Decision Matrix Selection Justification Exercise

Decision Matrix Selection Justification Exerciseinstructions For Dec

Decision Matrix & Selection Justification Exercise Instructions for Decision Matrix and Justification: You will need to copy and paste your Business Case from Problem Set #1. This must be single spaced and only include the Business Case; not the element essay. On the next page, you will find a Decision Matrix. You will complete this Decision Matrix based upon your selected project and Business Case from Problem Set #1. Do not select categories at random. Consider your project thoroughly so that selections make logical sense. For example, under Multidisciplinary, do not mark “Four or more disciplines involved” and, under Staff Commitment, do not mark “2-3 people” if they do not align with the project scope. Ensure the chart remains on a single page. The purpose of this exercise is to evaluate options where all could be good or all could be bad decisions, but a decision must be made and justified.

After completing the Decision Matrix, you must justify each category choice with specific evidence from your project. Each justification should be at least a full paragraph (minimum 50 words) explaining your reasoning behind each selection. For instance, if resources are marked as “little or no monies,” explain why $150,000 is considered minimal, or why few supplies/resources are needed. Conversely, if resources are “significant,” justify why the project demands substantial funding or additional personnel. Remove the instructions before submission. The project title and business case must be included on page 1.

The Decision Matrix should begin on page 2, formatted to fit on one page with the categories listed as given. The categories are:

  • Resources
  • Multidisciplinary
  • Complexity
  • Technology Involvement
  • Approvals
  • Potential Risk Level
  • Staff Commitment
  • Communication & Education
  • Metrics
  • Final Decision

Paper For Above instruction

The Decision Matrix and its corresponding justifications form an integral part of project prioritization and management. This exercise involves a detailed analysis and justification of choices related to key project parameters, thus ensuring that the decision-making process aligns with the project’s scope, resources, complexity, and stakeholder impact. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a thorough understanding of project evaluation criteria, supported by specific evidence from the project case.

In selecting project parameters for the Decision Matrix, I carefully considered the scope and resource requirements of the chosen project, titled “Morning Bean Hot Drink Café,” which involves launching a new retail outlet for morning beverages. This project was selected based on its moderate complexity, moderate resource need, and significant customer impact potential. The decision categories reflect a comprehensive evaluation of feasibility, risk, stakeholder involvement, and strategic alignment.

Resources: Given the scale of the Morning Bean project, I marked “Requires moderate resources.” The project involves setting up a new café space, initial inventory purchases, basic staffing, and marketing efforts. The cost is estimated around $150,000, not considered excessive for a small-scale café in an urban location. Minimal specialized supplies or external consultants are needed, making resource requirements manageable. This assessment is based on market research indicating average start-up costs for similar venues in the target area, which supports a moderate resource allocation.

Multidisciplinary: The project impacts multiple disciplines, including hospitality management, marketing, procurement, and operations. I selected “Two – Three disciplines involved” because the core activities involve these areas, but not a broad range of unrelated fields. This aligns with the project’s scope of establishing a single retail location with integrated functions. The involvement of these disciplines ensures a balanced approach toward operational efficiency and customer engagement.

Complexity: The project complexity is assessed as “Moderate,” considering the logistical coordination needed for staffing, supply chain management, licensing, and compliance. While not overly intricate like a large chain expansion, the project does require careful planning and execution to avoid operational disruptions. This assessment aligns with similar café startups where moderate complexity is typical of initial stakeholder coordination and resource management.

Technology Involvement: Technology requirements are limited, with “IT consult needed” selected. The project requires establishing a point-of-sale system, basic website and social media presence, and inventory management software. These functions will benefit from professional IT advice, especially to ensure integration and data security. This readiness aligns with the café’s need for operational efficiency and customer engagement through digital channels.

Approvals: I selected “Approval by immediate supervisor” since the project is an internal initiative with approval authority within the mall or retail management team. No executive-level approval is necessary at this stage, although final business licensing and health permits will be obtained through local authorities. This reflects typical project approval processes for small business start-ups in retail environments.

Potential Risk Level: The risk impacts are rated as “Moderate impact on customer,” considering potential supply chain or operational setbacks that could affect customer satisfaction but are unlikely to cause major disruptions or financial losses. Risks such as delayed supplies or staffing issues are manageable and can be mitigated through contingency planning. Customer impact is prioritized since the success hinges on service quality and timely delivery.

Staff Commitment: The project demands “Small team needed to generate solutions,” involving a core team of 2-3 personnel responsible for planning, resource management, and operations. This team includes management, marketing, and operations staff, which is sufficient to plan and execute the project efficiently. Larger teams are unnecessary for this scope, aligning with lean start-up principles.

Communication & Education: The communication needs are rated as “Moderate communication plan; requires education across departments” because internal coordination among staff, suppliers, and marketing personnel is essential. Education will focus on processes, customer service standards, and health protocols. This ensures everyone is aligned with operational procedures and brand standards, especially during initial launch phases.

Metrics: The project requires “Improvement will be tracked,” with data collected on sales, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Metrics will include daily sales volume, customer feedback scores, and inventory turnover rates. Establishing initial baselines and ongoing data collection helps evaluate project success and areas for improvement, supporting continuous quality enhancement.

Final Decision: Based on these evaluations, the project warrants “Complete a mini or basic charter,” as the scope is clear, and resource needs are moderate. A formal project charter will document objectives, stakeholders, milestones, and resource allocations, providing a structured framework for implementation.

References

  • Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
  • PMI. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). Project Management Institute.
  • Meredith, J. R., & Mantel Jr, S. J. (2018). Project Management: A Managerial Approach. Wiley.
  • Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.
  • Wysocki, R. K. (2019). Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme. Wiley.
  • Levine, H. A. (2020). Principles of Project Planning and Management. Wiley.
  • Heldman, K. (2018). Project Management JumpStart. Wiley.
  • Heldman, K. (2018). Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide. Wiley.
  • A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). (2021). Project Management Institute.
  • Gido, J., & Clements, J. P. (2017). Successful Project Management. Cengage Learning.

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