Scenario
Manley's is a family-owned home improvement specialist similar to Home base. It has 4
stores around London and is planning an expansion. Like its competitors, it offered DIY
solutions as well as a range of furniture, and kitchen and bathroom design. Its unique selling
point is the fact it employs designers and, through subcontractors, offers guaranteed
installation and workmanship such as plumbing, electrical, etc.
Due to these unique services which help the customers to achieve designer houses at an
affordable price, Manley's enjoyed a financial success and a rapid growth. The first
store opened 7 years ago, the 2nd store 3 years ago, the 3rd store 1 year ago and the
4th store opened last week. Several other stores are in the plans.
However, Ma n l e y ' s only online presence is a static web page showing the location
of its 3 store (the page has not been updated for the 4th store yet), there is no possibility
to either order online or book appointment with designers. Also now that there are 4 stores
and several more in the pipelines, the owner's son feel that it is time to have a
Management Information System to improve customer service and operations
through help managing stocks, personnel, subcontractors, marketing, customers data, etc.
Finally the owner is planning on either creating a loyalty programmes or joining one such as
Nectar card to give encourage repeat customers through benefits and promotions.
During the last board meeting, an experience manager saw the necessity to handle these
tasks as projects and recommended to get a project consultant to help out. The board
decided to hire you as the project consultant, as they want everything to be done within 3
months.
TASK 1 Project Selection
Instructions
Your first task is to
1. Develop an overall Gantt chart of the various projects, including subdivision and a timescale.
2. short report, recommending a project management methodology for each project
(and your reasons for your recommendation)
3. In the same report, assess the feasibility of all the projects and decide on one to carry
out first.
Delivery and Submission
1x Gantt chart
1x short report
Please note, it is recommended that you use http://www.ganttproject.biz/, but you are free to
use any software.
TASK 2 Project Details
Currently Manley's employ 4 store managers, 4 store assistant managers, several
store attendants, , several designers, 1 HR officer, 1 Accountant, 1 procurement
manager, 3 account executives in charge of maintaining relationship with suppliers, 1
executive assistant and 1 administrator. In addition, the owner and his son are involved
in the management of the organization. There is no IT department looking after the
information and IT infrastructure of the company.
Instructions
Select one of the projects and:
1. detailed Gantt chart, including the roles and responsibilities of the participants
2. an organizational structure to carry out the project, and add a commentary
regarding your team structure
Task 3 Project monitoring
Instructions
In relation to your selected project, document with the following details.
1. Explain the purpose of PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) or a CPA
(Critical Path Analysis) diagram.
2. PERT or a CPA diagram to identify likely challenges, issues and risks during
the life of the project.
3. general quality management process to be used for the project, and 4. Explain
the change control procedure.
4. Analyse the methods used to measure project performances.