Week Twelve - Project Management

Weekly Questions - Project Management


1. Explain the triple constraint and its importance in project management.

The triple constraint involves making tradeoffs between among different aspects of a project, a Project Manager manages - These 3 variables are among time, cost and scope. You cannot change one without changing the others and it is inevitable in a project life that there will be changes. It is important to consider these variables within project management as there is a high failure rate in IT projects (30 - 70%) These 3 varibels will ensure a project is on time, within budget and meets the business, and customers requirements.
 

  

2. Describe the two primary diagrams most frequently used in project planning

 

There are to main charts used within project planning – The first one I will discuss is a PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) chart is a graphical network model that depicts a projects tasks and the relationships between these tasks. It defines the dependency between project tasks before the tasks are scheduled. In the diagram boxes display various attributes for the project such as schedule and the arrows indicate the one task that is dependant on the start or completion of another task. The critical path is the path from the start to the finish of the project that passes through all the tasks that are critical to the completion of the project.

The second chart is a more simple design - A Gantt chart is a simple bar chart that depicts tasks against a calendar. In a Gantt chart the tasks are listed vertically against the schedule which is horizontal. This particular diagram is ideal for representing the schedule of a project.

 

3.Identify the three primary areas a project manager must focus on managing to ensure succes

 

The Three Primary Areas a Project Manager must focus on to ensure success is

·      People

·      Communication

·      Change.

Managing the people involves completing the project and any conflicts that may arise during the duration of the project. Managing people is one of the more difficult factors in ensuring the smooth completion of the project. A project manger not only has to manage the stakeholders of the project but ensure everyone within the project has a full understanding of what is required of them and are all trying to achieve a common goal. Project Mangers need to ensure they can resolve conflicts and maintain the steady progress of a project. 

Communication is the key to a successful project. Formal communication is a crucial part of success and good communicators will get the job done. A Project Manager needs to ensure they develop a communication plan. A communication plan is where the manager distributes timely, accurate and meaningful information such as time, cost, quality and scope. A successful Project Managers is constantly communicating to everyone involved within a project and constantly updating stakeholders and their team the progress of the project. They are constantly receiving feedback and ensuring any adjustments are made to ensure their project runs smoothly and effectively.  

Change and adapting to change is another critical aspect of project management. Change can come in the form of a crisis, market shift or technological development. A successful project manager will learn how to adapt and even predict changes. Scalability is needed over the course of the project - due to changes, which are inevitable. Project Managers will experience challenges and must know how to effectively handle these as they arise. Effective change management is a critical core competency and Project Managers have to be able to adapt to their ever-changing environments. Change management ensures the evolution, composition and policy management of the design and implementation of a system.

4. Outline 2 reasons why projects fail and two reasons why projects suceed.

Project Managers have to ensure they follow the 3 primary areas discussed above, while taking into consideration the time, cost and scope of a project. Projects can fail if Managers do not follow these guidelines.

Some reasons a project might fail could be due to a poor scope. Having a poorly set out scope for your project can confuse others contributing to your project. A scope refers to the work that must be completed to deliver a product with the specified features and functions. A project scope statement includes constraints, assumptions and requirements that have to be made clear and explained to all individuals with a project. If the scope of the project is not adequately planned the final product won’t be achieved. This could be due to either not meeting the project requirements or the time and cost of the project have been wasted. With a poor scope the designated work will take longer than initially estimated and may even lead to higher costs. An effective scope is needed for a project to achieve the desired results.


Another reason a Project might fail is due to insufficient project management. If a project is lacking a project manger this can lead to devastating issues for a project, such as unreasonable time, cost and scope. Between 30-70% of projects fail because a project won’t be delivered upon schedule, come in over budget or don’t deliver the scope initially agreed upon. A good project manager needs to ensure they continue to manage the people involved, communication and the change over the course of the project.

To ensure a project is successful a key area to focus on is good communication. If a project is communicated clearly and effectively - everyone involved will have a greater understanding of what is require of them and align those requirements with the projects overall goal. This will result in all participants’ feelings as they are contributing to the project and boost overall moral - leading to a successful implemented project and finally a successfully completed one.

Another area of key importance is for a Project Manager to be a good decision maker. Decision making structures involve initially choosing the correct individuals for the project (people), having a set budget in place (cost) and ensuring set goals are established (time) while effectively communicating what is required for the project to be successful (scope). Good Project Managers are constantly reviewing their project and ensuring the decisions made are the most effective choice - Managers have to be ready for any changes which will arise within their project and adapt to these changes successfully.

Week Eleven - Weekly Questions

Customer Relationship Management & Business Intelligence

1. What is your understanding of CRM? I believe Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is used within organisations to increase customer loyalty and interactions with customers - through reviewing/analyising data.

2. Compare operational and analytical customer relationship management. Operational CRM is used day to day within organisations, mainly used directly with customers to provide constant information about their interactions with customers.
Analytical CRM is used behind the scenes and supports strategic analysis and processes. It does not deal with customers directly but it used to provide information about customers - for example market predictions.

3. Describe and differentiate the CRM technologies used by marketing departments and sales departments. Marketing departments use operational CRM technologies - These inlcude List Generator: Complies a customer information for different marketing campagins, Campaign management systems which enable guides for uses through the marketing campaigns and Cross Selling selling additional products/services, and Up-Selling increasing the value of the sale. This looks at the Marketing Metrics which consists of new customer retention rates and number of reposonses/purchases by a marketing campaign, revenue generated and customer retention rate.
Sales looks at more the number of prospective customers, new customers, retained customers and the amount of new revenue and proposals given.

4. How could a sales department use operational CRM technologies?A Sales department could use CRM to retain existing customers and review the number of successful sales.

5. Describe business intelligence and its value to businesses? According to the slides Business Intelligence (BI) is applications and technologies used to gather, provide access to, and analyse data and information to support decisionmaking efforts. It is very valuable to a business and can determine what areas need to be focused on for example customers - looking at how to keep loyal customers and maintain sales. It is valuable within all sectors of an organisation - ensures the right people are hired, determin whether campaigns such as marketing are successful, and on the financial side can determin which activity are producing revenue or losing money.

Week Nine - Operations Management and Supply Chain

Week Nine Weekly Questions

1. 
   
   Define the term operations management.
   Operations Management (OM) is the management of systems or processes that convert or transform resources into goods and services. 
2. 
   
   Explain operations management’s role in business.
   OM has many roles within businesses - examples include,
   - Forecasting
   - Capacity planning
   - Scheduling
   - Managing inventory
   - Assuring quality
   - Motivating and training employees
   - Locating facilities
3. 
   
   Describe the correlation between operations management and information technology
   Managers use IT to make OM decisions including
   - What resources will be needed and in what amounts.
   - When should the work be scheduled
   - Where will the work be performed
   - How will the work be done
   - Who will perform the work
   They use these systems to implement Operations Management Systems (OMs) These systems are the only way to have a consistent view of data and provide speedy results. This will lead to a reduction in overhead costs, increase agility and improve insight into business processes
4. 
   
   Explain supply chain management and its role in a business
   Supply Chain Management (SCM) involves the management of information flows between and amoung stages in supply chain to maximise total supply chain effectiveness and profitability.
   It provides visibility and knowing immediately what is transacting at the customer end of the supply chain. Allows companies to react immediately. SCM transforms raw materials into products delivered to customers. It allows companies to transmit messages and information.
   
   
   

   

   
   
   
5. 
   
   List and describe the five components of a typical supply chain.
   Plan - Source - Make - Deliver - Return.
   
   
6. 
   
   Define the relationship between information technology and the supply chain.
   Advances in the five SRM components and has significantly improved companies forecasting and business operations.
   Increases visibility over supply chain inventory levels.
   ITs primary role is to create linkages of information between functions within an organisation.
   
   
   

   

   
   

Week Eight - Networks & Wireless

Chapter Seven - Weekly Questions

1. Explain the business benefits of using wireless technology.
The benefits of using wireless technology are being able to be anywhere and access information. Productivity is increased - mass customisation. There is higher delivery speed and information. The information is sent to a database which is then transformed into analytical data which is used by managers. Basically it is more convenient and you have universal access.


2. Describe the business benefits associated with VoIP
Voice Over I.P (VoIP) allow you to send phone calls over the internet. Cost cuts and provides faster mobile workforce. Managers can spend control over different areas.




3. Compare LANs and WANs
LAN: Local Area Network one geographical area - Share data and devices E.g Notre Dame share information, printers and control. 
WAN: Wide Area Network services LAN joined together by interaction of data traveled through a secure path via the internet. 




4. Describe RFID and how it can be used to help make a supply chain more effective.
Radio Frequency I.D on toll roads. Transport. Small devices read to receiver transmit data to database - used via inventory to track goods - used daily by millions of people it is fast reliable information.


5. Identify the advantages and disadvantage of deploying mobile technology
Advantages are similar to wireless free roaming increased flexibility. Disadvantages security and privacy are a main problem. unsafe radiation is another concern.

Week Seven - Databases and Data Warehouses Weekly Questions

Week 7 Questions




1. List, describe, and provide an example of each of the five characteristics of high quality information.
Accuracy: Ensuring all information provided is accurate.
Completeness: Ensure complete fields and data.
Consistancy: Fields correctly entered - maintaining time management.
Uniqueness: Entities unquie - Primary key.
Timeliness: Good decisions, effective time management systems, online processing.






2. Define the relationship between a database and a database management system.
A database is the physical data stored such information is tables, fields and reports.
A database management system are where information is used to run systems. E.g Microsoft Access and Word.




3. Describe the advantages an organisation can gain by using a database.
The advantages of databases are it seperates records, increases flexibility, performance and reduces redundancy. It provides correct data and security of data ( Group Based Security)

4. Define the fundamental concepts of the relational database model.
A Rational database model logically relates 2D tables, rows and coloums - data and attributes.
Primary key E.g Student I.D, Links to table which link to acedemic table - who get information from many tables.


5. Describe the benefits of a data-driven website.
They provide website links to databases which are quicker, flexible and reduce multiple entries. They provide assistance when searching the web.




6. Describe the roles and purposes of data warehouses and data marts in an organisation
Data Warehouses are many databases put into a single system. They are used to make business reports from many systems. Data marts are the same as data warehouse but they are smaller but still similar.

Weekly Questions: Week Six - Enterprise Architectures

Chapter five questions

1. What is information architecture and what is information infrastructure and how do they differ and how do they relate to each other? Information systems (IS) store and process data and IS key concepts include, Information architecture identifies where and how information is stored, maintained and secured. Information infrastructure includes the hardware, software and telecommunications equipment, it supports organisations goals. They relate to each other by being part of the same plan. They differ as Information architecture is the plan in place within a business and the information infrastructure is the actual implementation of the plan.
2. Describe how an organisation can implement a solid information architecture. It must have the three primary areas of information which are - back up and recovery, disaster recovery and information security. 
3. List and describe the five requirement characteristics of infrastructure architecture. The five requirements characteristics are, Flexibility for example being a flexible multi language business, Scalability must have room to grow, Reliability always available to customers, Availability ensures the system runs correctly and Performance of quick reliable system.
4. Describe the business value in deploying a service oriented architecture, SOA is a business driven IT architectural approach. The value of having this system in place is it supports business innovative by adapting to changes within a business. While increasing business flexibility of processes and reusing existing IT investments. The key concepts are SOA allows businesses to run current business processes and lowers downtime in creating another process, it allows businesses to plug into new services or upgrade existing ones. It allows Interoperability where computers can share information and loose coupling where services can be joined together on demand to create composite services. (XML)
5. What is an event? Where the internet sends data from one system to another through a "Event" which is a business procedure of an electrical message sending information. It detects threats and opportunitites through monitoring business process. For example when someones credit card exceeds the credit limit.
6. What is a service? Runs when an event happens it is the software products and appeal to a large audience. It is a valuable business process that business people can use over multiple products and businesses.
7. What emerging technologies can companies can use to increase performance and utilise their infrastructure more effectively? 

Weekly Questions: Week Five - Ethics and Security

Chapter Four Questions
Ethics and Security
Explain the ethical issues surrounding information technology.
There are a number of ethical issues surrounding IT. The main issues include:
-Privacy: Having your own personal space, having secure data/information and not being observed without consent.
-Confidentiality: Private messages etc are only view for the authorised or intended participants.

Others include:
- Intellectual property: Keeping knowledge & information limited.
-Copyright: Where copyrighted goods are copied illegally.
-Fair use doctrine: Unauthorized use of copyrighted goods, images and creations.
-Pirated software: Where goods are duplicated and distributed without authorization.
-Counterfeit software: A type of software piracy that occurs when fake copies of software are produced in such a way that they appear to be authentic.

 http://www.ust.hk/itsc/antivirus/general/prevent.html

Describe a situation involving technology that is ethical but illegal.
If a friend is broke or poor and would like a computer program such as Microsoft Office and you burn and creat a copy of the program for free for him.

 Describe and explain one of the computer use policies that a company might employee
Acceptable use property: This would be used within a company to ensure the following:

1.Will not violate any laws
2.Will not break the security
3.Will not post commercial messages
4.Will not send spam
5.Will not send mail bombs
This will ensure a employee knows what is expected from them and has guidelines on how to work ethically within the workplace.

What are the 5 main technology security risks?
The 5 main Technology security risks are as follows;
1. Human Error: Not Malicious Error created by humans. Due to lack of training or carelessness leaving computers logged on.
2. Natural Disasters: Floods, Earthquakes, Terrorist Attacks.
3.Technical Failures: Software Bugs, Hardware Crashes
4. Deliberate Acts: Sabotage, White Collar Crime
5.Management Failure: Lack of Procedure, Documentation and Training.


Outline one way to reduce each risk.
1. Human Error: Firewalls or strong passwords
2. Natural Disasters: Regularly testing backing up goods.
3.Technical Failures:Having up to date technology
4. Deliberate Acts: Develop a security plan and purchase a security package to protect against viruses
5.Management Failure: Train staff.
 
What is a disaster recovery plan, what strategies might a firm employee?
A disaster recovery plan is the process of recovering data after an organisation has been affected by a disaster. Strategies include Alternative Site to store information and back up data.

Weekly Questions: Week Four Questions: eBusiness

Chapter Three Questions

   1.      What is an IP Address?  What is it’s main function?

 IP and TCP is a unique address that lays out the rules to enable data to move around the internet - its main function is for data to travel through as basic communication.
I.P means Internet Protocol - Data transferred. Every computers IP address is unique and used across networks. Webb Add + I.P.

2.      What is Web 2.0, how does it differ from 1.0?

Web 2.0 referred to as the "Live Web" It is used to collaborate and build user content and enables businesses to seek new opportunities and upgrades. Web2.0 is used on social networks to collaborate, edit and create. This is done through Tag's creating metadata, Blogs, RSS receiving feeds from websites as requested, and Wiki where information posted to maintain/manage/share knowledge. Web1.0 was a simple method used to link text over the internet now the web is linking people too. Web1.0 is one way internet and has no user participation - "One way push of info"

3.      What is Web 3.0?

Is a term used to describe the evolution of Web usage and interaction among separate paths - using metadata to build intel. It encompasses the following: Transforming the web into a database, An evolutionary path to artificial intelligence, Search for information using different medias and Evolution toward 3D. Web3.0 used to search relative data and lead to A.I on the web. It is the use of a lot of data through I.P addresses.

4.  What is eBusiness, how does it differ from eCommerce?

E-Business is derived from E-Commerce and is the conducting of business on the internet and the running the business as a whole - including serving customers and collaborating with business partners - E-Commerce is basically the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet. E-Business is much more in depth it refers to online exchanges of information e.g online banking customers can view their accounts.

5. What is pure and partial eCommerce

Pure E-Commerce is the exchange of digital services with no physical goods. Partial E-Commerce is the physical aspects for example online shopping sites including distribution, packaging and support. On Porters Value Chain as E-Commerce increase so does Business.

6.  List and describe the various eBusiness models?

 eBusiness transactions take place between Buinesses and Consumers - these activities happen between two types of business relationships 1) Exchange of Products & Services between businesses B2B and 2) Exchange of Products & Services with consumers B2C.

B2B; Is the most common model and applies to businesses buying and selling to eachother over the internet through  online access to data e.g ETA etc this enables businesses to have a central market from multiple buyers and sellers and create new sales channels - Their main goal is to increase market efficiency between buyers and sellers - mostly using extranets (individual companies intranets connected together) with VPN.

B2C; 

The main difference between the B2B and B2C is the customers. B2B= customers/businesses and B2C= markets to consumers. B2B relations are more complex and is the dominate business force with 80% of online businesses.

http://www.prudens.com/patens/ebusiness/busmodel.html

7. List and describe the major B2B models?


1) Established Buyer-Supplier Relationship

This is a pre-determined one-to-one relationship between a buyer and supplier that is supported by electronic commerce technologies. Due to the aforementioned limitations associated with EDI, companies have now turned their attention towards the Internet to support these types of buyer-supplier relationships. 
2) Supplier-Oriented Marketplace
In this model, both organizations and consumers use the supplier-provided marketplace. This is the most common type of B2B model. In this model, both business buyers and individual consumers use the same supplier-provided marketplace.
3) Buyer-Oriented Marketplace
Under this model, a buyer opens an electronic market on its own server and invites potential suppliers to bid on the announced Requests for Quotation (RFQs).
4) Business-to-Business Intermediary

This model is sometimes referred to as a ‘hub’ or ‘exchange’. It is established by an electronic intermediary that runs a marketplace where suppliers and buyers have a central point to come together. These B2B hubs tend to focus mainly on non-core items that may range from stationery and computers to catering services and travel. There are two types of hubs:
    •    Vertical - focus on an industry and provide content that is specific to the industry’s value system of buyers and suppliers.
    •    Horizontal - provide the same function for a variety of industries. 
http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Models-of-B2B-Commerce/


Electronic marketplaces and e-marketplaces.

8. Outline 2 opportunities and 2 challenges faced by companies doing business online?

 Opportunities:

1) 24 hour service.

2)No retail sellers (cut out the middle man)

Challenges:

1)Negative feedback/review from minority of consumers - lead to bad reputation.

2) Correctly trained staff.

Weekly Questions: Week Three Strategic Decision Making.

Chapter Two Questions

1. Define TPS & DSS, and explain how an organisation can use these systems to make decisions and gain competitive advantages


TPS: Transaction Processing Systems used by analysts comprises of Transactional Information: This process is used to support the performance of daily operational tasks e.g ATM's This information is used to analyze sales and demand - while determining how much inventory to carry. Also Analytical Information: used to support the performance of managerial analysis tasks - Transactional, market and industry information e.g trends, sales and product statistics, and future growth - Managers use this information before making decisions within the organisation. Other TPS are Online transaction processing OLTP and Transaction processing sys TPS and Online analytical processing OLAP.
DSS: Decision Support Systems used by Managers mainly and like the TPS system these ensure that businesses have information available and to assist in decision making processes and problems solving and opportunity solving.  EIS: Executive Information Systems used by Executives to analyse data internally and externally within an organisation - consolidation of information, Drill down information within a desired time period and Slice and dice information from different perspectives.

2. Describe the three quantitative models typically used by decision support systems.


1. Sensitivity analysis: Studies the impact of changes and how these changes affect other variables.
2. What-if analysis: Studies the impact of change in an assumption and analysts continue to repeat this in various situations
3. Goal seeking analysis: Studies the inputs used to achieve a desired goal by setting target value/goals for a variable and then changes other variables until the target/goals is a achieved. 

3. Describe a business processes and their importance to an organisation.


"A business process is a standardised set of activities that accomplish a specific task, such as processing a customers order". E.g Paying for groceries "Purpose" at the checkout "Process. These processes transform a set of inputs into a set of outputs (goods or services) while ensuring organisations "anticipate bottlenecks, eliminate duplicate activities, combine related activities and identify smooth running processes - while achieving goals. 

4. Compare business process improvement and business process re-engineering.


"Business Process Improvement attempts to understand and measure current process and make performance improvements accordingly".
Business Process Re-engineering "assumes that the current process is irrelevant, does not work, or is broken and must be overhauled from scratch". Looks at taking a completely different path instead of trying to improve the current process.

5. Describe the importance of business process modelling (or mapping) and business process models.

Business Process Modelling is created to ensure businesses have a detailed flowchart or process map of desired goals and the tasks/inputs and activities needed.

Business Process Models expose process detail and in a controlled manner, encourage conciseness and accuracy in describing the process model, focus attention on the process model interfaces and provide a powerful process analysis and consistent design vocabulary. E.g As -is process to To-be process of ordering a hamburger.

http://www.business-persuasion-influence-motivation.com/process-mapping.html

Weekly Questions: Week Two Information Systems in Business.

Chapter One Questions
Explain information technology’s role in business and describe how you measure success?  

IT role is being an enabler of Business success and Innovation. IT  automates business processes and communication.

It can transform a business, reduce costs, improve productivity and generate growth.

http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/generic.shtml

List and describe each of the forces in Porter’s Five Forces Model?

Determines the relative attractiveness of an industry:

BSTTR

Buyer Power:HIGH Ecommerce more choice -LOW =LOYALTY PROGRAM

Supplier Power: LOW Reduced bigger market, power, LOW when choice is many(suppliers want LOW, Org HIGH)

Threat of SUBSTITUTE P&S: Increases rivalry, alternatives, options = switching costs. 

Threat of NEW entrants:HIGH Marketing new P&S High within IT, Online, LOW when barriers Telstra

Rivalry among existing competitors HIGH when market is fierce LOW when competition is complacent.= “switching costs steal customers” 

http://notesdesk.com/notes/strategy/porters-five-forces-model-porters-model/

Describe the relationship between business processes and value chains?

Used to determine the success or failure of its chosen strategy:

VALUE CREATION = BUSINESS PROCESSES (standard activities that accomplish tasks) + EFFICIENT VALUE CHAINS (series of Processes -each that adds value to P&S).

Creation: Primary Value Activities PVA -Raw materials, make, market, sell and provide support. **Increase PVA decreases the threat of substitutes**

Support Value Activities SVA - Support the PVA**Increase SVA decrease new entrants**

CUSTOMERS DETERMINE EACH ACTIVITY AND HOW IT ADDS VALUE TO THE P&S 

http://www.themanager.org/models/valuechain.htm


Compare Porter’s three generic strategies?

Broad cost Leadership: being a low cost producer/ selling price beats profit of rivals, competition may match but suffer losses - targets broad market, can start to produce cheaply(lower cost materials) - last a long time. Using VERTICAL INTEGRATION DECISIONS - RISKS all lower cost e.g. due to IT

Broad differentiation:P&S that has developed unique attributes n valued by customers, some firms may charge premium price due cusomter not finding substitutes RISKS: Imitations by competitiors and change in customer tates.

Focused strategy: attempts to achieve either cost advantage or differentiation - high customer loyalty and discourages competition.RISKS: Imitation and cost leaders adapt products and compete. 

http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=tutorials&article=17-2