Project Selection Methods and Initial Documents for Uber Case Study

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of project selection methods and initial documents, using the Uber case study as an example. It begins with an introduction to project management principles, emphasizing the importance of project selection methods to achieve pre-determined objectives. The report discusses the Uber case, highlighting the challenges faced in redesigning the driver app. It then examines project selection methods, differentiating between benefits measurement and constrained optimization methods, with a focus on linear programming as a suitable approach for Uber. The report also details the major processes for conducting project selection, emphasizing the need for proper resource allocation and effective project management. Furthermore, it discusses the initial process groups and project documents involved in the project work, such as project charters, stakeholder registers, and statements of work. The conclusion summarizes the importance of project management disciplines and the effective utilization of project selection methods and tools for successful project execution. The report draws on the provided case study details and references various project management resources.

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINICPLES
Project Management Principles: Uber Case Study
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

1
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................2
2.1 Brief Idea of the Case Study............................................................................................2
2.2 Examination of Project Selection Methods that can be applied to Uber Case Study......3
2.3 Major Processes for conducting the Project Selection Methods......................................4
2.4 Detailed Discussion of the Initial Process Groups and Project Document used as Inputs
................................................................................................................................................5
3. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

2
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
1. Introduction
Project management for any project could be stated as the most significant practices
to start, plan, implement, manage and finally end the team work to achieve pre-determined
objectives and to fulfil subsequent success criterion at any specific time (Kerzner, 2017). The
major goal for managing a project is producing a completed project that complies with each
and every objective of the client. There are some of the major methods of project selection,
which are needed to be considered in the project work. This following report will be outlining
a brief description on project selection methods and initiation documents for the case study of
Uber.
2. Discussion
2.1 Brief Idea of the Case Study
Uber is one of the major and the most popular cabs in the entire world. It is being
estimated that 3 million drivers of Uber generally spend more than eight million hours being
logged in the specified application. This application is even an important test case for the
entire economy. A new building of the application is being drawn on the technological
components of the new application that was launched in the previous year. The organization
has considered drivers’s suggestions for designing the application and making it even more
effective. Haider Sabri, the engineering lead of Uber has spearheaded a new design
procedure, which has brought “builders” technology.
30 engineers are present, who work on the application and the redesign of the
application has been started with 180 days of change campaign that had been launched for
removing all types of issues and complexities within the application. Due to high
competition, Uber had been losing its drivers and hence they have decided to increase their
profit by providing better applications to the respective drivers. The payment has been

3
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
improvised and labour force is managed effectively. The new app should follow the drivers to
find out customers, provide rides or even deliver food. However, the application did not work
perfectly for the larger cities and hence they again decided to revert the change.
2.2 Examination of Project Selection Methods that can be applied to Uber Case Study
A primary challenge during management of any project is to gain all the pre-
determined project goals within given project limitations (Burke, 2013). The relevant
information is stated in documentation stage that is being generated as the initiation of
improvement procedure. The major limitations of any project mainly involve time, project
scope, budget and work quality, and the other constraints involve optimization of allocation
of the required inputs before relating them to fulfil the previously defined objectives
(Schwalbe, 2015). Project selection methods are few methodologies, which could easily
handle several projects at once before ensuring maximum profitability. There exists two
distinctive kinds of methods that are being used for better selection of project, which would
be benefits measurement methods and constrained optimization methods (Meredith, Mantel
Jr & Shafer, 2017). In spite of the fact that project selection methods are time consuming;
these are extremely useful for the most effective and efficient business plan.
There are several documented methods that help in selection of a project, however for
the smaller projects, it is highly advisable to involve benefit measurement methods and for
the large projects, constrained optimization methods are perfect (Fleming & Koppelman,
2016). The benefits measurement method is the technique for project selection on the basis of
present values of the estimated cash inflow and outflow (Kerzner, 2017). The various cost
advantages are being evaluated before comparing them to the other projects regarding
decision making. The most popular and utilized techniques in a benefit measurement method
include payback period, opportunity costs, economic value added, benefit and cost ratio, NPV

4
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
and IRR (Walker, 2015). On the other hand, the constrained optimization methods need
comprehensive and complex mathematical calculations.
The major techniques that are being utilized in this particular method are linear
programming, non-linear programming, integer programming, dynamic programming and
multiple objective programming. Uber, being one of the major and the most significant cab
applications, should consider constrained optimization methods for their new application
project (Heagney, 2016). The technique of linear programming would be appropriate for this
application. By this particular method, they would be able to achieve the best results like
maximum profits or lowest costs within a specific mathematical model, whose requirements
are being represented by linear relationships. Since, Uber is facing issue with their drivers’
application in larger cities, linear programming can provide them in efficient and proper
results without much complexity (Leach, 2014). Moreover, linear programming is an
optimization technique of a linear objective function in respect to linear inequality and linear
equality constraints. With this particular selection method, the drivers of Uber app will not be
able to directly change the cut of ride sharing.
2.3 Major Processes for conducting the Project Selection Methods
A project is usually undertaken for meeting every previously determined objective or
goal, hence bringing advantageous changes as well as added value (Mir & Pinnington, 2014).
Such operations could be permanent, semi-permanent or even repetitive for producing the
product and service. The management of these distinctive productive approaches mainly
require proper development of the technical skills as well as management strategies
(Meredith, Mantel Jr & Shafer, 2017). The project selection methodologies are extremely
vital for ensuring perfect project scope, excellent and accurate deliverables as well as realistic
objectives and goals. It leads to proper utilization of budget and better increment in the

5
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
overall productivity (Harrison & Lock, 2017). The significant selection of the project of
organizational skills and accessible resources need accurate calculation.
Since Uber is involved in a big project, constrained optimization method is the most
suitable for this project. There are some of the core processes of project selection methods,
which ensure that the project is perfect and will not provide erroneous results under any
circumstance (Meredith, Mantel Jr & Shafer, 2017). The project manager of the Uber project
would be getting a distinctive opportunity to influence the major decision makers only it
comes to selection of the project. Haider Sabri, technician head of Uber has considered the
ideas of the drivers after inclusion of expertise, skills and knowledge so that they are able to
make the new application extremely effective for the drivers.
Project selection method of constrained optimization makes sure that every skill and
knowledge of the drivers is being utilized so that better effectiveness in being obtained.
Linear programming is the most suitable process of constrained optimization that is effective
for Uber case study (Crawford, 2014). The entire cost of the project could be easily
calculated by ensuring that time is reduced and project is incurring huge costs and time for its
effective completion. Draining of resources and time is the most significant challenge in a
project and it would be reduced with the incorporation of linear programming in Uber
application.
2.4 Detailed Discussion of the Initial Process Groups and Project Document used as
Inputs
The initial process groups comprise of few distinctive procedures, which are being
performed to complete any new project within the existing projects after gaining specific
approval of starting the phase or project. In the initiation procedures, the initiation scope is
being eventually determined and the initial finance related resource is being committed. The

6
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
internal as well as external stakeholder, who would interact or influence the entire result of a
project are being identified in the project (Marchewka, 2014). The respective project manager
is being selected and the relevant information is being taken within the project charters as
well as stakeholder registers. The initial process group of Uber includes every distinctive and
significant person or stakeholder involved in the project. Haider Sabri, Yamashita and all the
drivers are the major stakeholders of this project and hence ensuring that project is perfect
and efficient in nature. Every process of the project by setting every permit, initial work order
and authorization in set for securing the most logical and effective progression of the initial
project activities. The 180 days of change push, Uber provides the drivers with the core
ability to set the generalized direction to provide rides six times one day (Walker, 2015). It
would be effective to set clear phases of work to be completed and have a budget even before
the work is beginning. The project documents involved in the project work of Uber are
project charters, contract, stakeholder registers, statements of work, change control registerss,
risk register, activity list and quality metrics.
3. Conclusion
Therefore conclusion can be drawn that any project is a short-term attempt that is
designed to provide the most exceptional products or services with a specific starting and
finishing points. Project management is a discipline that helps to utilize every established
principle, policy and process for successful guidance of a project right from initiation phase
to its completion. It needs significant application of the procedures and tools for being sure
that the project can be executed effectively that it is meeting every articulated outcome from
spending of limits to the end goal objectives. This above provided report has properly
outlined a comprehensive analysis of the case scenario of Uber with various details like
project selection methods and processes for conducting the methods.

7
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
References
Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey,
USA, 26.
Crawford, J. K. (2014). Project management maturity model. Auerbach Publications.
Fleming, Q. W., & Koppelman, J. M. (2016, December). Earned value project management.
Project Management Institute.
Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge.
Heagney, J. (2016). Fundamentals of project management. Amacom.
Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Leach, L. P. (2014). Critical chain project management. Artech House.
Marchewka, J. T. (2014). Information technology project management. John Wiley & Sons.
Meredith, J. R., Mantel Jr, S. J., & Shafer, S. M. (2017). Project management: a managerial
approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Mir, F. A., & Pinnington, A. H. (2014). Exploring the value of project management: linking
project management performance and project success. International journal of project
management, 32(2), 202-217.
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Walker, A. (2015). Project management in construction. John Wiley & Sons.