Group Activity For This Course Spans Units 3–6 ✓ Solved
The group activity for this course spans Units 3-6. You can
The group activity for this course spans Units 3-6. Your group will create a project plan based on a short case below. The final project plan should address the following: project scope, work breakdown structure, schedule, resources, budget, procurement, quality, communication, and risk management.
Case: Your client is an IT company specializing in devices for people with disabilities. Based in the US, it employs 25 people and sells its products mainly in North America. During its first 5 years, the company has experienced rapid growth, but last year’s financials have shown some decline in sales. The sales department has recently identified an opportunity for entry into the Chinese and Latin-American markets. As a result, the management team has approved a set of strategic projects to enable that purpose. One of the projects being launched is the development of a multi-language website platform to enable online purchases of the company products. With that purpose, your team has been hired to manage the project.
You have been asked to submit a project plan in the next few weeks that is efficient and for the smallest budget possible. The management team has approved up to $45K for the project, but you have been asked to bring it in under budget if possible. Your team will gather the necessary information to define a robust project plan. Your team is allowed to make assumptions, as needed, to assist you in completing the project thoroughly.
Project Deliverable: Your group should create a project plan outlining each of the assigned parts, plus anything else you feel is important. The project plan will be shared with the Management Team for final approval of the project. Your plan should be 8-10 pages (exclusive of a cover page and reference page) in length and include additional research done by your team. You can make any assumptions about the company, resources, and other considerations in order for you to do a thorough job in producing the plan.
Paper For Above Instructions
Project Plan for Multi-Language Website Development
The following project plan outlines the essential components necessary for creating a multi-language website platform for an IT company specializing in devices for people with disabilities. This plan not only addresses the project's scope, work breakdown structure, schedule, resources, budget, procurement, quality, communication, and risk management, but it also reflects a comprehensive strategy suitable for market entry into Chinese and Latin-American markets.
Project Scope
The project aims to develop a multi-language website platform that facilitates online purchases of the company’s products. The scope includes designing, developing, testing, and launching the website, ensuring it meets the needs of diverse users, particularly those with disabilities. Additionally, the platform will support multiple languages, ensuring accessibility for the target markets in China and Latin America.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
A work breakdown structure (WBS) outlines the project's deliverables and tasks necessary for successful completion:
- Initiation
- Define project scope
- Identify stakeholders
- Conduct feasibility study
- Planning
- Create project schedule
- Develop communication plan
- Define budget and resources
- Establish quality requirements
- Execution
- Develop website architecture
- Design user interface
- Implement multi-lingual capabilities
- Conduct user testing
- Monitoring and Control
- Track project progress
- Manage changes and risks
- Closure
- Finalize documentation
- Conduct post-implementation review
Schedule
The project is expected to be completed within 12 weeks. Below is a high-level schedule:
- Weeks 1-2: Project Initiation
- Weeks 3-4: Planning Phase
- Weeks 5-9: Execution Phase
- Weeks 10-11: Monitoring and Control Phase
- Week 12: Project Closure
Resources
Resources for the project include:
- Project Manager – 1
- Web Developers – 2
- UI/UX Designers – 2
- Quality Assurance Tester – 1
- Marketing Specialist – 1
- Translation Services – Outsourced as needed
Budget
The estimated budget for this project is structured to remain below $45,000. The breakdown includes:
- Personnel Costs: $30,000 (Salaries for all internal staff)
- Outsourcing Translation Services: $5,000
- Development Costs: $6,000 (Tools and technologies)
- Miscellaneous Expenses: $4,000 (Marketing and user testing)
Total Estimated Budget: $45,000
Procurement
Procurement will involve selecting suitable vendors for translation services and potentially other technologies required for website development. The procurement process will be initiated in conjunction with the planning phase to ensure timely service selection.
Quality Management
Quality management is critical for the successful launch of the website. This will involve setting clear quality standards for usability, accessibility, and localization. Regular quality assessments will be performed throughout the development process, culminating in a thorough testing phase prior to launch.
Communication Plan
The communication plan ensures all stakeholders are informed. Weekly updates will be provided to the management team, and regular meetings will be scheduled to discuss progress and address any concerns. A project dashboard will be maintained to offer real-time insights into project objectives and milestones.
Risk Management
Identifying and managing potential risks is vital for project success. Risks include delays in development, budget overruns, and challenges with localization. A risk register will be established to document identified risks, their impact, and mitigation strategies, ensuring that proactive measures are in place before issues arise.
Conclusion
This project plan lays the foundation for developing the multi-language website platform. By addressing all key components, from project scope to risk management, the plan aims to deliver a high-quality product conducive for the company’s expansion into the Chinese and Latin-American markets, while remaining within budget constraints.
References
- Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
- Schwalbe, K. (2016). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.
- Project Management Institute. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide). Project Management Institute.
- Meredith, J. R., & Mantel, S. J. (2017). Project Management: A Managerial Approach. Wiley.
- Heldman, K. (2018). PMP: Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide. Sybex.
- Snyder, C. (2019). The Project Management Book: How to Manage Your Projects Successfully. The Project Management Institute.
- Turner, J. R. (2014). The Handbook of Project-Based Management. McGraw-Hill.
- Wysocki, R. K. (2014). Effective Project Management: Traditional, Agile, Extreme. Wiley.
- Fogarty, G. J., & Tazelaar, F. (2015). Delivering Project Success: A Guide for Senior Executives. Project Management Institute.
- Lock, D. (2020). Project Management. Gower Publishing.