Project Management Case Study: ZZ Tech R&D Department (PRM7001)

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This project details establishing an R&D department.

PRM7001 Project Management Techniques
1

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Question 1 (LO 1) Evaluate the background of a project including its scope, key deliverables and
the challenges involved in scoping a project...................................................................................4
Question 2 (LO 6) Include a work breakdown structure (WBS) and resource breakdown structure
(RBS)...............................................................................................................................................8
Question 3 (LO 5) Identify the key stakeholders to the project and evaluate the importance of
analysing their needs, interests and methods which could be used to secure their engagement.. .13
Question 4 (LO 2 & 3) Give an explanation and critically analyse regarding how the following
can be used to plan and implement your identified improvement project effectively...................17
Question 5 (LO 4) Reflect on your learning from the PMT module and develop personal
development plan...........................................................................................................................21
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................24
References......................................................................................................................................25
2

Introduction
ZZ Tech is a mobile manufacturing organisation. ZZ Tech is an organisation that wants to
establish its R&D department with the help of project management. This R&D department will
develop Technology for providing mobile handset to the customers. This assessment includes the
scope and key deliverables of the project. Different type of challenges in the completion of scope
within the decision deadline of 12 months is proposed in this assessment. Work breakdown
structure for the activities of the project is described in this assessment. Key stakeholders that are
associated with the project management are investigated in this assessment. This assessment
comprises the importance of analyzing the needs of stakeholder. Methods are also included in
this assessment that provides ways of engagement of stakeholders in the project. Critical analysis
of the implementation of a project plan is done for this assessment. After that self-evaluation is
done of the competencies gained with the help of this project management.
3

Question 1 (LO 1) Evaluate the background of a project including its scope, key
deliverables and the challenges involved in scoping a project.
Research and development department has to coordinate with the different type of Departments
that are associated with it in the ZZ Tech. there can be a different type of scopes that can be
possible in the project of establishing a research and development department for this
organisation. With these scopes challenges are also associated that are also discussed below: -
Detailed scheduling
Proper scheduling of the deliverables of the establishment of the Research and Development
Department should be made. Scheduling provides a brief structure of the works that have to be
done under the project. The risk of failure of R&D department establishment gets minimised
after scheduling of the different works that are included in the establishment of this department
(Unger, et. al., 2012).
Challenge
The main challenge that is included in this scope is to complete all the activities in the decided
time frame. Give the proper time to all the activities so that the whole project can be fulfilled
easily.
Working with Executive
The needs and requirements of the project management can be analysed well with the help of the
Executive. Executive knows the success factors that are necessary for effective project
management. These success factors can be decided and implemented for the establishment of the
Research and Development Department (Bhattacharyya, 2015). The objectives for this is a
specific project is also decided under the R&D department.
Challenge
4

Collecting formal data for the planning regarding the establishment of R&D Department will be
a challenge for the executive. Deciding a realistic end date is also not an easy task for the
executive.
Working with Marketing
Marketing department and R&D department has to work in coordination. Marketing department
used to collect feedback from the customers. These feedbacks are provided to the R&D
department. Therefore to establish a good system by which communication of the feedback can
be possible between these departments will be beneficial. R&D department provides a solution
of the feedbacks that can be promoted by the marketing department (Unger, et. al., 2012).
Challenge
Forming an effective communication between the marketing department and the R&D
department will be a tough task.
Location
The functioning of the R&D department should be accomplished at that location in the
workplace where this department can be easily accessed. This will be helpful in the
accomplishment of the task fast.
Challenge
Availability of the space which is essentially required for the establishment of R&D department
is challenging.
The main deliverables that can be provided by the old department of this organisation are: -
A product according to vision
The Vision and Mission of the organisation can be fulfilled by providing the product to the
customer according to the vision of the organisation. The R&D department plays an important
role in providing the product according to the Vision and Mission of the organisation. This is one
of the deliverables of this department for ZZ Tech.
5

Latest Technology
Provide Technology in mobile phones which are in Trend in the present market. Focus on
developing the mobile phone with the latest feature that is in demand among the customers.
Latest Technology will enhance business opportunities for this organisation (Schaeffer & Cruz-
Reyes, 2016).
Maintaining Finance
Develop the products of this organisation in such a way so that the capital growth of the
organisation can be possible. The focus of R&D department is on maximizing the tax
opportunity (Kalwa, et. al., 2012). This can be possible with the help of developing Lean
manufacturing in the R&D department. In Lean manufacturing, minimum use of resources
results in the maximum output.
Innovation
Customers are crazy about innovation. Innovation attracts a large number of customers. The
primary focus of any R&D department of any organisation is to bring innovation in the products
and services that are provided to the customers.
Testing and quality control
Quality control can be possible with the supervision of the R&D department. Better quality in the
products can be provided to the customer with the help of testing and quality checking of the
products that are manufactured by ZZ Tech (Lee, et. al., 2012).
Competitor analysis
The analysis of competitors regarding Technology and the performance of the products is done
by the R&D department. Providing Technology that can compete with the present market Giants
is the work that is associated with this department. Competitor analysis provides a way to
develop Technology according to Market Trends. This will provide a competitive advantage to
ZZ Tech.
6

7

Question 2 (LO 6) Include a work breakdown structure (WBS) and resource breakdown
structure (RBS)
Activity Activity Implementation & Description Date of
Start
Date of
End
Technical baseline All the Technical necessity is that is required
to establish an R&D department will be
decided in this activity. This activity will be
accomplished with the help of the chief
Technical officer of the organisation. The
supporting team to the CTO will also be
helpful regarding this activity (Kalwa, et. al.,
2012). Initial requirements for establishing the
Technical baseline of the R&D department
will be analysed effectively under this
activity.
20 Feb
2019
20 May
2019
Work scope The work scope of the R&D department will
be decided under this activity. The risk
associated with this activity is to make the
documentation correctly according to the
required work (Yang & Fu, 2014). Developing
the new Technologies in mobile phones
according to the current trends in the market
will be the work scope.
21 May
2019
21 July
2019
Scheduling This activity includes scheduling and
reschedules of the different daily task that is
included in the establishment of the R&D
22 July
2019
22
September
8

department. The resources should be logically
linked with the work is a part of this activity
(Bougault, et. al., 2014). Therefore this
activity plays an important role in the daily
task accomplishment. The contingency also
affects the decided time frame of the activity.
Therefore the time for the contingency should
also be included in this activity.
2019
Estimation of cost The total cost that will be incurred in the
establishment of R&D department for ZZ
Tech will be analysed in this activity. There
can be a different type of contingency that can
be possible that that include additional cost to
the decision cost. This cost should also be
included in estimating the cost of this
organisation.
23
September
2019
23
November
2019
Roles and
responsibility
Assigning the roles to the different employees
of the organisation that are part of the R&D
department will be done. Training to the new
hired Employees regarding their
responsibilities will be done. This will be
helpful for easy accomplishing the task that is
associated with this organisation and
department.
24
November
2019
24
January
2020
Change
management
Change is part of any organisation. The
change will take place in the works that are
associated with the research and development
25
January
19
February
9

department. It is very necessary for this
department it is very sorry for this department
to manage to change effectively. Change in
the process according to the latest Technology
will be done even in the establishing steps of
this department. It can be only possible with
the help of Change management (Yang & Fu,
2014). For this change control board have to
be established that will take care of the works
regarding Change management.
2020 2020
Various resources can be included for establishing R&D department.
Necessity Resources
Required
The procedure for Doing Activity
Training
Unit
Training
Managers
Training can be given to the employees of the organisation
that are included in the research and development
department. Training in the direction of the Vision and
Mission of the organisation can be helpful for the employees
to develop the products accordingly. Training provides the
employees' scenario and situation of the organisation. The
situation leads to the effective working by the employees
according to the situation of the organisation (Xu, et. al.,
2016).
Research
Unit
Scientists Scientist plays an important role in developing the new
Technology that can be used in the mobile phone
10

manufactured by this organisation. The scientist is the main
entity of the R&D department. The engineers working under
the scientist will learn the method of implementation of
Technology. In this way with the coordination of both type
of employees, the R&D department can be established.
Execution
Unit
Employees and
Managers
Those employees can be hired for the R&D department that
is adaptable for the changes. The needs and demands of the
department will be changed with time. Flexibility among the
employees will be helpful to implement the change in the
R&D department (Xu, et. al., 2016). In the starting first type
of employees if hired then it will be beneficial for the
establishment of R&D department and further functioning.
Employees should have a Technique that can utilise their
assets effectively.
The culture
of the
Departmen
t or R&D
culture
Leaders,
Managers and
Employees
The leadership that will tackle this department should have
long term vision for running the organisation. The R&D
department requires effective management. Effective
management can be provided by implementing the
management tools by the leaders and managers of the
organisation. Leadership should welcome the innovative
ideas given by the employees of the organisation. Innovative
ideas will lead to the development of new Technology for the
R&D department. (Adachi, et. al., 2012)
11

12