Project Management Assignments 2018-19: Essays on Project Failure

This assignment comprises two essays on project management. The first essay delves into the time-cost-quality model, also known as the project management triangle, exploring its interconnectedness and implications for project success. It discusses the model's advantages, such as enhanced customer satisfaction and efficient resource allocation, as well as its potential drawbacks, including increased process complexity and limitations on employee creativity. The essay further examines the TRIJECT model, an advanced version aligning quality with a higher purpose. The second essay analyzes the failure of Google Glass, examining its purpose, performance, and outcomes. It explores the reasons behind its failure, including poor planning, safety concerns, and privacy issues, and suggests potential strategies for future success, such as targeted marketing and improved product launch strategies. The essays draw on relevant literature to provide a comprehensive analysis of these project management concepts and real-world applications.

Project Management
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Table of Contents
Essay 1.............................................................................................................................................3
Time-Cost-Quality in Project Management.................................................................................3
Essay 2.............................................................................................................................................7
Google Glass Failure...................................................................................................................7
References......................................................................................................................................10
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Essay 1
Time-Cost-Quality in Project Management
The concept of time, cost and quality in project management is known as project management
triangle. All these three attributes must be managed properly during the whole life cycle of
project management. Each of the three constraints is connected to the other two constraints in a
triangle and impacts them (Atkinson, 2018).
The effective implementation and execution of time, cost and quality model enhance the
customer satisfaction, reduce overall cost due to applied quality measures on each project
activity. Further, the overall productivity is increased due to elimination of the rework on the
shoddy work. This model of project management allows the project manager to calculate the
time and cost in advance and allocate resources more effectively. Managers will be able to
identify risks before they start appearing (Picincu, 2018).
Sometimes use of quality-cost-time model increase the complexity in the processes at the
workplace. Every time changing the plans and process to manage the time-cost and quality may
lead to stress at the workplace and team members might fall behind in completing their tasks.
Managing all the activities only after analysing each one of them at the quality-cost-time model
will leave no chance for the employee to show their creativity at the workplace. They have to
abide by the strict parameters of the model. This can discourage the employees and might
hamper their performance in the project (Picincu, 2018).
This model of time-cost-quality balances the constraints and help reach to a successful
conclusion. As the project progress, some changes always occur that may impact any of three
constraints. Here are some practical implications of this model discussed below:
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For example, an unexpected budget is cut short from the project due to the poor performance of
the company. Now in this situation, quality of the project will be reduced and delivery time of
the project will also get extended as, cheaper resources will be searched to manage the budget of
the project. Second implication that may change the three constraints is when launch date of a
mobile handset is brought forward. In that situation, cost will increase as more task force will be
added to meet the set deadline (Haughey, 2011).
This triangle of objectives was created by Dr. Martin Barnes in mid 1980s. According to him, in
a project, time, cost and quality are interrelated to each other. He stated that if any of the three is
kept constant or fixed and other two constraints have to move, then they may require an increase
or decrease in constraints (Stakeholdermap, 2019).
As per the article published in the 8th International Quality Conference, time-cost-quality is
framework that enables project managers to evaluate and manage the competing demands of
time, cost and quality within their projects. The article suggested that the centre of the triangle is
the mutual dependency of the three constraints among one another. If there is an increase in the
quality, it will automatically require increased cost and time to achieve increased quality
(Stojcetovic et al., 2014).
In construction industry, the clients are majorly concerned with the quality, time and cost of the
project. Timely completion of the project is considered as major success for the clients. For
clients, quality is the most important constraints in the completion of a project.
The use of this model by the project managers influences their decisions and gives them a firm
sense of what and how can be adjusted to meet the requirements of the project. For example, if a
project is running behind scheduled time, the features of the project can be reduced. Working on
the triple constraints is a balancing act.
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Under the conceptual framework, some key concepts surround the triple constraint model.
Through conceptual synthesis of the triple constraint model, an integrated model was realized.
This consolidated model has been called as TRIJECT, which is created from Triple constraints
and project management. This TRIJECT model is supported by time and cost constraints (Van
Wyngaard et al., 2012).
To advance the project management, project managers can use this TRIJECT model wherein the
third constraint of triangle model i.e. quality aligns with the higher purpose. This advanced
triangle projection will be dynamic in nature and the hierarchy of the model may be influenced
by the environment of the project. This will eventually impact the higher purpose and objectives
of the project. The advance version of time-cost-quality model is the TRIJECT model, whose
rationale is based on achieving the quality through the exploitation of the other two constraints
(Van Wyngaard et al., 2012).
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Figure 1: TRIJECT MODEL
The continuous cycle in this model depicts the on-going and interrelated nature of the process as
the change introduced into the system. This upgraded model infests monitoring and controlling
of the processes of the project. In future, this TRIJECT model of project management may
overlap the triple triangle model and interact dynamically with the project management process
group.
Overall the upgraded version of triple triangle model facilitates a mechanism to manage and
meet the requirements of triple triangle model. This model considers the reflexive flexibility
between the key elements. This model can maintain the focus on the three constraints of the cost-
quality-time model over the project higher purpose (Van Wyngaard et al., 2012).
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Essay 2
Google Glass Failure
Goggle developed an eye wear glass, which has inbuilt computer with an optical head mounted
display. The Glass was developed in 2013. The Google glass project was an effort of the
company to make the use of internet without the use of hands.
The goal of developing such glass was to display information to the people in a hands free
manner. Basically, all the android features were there in that glass and it took commands from
natural voice. The purpose of developing such glass was to facilitate easy communication via
pictures (Eadicicco, 2014).
In terms of performance, Google Glass application is slower in scanning and presenting the
information. But, the company focused more on providing user interface, so the major outcome
of this product is that, users do not have to use their hands alike while using smart phones. For
example, during surgery, it proved to be useful for the surgeons as it provides patient care
without hampering the surgeons’ view (Jindal & Vishnoi, 2016).
Overall, it was an interesting attempt by the company. In short, it was useful just to take pictures
and send messages in a quick manner. However, it was not able to compete with Smartphone as
it was not fulfilling all the criteria of a Smartphone. It was useful for short instructions but, when
the instruction are large in size it cannot handle them (Hager, 2015).
The product was developed and launched by Google. Larry Page and Sergey Brin are the chief
sponsors of the product. Google is a multinational technology giant company. It is the market
leader in providing internet related services. The internet services of the company include online
advertising, search engine, cloud computing, software and hardware. Company has launched
many popular and successful products such as Android, YouTube, Google drive, Google
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Chrome, Pixel 3, Google Home, Chromecast, etc. It has been pioneer in offering software
services while trying to make its presence in hardware products (Biswal, 2019).
The organizational structure of Google is cross-functional. Its structure supports the culture of
the company. It is linked to excellence in innovation. The structure of the company is not typical
as it motivates and supports changes. The company's structure is dedicated towards developing
innovation and brand image (Smithson, 2019).
There were various reasons due to which, the Google Glass couldn't make its presence in the
technology market. These reasons are as follows:
Wrong Planning and execution of product launch: The main reason for the failure of the
Google glass project is poor planning and execution of the product launch because proper
marketing strategy was not used to target the market and grab the customers (Jindal & Vishnoi,
2016).
Safety and Health Concerns: People were concerned whether wearing a gadget constantly on
the eyes is safe because these gadgets constantly emit carcinogenic radiations. While wearing
glass on eyes these radiation directly come into contact with skin and head (Jindal & Vishnoi,
2016).
Aesthetically Unappealing: The idea of developing the glass was great, but its design was quite
awkward and unattractive. Wearing the glass looks unnatural. Further, its earpiece was
uncomfortable. Despite of having all the features in the Google Glass yet, one need a
Smartphone every time and this simply questions the need of buying /she Google Glass (Nieto-
Rodriguez, 2017).
Privacy Concern: Google Glass had some loopholes in its privacy as anyone can steal the
Smartphone password by using Google Glass. It also created breach of privacy by identifying
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people through their facial recognition. Hence, it could be used for some malicious purpose
(Nieto-Rodriguez, 2017).
Since Google has discontinued Google glass and now it is not available for purchase yet, it has
great potential in future if some modifications are applied to it by analysing the reasons behind
its failure. Such as, Google failed to target its actual market for Google Glass. It should target
drivers, medical surgeons etc. So, selecting the appropriate target market is important to gain
success in the technology industry (Hager, 2015).
Further, one of the biggest issues of product failure is the inability of the company to create the
momentum around the world regarding the product release. The success of a product depends
upon the strategy framed to release the product in the market. Apple is a market leader in this, as
the buzz created by Apple is very well known to the whole world whenever they come up with a
new product. The same way, Google should develop some strategy to launch new product. They
should partner with big exclusive stores for the sale and give better experience to its customers.
Selling product through online exclusive website is also a good approach to reach to remote
customers. Media coverage should be enough to create curiosity among the viewers to know
more about the product (Nieto-Rodriguez, 2017).
STP framework for Google Glass
Segmentation Targeting Positioning
 Demographic basis  Mass Marketing Strategies  Value Based positioning
 Geographic Basis  Differentiated Strategies  Technology Based Positioning
 Behavioural  Product class positioning
 Usage
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References
Atkinson, R., 2018. Project management: cost, time and quality, two best guesses and a
phenomenon, its time to accept other success criteria. International Journal of Project
Management, 17(6), pp.337-42.
Biswal, R., 2019. Top 20 most popular google products and services. [Online] Available at:
https://www.ecloudbuzz.com/most-popular-google-products-services/ [Accessed 27 April 2019].
Eadicicco, L., 2014. GOOGLE: Here's The Ultimate Goal For Google Glass. [Online] Available
at: https://www.businessinsider.in/GOOGLE-Heres-The-Ultimate-Goal-For-Google-Glass/
articleshow/36113426.cms [Accessed 27 April 2019].
Hager, J., 2015. An Evaluation of Google Glass. [Online] Available at: https://www.diva-
portal.org/smash/get/diva2:818447/FULLTEXT01.pdf [Accessed 27 April 2019].
Haughey, D., 2011. Understanding the Project Management Triple Constraint. [Online]
Available at: https://www.projectsmart.co.uk/understanding-the-project-management-triple-
constraint.php [Accessed 27 April 2019].
Jindal, P. & Vishnoi, A.K., 2016. Google Glass –Review Paper. In International Conference on
Advanced Computing (ICAC-2016). Moradabad , 2016. CCSIT.
Nieto-Rodriguez, A., 2017. Notorious Project Failures - Google Glass. [Online] Available at:
https://www.cio.com/article/3201886/notorious-project-failures-google-glass.html [Accessed 26
April 2019].
Picincu, A., 2018. Describe the Advantages and Disadvantages of Project Management. [Online]
Available at: https://bizfluent.com/info-8774906-describe-advantages-disadvantages-project-
management.html [Accessed 28 April 2019].
Smithson, N., 2019. Google’s Organizational Structure & Organizational Culture (An Analysis).
[Online] Available at: http://panmore.com/google-organizational-structure-organizational-culture
[Accessed 26 April 2019].
Stakeholdermap, 2019. Project Management, project planning, templates and advice. [Online]
Available at: https://www.stakeholdermap.com/project-management/project-triangle.html
[Accessed 27 April 2019].
Stojcetovic, B. et al., 2014. Project management with time, cost, and quality. In 8th International
Quality Conference. Kragujevac, Serbia, 2014. Center for Quality.
Van Wyngaard, C.J., Pretorius, J.H.C. & Pretorius, L., 2012. Theory of the Triple Constraint – a
Conceptual Review. In IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and
Engineering Management., 2012. IEEE.
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