Charles Darwin University MAN204: WRU Project Management Plan

This project management plan focuses on the development of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for WRU, a company specializing in widget design and manufacturing. The plan addresses the need for improvement due to increased market demand and internal conflicts. It explores alternative solutions, with the ERP system identified as the most effective for achieving competitive advantage, improving productivity, and resolving internal conflicts. The project concept outlines objectives such as developing an ERP system, enhancing market competitiveness, and improving operational efficiency. Key aspects include project requirements, deliverables, and key performance indicators (KPIs) related to schedule, budget, achieving objectives, resource capacity, and task deadlines. The feasibility analysis assesses the project's economic viability and sustainability. The plan also details stakeholder management, project schedule, cost management, quality management, risk management, and procurement management. The ERP system is projected to be completed within 60 days with a budget of around $43,840, contributing to WRU's competitive edge and operational improvements.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project management
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s Note

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Executive Summary
The paper mainly on the organization “WRU” that engages in the development of widgets. The
main aim of the project is to develop an ERP system for improving the functioning of the
operations for achieving proper competitive advantage in the market for meeting the various
requirements of the customers. The paper showcases that the ERP system will generally get
completed within 60 days by using budget of around $43,840. Furthermore, the paper also
reflects on quality management as well as risk management strategies for successfully
completing the development of ERP.

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Table of Contents
1. Background..................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Need for improvement...........................................................................................................3
1.2 Reasons behind application of existing and similar approaches...........................................3
2. Evaluation of alternatives............................................................................................................4
2.1 Description of alternative solution for the project.................................................................4
2.2 Explanation and justification of ranking used in project selection matrix............................4
2.3 Summary and analysis of outcome......................................................................................5
3. Project concept.............................................................................................................................5
3.1 Description of project............................................................................................................5
3.2 Project objectives...................................................................................................................6
3.3 Project requirement and deliverables.....................................................................................6
3.4 Project key performance indicators.......................................................................................8
4. Project feasibility.........................................................................................................................9
4.1 Feasibility and sustainability of project.................................................................................9
4.2 Approval requirements........................................................................................................10
4.3 Project assumptions.............................................................................................................10
4.4 Project constraints................................................................................................................11
4.5 Possible improvements........................................................................................................11
5. Project stakeholder management...............................................................................................12
5.1 Specific target......................................................................................................................12
5.2 Organizational chart.............................................................................................................13
5.3 Information related to HR and communication management..............................................13
6. Project schedule management....................................................................................................14
6.1 Schedule milestones.............................................................................................................14
6.2 Project WBS........................................................................................................................14
6.3 Project Gantt chart...............................................................................................................15
6.4 Schedule managed during project........................................................................................15
6.5 Information related to time management.............................................................................15
7. Cost management.......................................................................................................................16
7.1 First pass estimation cost.....................................................................................................16
7.2 Justification..........................................................................................................................17
7.3 Management of cost.............................................................................................................17
7.4 Information associated with cost management....................................................................17

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8. Quality management..................................................................................................................17
8.1 Description of quality items that are measured...................................................................17
8.2 Explaining measurable items...............................................................................................18
8.3 Final quality.........................................................................................................................18
8.4 Information related to quality management.........................................................................19
9. Risk management.......................................................................................................................20
9.1 Risk register.........................................................................................................................20
9.2 Providing risk matrix...........................................................................................................21
9.3 Information related to risk management..............................................................................21
10. Procurement management.......................................................................................................21
10.1 Description about contracts...............................................................................................21
10.2 Make -or buy analysis........................................................................................................22
10.3 Information related to procurement management..............................................................22
11. Conclusion...............................................................................................................................22
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................23

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1. Background
1.1 Need for improvement
The paper mainly reflects on WRU which is a medium sized firm that is mainly
specialized in the design as well as proper manufacturing of quality widgets. The organization
generally has four departments including sales, engineering, accounting as well as production.
This particular design is appropriate and therefore the company can be able to compete in the
industry successfully. In the last three years, the demand for the various widgets generally
exploded and therefore the organization “WRU” is unable to compete successfully within the
market. It is analyzed that a number of new innovations have generally passed by the
organization as the company is picking up signs from the marketplace very slowly. In addition to
this, conflict also arises within different department. It is quite necessary to take certain steps so
that the project related issues and challenges gets resolved effectively.
1.2 Reasons behind application of existing and similar approaches
It is quite necessary to adopt some of the significant approaches as well as technologies
for mitigating the challenges which the organization is facing. After analyzing the operation of
WRU, it is found that competitive advantage can be sustained within the market if the
organization develops ERP system for managing its operations effectively. This is because ERP
helps in managing a number of business functions effectively by streamlining the business
operations. With the help of this software, WRU is quite capable of improving the productivity
which further can be helpful in improving the customer service that is delivered by the
organization. Additionally, by using this particular software, the organization are quite capable
of gaining competitive advantage and can further improve the process efficiency.

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2. Evaluation of alternatives
2.1 Description of alternative solution for the project
The various alternatives solution for the organization for resolving the challenges and
problems that they are facing are elaborated below:
Criteria Weight Requirement score
Development of ERP Development of CRM
Value 20% 15% 12%
Gaining competitive
advantage
25% 25% 25%
Improving
productivity
15% 15% 10%
Process efficiency 20% 15% 10%
Internal conflict
resolution
10% 10% 5%
Success 10% 8% 5%
Weighted scores 100% 88% 67%
2.2 Explanation and justification of ranking used in project selection matrix
It is found that both the options are generally analyzed on the basis of value, competitive
advantage, productivity, process efficiency, conflict resolution as well as success (Kerzner
2017). ERP system are found to be appropriate in gaining competitive advantage, improving
productivity, resolving conflict in a much better way in compared to the CRM system. After

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analyzing it is found that ERP system is 88% efficient whereas CRM system is 67% efficient and
therefore ERP system is found to be most appropriate option.
2.3 Summary and analysis of outcome
The development of ERP system is found to be the most appropriate option for the
organization for achieving proper competitive advantage. The development of software generally
helps the organization in keeping ahead of competition as the organization does not makes any
type of costly business-related mistakes. Use of ERP platform will further help in eliminating
different types of repetitive procedures for reducing the need to enter information which not only
helps in improving user productivity but it also assists in eliminating the possibility of conflict
between various departments due to inaccurate data.
3. Project concept
3.1 Description of project
The paper reflects on “WRU” which is a company that is specialized in designing as well
as manufacturing quality widgets. It is found that from the past few years, the company is unable
to compete in the market by using its low-price strategy. In addition to this, the organization also
faces a lot of challenges due to lack of communication between stakeholders. In order to avoid
such challenges, ERP system development is analyzed to be one of the best options. With the
help of this new system, the various functions of the organization can be managed and the
organization can also be able to improve efficiency as well as productivity for meeting the
marketing demand. The diagram which is given below for showcasing the benefits which the
ERP development will provide to the organization.

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Figure 1: Benefits of ERP
(Source: Created by Author)
3.2 Project objectives
The different typed of objectives are listed below:
 To develop an ERP system within the organization “WRU”
 To be competitive in the market for meeting the demands of the consumers
 To increase productivity as well as operational efficiency
3.3 Project requirement and deliverables
The main requirement of the project is to develop the ERP system for WRU organization
so that the different operations as well as functions of the organization can be improved. In
addition to this, with the help of ERP, the organization will become competitive in the market
and the improvement within the efficiency will be helpful in reducing communication errors as
well as conflicts due to inaccurate data sharing. For successfully developing the project, the
following requirements are needed:

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Financial resources: The organization requires budget of around $50,000 in order to
undertake the work of ERP development.
Hardware and software: The various hardware and software requirement includes:
 Designing tools
 CPU
 Desktop
 RAM and more
Human resources: The involved stakeholders of the project are listed below:
 Project manager
 Project planner
 Financial manager
 IT manager
 Application manager
 Database administrator
 HR manager
 Tester
The project deliverables are listed below:
 Development of business case and project charter
 Cost benefit analysis report
 Project management plan report
 Report reflecting hardware, software as well as other requirements of project
 Testing report

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 Project documentation
3.4 Project key performance indicators
The project KPI’s are identified to be one of the measurable indicators that help in
tracking the performance of the project. It is found that for making sure that the entire work of
the project will generally get completed on time and therefore the project manager generally
needs to monitor as well as understand the entire work process (Kerzner 2017). This further
assists in achieving the long-term goal of ERP development within the organization “WRU”. The
various key performance indicators of the project are mainly listed below:
Schedule: If the ERP system development gets accomplished in 45 days such that the
schedule of the project does not deviate from planned hours of work. This helps in indicating the
project is progress well and it will accomplish the objectives on time effectively.
Budget: If the project is tracked effectively then the ERP system will get completed
within the funding of around $50,000. This will further resolve different types of unforeseen
issues which are mainly related with various activities of the project (Papke-Shields and Boyer-
Wright 2017).
Achieving objectives: If successful ERP implementation helps in managing the
operational functions of the organization “WRU” properly then the organization will become
quite competitive in the market and can be able to handle the increased demands from the
customers. This is positively indicating that the project is progressing properly.
Resource capacity: The number of workers who are generally working must be divided
by the work so that no individual will be pressurized with work. This not only helps in indicating

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the project is progressing properly but it also helps in allocating resources as well as setting
proper timeline for the project.
Tasks that crossed deadline: If none of the project tasks has crossed deadline then it can
be analyzed that the project is on track and it is progressing properly (Martens and Carvalho
2017). If a project has high percentage of overdue project tasks, then it is the time to think to
bring project on track.
4. Project feasibility
4.1 Feasibility and sustainability of project
The feasibility report is showing that the ERP development is economically feasible for
the organization as the ROI of the project is around.
Sustainability is considered as the ability of the organization to properly achieve its
mission as well as program and it is found that the organization “WRU” have high sustainability
of achieving success by ERP system development. The different types of weaknesses and
strengths of the project are elaborated below:
Strengths
 Competitive advantage: The functional operation of the entire organization gets
improved and as a result the organization can be able to become competitive within their
market and as result, they will be able to deliver widgets as per the raised demand (Shen,
Chen and Wang 2016).
 Improved process efficiency: ERP platform generally helps in eliminating repetitive
procedure for reducing the need of entering information that not only helps in improving

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the organizational productivity but assists in eliminating the possibility of doing cost
business mistakes due to inaccurate data (Ali and Miller 2017).
Weaknesses
 Customization is considered as one of the important aspects of ERP but it can quickly get
out of hand. It is found that properly customizing the ERP software generally takes a lot
of time, expertise as well as money which is a major weakness of the system that is
developed (Volkoff 2020).
 The complexity that is associated with ERP software generally provides a number of
capabilities however the software can be quite difficult as well as complex for the users
to use and therefore this is considered as a weakness of the system.
4.2 Approval requirements
The project approval requirements generally constitute project success and the person
who decides that the project is successful. In addition to this, the person who will sign off the
project. In order to get approval from the higher authority, it is necessary to have proper
document which reflect that the procedure which will be undertaken is for the benefit of the
organization. Then the project manager as well as other stakeholders who are present in the
higher authorities of the organization provides approval.
4.3 Project assumptions
1. The implementation of ERP system will get completed in the time period of 45 days.
2. Proper support will be provided by the stakeholders who will manage time and budget for
accomplishing the objectives successfully.