CMGT/545v2 Project Management Flowchart And Summary ✓ Solved

CMGT/545v2 Project Management Flowchart and Summary: Cloud M

CMGT/545v2 Project Management Flowchart and Summary: Cloud Migration for Intuit, Inc. Develop a swimlane flowchart for the 7-phase cloud migration project, mapping processes, roles, and responsibilities.

Phases I–VII are: I) Scoping and Planning; II) Order/Install Equipment; III) Install/Test Software; IV) Conduct Hardware/Software Testing; V) Conduct Training; VI) Implementation and Roll Out; VII) Evaluation and Post Implementation.

Personnel include CEO, Senior Vice President, Chief Information Technology Officer, Purchasing Manager, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, IT Director, HR Manager, Chief Operations Officer, Sales and Advertising Director, Systems Administrator, Web Developer, Network Administrator, Database Administrator, Project Manager (you).

Add any additional processes and human resources as needed. Deliver a swimlane flowchart using a tool of your choice to visually distinguish responsibilities across phases and subprocesses.

Provide a 350-word summary answering: How do you support C-level managers in this project? How do you seek support from upper management? What techniques can you utilize to lead and influence the project? What are two challenges within each phase?

Also prepare a 1000-word paper with 10 credible references and in-text citations, and include a references section.

Paper For Above Instructions

350-Word Summary

In this cloud-migration initiative for Intuit, Inc., the swimlane flowchart serves as the governance backbone for aligning cross-functional work with executive strategy. To support C-level managers, I propose concise, executive-friendly dashboards that consolidate critical milestones, risk indicators, and ROI projections by phase. Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as implementation velocity, defect rates in testing, vendor adherence, and-time-to-value will be captured in a rolling executive brief, enabling rapid decision-making (PMI, 2021; Kerzner, 2017). Regular steering-committee updates, supported by a high-level risk register, ensure strategic visibility and timely escalation of blockers (Kotter, 1996). To seek support from upper management, I will anchor the initiative to strategic objectives (cost reduction, scalability, competitive advantage) and quantify benefits through a phased ROI model, aligning milestones with business outcomes and risk-adjusted projections (Verzuh, 2015; Schwalbe, 2018). Techniques to lead and influence the project include stakeholder mapping using a RACI framework, transparent communication, and adaptive governance that balances control with flexibility (PMI, 2021; Leffingwell, 2011). Phase-by-phase challenges typically include: Phase I—scope creep and stakeholder alignment; Phase II—vendor delays and integration readiness; Phase III—legacy-system compatibility and data migration risk; Phase IV—testing parity and resource constraints; Phase V—training uptake and cross-site scheduling; Phase VI—change resistance and cutover risk; Phase VII—benefits realization measurement and post-implementation support. Effective leadership involves servant leadership, credible sponsorship, and clear escalation paths to maintain momentum while incorporating feedback loops from users and sponsors (Highsmith, 2009; Kotter, 1996). The swimlane structure clarifies responsibilities and handoffs among the CEO, IT leadership, and functional teams, supporting governance and timely issue resolution. This summary integrates project-management best practices for planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement to maximize implementation speed and value realization (PMI, 2021; Schwalbe, 2018).

1000-Word Analytical Paper

Introduction. Cloud migration projects require disciplined coordination across multiple departments and levels of leadership. A well-designed swimlane flowchart, together with a robust governance framework, helps synchronize activities, delineate responsibilities, and track progress across seven sequential phases. Foundational guidance for such efforts comes from established project-management bodies and cloud adoption frameworks (PMI, 2021; Kerzner, 2017). This paper outlines (1) how to design and use a swimlane diagram for the Intuit project, (2) leadership and stakeholder engagement strategies to support c-level sponsors, (3) techniques to influence and guide the project, and (4) two core challenges per phase with mitigation considerations.

Swimlane design and mapping. The swimlane approach assigns each role to a horizontal lane and lays out the set of processes and decision points per phase. Lanes should include: CEO; IT Leadership (Senior VP IT, IT Director); Finance (CFO, Purchasing Manager); HR; Operations (COO); Functional Directors (Sales & Advertising); and Project Manager (you). For each phase, the diagram catalogues phases, subprocesses, inputs, outputs, responsible parties, and review points. This aligns with established PM practices that emphasize clarity of ownership and accountability (PMI, 2021; Kerzner, 2017) and complements risk-based governance.

Phase-by-phase design and responsibilities. Phase I: Scoping and Planning. Activities include business-case refinement, stakeholder analysis, and baseline risk assessment. The Project Manager coordinates scoping, IT leadership defines technical feasibility, and CFO and Purchasing map budget and procurement constraints. Phase II: Order/Install Equipment. Activities cover vendor selection, equipment ordering, and network readiness. Key challenges include supplier delays and integration readiness concerns. Phase III: Install/Test Software. This includes software installation, middleware alignment, and data flows rehearsal with legacy systems. Challenges include compatibility gaps and data integrity concerns. Phase IV: Conduct Hardware/Software Testing. Test environments mirror production; validation of performance metrics and security controls occurs, with potential test-data issues as primary risks. Phase V: Conduct Training. Training strategies are deployed for end users across sites, with challenges including varying adoption rates and scheduling conflicts. Phase VI: Implementation and Roll Out. The actual migration cutover, parallel operation decisions, and transition-to-support processes are executed; challenges include downtime risk and stakeholder resistance. Phase VII: Evaluation and Post Implementation. Post-implementation benefits realization, ongoing optimization, and knowledge transfer take place. Each phase requires a clear RACI mapping, change-control procedures, and documented escalation paths (PMI, 2021; Verzuh, 2015).

Leadership, influence, and stakeholder engagement. Supporting C-level managers hinges on providing timely, decision-grade information. Executive sponsorship should be sustained through regular, concise briefings that connect technical milestones with strategic benefits. Techniques include stakeholder analysis, influence without authority, and formal change-management practices (Kotter, 1996; Highsmith, 2009). In practice, the project team should deliver a rolling risk-adjusted status report, a benefits realization plan, and a transparent governance structure that aligns with cloud-adoption frameworks (Microsoft, 2020; AWS, 2021). Two core leadership styles—servant leadership and adaptive governance—enhance cross-functional collaboration and enable rapid responses to evolving conditions (Turner, 2014; Leffingwell, 2011).

Threats and risk management. The project should implement a risk register, a change-control board, and performance dashboards. Typical risk categories include scope creep, vendor dependency, data migration risks, security and compliance exposure, and user-adoption challenges. Mitigation relies on early vendor engagement, parallel testing, and clear data-migration cutover plans (PMI, 2021; Schwalbe, 2018).

Conclusion. A well-constructed swimlane flowchart, coupled with proactive leadership and stakeholder engagement, supports governance, timely decision-making, and value realization in Intuit’s cloud migration. By aligning phase activities with strategic objectives and providing predictable escalation paths, the project can achieve faster delivery, higher quality, and measurable benefits (Kerzner, 2017; Verzuh, 2015).

References

  • PMI. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) (7th ed.). Project Management Institute.
  • Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (12th ed.). Wiley.
  • Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage.
  • Verzuh, E. (2015). The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management. Wiley.
  • Turner, J. R. (2014). Handbook of Project-Based Management: Leading Strategic Change in Organizations. McGraw Hill.
  • Highsmith, J. (2009). Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products. Addison-Wesley.
  • Leffingwell, D. (2011). Scaling Software Agility: Best Practices for Large Enterprises. Addison-Wesley.
  • Microsoft. (2020). Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure. Microsoft Docs.
  • AWS. (2021). AWS Cloud Adoption Framework. Amazon Web Services.
  • Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading Change. Harvard Business Review Press.

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