Project Planning: Software Launch, Stages, Schedules, and Risks

This project planning report details the strategic steps involved in launching new software, emphasizing the importance of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) objectives. It outlines the project's phases, from market analysis to launch and closure, and explains the use of network diagrams, Gantt charts, and critical path analysis for effective scheduling. The report also addresses risk management using a risk matrix to identify potential issues such as customer demand and technical problems. Furthermore, it discusses the environmental and social considerations of the project, as well as the major causes of project failure, including poor planning, inadequate documentation, and leadership issues. The report concludes by summarizing the key elements of successful project planning and highlighting the importance of proactive risk management and effective communication.

PROJECT PLANNING

INTRODUCTION
Planning is one of the most important step for each and every project or activity which
shows clear path in order to achieve desired objectives and goals. In the present project, the
scenario taken is “Launching a new software” in the market and in respective to this project tasks
are determined. The study reflects about the SMART objectives which are used at the workplace
of the business organisation. Apart from this, major stages as well as the procedure of the
software launching are explained in proper and effectual manner. Further, several schedules of
the project management are described which are such as network diagram, Gantt chart and
critical path. In addition to this, it shows risk management with the help of risk matrix where
probability of occurring the risks in the project clearly shown. At the end of the report, problems
and causes of failure of the project like software launching are described.
SMART targets in context to the workplace
In the company or any workplace, objectives and targets must be clear and highly
appropriate by which management can meet with them effectually. Further, targets need to as per
the SMART which are stated below:
 S – Specific: In the present scenario, objective is specific because company is going to
launch a software in the market. Along with this, it has target of increasing sales by 13%
in the next year (Peng, Heim and Mallick, 2014).
 M – Measurable: If the firm able to meet with the above-mentioned target of generating
sales then objective can be measured easily and effectively.
 A – Attainable: The present target of goal is highly attainable by the company as well as
overall team members in appropriate direction.
 R – Realistic: The selected goal or objective is the highly realistic because the
management and team members are willing to work upon it (Enyinda, 2017).
 T – Timely: Apart from such all, the time must be settled in effective ways and in the
present scenario one year is targeted for enhancing sales by 13%.
Project stages and procedure
Activity Task name Preceding activity Duration of
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completing each task
(in days)
Software launching in the market 159 days
Strategy Phase
A Analyse market conditions - 3
B Frame strategies A 5
C Use the tactics and strategies B 7
Preparation Phase
D Review overall market B, C 9
E Analyse customer's needs and wants D 13
F Allocate resources according to
requirement
E 11
G Develop or create the group F 6
Design Phase
H Select the product specification E, F, G 16
I Prepare layout H 14
J Develop the procedure of overall
system (Cohn, 2015)
I 9
Testing Phase
K Analyse pros and cons J 13
L Use application at internal level J, K 18
M Install in the company L 3
N Taking review from the employees
and users
M 5
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O Make required modifications N 7
Launch Phase
P Gather the team M, N, O 4
Q Launch software in market P 2
Closure Phase
R Take feedback from the customers Q 6
S Make the corrective actions Q, R 8
Creation of Straight-forward schedules of the project
Under the scheduling of project, there are several kinds of methods as well as approaches
included. Further, with the help of such methods the project manager easily able to launch
software in effectual ways. The methods which are considered in the project planning are such as
network diagram, Gantt chart, critical path etc (Verburg, Bosch-Sijtsema and Vartiainen, 2013).
Further, in order to launch the new software in the market planning is shown as below:
Network Diagram
Illustration 1: Network Diagram: Part 1
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Illustration 2: Network Diagram: Part 2
Gantt Chart
Illustration 3: Gantt chart: Part 1
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Illustration 4: Gantt chart: Part 2
Critical Path
It shows that the present project or new software launching procedure will be completed
within how many period of times. With the help of this particular method of schedule of project
management, the project manage can meet with the goals and objectives within short period of
time in comparison to the expected. Further, critical path of the project along with duration is
mentioned below:
Critical path:
1+2+3+4+5+6+19
Project duration:
3+5+7+9+13+11+8 = 56 days
Moreover, the present project will complete within only 56 days where too much time
can be saved.
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Risk management
When the company going to launch new software in the market then different types of
risks associated with it. Further, the incurred issues create higher impact on the smooth project
planning by which the firm not able to meet with desired goals (Quast and et.al., 2013). Those
risks which are associated with the project are such as costing, customer demand, contingency,
situational, subordinates etc. These all the factors and issues are affecting to the project in several
ways such as higher lower, moderate etc. There is a method or template which reflects about the
risks along with its impact on the project, which called as the risk register. For the present project
of software launching, the risk register is such as follows:
Risk Matrix
Risk Matrix
Impact on the project Very low Low Medium High Very high
Very high Situational
risks
High Reducing
demand of
the
customers
Risks
regarding to
the cost or
expenses
enhancing
Medium Risk related
to the
failure of
project
Low Technical
problems
Very low Risks or issues
related to the
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workforce and
team members
Issues regarding to the sustainability of environmental and citizenship
When the company launch new software in the market then environmental factors are
also one of the major issue which is necessary to keep in mind by the project manager.
According to this, the project must be highly eco-friendly by which environment cannot affected
in negative manner. In addition to this, the company needs to use those kinds of equipments and
process which not influence to the atmosphere. Therefore, problems and environmental's major
issue like pollution can be resolved up to the higher level (Pemsel and Wiewiora, 2013). In the
particular country, if overall environment is highly pollution free then among citizenship
problem of diseases will be reduced up to the larger extent. On the other hand side, in case the
project manager not uses eco-friendly procedures and equipments then create major issues in the
sustainability of environment.
Major causes of failure of the project
It is not mandatory that, selected or agreed objectives and goals can be achieved in proper
and adequate manner. At the very sometimes situation of incurring failure can be come into
consideration by which project manager cannot meet with the targets. Due to some factors as
well as causes the problem of project failure occur which are described as below:
 Planning is the initial phase of every project which must be strong and effective at the
workplace. Therefore, because of poor and ineffective scheduling and preparation of the
project the software launching process affected up to the higher level. Henceforth, poor
planning is one of the big issue and offence for the project failure (Lim, 2016).
 When the project manager not keep record of all the activities and do documentation in
adequate manner then project gets fail within workplace. Therefore, documentation of the
overall tasks and activities must be done in appropriate direction.
 Other issue and problem of project failure is regarding to the guidance and leadership for
the team members. When the leader provide appropriate and adequate instructions to the
subordinates and group then project can be completed properly (Hwang and Ng, 2013).
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 Due to failure of assessing parameters in order to give rank to the various adopted tasks,
the project cannot complete properly. Further, the company not able to generate revenue
which is desired for the further year.
 Along with this, when project manager is not experienced and unable to lead overall team
then completion of the selected target affects in negative direction. In order to resolve the
issue of project failure, the company must hire and recruit qualified as well as
experienced project manager (Turner, 2016).
 Estimations of the costing and expenses must be proper and adequate ways, because it
leads to increase total costs in the further activities. Henceforth, at the time of project
forecasting of the budget statement must be there in effective direction.
 In addition to this, communication at each and every level of the management must be
proper and adequately (Kerzner, 2013). The reason is that, due to lack of effective
communication procedures, chances of failure of the project increase up to the higher
level.
CONCLUSION
From the present report of the project planning it can be summarised that, goals and
targets of the company must be according to the SMART objectives such as Specific,
Measurable, Attainable, Realistic as well as Timely. While making proper schedule or plan of
the project, there are several phases included. Further, the major stages of project planning are
like strategy framing, preparation, design, testing, launch and closure. Under the straight-forward
as well proper scheduling of the product launching, network diagram, Gantt chart and critical
path have the significant place. Along with this, it can be concluded from the study that, various
types of issues and risks come into consideration in the project. Moreover, due to several reasons
and factors the project can be failed up to the greater extent.
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