Project Management Report: NZ Courier Parcel Tracking System Project

This project management report examines the implementation of a digitized tracking and sensor system for NZ Courier, a Parcel Post Company. The report details the project scope, which includes incorporating missing parcel tracking information, automating parcel sorting, and integrating RFID devices and sensors into containers. It also establishes project priorities, emphasizing the need for advanced parcel tracking software and risk mitigation strategies. A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and a Risk Breakdown Structure are developed to manage project tasks and identify potential risks, categorized as technical, external, organizational, and project-related. The report evaluates and prioritizes these risks, proposing mitigation strategies such as encryption for data security, alternative delivery options for shipment delays, and improved project planning. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of technology adoption to enhance the efficiency and security of parcel delivery, benefiting both the company and its customers.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management: Post Parcel Company (NZ Courier)
Name of the student:
Name of the university:

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
1. Defining the project scope...........................................................................................................2
2. Establishing the project priorities................................................................................................3
3. Work Breakdown Structure.........................................................................................................5
4. Development of Risk Breakdown structure.................................................................................6
5. Evaluation and prioritization of the identified risks....................................................................6
6. Development of solution for the prioritized risks......................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
This project depicts the importance of implementing properly digitized tracking and
sensor system for a Parcel Post Company named as NZ Courier. The role of the asset manager is
to manage the couriers properly so that is could reach the desired destination within allotted time
and estimated cost. If the company enables to server their parcel properly and securely as well
then the company will be able to gain competitive advantages and effective revenue as well. The
company already has various barcode scanning approaches including parcel tracking mechanism
however some of the technical aspects associated to technical tracking are missing in this system.
In order to minimize those issues it is necessary to identify and analyze proper risks and
for minimizing those risks proper risk Breakdown Structures are also required to be developed
by the company. Even in order to reduce the work pressure from the project team members it is
required to develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) accordingly. With the help of Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS) and proper project scheduling it is expected that it would be
completed within estimated time and budget as well. All the risks associated to the parcel
tracking system are not equally effective thus based on the priority of the risks proper risk
mitigate strategies are needed to be developed and those are also elaborated in this report.
1. Defining the project scope
 The scope of this project is mentioned below:
 It is necessary for the asset manager to incorporate the missing information
related to parcel tracking, when the parcels are between the depots or within the
trucks for deposit.

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 The parcels are needed to be sorted automatically at the depots
 Proper trackers must be added to the containers during the loading and unloading
of the parcels from the trucks
 Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) must be incorporated to the
containers to avoid the plastic boxes to get collapsed
 Though the containers have proper GPS trackers but do not have any sensors thus
proper sensors should be incorporated to the system
 Adoption of proper software to track the details of the containers those are
holding the parcels. It will help to identify that truck which is holding the parcel
and even incorporation of GPS location trackers are also required to be added to
the system.
 Not only this but also many other scopes of the projects are there those are as
follows:
 Adoption of new software that will help the customers to track their parcels with
new tracking information gained from the software
 Based on the priorities of the risks proper risk assessment, analysis and risk
mitigation strategies are also required to be adopted
 To provide advanced visibility to the consumers within estimated budget and time
as well
2. Establishing the project priorities
During the study of the Parcel Post Company project details, it has been determined that,
the company serves effective tracking technology and GPS mechanism to their system however

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additional software is required to be incorporated to the system to minimize the rate of risks. As
the company does not have proper parcel tracking software thus, the consumers fail to track the
condition of the parcels. Proper business strategies and tracing software are needed to be adopted
by the company to establish the project priorities. The solutions proposed by the system
developer include the following:
 Currently the company has a barcode scanning system but does not have accurate
parcel tracking software. Thus, tracking software should be incorporated to the
system to track the current condition of the parcels.
 The software must have the ability to include all the information related to the
parcel
 Another objective of the project is to develop software that could automatically
sort the parcel when those are in the trucks or even in the deposit, loading and
unloading period.
 The containers those are holding the parcels must have proper RFID tags for
tracking the current condition of the system
 Accurate sensors also needed to be adopted for the consumers that allow tracking
the current situation and location of their parcels.
 GPS tracker must be incorporated to identify those containers

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3. Work Breakdown Structure
Figure 1: Work breakdown Structure for NZ Courier
(Source: Created by author)

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4. Development of Risk Breakdown structure
Figure 2: Risk breakdown Structure for NZ Courier
(Source: Created by author)
5. Evaluation and prioritization of the identified risks
After analyzing the Parcel Post Company, the NZ Courier parcel selling details it is
recognized that the company is facing many managerial and security level issues as well. The
risks associated to the Post Parcel Company are divided in to four different segments that are
technical risks, external risks, organizational risks and project risks. The risks are elaborated in
the below section:

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Technical risks:
Requirements: If the project manager fails to identify the resources including the
hardware, software and equipments as well then the system developers will not be able to
develop the desired delivery system for their company ad consumers as well. In order to track the
current situation of the parcels high storage capacity is also required to store the details of the
parcels and their consumer’s details as well, therefore, the system developers must contract to
proper vendors.
Technology: If the Parcel Post Company the NZ Courier could not consider all the
technologies accurately then, due to lack of security the details of the consumers and the
confidential parcel details might get hijacked by the unwanted users. In addition to this the GPS,
sensors and software should be handled properly by the technical experts to avoid the applicator
level errors.
Complexity in system and interface: In order to develop the parcel delivery system for
Parcel Post Company the NZ Courier, the operational complexity should be reduced and proper
interface should be adopted so that the technical expert deliver a secured and advanced delivery
system to the consumers.
Quality: Quality is referred to as one of the most important things that is strictly required
to be considered by the system developers. It is necessary for Parcel Post Company the NZ
Courier to deliver a user friendly and simple platform to their consumers. However, if the
developers fail to meet the requirement of the consumers in terms of satisfactory and on time
delivery of the parcels then, the revenue of the company will be interrupted.
External risks:

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The external risks includes a those risks those are not directly but indirectly associated to
the Parcel Post Company the NZ Courier delivery system and those are as follows:
Contractors and the suppliers: If the suppliers and the contractor unable to serve as per
the requirement of the company and advanced system developers then, then it will face risks.
The technical level suppliers are needed to serve as per the requirement of the consumers.
Market: According to the demand of the parcel courier in the market the requirement of
the consumers changes. Thus, the market condition is the most thing that helps the company to
gain measurable revenue from the competitive market.
Consumers: The behaviors of the consumers are the other aspects those are needed to be
considered. If the consumers do not feel satisfied with the service structure and even if the cost is
seemed to be higher to the consumers compared to the other parcel delivering company then due
to this reason the Parcel Post Company the NZ Courier will face major risks.
Weather: As in this delivery system the trucks act as the delivery media therefore, the
condition of weather is not partially rather completely related to the delivery system. Due to has
weather condition delay in delivery ad even the cost for the consumers might also get enhanced
which is a major risk to the company,
Organizational risks
Organizational risks are the risks those are negatively impacting the revenue of the Parcel
Post Company the NZ Courier directly. The identified organizational risks are as follows:
Project risks: If the project manager fails to identify the project scope, objectives are
requirements properly then the company will definitely face major loss.

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Dependency: The project requirements and the resources are completely dependent on
each other thus if any of the requirements gets interrupted then, the entire project or parcel
delivery system will be interrupted completely.
Resources: If the asset manager fails to identify the resources properly then the revenue
of the Parcel Post Company the NZ Courier will be negatively affected.
Fund: In order to incorporate tracking to the system accurate capital is needed to be
invested by the project sponsors. If the finance manager fails to do so then the company will
definitely fails to meet the requirement of the consumers.
Project oriented risks: While advancing the existing delivery system of Parcel Post
Company the NZ Courier, it is necessary for the company to develop a project accordingly. The
project oriented risks include estimation, planning, controlling and communication. The finance
manager must estimate the budget accurately so that all the required resources could be used
during the implementation of the project. If the project manager and the project team manager
do not use open communication approach then, the project team members will not be able to
interact with the project manager with their creative ideas. In addition to the communication
approaches proper control is needed. If the project manager fails to track the project progress
properly with control and monitoring mechanisms then, it will face huge risks.
6. Development of solution for the prioritized risks
All the risks are not equally important to be mitigated thus, based on the project budget
and priorities the risks are needed to be mitigated.
Name of the Risks Mitigation strategies

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Information Theft It has been found that due to lack of protection
mechanisms the information stored in the
RFID and sensors are getting hijacked by the
external attackers quite easily. In order to
reduce the rate of information theft proper
security mechanisms are needed to be adopted
by Parcel Post Company the NZ Courier, in
terms of encryption to avoid the data to get
theft by others.
Data Loss For mitigating the issues associated to parcel
information hacking it is necessary for the
system developers to incorporate proper
security aspects.
Shipment delay Weather is the most important thing that
affects the shipment of the parcels. In order to
mitigate these issues it is necessary for the
system developers to add certain optional
delivery approaches to avoid consumer’s loss.
In addition to this, the charge of the parcel
delivery should be optimized compared to
other delivery companies to grab ore number f
consumers.

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Project oriented issues While developing the project it is necessary to
estimate the project budget properly along with
proper time also. With proper time and budget
estimation, controlling and communication
approaches the issues associated to projects can
be minimized completely.
Conclusion
From the overall discussion it can be concluded that Parcel Post Company the NZ
Courier, is willing to deliver a secured as well as time efficient parcels to their consumers.
Though Parcel Post Company the NZ Courier holds most of the advanced technologies to the
delivery system but at the same time many delivery level errors are also associated to it. In order
to mitigate those issues, software should be adopted by company to allow the consumers to track
the current situation of their parcels. Not only this but also with the help of the GPS location
tracker and sensors both the company owners and the consumers will be able to track their
parcels. Even the containers those are holding the parcels have RFID tags and theses tags holds
the details of the parcels properly. In order to identify the containers the software also stands
very much helpful. The risks associated to the software or the previous systems are illustrated in
this report. However, all the risks are not equally affecting the system. Thus, the risks are needed
to be prioritized and that is also elaborated in this report. After the identification, evaluation and
analysis of the risks proper risk mitigation strategies are also elaborated in this report. Apart from

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the risk management system a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is also developed in this report
for Parcel Post Company the NZ Courier.
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