Assignment Instructions
Technology Management in Practice – Questions
You will complete 5 questions. The answers will each comprise an Executive Summary Statement of up to 500 words. These will be brief, individual answers to practical questions on various aspects of Technology Management.
This is an individual piece of work of a maximum 500 words per answer.
Individual Analysis of Project Management Usage
Give a critical analysis of the way project management is used in your organization(IT Organization). You can comment on several key aspects in order to show how technology objectives are achieved, in the workplace. Focus on Managing Change, Team Building and Project Review, as important project management factors that contribute to the successful delivery of projects. You should make recommendations as part of this analysis.
This is an individual piece of work of a maximum 1000 words.
Use academic and practice sources to support your analysis.
The total word count for the Individual Portfolio 2 will thus be a maximum of 3500 words, excluding the reference list.
Technology Management in Practice – Answer to Tutorial Question 1 Risk Management
Executive Summary Statement of up to 500 words
Case Detail
You have been hired by a large UK-based Financial Services Company to advise on a proposed business change. The Board want to move the IT division and Customer Helpline service to a new offshore facility. You have been appointed as an IT consultant to advise on the Risk Management aspect of this change. The Board have asked you to write a report to advise on the potential risks of this project and give recommendations for managing them.
Project details
• The proposed relocation is to a country in Europe
• New offices will be purpose-built for this service
• A small team of managers will be seconded to the new offices in order to supervise the setup of the facilities
• Most of the staff for the new offices will be recruited locally, in the designated country
• New computer equipment will be purchase for these offices
• The existing systems will be migrated to this new computer equipment
• The objective is to reduce costs in this area of service provision
• And improve links with the European markets
Use the case details (shown above) to help you complete this exercise. You are to report to the Board with a briefing note on the Risk Management of the proposed project. This should –
a) Identify the main risks of this project and their potential impact;
b) Give recommendations for reducing the likelihood of these potential risks occurring;
c) Give recommendations for contingencies to be utilized if the risks occur.
Technology Management in Practice – Answer to Tutorial Question 2 PRINCE2
Executive Summary Statement of up to 500 words
Case Details
You work for a large company that manufactures electrical components for export. You have been appointed to the position of Project Manager for a project to replace the existing production systems at the firm’s main factory. This will entail organising the removal of the old systems and installing the new systems. All of the manufacturing equipment will be replaced and a new computer system will be installed, as part of the project.
The move is expected to increase productivity via improved processes and your task is to plan this project.
Project details
• You will report to the Board of Directors – comprising the Chief Executive, Director of Production, Director of Finance and Sales Director.
• The Director of Production is responsible for the project
• The new systems will include a new payroll and personnel system; a new accounting system; and the new manufacturing systems.
• The total time allocated for the project is 6 months.
• The Head of IT, Head of Personnel, Payroll Manager, Chief Accountant and Factory Production Manager are key personnel involved in the project.
Use the case details (shown above) to help you complete this exercise. You are to report to the Board on performing this project using PRINCE2 project management methodology. This should comprise –
a. A summary of the arrangements and resources needed for the project;
b. A work breakdown, showing the main project tasks and responsibilities. This should include appropriate metrics.
Technology Management in Practice – Answer to Tutorial Question 3 Agile Methods
Executive Summary Statement of up to 500 words
Case Details
A large company has started a project to create ‘holidays in space’ for ordinary members of the public. You have been appointed to the position of Project Manager and given the task of creating the booking system for these holidays. This will take advance bookings from the public commencing 1st August 2021 with flights commencing 1st January 2022.
Project details
Due to overwhelming demand, the booking system will perform the following tasks:
• Record details of the customer (including medical information)
• Take a $10,000 non-refundable deposit and remaining balance when due
• On a monthly basis, randomly select 100 customers and allocate future travel dates on the basis of one flight per day (allowing 25 flights per month and four customers per flight)
• Notify each customer of their flight schedule (as available)
These will be treated as 4 separate sub-projects – to be completed in the next 6 months.
Use the case details (shown above) to help you complete this exercise. You are to report to the Board on performing this project using Agile project management methodology, via a SCRUM team. This should comprise –
a. A statement of the resources required by your SCRUM team to complete this work, including size estimation and appropriate justification;
b. A Product Backlog showing the main features to be developed (and priority order) for each of the sub-projects;
c. An outline Sprint Plan for each of the sub-projects.
Technology Management in Practice – Answer to Tutorial Question 4 Strategy
Executive Summary Statement of up to 500 words
Case Details
You have been hired by a large UK Supermarket with branches throughout the country. It started as a small family business but has grown to operate on a national scale. This company sources UK produce and has established a reputation for high quality food. The business has, though, fallen behind its main competitors in terms of market share. The IT systems are seen as a major area for improvement. You have been appointed as an IT consultant to create a new IT strategy to improve the business.
Project details
You will report to the Board of Directors
• Electrical goods and clothes are also sold in the stores as a ‘secondary’ activity
• The company only has financial systems (payroll, personnel and sales / accounting)
• The company has a basic website (allowing emails, showing store locations and the company’s accounts)
• There is a small IT team and server at the company’s headquarters, running these systems
• The objective is to create an IT strategy to improve the business and increase market share
Use the case details (shown above) to help you complete this exercise. You are to report to the Board with a briefing note for a new IT Strategy. This should comprise –
a. Main areas of improvement in terms of the IT provision;
b. Main areas where service delivery could be improved, driven by IT;
c. Details of the appropriate metrics to measure the potential improvements;
d. A summary of the arrangements and resources needed for the new IT strategy.
Technology Management in Practice – Answer to Tutorial Question 5 Ethics and Environment
Executive Summary Statement of up to 500 words
Case Details
A large City Council has signed up to the ‘Green Planet’ initiative, which comprises a commitment to an ethical and environmental agenda, including a target of becoming Carbon Neutral within 15 years. You have been assigned to the Task Force to run the project in the role of Technology Specialist. You will prepare a Briefing Note for the first project meeting. This will set the agenda for the potential technology-assisted change required to achieve environmental improvements. You will give brief details of the different ways that technology can contribute to this project by enhancing the environment in an ethical way, in order achieve success in this area.
Project details
• This is a large city in the UK with its own airport
• You are setting the technology agenda for the project
• The agenda should be ambitious in terms of scope
• The aim is to indicate areas where general improvements can be made
• The specific objective of becoming Carbon Neutral should be addressed
• The brief can include any aspect of civic life, in terms of the suggested technology-assisted improvements
Use the case details (shown above) to help you complete this exercise. You are to report to the Task Force meeting with a briefing note on the potential technology-assisted changes required to achieve environmental improvements for the proposed project. This should –
a) Identify the main technology-assisted changes and their potential impact;
b) State how these changes will be measured;
c) Give details of the resources required to implement the stated changes.
Individual Analysis of Project Management Usage
Give a critical analysis of the way project management is used in your organisation. You can comment on several key aspects in order to show how technology objectives are achieved, in the workplace. Focus on Managing Change, Team Building and Project Review, as important project management factors that contribute to the successful delivery of projects. You should make recommendations as part of this analysis.
This is an individual piece of work of a maximum 1000 words.
(Optional sub-headings in italics)
Types of Projects Run
Managing Change
Team Building
Methodology Used (PRINCE2, Agile, etc.)
Project Review
References (for all of the Answers in the Portfolio)
