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PROJ6000 - Uber's New Driver-Focused App Assignment Answer
Introduction
Project selection is the key process to analyse each and every project idea and choose the project with the greatest priority. There are various methods that can be used to select a project. This report discusses the case study, wherein Uber is planning to launch a new app that is a sort of experiment coming from the company. This app is redesigned considering the opinions of 3 million drivers associated with the company. In this essay report, the use of project management tools like PMBOK is demonstrated. In addition to this, different project selection approaches in the context of Uber have been elucidated. These include Six Sixma, Cost-Benefit analysis, and feasibility assessment.
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Essay
As given in the case study that Uber is planning to launch a new app for bringing the worldwide driver community closer to the company. The aim is to use the drivers' experience to design the app and other services software. This would be a great help for the company as drivers will start thinking that their experiences are being valued by the company. In addition to this, the company is aiming at making an app which is fast and user-friendly that enhances the overall experience of the drivers. For this project, it is important to consider all the risks and opportunities of the company's app. There are many risks that might impact the project's success. If the drivers are finding any difficulties in using the newly launched app, then this might lead to the failure of the app. Hence, it is quintessential to analyse the positive and negative aspects of a project. This can be done in various ways that are explained below:
Six Sigma Process
Uber exhibit resourceful and innovative skills that help in its progress and success as well. It is quite interesting to understand how Uber is making use of six sigma techniques in its services and that too without owning a singlecab. In addition to this, the very first method that would be used for the project in the case study is Design for Six Sigma. By making use of this method, the company is able to consider the voices of drivers and their suggestions along with that of processes (Kerzner&Kerzner, 2017). The process depends on the business model of Uber and so does its profitability. This would increase the driver's loyalty and also the increase their numbers that ultimately result in an increase in the increase in profitability of the company. Hence, the project can be accepted by making use of six sigma.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
The Uber app is a taxi ordering app used by over 3 million drivers around the world due to job opportunities and outstanding services to the local community. People are now able to book their private cabs for themselves that too at an affordable price. The overall cost of building the app is related to the technology that has been used to build the app. Various programming languages would be used Node.Js, PHP, Java, Python, Ruby on Rails, etc. Another element that would be used in the Uber app is GPS, OpenStreetMap, API for Android/iOS. All these services are chargeable. Without going into further detail, the cost components of the app comprise web development, backend development, designing, management and quality assurance, and Native app development. However, due to cheaper and convenient services, the rate of returns are pretty much good and also it has many social benefits for society like affordable personalised cab services for the global community. The drivers feel motivated as the company is valuing their suggestion. Therefore, the cost-benefit analysis suggests that the project should be taken up (Howell&Koskela, 2012).
There are other methods too, such as feasibility analysis and opportunity cost. These methods are designed to make improvement in accounting the monetary benefits of the company's resources. No doubt that Uber might be having other projects too and working on this project is surely having an opportunity cost. Hence, there is a need for computing the overall cost and benefits of this project with the opportunity cost of other alternatives (Kerzner&Kerzner, 2017). Hence, if the opportunity cost is lower than the benefits of this app upgrading project, then it should be straight away accepted or else the company can shut or discard the project (Kahn, et.al, 2012).
PMBOK Knowledge and Initiation Document
PMBOK is an abbreviation of Project Management Body of Knowledge and it comprises innumerable practices and processes along with some guidelines that best suit for managing the project. This project of Uber might be affected by factors such as changing variables and scope of the project. Hence, PMBOK provides suggestions and a tool to discover new practices and methods to deal with such circumstances. The project management process for Uber is characterised by various sub-processes, such as initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and controlling. In the very beginning of this project, several project initiation documents are required to be developed. Project Management Institute has given immense emphasise on the initiation phase(Pons, 2018). This stage is characterised by forming visions and goals for the project and what could be the resulted outcomes of the project. It also states the source of funds and developing the budget for the project. PMI is putting a strong emphasis on developing the project management document because it provides direction to the project and avoids making it chaos. In addition to this, the initial stage of the process also comprises formation of the project team and a manager is assigned to keep a check on various aspects of the project (Ho, et.al, 2013).He/she provides authority to the team members to carry out various project process and achieve the project goals within a stipulated budget and time. The project initiation document comprises a project charter, risk register, project plan, budget, and stakeholder analysis. These documents comprise the deadlines, outcomes, contingency management plan, and visions and objectives of the project. All these are quintessential prior to moving further with the project.
Project management practices and their appropriateness
Project management is no cakewalk and therefore, it requires various tools available for completing the process and executing responsibilities. Many of them are based on some sort of computer software (Howell&Koskela, 2012). However, appropriateness depends on the scope of the project. Some of the tools are Gantt chart, Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT), and CPM diagram. Uber can make use of PERT tool as is specifically for planning and controlling purposes. It can be used on software or manually. By making use of PERT, Uber can be able to carry out two or more tasks simultaneously. It can help in resource allocation and management. By making use of PERT, the team members can be able to determine the specific task and its deadlines (Kahn, et.al, 2012). They can be able to arrange tasks sequentially and can be able to form a network. Furthermore, the team can be able to calculate the time required for completing each task. Talking about the Gantt charts, they can be used for tracking the progress of each process and arrange the process. Any delay can be tracked down and managed accordingly. PERT and CPM are often used interchangeably and both provide an idea of the critical path and time taken by the project and the critical processes in a project that cannot be ignored or left unattended (Alleman, 2015).
Project management practices for risk management
Launching a new app is not acakewalk as there are many risks that Uber might have identified in the very beginning of the project. PMI has provided many tools to curb those risks and manage the project effectively. These practices are planning, identifying, analysing, responding, monitoring, and controlling. These processes are all about determining the general risk and its management approach that has to be project-specific (Pons, 2018). Once this is done, the next steps are to analyse the overall impact of the project risks over the growth of the project. PMI suggests that the project manager should assign risks to individual members for better analysis. It is important to understand that analysis is both quantitative and qualitative and it should prioritise the potential impact (Kahn, et.al, 2012). Then comes the responding part that aims at reducing the possibility of occurrence and taking measures to mitigate those risks. At last, come the monitoring and controlling part. It is all about tracking the identified risks and carrying out risk management plan when it is required. In addition to this, it also requires communicating the progress and status report to the senior management and the project stakeholders.
The following essay discussed the project management aspects by making use of PMI guidelines and PMBOK strategy. It was identified that the project can only be selected by making use of various analysis, such as cost-benefit analysis, opportunity cost, and six sigma. The essay also talked about risk management as per PMI.
References
- Alleman, G. B. (2015). Agile project management methods for IT projects. The story of managing projects: An interdisciplinary approach, 324-333.
- Ho, W., Xu, X. and Dey, P.K., (2016). Multi-criteria decision making approaches for supplier evaluation and selection: A literature review.European Journal of Operational Research, 202(1), 16-24.
- Howell, G. A., &Koskela, L. (2012). Reforming project management: the role of lean construction.
- Kahn, K. B., Barczak, G., Nicholas, J., Ledwith, A., & Perks, H. (2012). An examination of new product development best practice. Journal of product innovation management, 29(2), 180-192.
- Kerzner, H., &Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
- Pons, D. (2018). Project management for new product development. Project management journal, 39(2), 82-97.
- Qarase, A. O. (2012). The effect of using the learning cycle method in teaching science on the educational achievement of the sixth graders. International Journal of Educational Sciences, 4(2), 123-132.
