Culture in the Project Management - Assignment Example

Project Management - Product Life Cycle, Risks and Audit Introduction "Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects and behavior. It includes the ideas, values, customs and artifacts (for example, CDs, comic books, and birth control devices) of groups of people (Schaefer)1". Therefore, it is very much transparent that culture of a given territory or of a society mirrors the entire diagram of that given territory or of society. Culture may differ from society to society, country to country or community-to-community as the social values, ideas and material objects of the societies are not all alike. Reasonably, cultural artifact has a close correspondence while speaking about the culture. Artifact simply indicates the things that are produced by spending the human labour and his or her artistic knowledge giving a sign of creativity in it. Actually, a cultural artifact is a human made object, which represents the ideas and values of a particular culture. More categorically speaking, "Starting with the broadest category, we may say that cultural artifacts include everything that is judged worth preserving because of its meaning. This doesn't include everything in the world, but anything in the world, concrete or abstract, could potentially become a cultural artifact(Bereiter ) 2".This may change due to the variation of the cultural ingredients. The concept of cultural artifact may also vary in particular context to a given culture. Comic books are also essentially included as cultural artifact as considering the definition or concept of cultural artifact has been defined. It is considered as the unique literary ingredient in every culture. Comic books as a cultural artifact gained much popularity over the nations. Alike every culture, comic books in Ireland has documented its glorious history. Comics industry has a longstanding reputation throughout the world. Even this has been expanded in the territory of Asia, with particular attention to Philippine and China. In reference to the comics industry in the Phillipne, it is opined that “In 1978, it was hypothesized that since about 2 million commercially produced komlks –magasins bearing 44 different titles and appeared were either sold or released in the banketa, it was assumed, albeit conservatively, that if only six people read each copy, then komlks-magasins should easily have a readership of no less than 12 million (Filipino COMICS INDUSTRY)3”. The growth of comics industry in Ireland has a documented glorious history. The rate of selling in comics industry is radically increasing for it has the immense popularity among the people of Ireland. In Ireland, people are mostly prone to the comics literature as "the average Irish person prefer allocating new funding, theatre, opera and dancing which would be dwarfed by levels of interest in video games, films and comics (Clamnuts)4". Hence, Ireland has been turned into a fertile ground of the comics industry. Comics industry developed in Ireland is of special significance in regard to the issues of developing comic industry as the potential industry in the coming days. “Prior to 1960, for the outside observer, comic book circulation figures were hard to come by (Carlson)5”. In tracing out the historical context of comics industry, it is necessary to mention that the comics books or comics industry for the first time appeared in the market during 1934. Relevantly, at the same time detective comics appeared in the year of 1937. One of the most important and significant comics’ literatures in its history is the Walt Disney’s comics and Stories in 1942. After the taking place of the world war second, the selling of comics’ books increased at much higher. In the post war period, the Walt Disney Comics and Stories got its highest position in the field of the comics industry as it was treated as the best selling comics books. Surprisingly, in the post 1947 period the selling of eminent comics books radically decreased. During this period, the comics of romantic title took a prominent position instead of the crime and horror comics. Thus, the comics like Sweetheart and Young Romance ranked as the best-selling comics books in the decade. Of course, educational and religious comics books also acquired a good position in its number of circulation. Archie comics had heydays in the post 1950. Speaking from a rational point of view, it is necessary to add that the figure of circulation of Archie comics in the 1960s was about half a million per issue. The intended project is designed for the production of a comic book of 16- 24 pages supposed to be reached to the adults. The final product of the comic book would be a soft-cover binding copy with a colourful presentation. The project also intend to make the product a quality one so that it can occupy the attention of the purchasers for its content and quality as well. In so doing, the project includes the following steps to be done: 1. Script for the intended comic book, 2. E-mail correspondence with the artist concerned and the cost of the print –outs, 3. Layout roughs for the product To tell about the scope statement of the project, it is rational to assert that through the adoption of the planned actions as has been decided, the feasibility of success of the project is sure to happen. The project manager has adopted all the necessary efforts to effectuate the project. Project Management The project management plan is conducted for the purpose of achieving a clear-cut understanding of the scope, objectives, work breakdown structure, criteria and other related issues in discharging the functions of the project. While studying the project management, the issue of risk management that is close associated with the said project management should be duly studied and evaluated. In order to effectuate a project, identification of the risks involving the project is mostly essential. This helps in detecting the potential risks that may affect the overall functionaries of the project and ultimately obtaining the success of the project. Hence, it is very much conspicuous that risk identification should sparingly be decided. “Risk Identification begins after the Risk Management Plan is constructed and continues iteratively throughout the project execution (Elyse)6”. So, after the risk management plan is decided, risk identification should be undertaken for reaping the optimal success from the project. A risk management plan may include both the qualitative and quantitative risk analysis. After categorically scrutinizing the risk analysis efforts, a proper planning should be taken to eliminate or possibly minimize the risks. In the process of the implementation of a project, several important issues like assessing or studying the risk management plan and the entire functionaries of the project should be duly considered. In this regard, following means deserve special attention: Scope of the Project The scope statement of the project should be well designed. It is the logical assumption that the scope statement of the project would minutely define and categorize the objectives or limitation of the project as well as the potential impediments that are concerned with the project activities. In this stage, the risk management should be sketched out. This would be helpful in reassessing the risk management and ultimately gaining the success. The scope statement would also be aimed at exploring the intended benefits or outcome that can be derived from the project. Environment of the Project It is equally important to consider the enterprise environmental factors alike to that of other segment of the project. In this stage, the environmental factors are related with the project that may intervene or impede in gaining the success of the project. Instances of such factors may be exemplified as: limitation of the resources, communication with the concerned individuals and organizations, database, market conditions and above all the functions related with the management of the project. Categorisation of the Risks In rightly addressing the issues of risk management, the risks involved in a project should be carefully identified and accordingly categorized. This effort would certainly enable the personnel of a project to effectively prioritize the relevant issues and managing the project efficiently. In this connection, the Risk Breakdown Structure may be taken as the auxiliary means in the categorization of the risks. Distribution of Duties and Responsibilities Framing Schedule Proper time frame is a significant issue in the project management. So, chalking out a schedule for managing the risk management activities is important for the sake of better output that can be earned from the project. Distribution of Duties and Responsibilities To discharge the functions of the project, the duties and responsibilities should be distributed to the persons concerned so that the project plan can have the possibilities of achieving success. In so doing, after identifying or sorting out the risks, specific responsibilities should be handed over to the individuals in properly addressing the issues for the sound management of the project undertaken. Technological availability "Technology assumes importance in the context of project management due to greater challenges in today's technology-enabled work environment, where technology tools are routinely used for collaboration, communication, and deployment of project management practices. However, technology can play a major role in supporting project managers in managing a project efficiently and effectively (Anantatmula)7". Hence, putting special attention on the technology in case of the management of the project is essential for the effective formulation of the project goals and objectives. Budgeting Budgeting is another important consideration. The budget amount provided for the project should be in conformity with the risk management scheme. Thus, for the effective implementation of the project, the amount of the budget should be of reasonable degree for meeting the requirements of the risk management activities. Risk Management "Risks are generally taken so as to achieve an advantage either for an individual or of an organisation (Risk Management)8". Undeniably, in the project management process, risk assessment or risk management is the most significant consideration. "Risk management ensures that an organization identifies and understands the risks to which it is exposed. Risk management also guarantees that the organization creates and implements an effective plan to prevent losses or reduce the impact if a loss occurs (Controlling Costs)9". As risk management is the most important consideration in the project implementation, the project managers are to solicit and implement various technical and nontechnical issues. In so doing, the concerned persons or affiliated authorities are to manage all the affairs with much prudence. In this concern, individual as well as concerted efforts or undertakings are deemed essential. In fact, a risk management plan generally includes the means and techniques in mitigating or overcoming the threats in an intended project. It is an agreed on statement that the underlying purpose of a risk management cycle is to avoid or reduce the risks related in a given issue. Thus, a risk analysis may involve serious issues. For example, working staff, working environment, technology and the organisation concerned as well. These risk management entities should be duly considered in managing the project. Of course, for the better management of the project, the risk assessment should be done after collecting or identifying the most relevant information corresponding to the project. To quote rightly "After identifying the most important information assets, the next step is to perform an actual risk or threat assessment (Marko)10". "Any Risk Management System is required to take certain risk management techniques (Defining Risk Management)11". Though the techniques may differ to some extent, in most proportion they are all alike. In most cases, the risk management techniques are sought to adopt the existing methods, while in some cases new techniques are developed and applied in addressing the risk management processes. Virtually speaking, the term risk management indicates an exhaustive idea that encompasses a series of actions to be completed. Generally, in risk management, the concerned persons are to minutely consider and overcome the hazards of their project environment. The hazards may be abstract or conspicuous interfering the successful operation of the project. In this concern, the project managers are expected to follow some tactics for the successful operation and management of the project. In risk management techniques the project manger or the persons concerned are concentrated on identifying the risks and accordingly assessing the importance of the potential risks, determining the priority consideration having due regard to the nature or seriousness of the damages. In pursuance of this assessment or evaluation, the project manager can adopt the effective policies and strategies for the purpose of reducing or eliminating the consequences of the risks. In addition, the project managers in pursuance of the findings obtained through the assessment process can rightly find a way out for the effective management of the risks. The techniques adopted in risk management process can be summed up as such: Specification or making hypothetical consideration of the particular context in which the risks may happen 1. Determining or predicting the consequences that the risks may affect the operation of the project or in case of the organization involved, in the particular aspects of the organization. 2.Evaluating the potential effects in case of the fact that the risks have been absorbed or reduced.3.Taking decisions for the adoption of the suitable risk management treatment for the problems or risks emanated in the given project or in case of the given organization, where it is practicable. 4.The strategies adopted in risk management covers the various issues which may be categorised as hypothesizing the risk, consequences or effects of the risks, ways and means of avoiding the risks, reducing the negative effects of the risks and ultimately finding a specific way for resolving the risk in a given issue. Significance of Risk Management From the detailed discussion produced above, it is very much transparent that risk management is the principal consideration of a project. As it is the central point or core aspect in the life-cycle of a project, no venture can be deemed successful in the implementation of te project. Thus, in order to render a project meaningful, the issues related with the risk management should be properly addressed. In this view, following can be taken as the guidelines for the successful implementation of a project : a. Identification of the risks should be made on a justifiable means. Because, due to the lack of proper identification of the risk issues, the project may not commit to be successful. A deficient identification process in determining the risks may hamper or jeopardize the merits or significance of the project. b. Making an accurate planning for the successful completion and implementation of the procss. This phase should include the scope and objective of the risk as well as the determination of the bases or criteria upon which the risk assessment or evaluation of the project would be determined. c. A working framework should be chalked out so that the intended actions or program manifesto for the project can effectively be implemented.An analysis of the risk assssment should be developed which would help in successfully managing the risk issues. d. Mitigation plan should be undertaken through technological, human and organisational resources. Risk assessment in this stage, gets its final shape or formulation of the risk assessment program by reducing or mitigating the risks in a particular project. e. Allocation of budget is another important aspect to be considered. Budget deficit in the risk management process cannot achieve the goal or success of the project. Of course, it is thought that a risk management is expected to increase the reduction of the negative effects through spending less amount. Risk Management Effort Undertaken in the Project For the successful operation and implementation, the project has rightly assessed the risk analysis. In determining the risk assessment effort, the project has taken into the following points into consideration: 1. Management of the Artwork by making contact with the writer and the artist as well, 2. Technological availability through printer, 3. To sell out the product in the market, the project has taken an intensive action to advertise as regards the content and significance of the book. Benefits of Risk Management In the life -cycle of a project, a risk management plan has a special significance as it ensures a clear understanding as regards the risks that are relevant in a project and help prioritising the issues and taking appropriate actions for addressing them. Though risk management plan does not help in completely eliminating the risks, it has some benefits which deserve special mention and due regard. It saves time, labour, energy, money and all other valuable properties or assets. A risk management plan help to protect people from harms and adversaries. Additionally, a risk management plan help in protecting the environment of a given project or organisation. Additionally, the process of risk management increases the efficiencies and reduces the liabilities of all the persons connected in the project or the organisation. Risk management in the implementation of a project or in discharging the activities of an organisation ensures the quality risk analysis and help drawing the maximization of the benefits of the undertakings. Potential Actually, these days’ people have been found to love not only being confined in story telling. They prefer further enjoyment and varieties of such components. Comics’ literature in this regard has a huge potential at the present context and in the coming days as well. The project has taken the plan that the product would be produced with high-quality materials and designs it as a fresh style of story and artwork, which has never surfaced before in previous Irish comics. The project has taken the plan to produce the products with high-quality materials and designs as a fresh style of story and artwork, which has never surfaced before in previous Irish comics. So, the selection of the product in such a mode signals the success of the project. In addition, on the current wave, the comics industry in Ireland is not much developed as it was before. So, the selection of the product in such mode signals the success of the project. Of course, there is a potential to expand the product via Internet. As t is the days of information super highway, it is better to think that alike other things, comics industry should also be developed and expanded through internet in order to afford the people around the world the availability of comics industry and let them invoking the benefits of it as well as reaping currencies from this arduous effort. While speaking about the prospects of the comics industry, it is rightly articulated that "the digital delivery of comics has the potential to revolutionize the industry, and that the aesthetic opportunities of digital comics are enormous (Reinventing Comics)12". Finally, there is a huge potential of success of the intended project in producing the comic book. REFERENCES Anantatmula, S., Vittal. "The role of technology in the project manager performance model". Project Management Journal : 34 -. 26 Feb. 2008. Project Management Institute. 29 March. 2008 < http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi bin/abstract/117923000/ABSTRACT? CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0>. Bereiter, Carl. "Education and Mind in the Knowledge Age". 2002. Amazon. com. chapter 3 : page 76. 30 March. 2008 < www.books.google.com.bd/books?isbn=0805839429... > . Clamnuts. "Rattlebag is cancelled, Myles Dungan is jobless, Me is good". 2006. 28 March. 2008 < http://clamnuts.com/rants/old-blog/2006/06/teeny-weenies-boil-egg.html >. Carlson,Mark. "Funny Business: A History of the Comics Industry " . The Nostalgia Zone. 29 March 2008 < http://www.nostalgiazone.com/doc/zine/05_Q1/funnybusiness.htm>. Elyse. "An IT Analyst's musings based on experience in a Health Care Institution". 2007. 28 March. 2008 < http:// www.anticlue.net/archives/000816.htm - 33k >. Marko, Kurt. "Improving Your SME's Risk Management Techniques". Tech & Trends 21 March, 2008. Sandhills Publishing Company. 28 February. 2008 < http://www.processor.com/editorial/search.asp?more=true&catid=2115&submit=True&guid=> . Schaefer, T. , Richard. SOCIOLOGY. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2001. 7th edition. p. 65. "Controlling Costs with Risk Management". Insurance Bureau of Canada. 29 March. 2008 < http://www.ibc.ca/en/Business_Insurance/Risk_Management/ >. "Defining Risk Management Techniques". The Art of Service. 28 March. 2008 < http://theartofservice.com/Risk-Management/Risk-Management/Defining-Risk-Management-Techniques.html>. How do you revive the Filipino COMICS INDUSTRY? 18 Jan, 2006. 28 March. 2008 < http://pinoykomixbiz.blogspot.com/2006/01/how-do-you-revive-filipino-comics.html>. "Reinventing Comics". 28 March. 2008 < http://www.scottmccloud.com/store/books/rc.html>. "Risk management in New Zealand". New Zealand Society for Risk Management. 30 March. 2008 < http://www.risksociety.org.nz/ >. Read More