end on 11th October 2016. For completing this project, manager
needs to focus on different activities such as initial phase, planning, implementation, monitoring
and review and project closer. Overall, project manager will complete this project as per the
needs and requirements of DropBox (Darren, 2012).
6. Gantt Chart for the delivery of the project, showing a detailed breakdown of all project
activities, the network diagram highlighting the critical path, and key milestones
There are number of project management tools and techniques which help in managing new
product launch project of DropBox in effective manner. These include Gantt chart, Network
Diagram, Critical Path analysis and Work Breakdown structure, etc (Schiff, 2012). Application
of all these methods for the current project is described as under:
Gantt chart
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Figure 1: Gantt chart for new product launch project of DropBox
Breakdown of all project activities
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Figure 2: Work breakdown structure for new product launch project of DropBox
Network diagram
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Figure 3: Network Diagram for new product launch project of DropBox
Critical path
Critical path Calculation Critical duration
3-4-5-6-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-
15-16-18-19-20-21-23-24-25-
26-28-29
4 + 3 + 5 + 5 + 38 + 10 + 5 +
2 + 7 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 8 + 7 + 7
+ 7 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 5 + 2 +
2
95 days
Critical path analysis is one of the important tools for estimating future time and cost for
new product launch project. It helps in minimum time and longest path which will be required
for completing project in effective manner. As per the above calculation new product launch
project of DropBox will be completed in 95 days (Stibel, 2011).
Key milestones
Key Milestones of this project will help in completing whole project in effective manner.
Major Key Milestone for new product launch project of DropBox is described as under:
 Initial stage: this Stage has helped project manager in determining needs and
requirements of DropBox and future scope of the project. It has played important role in
formulating project objectives in effective manner.
 Planning: As per the needs and requirements of client project manager can easily develop
appropriate plans for launching new product, marketing, communication, entertainment,
operation and logistic planning and risk management, etc.
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