Enterprise Project - Coursework Example

Enterprise Project Brief Summary Undeniably, present marketing environments are not only competitive but also filled with unpredictable attributes. For example, marketing activities like advertisement and customer relationship management can fail to bring expected sales outcomes. Consumer behavior, a parameter that is usually targeted by marketing activities, is a complex aspect with multiple facets. Practically, many marketers experience significant problems related to the complex nature of consumer behavior (Lindsey & Pinto 2010, p. 94). In the recent past, one of our esteemed clients who operate two medium-sized clothing stores is having trouble enticing customers to make desirable purchase choices. The client sells seasonal clothing like winter coats and summer dresses. In an effort to stay afloat in the competitive market segment, the client has implemented numerous promotional techniques which include the use of celebrities in representing their products, issuance of purchase coupons, and social media advertisements. Unfortunately, these promotional techniques are yet to facilitate achievement of desired sales outcomes. As a last resort to the marketing problem, the client approached my business engagement team to provide a research-based recommendation on the best marketing approach that would enhance sales in the clothing stores. Description of My Tasks In response to the client’s problem, my team conducted an extensive deliberation exercise on the most efficient marketing activities in the business of clothing industry today, and narrowed down the most suitable solution to the technique of visual merchandising. As required by the client, the next step after selection of the suitable solution would entail conducting a scientific research project on feasibility and commercial viability of the recommended solution. Primarily, the research exercise was meant to supplement reliable findings regarding to probable impacts, risks and opportunities associated with the use of visual merchandising technique as a promotional tool in clothes marketing. Individual activities relating to the research project were categorized, and each finite activity assigned to individual team members. Personally, I was in charge of optimizing the utilization of project resources, especially finances, personnel, and time. Typically, resources available for execution of client related projects are hardly in surplus (Coronado 2012, p. 46). In fact, resources are mostly in short supply; hence the available resources must be utilized in an optimal manner. As a team member, the first task I preformed was alignment of resource forecasting plans with the project’s main objectives. The client needed a complete solution to be delivered within a period of 7 days. In this case, it became apparent that time was in short supply. On the other hand, it emerged that the project’s team was understaffed, thus the project could not be completed by the team’s personnel capacity in time. In response, I recommended for adequate staffing of the project team, especially the outsourcing of certain tasks in order meet the prescribed timeline. Besides the common goal approach, I also employed the element of effective communication between independent team members. In the optimization of resources, it is constantly necessary to delineate roles and responsibilities of individual team members (Lindsey & Pinto 2010, p. 99). Therefore, effective interaction with team members is invariably necessary. Admittedly, I performed my team duties satisfactorily. If I was to do it over again, I would recommend for the enhancement of competency capacities through professional development programs, and promotion of a project implementation culture as a means of enhancing efficiency in resource utilization. Evaluation of Behavior Throughout the project, I acted in a manner likely to address the primary needs of both the team and client liaison fronts. First, I was able to initiate and deliver relevant messages to independent team members during the project’s execution course. At one instance, I noticed that two team members tasked with collection of relevant data from online sources spent most of their time chatting in social networks like Facebook instead of prioritizing completion of their respective tasks. As a team member in charge of resource optimization, I noticed that the time wasted by the two members would affect the chances of completing the project in a timely manner (Billson & Smith 2013, p. 42). I response, I privately engaged each of the erring team members through constructive communication approaches. Not only did I maintain friendly facial expressions during the constructive talks, but I also deliver written communications to each of the two members, emphasizing the importance of individual competency during team work. Also, I maintained constant communication with the client. At one moment, I requested the client to extend the deadline for project completion by at least 4 days. However, the client demonstrated considerable lack of patience on the issue of timeline. In response, I requested for provision of additional financial resources from the client; a request that was swiftly approved and successfully executed. Undeniably, the personality attributes of enthusiasm and good listening skills were instrumental in enhancing my efficiency in task performance. After completing the appropriate personality test, it emerged that I am not only enthusiastic and goal oriented, but also feature as a good listener. During interactions with fellow team members, good listening skills are necessary in objectively deciphering both verbal and non verbal communications (Coronado 2012, p. 48). In addition, my enthusiasm proved beneficial, especially during interactions with the client. Actually, the synergistic effect of my enthusiasm coupled with my good listening skills facilitated timely extraction of clarifications and other relevant information from both the client and the independent team members. In this context, I can confidently say that most team members would commend my contributions to the project. Evaluation of Knowledge and Skills Prior to performance of my assigned duties during the project exercise, I only possessed limited theoretical knowledge concerning utilization of scarce resources. During and after completion of my optimization duties, it occurred to me that resource allocation and utilization in practical contexts require informed trade-off between different variables. For example, the variables of financial cost, time and personnel workload often conflict each other. In an effort to complete tasks within a prescribed timeline, it is highly likely that personnel may be overworked (Lindsey & Pinto 2010, p. 103). In addition, keeping costs low often conflict with the variables of time and personnel workload, especially because overtime work must be compensated. In this regard, I developed substantial skills relating to manipulative interaction between main variables in project management exercises. Technically, I learned the importance of group decision making in deducing trade-offs between conflicting variables. For example, members of the project team arrived at a collective decision to work overtime in order to complete the entire task in time. In response, I was able to propose an optimal level of compensation for overtime work, which was unanimously approved by all team members. Therefore, I improved my team cooperation skills within a practical context. Besides development of professional skills, the project also enhanced my confidence levels. Prior to the research project, I was always hesitant to express my personal and professional competences. I refrained from demonstrating my good listening skills and my enthusiasm levels. However, my assigned task acted as a turning point in enhancing my professional and personal confidence. Technically, the project affirmed my abilities and strengths, while at the same time highlighting my weaknesses. In essence, some of my strengths that were enhanced include teamwork organization, productive involvement, effective communication and concerns to mutual interests of team members. Contrarily, I realized that my ability to maintain constructive cohesion and smooth social interactions in teamwork can be compromised by my impulsive personality. In future, I would maintain my enthusiasm by ensuring that my energy is channeled towards constructive means, instead of seeking to impulsively control other team members. Analysis of Skills Gaps Undeniably, one lacking skill during the project was emotional management skills. The project’s team was significantly diverse. Team members belonged to different social, ethnic and gender backgrounds. In this case, each team member projected distinct emotional responses. Technically, diversity in teamwork ushers in conflicts, especially conflicts that are emotional in nature. Positive emotions like optimism, compassion and loyalty foster cooperation among team members. On the other hand, negative emotions like aggression and hatred can significantly impact productivity (Lindsey & Pinto 2010, p. 106). During the project, I learned that some members were emotionally incompatible; hence they could not interact effectively. Apparently, negative emotions resulted from frustrations related to strict deadlines, complexity of tasks and disappointments from fellow team members. Unfortunately, I lacked enough knowledge on emotional intelligence, and on overall management of emotional turmoil in professional teams. Therefore, I feel that there is a skill gap on management of diverse teams. Suggested Module Improvements In conclusion, it is acknowledgeable that skills learned from the business engagement module were instrumental in facilitating successful resolution of the client’s marketing problem. Skills like enthusiasm and excellent communication enabled realization of effective collaboration in the team (Billson & Smith 2013, p. 38). Therefore, it is admissible that the current structure of the module provides sufficient knowledge and information on project management, and application of project management skills in solving real-world problems. However, the module’s contents do not maximize learning opportunities. As an improvement, relevant contents like management of workplace diversity courses should be incorporated into the module as a means of eliminating the currently existing skill gaps. Reference List BILLSON, D. & SMITH, L. (2013). Effective Opportunity Management for Projects: Exploiting Positive Risk. Pittsburg: CRC Press. CORONADO, B. (2012). Critical success factors for the successful implementation of projects in organizations. Harvard Business Review, 67(3), 45-49. LINDSEY, K. & PINTO, T. M. (2010). Critical factors in project implementation: A comparison of research and development projects. British Journal of Technology and Innovation, 17(5), 92-107. Read More