Compare and contrast the management characteristics of projects and critically locate them within the broader management, organisational and practitioner knowledge bases; (LO2) Analyse approaches for...

Compare and contrast the management characteristics of projects and critically locate them within the broader management, organisational and practitioner knowledge bases;

(LO2) Analyse approaches for effectively organising project teams and linking them to stakeholder organisations;

(LO4) Assess the frameworks for project justification and success.

Scenario overview:

EGCM is a medium-sized, family-owned manufacturing company that wants to increase its prototyping capability. EGCM is considering two very different projects to achieve this goal.

The first project builds on existing company practices around prototyping. This option is tried and tested and considered to be a low risk way of increasing EGCM’s prototyping capability. The project fits well with the company’s ethos, existing team based structure, and company culture. This project would not require a great deal of training for existing staff, and would require very little change to the existing traditional team-based processes at EGCM. It is very much a refinement of ‘business as usual.’

The second project is a significant step away from existing practice, whereby EGCM would use 3D printing to prototype at a high speed and low cost. This project requires a greater capital input and is considered to be high risk. This is because it moves away from the company’s traditional practices. The existing employees would require significant training to use this equipment, and it is also likely to result in the redundancy of experienced staff that would not fit with the new way of prototyping. However, if successful, it would provide a significant competitive advantage to EGCM and would be very profitable.

Assignment brief:

EGCM has employed you as an external consultant to facilitate their decision making. Your report needs to outline how this decision could be made using various project management selection methods. You will need to present at least four different selection methods, and discuss the assumptions, advantages, and disadvantages of these selection methods. Your report needs to state which selection model and project you would advise them to choose and why. You will need to include relevant justification and realistic assumptions while demonstrating the selection process for both selecting model and demonstrating the selected model. Once you have carried out your assessment submit your report to the Director of the company.