Use The Project Plan Template And The Business Needs Identif

Use theProject Plan Templateand The Business Needs Identified In Your W

Use the Project Plan Template and the business needs identified in your Week 3 Balanced Scorecard to: Develop the project objectives. Explain what operational steps will be taken to achieve your stated objectives. Identify the responsible person(s) for each operational step. Outline a timeline for each operational step. Justify the choices you made in your project plan in a 525- to 700-word response on the Project Plan Template.

Paper For Above instruction

Developing an effective project plan is essential for aligning operational activities with strategic business needs. Based on the business needs identified in the Week 3 Balanced Scorecard, the first step involves clearly defining specific project objectives that directly support the overarching organizational goals. These objectives should be measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), providing clear direction for the project team and serving as benchmarks for success.

The core operational steps to achieve these objectives can be categorized into planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation phases. During the planning phase, activities include detailed task analysis, resource allocation, and risk assessment. For instance, if the business need pertains to enhancing customer engagement, operational steps may involve developing a new customer relationship management (CRM) system, training staff, and marketing outreach campaigns.

The responsibility for each operational step must be clearly assigned to ensure accountability. For example, the IT department may be responsible for developing and implementing the CRM system, while the marketing team handles outreach strategies. Assigning specific roles and responsibilities minimizes ambiguity, accelerates decision-making, and ensures that all team members understand their contributions toward meeting project objectives.

A well-structured timeline is crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring timely completion of each phase. For example, a project timeline might allocate four weeks for system development, two weeks for staff training, and three weeks for launch and marketing activities. Establishing deadlines allows tracking progress, identifying potential delays early, and adjusting plans as necessary.

The justification for choices made in the project plan hinges on aligning operational steps with strategic priorities. Prioritizing technology development and staff training, for instance, is justified if the business need is to improve customer data management and engagement, which directly influences customer satisfaction and retention rates. Resource allocation decisions—such as dedicating the necessary budget and personnel—are rooted in ensuring feasibility and optimizing outcomes.

Furthermore, selecting a phased rollout approach, such as pilot testing before full deployment, minimizes risk and provides valuable feedback to refine processes. The timeline considers organizational capacity, potential bottlenecks, and organizational priorities, ensuring the project advances without disrupting ongoing operations.

In essence, the project plan structure emphasizes clarity in objectives, accountability in operational responsibilities, strategic allocation of resources, and flexibility in timelines. This cohesive approach ensures that each operational step is purpose-driven and aligned with the broader business needs, ultimately facilitating successful project implementation that contributes to organizational growth and competitiveness.

References:

- Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.

- PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). Project Management Institute.

- Meredith, J. R., & Mantel, S. J. (2014). Project Management: A Managerial Approach. Wiley.

- Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.

- Turner, J. R. (2014). Handbook of Project Management. Gower Publishing.

- Pinto, J. K. (2013). Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage. Pearson.

- Lock, D. (2013). Project Management. Gower Publishing.

- Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2017). Project Management: The Managerial Process. McGraw-Hill Education.

- Verzuh, E. (2015). The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management. Wiley.

- Wysocki, R. K. (2014). Effective Project Management. Wiley.