Project Management Report: Tesco Inventory System Development

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of an information system project designed for Tesco's inventory management. It begins with an introduction to the project and highlights the importance of team negotiation in project selection, emphasizing the need for agreement on terms such as resources, team size, project duration, and budget. The report then delves into the project lifecycle, detailing the phases of concept, development, execution, and transfer. A work breakdown structure (WBS) is presented to illustrate the project's activities and timelines, followed by an overview of the project's scope and budget. The report also covers the project management model, the project management plan including aspects like human resources, time, cost, and information management, and the critical path method. The report concludes by emphasizing the significance of planning, project scope, budget management, and schedule adherence for successful project completion. References to relevant academic sources are also included.

INFORMATION SYSTEM PROJECT MANAGEMENT
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR TESCO
1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION/PROJECT DESCRIPTION...........................................................................................3
IMPORTANCE OF TEAM NEGOTIATION IN PROJECT SELECTION................................................4
PROJECT LIFE CYCLE AND ITS REQUIREMENTS.............................................................................6
Project Lifecycle......................................................................................................................................7
WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE......................................................................................................8
Scope.....................................................................................................................................................10
Project Budget.......................................................................................................................................10
Project Management Model...................................................................................................................11
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN.........................................................................................................12
CRITICAL PATH.....................................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................15
2

INTRODUCTION/PROJECT DESCRIPTION
An information system is growing and is playing a very vital role in managing the work system
of the businesses. A project of developing information system is one of the most effective
aspects which help in managing the things in a smoother as well as in a subtle way (Kucherov, &
Zamulin, 2016). It is required that the project should be initiated in a proper way and all the
aspects should be taken into consideration. Managing a project is one of the toughest tasks
attached with the organisations in the present scenario. It is important that project manager
should have a proper set of knowledge regarding the steps which are required to be taken into
consideration. Developing a proper project plan and evaluating all the critical factors helps the
project manager in managing the project in an effective way. For better understanding, Tesco is
the company which is taken into consideration. A project of an information system for Tesco will
be developed (Desmond, 2016). Hence, information related to the things which are required to be
taken into consideration for the project of Tesco will be provided in this report and a direction
will be made of the things required to be taken into consideration for the management of a
project.
3

IMPORTANCE OF TEAM NEGOTIATION IN PROJECT SELECTION
Tesco is a retail chain serving household products and services to the people available in Sydney
(Mainga, 2017). Tesco was facing issues with managing its inventory as it requires huge efforts
to maintain a track record of such a huge inventory. Hence, Tesco made the decision to develop
an inventory management system which could help in recording and track the data in a proper
and appropriate way (Khan, et. al., 2016). It was recognised that many of the times customers
were returning from the store because of unavailability of the stock. So as to provide a better set
of solution to the issue faced by the organisation a decision was made to work on a project of the
information system. IT department of the Tesco helped in providing the information related to
the inventory management system and how the system will work in managing the inventory and
tracking the record for the same (Kucherov, & Zamulin, 2016). The company was initiating
change in which one f the most challenging tasks is negotiation with the team in project
selection.
Negotiation with the team is a most challenging as well as most important aspect attached with
any of the organization. It is required that a project should be initiated by ensuring that all the
employees working on the same should provide their approval and should agree to work on the
project. Hence, negotiation was done between Tesco and the team which will work on the project
(Wasson, 2015). There were a certain set of terms and conditions which took place and an
agreement was made in relation to the project. Some of the terms and conditions which were
negotiated were:
Tesco will provide all the resources in a well in advance form so that IT team could work
without any hindrance and could process the project in a smooth manner (Shtub, 2017).
A team of 4 members will work on the project so as to ensure that the project could get
completed within the planned dates
Project will be formulated on a fixed term, means any fluctuations in the market will not have
any impact on the project process
Project will be completed within 50 days which is more than enough
4

Budget which was decided for the project was of $65000 (Stanek, Babkin, & Zubov, 2016)
Proper set infrastructure and systems will be availed to the IT team so that they could work
effectively on the project and could ensure to complete the same within the required dates.
5

PROJECT LIFE CYCLE AND ITS REQUIREMENTS
Project life cycle helps in determining all the phases which will be included in a project. A step
by step process is being availed in managing a project of the information system. Quality is one
of the most important aspects which are required to be focused upon by the project manager so
as to complete the same within the required dates (Põder, & Lukki, 2011). Following a
systematic as well as a step by step process will help in fulfilling all the requirements of the
project and will provide a better set of support for the completion of the same within the required
dates and frameworks.
(Reiss, 2013)
A proper process is being followed so as to manage a project and its inventory in a proper way.
In an inventory management system track record of each and every aspect is being kept.
Information related to physical inventory is being recorded by the store manager; the POS
handles the inquiry related to the same (Mainga, 2017). After recording the data a system returns
the information to the RTV which helps in keeping a track record of inbound merchandises as
well as outbound merchandises. This flow of information keeps on rotating according to the
requirement of the store as well as demand in the market.
6

Project Lifecycle
To ensure that the type of inventory management system discussed above should be formulated
in a proper way it is required that a project lifecycle should be prepared. Project life cycle helps
in providing the guidance to the project manager make the decisions and to forecast the activities
which are required to be implemented in next stage of the project. Project lifecycle is a set
process which will help in providing a direction to the project manager so as to formulate the
project in a proper and in an appropriate way (Desmond, 2016).
(Cengage Lea Schwalbe, 2015)
Project life cycle comprises of four phases which are required to be taken into consideration by a
project manager. These phases are:
Phase 1 (Concept): In this phase, data is being gathered regarding the requirement of the project.
Needs, goals, practicality, economics, resources, strategies, risks, alternatives, sell concepts and
approvals are some of the aspects which are taken into consideration in the first phase of the
project (Coronel & Morris, 2016). It is the initiation phase in which all the aspects of the project
are being taken into consideration and decision for the further processing is being made.
Phase 2(Development): It is the second phase which is taken into consideration after getting all
the approvals in the initiation phase (Khan, et. al., 2016). In the development phase, a project
7

manager has to ensure that he should take certain aspects into consideration like feasibility,
objectives, budgets, team, cash flow, financing, re-assessing risk and project charter. After taking
all the aspects into consideration decision should be made of whether to go or not to go with the
project.
Phase 3 (Execution): This is the third phase of project manager. There are many of the aspects
which are required to be taken into consideration for the development of the project. These
aspects are, mobilizing the team, planning, and scheduling, technical requirements, work
packages, procurement, testing, issue resolving, progress monitoring, forecasting, reports and
deliver the facilities. These aspects help in managing the project progress and delivering the
same in a proper way (Kucherov, & Zamulin, 2016).
Phase 4 (Transfer): Phase 4 is the transfer phase in which the project is being transferred to the
ultimate user. In this phase training is provided to the team who will work on the project and
reviews and feedbacks are being taken into consideration (Pigott, & Hobbs, 2011). All the
responsibilities are being transferred to the ultimate user and project is being closed and
terminated.
WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE
This is the phase of the project in which planning is done so as to breakdown the activities of the
project in small tasks. It is required that a project manager should understand all the aspects and
should ensure to divide all the activities of the project and provide a set time so as to complete
them in a proper and effective way.
S. No. Project Activities Start Date End Date
0 Tesco Inventory Management System 7-02-2017 7-02-2017
1 Gathering Info 7-02-2017 7-11-2017
2 Adopting Appropriate Resources 7-11-2017 7-21-2017
2.1 Goal Setting 7-11-2017 7-15-2017
2.2 Analysis of All the Requirements 7-15-2017 7-17-2017
2.3 Managing Risk 7-17-2017 7-19-2017
2.4 Process flow indication 7-19-2017 7-21-2017
8

3 Developing Project Plan 7-21-2017 7-31-2017
3.1 Developing Timescale 7-21-2017 7-23-2017
3.2 Evaluating Deliverables of the project 7-23-2017 7-25-2017
3.3 Developing Modules 7-25-2017 7-28-2017
3.4 Activity Bifurcation 7-28-2017 7-31-2017
3.5 Priority Setting 7-31-2017 7-31-2017
3.5.1 Developing Geographical Placements 7-31-2017 8-06-2017
4 Execution of Plans 8-06-2017 8-21-2017
4.1 Introducing the Software 8-06-2017 8-07-2017
4.2 Providing Project Structure 8-07-2017 8-08-2017
4.3 Programming 8-08-2017 8-09-2017
4.4 Code Generation 8-09-2017 8-21-2017
5 Project Closure 8-21-2017 8-31-2017
5.1 Checklist 8-21-2017 8-23-2017
5.2 Change Management 8-23-2017 8-25-2017
5.3 Management Report Development 8-25-2017 8-26-2017
5.4 Testing 8-26-2017 8-30-2017
6 Termination 8-30-2017 8-31-2017
(Wasson, 2015)
Gantt Chart
9

(Shtub, 2017)
Scope
The project is initiated by the organisation on the basis of certain scopes. In the same manner, a
project which is developed for Tesco also has a scope which is to develop software which could
help in managing the inventory. Inventory management is one of the most important aspects
attached with any retail business. Hence, the project which is initiated will help Tesco in
managing and tracking the inventory and the stock in a proper way (Stanek, Babkin, & Zubov,
2016).
Project Budget
ACTIVITIES EXPENSES($)
Performa of the Project 20000
Module Development 4000
Salary of all the IT Team Members 25000
10

Collection of Resources 10000
Other Expenses 6000
Total Expenditures 65000
Project Management Model
Project management model is taken into consideration in this report which will help in providing
the information related to all the aspects which are required to be taken into consideration in an
IT project (Põder, & Lukki, 2011). The model helps in developing the understanding of business
goals, review of the projects, user profile, monitored launching, requirement definition, usability
testing, external specification, system testing, component development, development testing and
system implementation.
(Reiss, 2013)
This model will help in managing and bringing quality to the project with the effect of which
Tesco will be able to get what it has planned for managing the inventory.
11

PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Project management plan includes certain phases which are required to be taken into
consideration these phases are:
Human resource planning
Planning work management
Time management plan
Cost management plan (Mainga, 2017)
Information management plan
Development of risk management plan
Quality management plan
12