HND Business, Module: Project Management - Softwire Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Softwire, a consulting firm, and its project management strategies. It explores the aims and objectives of Softwire, focusing on how digital technology supports its growth and innovation. The report details the performance management plan, including key aspects like time, cost, and risk, and includes a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for project visualization. It also presents research findings, including primary data collected through questionnaires, to assess the impact of digital techniques on business operations. Furthermore, the report discusses recommendations derived from the research and reflects on the value of the undertaken research in meeting the project's objectives and assessing the learner's performance. The assignment covers various aspects of project management, digital marketing, and business strategy, providing insights into how Softwire leverages technology to achieve its goals.

MANAGEMENT OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PROJECT BY
IMPLEMENTING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
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Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................3
Task 1................................................................................................................3
Aim and objectives of the project (P1)...............................................................3
Performance management plan (P2).................................................................4
Work breakdown framework and Gantt chart (P3).............................................5
Task 2................................................................................................................7
Conduction of a small scale research and gathering of information to support
the project (P4)................................................................................................7
Task 3................................................................................................................9
Communication of suitable recommendation because of research and analysis
of data to get conclusion (P6)..........................................................................11
Task 4..............................................................................................................12
Reflection on the value of the research undertaken to meet the objectives and
own performance (P7).....................................................................................12
Conclusion.......................................................................................................14
Template for evidence collection to be attached with the report by the learner:
.........................................................................................................................14
Template for Performance Review Template to be attached with the report by
the learner:.......................................................................................................19
Reference list...................................................................................................22
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Introduction
Project management is the fundamental phenomenon of every business. A large area has gained
importance in the last five decades. Here, the learner has chosen the organization Softwire to
discuss the project management plan and objectives of the organization. This is a small growing
company that provides consultancy services and innovation ideas to different software and
digital companies. This study will help to know the learner that how digital technology has
support in the growth of the business. It will also give a brief overview of the business project
management and develop an environment in which the team members of the project will feel
motivated in achieving the success of the project.
Task 1
Aim and objectives of the project (P1)
Softwire is a consulting firm and their objective is to deliver appropriate solution and innovation
ideas to the software companies. Their focus is to encourage their clients to think differently
from the other competitors in the market. They provide software development service to other
branded digital companies such as BBC, Yudu and many more. They help to plan the project of
various software companies digitally. It has been found that they help the company to identify
their aim and then proceed accordingly. They help in accelerating the capacity for innovating the
business so that they can get success in the business quickly. Their aim is to deliver high quality
of engineering projects and they treat all the projects as if it is their own project.
They understand the needs of the business and then develop software as per the requirements of
the project. The employees of the Softwire Company focus on developing the plan, design and
management of the projects (Larson and Gray, 2013, p.37). They provide technological
implementation and formulation to the companies in order to enhance the training skills and
operational services. They also provide digital marketing service various retail companies by
giving specialized training in online marketing. They help to target the appropriate customers in
an efficient way to enhance the profit of the business. They use the previous business model of
the company to analyze the potential of the market and they develop a marketing strategy to
achieve the goals of the business.
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Performance management plan (P2)
Kerzner, (2013, p.14) has stated that the fundamental objectives of performance management
plan is to enhance the effectiveness of the business. It helps to set the smart objectives of the
business. Softwire consultancy helps their client to market their business via online mode. They
help to connect the gap between the online world and the business. They focus on delivering
cost-effective and high quality projects to their clients.
They evaluate the performance management of the consultants of the firm by giving them
reviews on their performance. The managers have started giving rewards to the best performer of
the month. They enhance their client to give facebook advertising to target the consumers by
demographics. This generates awareness and interest in buying the products and the services.
This also helps to find the potential consumers who are active in buying the products based on
their search items. It has been found most of the consumers spend time on internet. Softwire
consulting firm helps to connect the suitable audience at the right time by indulging the online
marketing services to their clients. Key phenomenon of the performance management is as
follows:
Time: this plan made by Softwire will not require much time in delivering the products and
services to the consumers. This online process of marketing for the clients will help to gain profit
in the business in a very short span of time (Hwang, 2013, p.272).
Cost: this is a cost effective plan and there is no labor cost in implementing this plan in the
business.
Scope: the business will get a better chance to get success in the market. Scope can be evaluated
when the clients will implement the management plan in their business.
Risk: The performance management includes the area of improvement in the work with
the human capital and provides satisfaction to the employees regarding their job
environment. However, there can be ample amount of risk while performing the technique
of performance management. Without positive feedback, the process of performance
management gets confusing and lacks the productivity of the organization through
performance of the workers.
Resources: Resources are important for the effectiveness of performance management.
This is because human resources department is effectively related to this technique.
Without proper resource as for example fund, software, employee efficiency and training,
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performance management technique can never be applied with full effectiveness. Without
proper resources it is impossible to apply performance management technique effectively
in any organization.
Quality: Performance management relates to the improvement of productivity in any
organization through the improvement of the working efficiency of the employees. This
helps to build the standard of performance of any particular organization and makes that
particular organization to be more performance based. Quality improvement is the basic
requirement of performance management; it helps to develop the productivity of the
organization withgin a fair work friendly environment.
Communication: Communication plays an important part in developing the performance
management in any organization. This is because performance management technique is
related to the effectiveness of human resource department. Therefore, if the manager is not
communicative enough with the subordinate employees regarding their performance, then
the technique of performance management can never be applied to that particular
organization effectively.
Work breakdown framework and Gantt chart (P3)
Kerzner, (2013, p.14) has stated that work breakdown structure helps to manage the teamwork in
the manageable section. The following Gantt chart and work breakdown structure has been
prepared for the project:
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Figure 1: Gantt chart
(Source: self-created)
Figure 2: work breakdown framework
(Source: self-created)
M1
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The project management plan for the Softwire consulting firm is to provide new opportunities to
the business to indulge the existing consumers and also grab the new customers. They enhance
the performance of the marketing of their clients by evaluating the social media, email
marketing, and use these to develop new marketing methods. Their motive is to improve the
name of the brand in order to attract new customers. Moreover, the manager of Softwire
Company focuses on the involvement of the new clients by implementing the campaigns of
social media. They plan and research the marketing issues that a client faced in their business
and advise them accordingly.
D1
The executive manager of Softwire consulting firm focuses on the business plan of the
organization to assure the vision of the consulting company. The goals and objectives of the firm
are set after reviewing the performance of the employees. They help their clients by managing
the marketing campaigns through emails, mobile marketing, social media and many more.
Task 2
Conduction of a small scale research and gathering of information to support the project
(P4)
Softwire consulting firm develops business strategies and helps to target the suitable audience to
implement new chance in the business organization. They work with their clients and give them
innovative ideas that are required for the business transformation in order to achieve success in
the business. They help in expanding the business globally. It has been found that the consultants
provide digital strategy in business that is related to business objectives by implementing the
latest technologies to develop competitive advantages in the market (Svejvig and Andersen,
2013, p.278).
Softwire consultancy provides suggestion on developing advantages by implementing IT to
renovate the operational business. It has been found that they provide critical analysis to the IT
companies that involve technology, process and operation of the business. They do a cost
effective analysis by developing the organizational function of the business. The role of the
consultant is to coordinate the platforms like blogs and the website's pages with the help of SEO
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to verify that all the ranks and the engine are highly cited in Google and other search engines.
Todorović et al. (2015, p.772) has mentioned that consultants help the business owners and
entrepreneurs to create the business objectives in order to gain the goals, success and profit of the
organization.
Research is the most effective tool in order to draw valid conclusions so that firms can
utilize all the tools in effective and planned manner thus achieving success for firms. There are
plans and time scale designed in order to perform business operations in planned ways. Data
collection is the most important tool as it results in achieving the most effective outcomes which
are useful or the overall research study.
Primary Data: This is the most important research method used by firms in order to get
effective results as the data is collected for the first time and this is collected on the basis of the
information gather. The data area collected and analyzed with the help of questionnaire in which
customers give their opinion. The questionnaire is filled randomly by 30 customers who are
using their products and services.
Questionnaire
Q1 The digital techniques are useful in order to expand the business
operations all around the globe?
Frequency
Yes 12
No 18
Q2) The concept of digitization are useful for Soft wire in order to
sustain their passion at market areas?
Frequency
Agree 28
Disagree 2
Q3 Does Digitization affect business activities in positive ways so
activities can be executed in effective manner?
Frequency
Yes 25
No 5
Q4 Which is the best and effective method used by firms for promoting
their goods and services at market areas?
Frequency
Online Websites 10
Social Media 15
Portals 5
Q5 What are the payment mode made available to customer who are
buying their goods?
Frequency
Bank Transfer 8
Debit/Credit Cards 12
Cash on delivery 10
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Q6 Are you satisfied with the products and services which are offered by
firms?
Frequency
Yes 27
No 3
Q7 Provide Recommendations in order to make changes in products and
services offered by firms?
Secondary Data: This data collection method is different from the primary data as the
data is used which are already available in books, magazines and journal articles. This is not cost
and time consuming method thus most of the firms are using this method in order to collect data
in most effectual manner.
M2
The consultants assist the business owners in implementing the plans in order to bring change in
the business. The IT department of the consulting firm is well organized to meet the required
objectives in the transformation of the business. They use numerous tools and accelerators to
meet the cost effective objectives by keeping in mind the present business performance of the
organization. Their digital business strategies help to engage customers in grabbing the business
clients. The change in technology has enhanced the business of Softwire to expand globally.
They have advertised about the consulting firm and their business in social media. This has
attracted clients from the entire world. They have started providing solution to the business in a
most effective method by using various technologies.
D2
Pemsel and Wiewiora (2013, p.31) has stated that project management process critically analyse
the work culture and increase the efficiency of the management team. Softwire provides the
information technology to supports the organization of their clients. Senior manager of the
consultant identifies and includes duration of the plan. They are responsible for evaluating the
time and cost required for completion of the project plan. Then, the coordinator project
management supervises the senior manager by giving reports about the stakeholders and other
issues that will be benefitted in the project. Based on the project, the consultancy will develop a
custom team who will look over the project.
Task 3
Analysis of data and research using suitable techniques and tools (P5)
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The project management of the organization will help to implement the best practice and
encourage efficient use of the resource in order to achieve the competitive advantage in the
world of market. The enhancement of the project management will help the organization to
develop methodologies and structure of the project management. In the opinion of Hornstein,
(2015, p.291), there should be proper communication within the organization to enhance the
growth. There must be a connection between the process and the project in order to control the
service and the product that will create opportunities in the business. On the contrary, Braglia,
M. and Frosolini, (2014, p.18) has contradicted that if there is any lack in the process and the
project then the entire business will go in loss. It is very important to evaluate the start and end
time of the project. The portfolio management is another part of project management that is
required to be focus by the organization. From the viewpoint of Softwire consultancy, it is
important to display the factors of every project for controlling the overall portfolio effectively.
However, Lawther and Martin (2014, p.219) has commented that in the beginning of
performance management, the organization should not care about the management of the project.
The only focus of the organization should be to make the project up to the next level. The
organization should evaluate the amount of cost that is going to be required for making the
project successful.
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Theme 1:- Digital techniques are useful in
order to expand the business operations all
around the globe.
Frequency
Yes 12
No 18
Interpretation- From the above graphical representation it has been assessed that digital
tools are highly beneficial for company expansion across the globe but it creates problems at
some extent. Out of 30 members around 18 people are believing that business is easily expand
with the use of digital technology whereas rest 12 are agree with this statement due to efficiency
of digital tools.
11
12
18
Yes
No

Theme 2:- Concept of digitization are useful
for Soft wire in order to sustain their
passion at market areas.
Frequency
Agree 28
Disagree 2
Interpretation:- According to given representation it has been analyses that modern
tools are beneficial concept in various ways due to which around 28 people are agree with this
statement whereas rest 2 are disagree.
12
28
2
Agree
Disagree