project management

Project Management & Consulting Methods

(TML Foods)

Case: TML Foods. This case is an oldie (set in 1998 or so, written in 2001), but a goodie. I have used it in the past for strategic management courses. TML Foods has a few problems (to say the least). Your team has been hired as consultants by TML to get them out of the trouble that they’re in. To do this…

Read and re-read the case and come up with a plan for the company — just one strategy.

Maybe they should focus on the retail meat counter business. Maybe they should expand big time into Japan. Maybe… pick one idea and go with that.

Your team will use your imagination and information from the case to come up with a plan as though you are project managers being paid to manage the project you have proposed.

Project Charter —

Deliverable — a Project Charter for the Team Case Assignment (TML Foods). Maximum 2 pages.

Details — A Project Charter is created at the start of a project and outlines key information that is known about the project at the time including background information (why is the project being initiated?), the objectives of the project, the timelines, the assumptions, stakeholders, and risks the project is expected to face.

You will be making a lot of this stuff up. How long does it take to get export permits for fresh pork going to Japan? I don’t know, but you can come up with reasonable timelines, tasks and activities that need to be done (i.e., precedence relationships), etc. Contracting a refrigerated cargo handler would come after getting the permits for example.

The plan you are proposing to TML Foods is the “unique product” that your team has been

assembled to complete as part of this “temporary endeavour”.