For Ann Harris

Project Justification

Under Armour’s new product launching will be marketed through the e-commerce stores of the company. As the company’s chief information officer, the management wants to develop a website application which can be used as the e-commerce site the company’s new product marketing and accessibility to consumers. Through an e-commerce site, it is important for the company to target a large number of global and local communities. The entry into the market will not be expensive but rather cheap and easily accessible (Kraft, & Lee, 2009). The project for developing an upgraded e-commerce site which will help the company’s research and development, marketing, human resources and customer service to interact with the consumers in the contemporary communities. The rise of the sporting industry and apparel demands, there is the sudden demand for improving accessibility and consumer satisfaction. This can be achieved through the company’s approach for an international and locally based e-commerce to collect consumer demands and offer a new approach to consumer customization for their products.

Aligning the Project to the Organizational Strategy

Under Armour’s mission is to “to make all athletes better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation.” The approach for connecting communication technologies with the seamless use of the internet will increase how the passion and design meet consumer customization. Through the e-commerce site, consumers, athletes, and other sporting personalities will be able to order through a mass customization segment of the website application (Chaffey, 2007). The e-commerce will allow a one on one communication and interaction with the research and development of the company. This will engage the company to ensure and learn about the modern trends in the community and the impact of these trends on the company’s market approaches. The e-commerce will also give the consumers an easier way for processing payments and ordering products and apparels through the company’s mass customization application. The mass customization and online payment processing will help the company to define its growth measure and market consumption. It is a study which will help in the planning and creative application for an organization’s processing and planning to meet and improve its operational performance (Kraft, & Lee, 2009). As a strategy, it is important to use and develop different resources to meet and increase operational effectiveness to support operational development.

Identification of Stakeholders

a) Project manager

The project manager will be responsible for the overall management of the project and development of the e-commerce website. The project manager will be able to effectively develop and improve operational effectiveness, develop task allocation and control of risks of the project (Project Management Institute, 2013). He/she will ensure the necessary project plans and scope is well-maintained to avoid any relapse in the process of improving operational effectiveness.

b) System users

The market and users of the e-commerce will be central in defining their needs and expectations. They will be the field of study for the system and developers of the e-commerce applications. They will develop and help in the definition of the core functional uses and expectations of the system. The main aim is to help in the system analysis and gathering of the needs of the systems (Kraft, & Lee, 2009). They will work in hand in hand with the system developers for an efficient allocation of resources and determination of the needs of the e-commerce.

c) Business analysts

Project budgeting needs to be well-prepared and maintained to help in the functional performance and processing. It is also a process for ensuring there is a logical solution for offering, developing, and increasing operational effectiveness and allocations of functional performance in terms of meeting the budget and all the processing of the system development processes (Project Management Institute, 2013). Business analysts will also keep track of the project’s progress by highlighting any changes and issues which might hinder the successful completion of the project.

d) Software developers

These are the experts who will use the needs of the users and non-functional needs of the system to develop a website which will meet the expectations and needs of the company (Project Management Institute, 2013). They will be responsible for system planning and testing to ensure the website meets the functional and nonfunctional needs.

e) System analysts

The system analysts will also be central and essential for the development, planning and utilization of the necessary needs such as meeting the expectations of the functional teams (Project Management Institute, 2013). They will work in hand in hand with system developers to ensure the deliverables meet the expectations and timelines offered by the company.

f) Project development team

The project development team will be under the guidance and leadership of the project manager. The will ensure there is a constant communication and this will help in implementing the needed resources and processes (Project Management Institute, 2013). Their effort and communication will ensure a positive communication to meet the demands and expectations of the project have and are met.

g) Company owners

The company which is Under Armour will be responsible for the allocation and distribution of resources for the project. The development of the e-commerce will be central to the development and planning of the future processes of the company’s apparel marketing and development.

Defining the Scope

The aim of the project is to help the company to effectively market its new products in the local and international markets. It is a process to ensure and help the company has an online presence which will help its consumers to search, browse and make orders. The system will help consumers and clients to make orders based on different customization techniques used. The system will allow consumers to make payment, process invoices, allow product reviews and select different customization orders. The system will enable the company to collect user’s information, feedback from the already allocated and given information. This will help the company to collect information on user information and facts. The facts will also help in decision making regarding consumer feedback and demand for the new products. The system will work in both ways supporting the users such as consumers and market to search and leave product and feedback. Taking surveys is also another important consideration. This will help in improving and supporting organizational advantage. The scope covers the functional and nonfunctional performance of the system in accordance to the organizational structure, its business functions and needs of its businesses.

Work Breakdown Structure

The work breakdown structure focuses on the core activities of the development team. As indicated on the work breakdown structure below, it is important and essential to use the given and allocated services to help in maintaining effective performance. Therefore, the main activities include:

· Feasibility Study – conducted to help in the determination of the benefits and if the system is worthwhile to the company.

· System analysis – gathering and analyzing the business, functional and nonfunctional needs of the system.

· System design and system development – works towards designing and building the system to meet the needs and expectations of the system.

· Testing – will focus on the determination, validation and creative application of the system and how effectively does it meet the user and system expectations.

· Finally, Implementation – which deals with system and user training and maintenance planning of the system.

Project Budget

Based on the information provided by the company’s financial planning and system upgrading. The budget will involve the initial planning on the resources needed in the development of the system as indicated below. It is also important to use the given information a logical support to help in promotion and improving system performance. The budget for the system is as indicated below:

Communication Matrix

The communication plan presented below is a verbal and communication techniques which will be applied by the different project sponsors. They will hold meetings and the frequency of the meetings is indicated to indicate about the openness and importance of the meetings.

Risk Identification

The development of the online e-commerce application and systems faces different risks which threaten the fully support and overall running of the project till completion. Some of the threats are based on human errors such as:

· Poor leadership strategies by the project manager

· Poor communication techniques and strategies

· Project scope changes

· Incomplete designs which might result incomplete system development

Whereas, there are threats which arises from the changes in the system and business needs of the company. These threats includes:

· Inadequate resources for developing the system

· Lack of cooperation from stakeholders of the company

· Lack of involvement of the stakeholders’ in the project and among many other errors which might arise in the course of the project.

The error represented offers a clear indicating on the importance of project management and good planning. For instance, change of scope and performance of a system during testing will affect the function performance of a system. It is also important to consider developing and implementing changes to support organizational performance. Opportunities in the system will be through extra planning and promoting effective leadership in the process. It is a process for helping and demonstrating changes based on operational and effective support from the stakeholders.

Project Execution

Project execution refers to different processes which are essential for managing and increasing project dependency. It is also important and critical to ensure the processes for managing projects are developed to meet the project expectations and deliverables. The introduction of project planning has helped to ensure the success and flow of the project is based on the provided and guaranteed project progress. It is important to apply the needed metrics to ensure a smooth flow and transition in a project. The focus on the project execution and monitoring is controlling the outcome, needed expectations and planning on the project team selection, management techniques, controlling risks and any associated stakeholder engagement and planning.

Quality Assurance Tools and Techniques

For quality assurance plans, it is important to set the quality metrics such as meeting the expected project goals and constraints. As a process of measuring project quality, the project manager will set the needed expectations, goals and objectives for each project deliverable. The successful auditing of the deliverables based on the outcome and project deliverables and functionality will help in meeting the demands and expectations of a project (Chaffey, 2007). A technique for checking quality assurance is fast tracking on performance and progress of the project. The progress of the project will ensure a considerable track on the progress of the project.

Managing the Project Team

Managing the team is also another crucial element and aspect to consider when dealing with a system development lifecycle. Ensure and always develop performance based metrics. This will engage the project team into working together to ensure the projects’ rules and constraints are met. It is also possible to help and promote project team into working in groups and organizational development. Organizing the project team into groups such as each group covers certain given milestones will help in project management and development (Project Management Institute, 2013b). This is the process which will help in engaging the project on considering and improving project organizational development. Managing the team will also help through constant supervision and having an open communication system and strategy. This will improve and increase operational development and support.

Conducting Procurements

Development of an e-commerce application for the company will consider procuring different project needs and expectations. It is only possible to fully develop the needed expectations such as planning on the needed functional modules and computer information systems. There is the purchase of computer hardware and software applications. This will be conducted through the selection of the procurement planning which will meet the demands and expectations of the project team and budgeting (Chaffey, 2007). There is also the need for focusing on organizational support, performance, and operational effectiveness. Focusing on the inputs from the stakeholders, it is also important and essential to focus on performance and how to use the needed resource and how they will meet the project expectations.

Controlling Costs

Fast project tracking and progress audits will be conducted to check and ensure the projects re conducted and evaluated based on project expectations. Using the necessary fast tracking and critical path methods the project manager will ensure the project meets its progress and performance. Appraisals will also be used to ensure the project’s critical path is followed and offered based on the nature, need, and expectations of a project (Project Management Institute, 2013b). Therefore, using the project costs, it is essential to help in planning on the needed and expected project returns. It is the performance of the project which will help in the successful performance of a project.

Controlling Risks

Controlling project risks can be associated with the changes in operational differences and project success. It is also important to consider developing the necessary processes, projects, and using the core techniques to control project risks. For instance, one of the many techniques is the application for project change requests and filling for any project scope changes (Chaffey, 2007). It is an approach which will help in implementing changes, while increasing operational effectiveness. Approval of project scope changes and supporting the transition from project leadership can help in reducing any uncertainties and planning for these project uncertainties.

Managing Stakeholder Engagement

Engaging stakeholders is an essential responsibility for the project manager. The manager will ensure there is a proper communication culture which will help and support organizational development towards a productive performance. Considering the processes for management are essential, it is a critical resource to ensure, stakeholders’ involvement supports organizational performance. It is a process for developing, and improving project development from a managerial and resource allocation (Project Management Institute, 2013b). It is also core and critical to ensure the processes for management are essential and critical. The process for communication will also impact the operational management.

Project Closing

Discuss how the deliverable will be accepted by the customer/client

After the completion of a project, the customers need to understand the product which has been developed if it meets its expectations and needs. It is important to consider using different acceptance criteria to define the importance of the acceptance by the customers. Testing feedback and results can be used as the foundation for ensuring customer acceptance has been agreed or approved. There is also the requirement specification document. Comparing the outcome and deliverables, the requirement gathering is able to effectively and ultimately communicate or indicate the shortcomings of the project or software product under development. Therefore, the different ways in which the customer can accept the deliverable is through testing results, validation and verification on requirements of the project (Project Management Institute, 2013b).

Acceptance can only be valid if the deliverable has been approved by the costumers or clients. It is therefore, important to consider project testing to ensure the project meets the needed expectations of the customers or clients (Project Management Institute, 2013b). The importance of conducting testing is to remove any errors associated with the project and illustrates or determines the progress son the final deliverable of the project. It is important to focus on the importance, necessity, and the need to have a consumer approval in terms of acceptance and using the project developed. The customer will only approve the deliverable if it meets their needs or demands.

Acceptance can be also be valid through the verification and validation of the project by the clients. Through hosting a live e-commerce system, the clients will be able to use and understand the functions of the e-commerce. This will help towards meetings the needs of the business and how the customer can effectively utilize the system to meet the growing demands in the community (Project Management Institute, 2013b). As a result, the customer will accept the deliverable if it has a valid results from testing which will ensure acceptance and valid performance in the contemporary community. The clients will also accept a live working e-commerce application which will be critical and vital to the project maintenance, usability, and staff training. The clients will accept the deliverable if it has the necessary verified information on its functionalities and performance.

Discuss the process for closing the project management plan

The process of closing a project or a phase is critical to the continuous development of the project and this will involve further planning as identified in the project planning and initiation. The aim of project closing is to ensure all the processes and phase out plans are well-documented and developed. It is important to use information and facts obtained through the project planning and monitoring to ensure the project closing is able to address all issues which are critical to maintenance and development of the project. The processes of closing a project management plan involves, conducting review meetings, documentation of lessons learned, updating of all organizational assets, and releasing of the project resources (Project Management Institute, 2013b).

Conducting review meetings will help the project manager to determine the success and fail points of the project. It is important to review and conduct the necessary processes and plans to ensure the project was running effectively (Project Management Institute, 2013b). This is also in accordance for improving on any unforeseen issues which might affect and hinder future project planning and development. There is also the documentation of the lessons learned. During the course of any project, project managers and teams always face new challenges and issues. It is only important to use, develop and focus on the importance of adhering to processes and plans. It is also a way of assessing any challenges and failures which might hinder future project prospects. Therefore, it is a process for engaging the team towards future project planning and management.

Sometimes, it becomes a challenge to account for organizational assets which might have been under use and how to fully adhere to proper asset management. The updating of organizational assets will help and increase project management and this will also help in the future project planning and management. The aim is to influence, change, and increase the processes for project planning and being accountable for all assets either labor or machines. Finally, it is the release of all project resources and deliverables (Project Management Institute, 2013b). It is also important to release also project processes, planning and any documentation which might indicate the processes and budgeting information on the project assets. This will help on planning and future allocation of the core and critical information which can be used effortlessly for organizational performance and project effectiveness. Therefore, as the final processes of closing a project, releasing of project assets and resources is also similar to releasing ownership of the project to clients and customers.

Explain how the procurement contracts will be closed

There is also the importance of considering how a project’s procurement contracts and processes will be closed. The closing of the contracts considers information on its review on terms and conditions. This is the nature of conducting contract reviews by the procurement team and will ensure all the information regarding the contracts such as teams and conditions are well articulated. It will improve the review and selection in project planning and procurement. There is also the reviewing of all formal written notices regarding the importance of all contracts and any associated information (Project Management Institute, 2013b). The reviewing of all written notices will also help in the determination of its validity and verification. This will help towards improving project growth and development in the future. Finally, it is development of the contract and organizational information updating. This will ensure all the projects and processes are fully employed and this will help in the planning and association of all processes in planning for any future contract reviewing and renewals.

Lessons Learned in the course of the project that could help in future projects

Based on the approach used by the project, project planning is essential for ensuring all the needs and expectations of a project have been met conclusively. This is to help in the latter stages of project planning and development. The latter stages are also essential for improving project planning and focusing on increased development and project support. It is also a process for engaging on process performance to improve, increase, and develop different options based on the different approaches for organizational support (Project Management Institute, 2013b). Involvement of stakeholders in project planning and execution is also vital to the overall success and approval of the final deliverables. Therefore, the lessons learned are essential for improving project development, planning, initiation and future project management. There is the need for developing more effort towards project testing and closing since it is at the core of the project management plan.

References

Chaffey, D. (2007). E-business and E-commerce Management: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. Pearson Education.

Kraft, P., & Lee, J. W. (2009). Protecting the house of Under Armour. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 18(2), 112.