New Tablet PC Project: HP TouchPad2 - Assignment Example

? HP TouchPad2 Project: New Tablet PC project HP TouchPad2 Project: New Tablet PC project The tablet PC industry is one characterized by cut-throat competition and a high level of innovativeness. Firms engaged in this sector realize the need to keep improving their products in order to remain relevant, maintain and expand their market shares. HP launched it tablet PC product, the HP TouchPad on February 9, 2011. One year later, it is necessary to introduce an improved version of the HP TouchPad in order to keep up with market pace and build on the success of the first generation HP TouchPad. This report details the project management considerations for the development of the HP TouchPad2, the second generation of HP tablets featuring several improvements. Herein, details about the external and internal project determinants are provided alongside a PERT and Gantt chart for the project. 1. Please analyze external factors which could influence the project for the organization, which are the following factors: basic legal, political, social, and economic environments The HP TouchPad2 development project may face a number of external influences. The main legal determinant in the current project entails the question of patents. Expert Reviews (2012) details the legal wars that have characterized the technology sector pitting the industry heavyweights against each other. Infringing on patents, which are meant to protect innovations may result in halting of the project, accompanied by delays and associated budget inflations. There is no directly conceivable influence of politics on the current project. However, several governments have sought to introduce tablets into the education system as exemplified by plans by the Thai government to provide first graders with tablet PCs (Bangkok Post, 2012). In case such occurs, the demand of tablets would go up, increasing the pressure to finish the project in time or even earlier. Social influences on the current project may arise from the view that the post-PC technological revolution has been documented as a social as much as it is a technological one. Martin (2012) reports that modern day computing has become more casual and intimate, freeing the end user from the desk. New devices ought to identify with this view and satisfy the social trends of consumer. Hence, it is conceivable that certain elements of the HP TouchPad2 may need to be removed or added in order to keep with trends in the society. The recent economic crisis translates to a situation where investments receive more scrutiny on their potential returns on investment. In HP’s case, recent developments on the financial front may translate to economic difficulties during the HP TouchPad2 project; HP has traditionally concentrated on printer business, where the current reducing revenue flows may predict financial challenges for the project. Moreover, HP had $25 billion in long debts as of 2010, which may lead to budget constraints for the current project (Moran, 2010). However, the decline revenue from printing gives an extra incentive for the current tablet project as the firm seeks to diversify. Besides, proper project management alongside strict adherence to the project timeline will ensure that the project does not incur extra costs that would lead to financial challenges during the project. 2. Please analyze internal factors which could influence the project for the organization, which are the following factors: managerial, operational, and financial issues. 2. A. Project Management Project management is an ultimate determinant of the outcomes of a given project. The project manager has to first constitute the project team which is then tasked with defining the project’s scope, mission and objectives. The team then manages the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control and finally closing of the project. The specific activities involved in this case include generating work breakdown structures, scheduling, PERT and gantt charts, costing, risk analysis, stakeholder analysis and communication among others. The project team also has to maintain continuous review of the project to ensure smooth working and corrections where necessary (Brown, 2007). Thus, the HP TouchPad2 project manager will establish the project team. The mission of the project is to develop the second generation HP tablets; the HP TouchPad2. The rest of the activities are detailed in the subsequent sections. 2. B. Project Timelines The total project timeline is determined by the critical path discussed in the next section. After careful consultations with the project’s stakeholders, the following considerations influence the project timeline: The Sales Manager requires that the HP TouchPad2 is finished and available for sale in time for Christmas 2012. He has also negotiated with a customer for the sale of 10,000 tablets in early 2013. Another stakeholder is BattDev, from whom the new design battery (slimmer and lasting longer than the products currently in the market) is to be outsourced. BattDev seeks to outdo a Chinese competitor who is also developing a similar technology through having the battery in use before the end of 2012; hence, the firm insists on keeping to the project timeline. The Manufacturing Department also requires sufficient time for the mass-production of 10,000 HP TouchPad2 units as required by the Sales Manager. Beyond December 2012, the cost will increase beyond the budget considerations. Basing on these considerations, the launch of the project will be 1st May, 2012 and the wind down 31st September, 2012. 2. C. Critical Paths and Contingency Planning Overall, the tasks for the project will be as follows: HP R&D team will undertake concept designing and detailing, lasting a maximum of 40 days. The first prototype of the HP TouchPad2 will be generated and tested within 30 days. Marketing planning for the new tablet by the marketing department will last 15 days. The assembly line will be designed by the production department within 10 days. Battery development and supply by BattDev will be expected within 45 days. A beta version will then be produced within 10 days. The HP TouchPad2 product will then occur within 5 days. The critical path entails the longest sequence of tasks in the project in which a delay results in a delay in the completion of the entire project (Luecke, 2004). In the HP TouchPad2 project, the critical path will be as follows: concept design by R&D (40 days); battery development and supply by BattDev (45 days); production of beta version (10 days); launch preparation (5 days). Contingency planning in the current project prioritizes the tasks in the critical path. Richman’s risk probability and impact tool (detailed in the subsequent section) reveals that the risks to be aware of include technological failures by R&D, procurement delays by BattDev and financial constraints which may interfere with the entire critical path. 2. D. Implementation Plan Contingencies Contingency planning involves the identification of potential risks, ranking/prioritization and generating a set of responses (Othman, Zain and Hamdan, 2010). Richman’s (2011) plan uses the probability and impact of potential risks to prioritize and mitigate risks. Technological failures by R&D have a moderate probability of occurring accompanied by high level of impact if they do occur. The risk can be averted through proper quality assurance by the R&D. Financial constraints have a low probability of occurring accompanied by high level impacts if they do occur. Soliciting and setting aside the funds for the entire budget from the finance department in advance can avert the risk. Delays from BattDev have a low probability of occurring accompanied by a high level of impact. Instituting effective supply chain management and communication can help avoid any delays. This contingency planning is summarized by the table below: Risk Identification Risk Assessment (Probability/Impact) Ranking/ Prioritization Mitigation Technological failures Moderate/High 1 Extensive and intensive R&D Financial constraints Low/High 2 Advance access to funds Delays in Procurement Low/High 3 Instituting a supply chain management and communication system 2. E. Staffing Needs and Tools Pritchard (2004) discusses the importance of planning the staffing needs before embarking on a project. Here, it is crucial to identify the involved groups, their roles, interests and concerns in the project. In the current HP TouchPad2 project, the staffing requirements include; the administration (project manager and team); the R&D team; BattDev staff; staff from the marketing department; and lastly, staff from the production department. The administration requires decision making and oversight power. The HP R&D team should be availed with computers and top of the range software applications. BattDev staff require information about other aspects of the new product in order to ensure compatibility and performance to the desired standard; marketing staff require information about the product, including its features and improvements (the parent department will offer the tools for marketing). The production team require all information about the product in order to produce the first prototype, the beta version and the final product for the launch. 5. Please analyze the impact of potential change factors and the impact on the functions of management A number of factors may result in changes in the project, including the occurrence of the risks stated in the contingency planning section. When such risks necessitate changes, prioritization has to be done in order to determine which activities the project cannot do without. As already explained, social, political, economic and legal factors may result in changes in the project, including accelerating the project or managing delays. In all cases, changes in the critical path are to be avoided as much as possible as they will lengthen the total duration of the project (Luecke, 2004). Such changes require impeccable decision making skills from the project management team, effective communication and consultation with all the necessary stakeholders. Conclusion This study analyzes the various aspects of project management in the development of HP TouchPad2, a second generation of HP tablet PCs. Social, political, economic and legal impacts are established to potentially impact the project in terms of trends, tablet mass supply, HP’s financial woes and patent issues respectively. After taking into consideration various requirements and the critical path (concept design; battery development and supply; production of beta version; launch preparation), the project duration is established as 1st May, 2012 and the wind down 31st September, 2012. Contingency planning identifies the risks as technological, financial constraints and delay in supplies which can be mitigated by proper quality assurance, advance funds and instituting supply chain management systems. The gantt and PERT charts that will guide the progress of the project and influence management are then established. With this project management considerations in place, the mission of developing the HP TouchPad2 is achievable. References Bangkok Post (2012). Opposition queries tablet PCs. Retrieved 18 April 2012 from http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/283148/opposition-queries-tablet-pcs Brown, E. D. (2007). Strategic project management. Aligning Technology, Strategy, People & Projects. Retrieved 18 April 2012 from http://ericbrown.com/docs/StrategicProjectManagement.pdf Expert Reviews (2012). Patently obvious - Is the law holding back technology? Retrieved 18 April 2012 from http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/tablet-pcs/1291135/patently-obvious-is-the-law-holding-back-technology Luecke, R. (2004). Managing projects large and small: The fundamental skills for delivering on time. Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation, USA. Martin, S. (2011). Tablets take PC evolution to next level. USA Today. Retrieved 18 April 2012 from http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-03-21-ipad-vs-pc.htm Moran, B. (2010). HP’s financial & R&D woes. IMI. Retrieved 18 April 2012 from http://www.globaletm.com/blog/hp’s-financial-rd-woes Othman, M., Zain, A. M. & Hamdan, A. R. (2010). A review on project management and issues surrounding dynamic development environment of ICT project. International Journal of Digital Content Technology and its Applications, 4(1), 97-105. Pritchard, C. L. (2004). The project management communications toolkit. Artech, NY. Richman, L. (2011). Improving your project management skills. AMA, USA. 3. Please include One Gantt Chart Example, which it needs to be related with the project chosen 4. Please include One PERT Chart Example, which it needs to be related with the project chosen Read More