DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM 2
Bernice Dandeebo-Yeboah
BUSI 680: Project Management I
Forum 2
Dr Mathis Dalton Keith
DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM 2
Background
Project evaluation and selection are essential aspects of project management because
projects as characterized Larson and Gray (2018), have limited or assigned resources with a
‘defined lifespan’ and ‘objective’. God exemplifies qualities of a great project manager from
the time of creation (Genesis 1) and makes provision for wise counsel to direct the choices of
His children. In Exodus 18:21 (ESV), God directed Jethro to counsel Moses. The counsel
enabled Moses to rank and choose abled men who feared God, had integrity and possessed
wisdom to assist him in his role as a leader. The ability of Moses to evaluate and select men
who assisted him with his purpose of leading the Israelites on their journey to Canaan, depict
good project management qualities embodied in wise counsel.
In the business perspective, there are several factors considered when evaluating and
selecting projects. Widmer (2019) describes (1) return on investment, (2) customer benefit
compared to necessary investment, and (3) strategic contribution compared with necessary
investment; as few ranking factors that guide project selection decisions (Widmer, 2019).
According to the case study, the film division of the large entertainment conglomerate aligns
its ranking scheme for film projects with some of the factors Widmer (2019) discusses.
The priority team of the film division have been tasked to evaluate and select three
film proposals out of a list of seven proposals. Based on the case requirements, every film or
project is required to reflect the three ‘must’ objectives for consideration. Also, the executive
management has provided seven ‘want’ objectives the projects should align or meet. To
support prioritization of the proposals a ‘Project Priority Evaluation Form’ has been provided
to assist proposal rankings in Appendix A. Appendix B also provides a structured
justification and selection criteria for the various proposals under evaluation.
DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM 2
Recommendations
As a priority project member, it is recommended that ‘One Whale of a Story’, ‘Heidi’,
and ‘Escape from Rio Japuni’, be considered as the top three ranked film proposals. This is
because each of the proposals meet the company’s mission, profile and core objectives. ‘My
Life with Dalai Lama’ and ‘Nadia’ can be considered as next viable film projects. Although,
‘Grand Island’ has a higher weighed score than ‘Nadia’ but ‘Nadia’ meets the ‘must’
objectives so it should be selected over the former. Finally, both ‘The Year of the Echo’ and
‘Grand Island’ should not be considered because they do not meet the ‘must’ criteria as well
as most of the ‘want’ objectives. This is due to the high controversy in subject manner,
storyline and PG or lower advisory rating.
In evaluating and rating projects, I am reminded that “Where there is no guidance, a
people fall, but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety” Proverbs 11:14 (ESV).
References
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2018). Project management: The Managerial Process (7th ed.).
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
Widmer, A. January, 2019. Project Prioritization: The Ranking Method, the Scoring Method,
and the Domain Approach at a Glance. Retrieved from
https://meisterplan.com/blog/project-prioritization-ranking-scoring/
DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM 2
Appendix A
Project Priority Evaluation Form
Must
objectiv
e
s
Must
meet
if
impac
t
s
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Meets
a
ll
safety
and
e
n
v
i
ro
nmen
t
a
l
standards
Y= yes
N
=
n
o
N/A =
not
app
li
ca
bl
e
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
PG or G
r
a
ti
n
g
Y =
yes
N
=
n
o
N/A
= not
app
li
ca
bl
e
Y Y N Y Y Y N/A
No
adverse
eff
ec
t
on
other
ope
r
a
t
i
o
n
s
Y =
yes
N
=
n
o
N/A= not
app
li
ca
bl
e
Y Y N Y Y N/A N
Want
objectiv
e
s
Relative
i
m
portance
1-100
Single project
impact definitio
n
s
Weighted
Score
Weighted
S
c
o
r
e
W
e
i
g
h
t
e
d
Sc
o
r
e
Weighted
Sc
o
r
e
Weighted
S
c
o
r
e
Weighted
Sco
r
e
W
e
i
g
hted
Sc
ore
Win Best Picture of
the Year 70
0 = No
po
t
e
nt
i
a
l
1
= Low
po
t
e
nt
i
a
l
2 = High
p
o
t
e
nt
i
a
l
0200121
Win Best
Animated
Feature Film
60
0 = No
p
o
t
e
nt
i
a
l
1 = Low
po
t
e
nt
i
a
l
2 = High
p
o
t
e
nt
i
a
l
2202020
Generate
ad
dit
i
o
n
a
l
m
e
r
c
h
a
ndi
se
10
0 = No
p
o
t
e
nt
i
a
l
1 = Low
po
t
e
nt
i
a
l
2 = High
p
o
t
e
nt
i
a
l
2212221
R
a
i
s
e
e
n
v
i
ro
nm
e
n
t
a
l
co
n
ce
rn
s
55
0 = No
p
o
t
e
nt
i
a
l
1
= Low
po
t
e
nt
i
a
l
2 = High
p
ot
e
nt
i
a
l
1102012
Generate
profit
greater
than
18%
70
0 <
18%
1
=
18--22
%
2 >
22
%
1101010
Advance state
of
film
a
nim
at
i
o
n
40
0 = No
imp
ac
t
1
= Some
imp
ac
t
2 = Great
im
pac
t
1101020
P
r
ov
i
de
bas
i
s
for
new theme
rid
e
10
0 = No
p
o
t
e
nt
i
a
l
1 = Low
po
t
e
nt
i
a
l
2 = High
p
o
t
e
nt
i
a
l
2102120
Total weighted score 325 455 10 380 100 505 190
Priority 4273516
DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM 2
Appendix B
Justification Chart
My Life with
Dalai Lama (1)
Must Objectives
Meets all safety and
environmental
standards Yes: Safety and environmental standards are met.
PG or G advisory
rating Yes: Animated film based on a children's story.
No adverse effect on
other operations Yes: Subject matter aligns with company profile and mission.
Want Objectives
Win Best Picture of
the Year
Not likely to win best picture as an animated film because of low
investment
Win Best Animated
Feature Film
Highly probable because the story is based popular book which
can generate viewer interest
Generate additional
merchandise
Yes: Film is based on popular book character so children's
merchandise and toys will be q high potential by product of movie
Raise environmental
concerns
Low potential: may be possible with animals and nature related
principles of Buddhism but may not resonate with Atheist audience
Generate profit
greater than 18% 50% probability of 18% ROI.
Advance state of film
animation Some impact as it is an animated film.
Provide basis for
new theme ride
High potential of theme ride based on storyline involving snakes
and other animals
Heidi (2)
Must Objectives
Meets all safety and
environmental
standards Yes: Safety and environmental standards are met.
PG or G advisory
rating Yes: Classic children’s story with musical.
No adverse effect on
other operations Yes: Subject matter aligns with company profile and mission.
Want Objectives
Win Best Picture of
the Year
High potential because of big budget investment, top stars and
location of film.
Win Best Animated
Feature Film
High potential since it is a remake of a classic children’s story with
musicals featuring top-name stars
Generate additional
merchandise
Yes: Children’s merchandise such as toys, music videos and songs
can generate additional revenue
Raise environmental
concerns Low potential due to location of film in the Swiss Alps
Generate profit
greater than 18% 50% probability of 20% ROI.
Advance state of film
animation
Some impact as some aspects of the film may incorporate
animation
Provide basis for
new theme ride Low potential storyline characters and musical
The Year of the
Echo (3)
Must Objectives Meets all safety and
environmental
standards
Yes: Safety and environmental standards are met.
DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM 2
PG or G advisory
rating
No: Due to movie revelation of the underworld of sex, drugs, lies
and death in music industry
No adverse effect on
other operations
No: Subject matter interferes with the company’s mission and
profile
Want Objectives
Win Best Picture of
the Year No potential related to film due to low budget.
Win Best Animated
Feature Film No potential because it is not an animated film
Generate additional
merchandise Low potential related to music video and songs
Raise environmental
concerns Movie does not lead to any environmental concerns.
Generate profit
greater than 18% 50% probability of 14% ROI.
Advance state of film
animation No potential because it is not an animated film
Provide basis for
new theme ride
Movie does not provide opportunity for creating new theme park
ride.
Escape from Rio
Japuni (4)
Must Objectives
Meets all safety and
environmental
standards Yes: Safety and environmental standards are met.
PG or G advisory
rating Yes: Animated film features animals in the jungle.
No adverse effect on
other operations Yes: Subject matter aligns with company profile and mission.
Want Objectives
Win Best Picture of
the Year No potential of becoming best picture film
Win Best Animated
Feature Film High potential with animated storyline and rain forest visuals.
Generate additional
merchandise
High potential for animal toys, figurines and children's
merchandise.
Raise environmental
concerns
High potential related to animals in the Amazon jungles and the
destruction caused by local clear cutting.
Generate profit
greater than 18% 50% probability of 20% ROI.
Advance state of film
animation
Have a low potential impact because it is an animated film which
raises awareness on environmental issues
Provide basis for
new theme ride
High potential for theme ride due to storyline location and animals
featured
Nadia (5)
Must Objectives
Meets all safety and
environmental
standards
Yes: Safety and environmental standards are met and focusses of
character building
PG or G advisory
rating Yes: Story is about the childhood of famous gymnast.
No adverse effect on
other operations Yes: Subject matter aligns with company profile and mission.
Want Objectives Win Best Picture of
the Year Low potential because it is a low budget film.
Win Best Animated
Feature Film No potential because it is not an animated film
Generate additional
merchandise
High potential for dolls and merchandise such as backpacks and T-
shirts
Raise environmental
concerns Storyline does not raise any environmental concerns
Generate profit
greater than 18%
50% probability of 15% ROI.
DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM 2
Advance state of film
animation No potential because it is not an animated film but real-life story
Provide basis for
new theme ride Low potential focusing on gymnastics and the Olympics
One Whale of a
Story (6)
Must Objectives
Meets all safety and
environmental
standards Yes: Safety and environmental standards are met.
PG or G advisory
rating Yes: Animated story of a whale.
No adverse effect on
other operations
N/A: Subject matter aligns with company profile and mission, but
poor management of its high budget can have adverse budget
effect on other operations
Want Objectives
Win Best Picture of
the Year
High potential of winning best picture with high investment in
integrating animation with real footage for audience visual appeal
Win Best Animated
Feature Film
High potential as an animated film integrating real footage with
strong family values featuring popular whale.
Generate additional
merchandise High potential for children's merchandise and toys
Raise environmental
concerns
Low potential because the storyline is about killer whales, their
ocean life and humans
Generate profit
greater than 18% 50% probability of 18% ROI.
Advance state of film
animation High potential related to integration of animation and real footage.
Provide basis for
new theme ride High potential due to storyline.
Grand Island (7)
Must Objectives
Meets all safety and
environmental
standards Yes: Safety and environmental standards are met.
PG or G advisory
rating
N/A: Questionable topic; storyline involves children who fight
existing structures
No adverse effect on
other operations
Possibility of adverse legal effects due to storyline and
bureaucracy elements
Want Objectives
Win Best Picture of
the Year
Low possibility of winning Best Picture of the Year if moderate
budget is efficiently used
Win Best Animated
Feature Film No potential because it is not an animated film
Generate additional
merchandise Low potential for merchandise due to controversial storyline
Raise environmental
concerns
High impact for raising environmental concerns about toxic
dumping and pollution
Generate profit
greater than 18% 50% probability of 15% ROI.
Advance state of film
animation No potential because it is not an animated movie
Provide basis for
new theme ride
No potential for new theme rides because topic is controversial
and opportune ideas are low based on storyline
