Critical Evaluation of Ipad Project - Assignment Example

School Critical Evaluation of Ipad Ipad is the newest addition to computer technology. Designed by Apple Computer, Inc, Ipad makes use of the touch screen technology to add convenience and portability to the usually laptop. It is a new tablet device which does not necessitate the use of outer keyboard thus reducing its weight and size. This paper critically evaluates the Ipad project and its release in the market. Main Body Defining the aim and objectives of a project, and examine the project management environment within an organisation. With a mission of producing "high quality low cost, easy to use products, that incorporates high technology for the individual" Apple Computers, Inc wishes to reach non-computer experts with the Ipad (Apple Inc.). This is evident as the design of the Ipad software is very elementary and user-friendly. With the touch screen technology, users can use their fingers to access programs and files that they wish to access, just like a child playing with toys. In terms of niche, Apple Computers, Inc (Apple) wishes to introduce a product which lies between iPhone and Macbook in terms of function. Therefore Ipad is expected to be substantially better than both in terms of the following: web browsing, E-Mail, viewing and watching of images and videos, listening to music, Reading electronic media (Apple Inc). In terms of convenience Ipad is indeed better than Macbook, but less convenient than the Iphone as the latter is much lighter. The aim of situating a product between the Iphone and Macbook is an excellent idea indeed as some corporate needs cannot be met by a simple Iphone, especially when we talk about large data, applications and software. On the other hand, Macbook is now relatively heavy especially with the introduction of netbooks by HP, Acer and Asus. Its appropriately occupies a product niche which does not compete with the existing Apple products, yet more innovative and improved than the competitors netbooks. It is an innovative product as it is the first that introduces sole touch screen technology but this may also be a disadvantage as the market that it tries to reach - the non-computer experts will probably take time to appreciate touch screen technology. The Ipad project has the following objectives: a. Sell 1 million of the new device internationally within 2010 and so making a profit b. Increase the product range by developing and producing a new tablet device by Q1 2010 c. Ensure a basic model is available for distribution to US customers on April 3rd and internationally by 23rd April 2010 d. Ensure premium model is available for distribution to US customers by the 26th April and internationally by 11th June 2010 e. Establish data plans with international mobile communications suppliers by June 2010 f. Gain a return on investment by 2011 g. Launch the new product on 27th January 2010 h. Sell the product for under $850 i. Maintain the Apple quality throughout the project Source: (Apple, Inc). There are a variety of reviews and expectation on the would-be performance of Ipad. "Apple change management has proved successful over the years as the company has adapted to the changing market by constantly redefining the design and purpose of digital technology" (Edward de Bono, 2006). Over-all, its corporate culture has showsn both "optimism and belief" which led to continuous "funding and investment in new products and innovation even against the backdrop of a challenging economic climate" (Edward de Bono, 2006). It is this optimism and belief that brought us the Ipad. Reviews however criticize the launching of Ipad especially on the aspect of functionality and getting things done (Enderle, 2010). This is the very question that comes to mind when I saw the project. Will Ipad achieve the 1 million sales in 2010 In the first place, will the tablet be patronized It gets popular in America, will it also be popular in other countries The objectives of Ipad management team is understandable as we examine the culture of the company. But will it get done this time The introduction of Ipad is more on form rather than content. As one critique noted, it is "more about content consumption than creation" (Enderle, 2010). It is safe to assume that it cannot surpass the functionality and quality of the Macbook, netbooks and other laptops. It can be considered more of a gadget than a necessity. Think about the its markets: the yuppies The corporate people The teenagers It can only work perhaps for the kids, but its features do not help this market much in terms of productivity. It's only advantage is the price which is relatively lower. But this will only be subscribed if parents are willing to shell out such amount of money for a "toy". So what explains the high US demand for the product, which caused a delay in its launch Curiosity perhaps and the popularity of the company. To critically evaluate the project objectives, it will also be worthwhile to look at what the company has and how good is the product. This leads us to the project management environment within the organization. The Apple Inc's management structure is undoubtedly formidable. For this particular project, the Work Breakdown Structure is acceptable. With the following sequence: project initiation, market research, developing hardware, testing hardware, developing software, testing software, create technical support, user testing, marketing, propagation, advertising, and product completion, the only thing that I note as lacking is the time allotted to enhancement after testing the hardware and software. There is a considerable amount allotted to developing hardware and software but after the testing, there is no allowance for improvements. The compostition of the management team is acceptable, with seasoned project manager, engineers, IT experts and team leaders on the roster. The Effect of the Project to Individual Stakeholder The table of stakeholders distinguish those who are "for" and those who are "against" the project and those who are in-house and out-of-house. For the in-house, hose that will benefit are the project champion specifically Steve Jobs, the shareholders, the managers, employees, the advertising agency and the employees of the company while those who are against are disgruntled employees and project managers of unselected projects(Apple, Inc). All of those who are "for" are dependent on the success of the project. Ou-of-house, it will benefit the publishers, third party app developers, existing customers, authors, mobile and home internet service providers and contractors and suppliers, while those who are against are the competitors and environmental bodies (Apple, Inc). "Apple had originally planned to slowly roll out the iPad around the world beginning April 24. However, due to 'surprisingly strong US demand,' Apple has announced that it will delay the international launch of the iPad until late May " (Foresman, 2010). In the same report, it was mentioned that "Apple has sold over 500,000 iPads to date, and demand in its stores continues to outstrip supply in many cases" (Foresman, 2010). With this development, those who are for the launching of the product are benefitted. On the part of in-house stakeholders, the success of its launching results to more profits and bonuses, plus the opportunity to continously innovate and introduce new projects. For the in-house and out of house stakeholders who are against it, the cost is lost opporunity for profit and market share. This result however is initial, and it will take a year perhaps to tests the effectiveness and the resilience of the project. Anyhow, an effective project team within the organisation will be composed of intitators such as the projects managers and steady support such as the stockholders and employees, not to forget the advertising agency who plays a lot of the marketing aspect. Project Management tools, techniques and methodology that need to be applied for the effective and successful implementation of a project "While the very simplest projects can be managed easily by applying common sense and just getting on with things, projects that are more complex need a great deal of planning, and benefit from a formal, disciplined management approach" (MindTools.com). The company can make use of quantitative methods of in carrying out project. There are a variety of this in the market. The Pertmaster which as "a stand alone or as an integrated component of a Primavera or Microsoft Project planning system" is one of the more quantitative approach to project management (Practical PM Pty. Ltd, 2008). The tool includes the following: Project Risk analyses your project risk in time and/or money. Traditional Monte Carlo analysis or Latin Hypercube sampling. Assign risk to task durations, resource assignments, task costs, resource costs, links and task existence. Probabilistic branching. Probabilistic calendars. Nine standard distributions plus custom distribution:- * Triangular * Uniform * Normal * BetaPert * BetaPert modified * LogNormal * Cumulative * Discrete * Trigen * General (custom) Frequency distribution for:- * Task and project Finish * Task and project Start * Task and project durations * Task and project cost * Total project resource requirement Generates start date, finish date, duration, resource and cost values for ALL tasks in the project in one go. No need to specify which tasks need to be monitored. Criticality index for each task including Summary tasks. Sensitivity and Cruciality analysis. Calculation of mean statistics including start and finish. Correlate any risk distribution with another. Risk summary dialog to view and amend all project risks. Other advanced statistics if required (max, min, mode, mean, standard deviation, variance, skewness, kurtosis against cost and/or time). Source: (Practical PM Pty. Ltd, 2008) Now, how can this be used for the successful implementation of the project. This makes use of statistics to determine the pre-launching, launching and post-launching figures associated with the project. Therefore, it will help the company adjust to the respons eof the customers. This is also suited for engineering and IT works such as Ipad as it takes into account the "cost values for all tasks in the project in one go" (Practical PM Pty. Ltd, 2008). More importantly, the method is a risk modelling method, which takes into consideration the risk associated with the delivery of the project. This is very important in the early life of the product. References Apple, Inc. Edward de Bono, R. H. (2006, July 6). Retrieved April 30, 2010, from http://www.thinkingmanagers.com: http://www.thinkingmanagers.com/companies/apple-computer.php Enderle, R. (2010, April 5). Retrieved April 30, 2010, from http://www.itbusinessedge.com/: http://www.itbusinessedge.com/cm/blogs/enderle/the-ipad-and-rethinking-pc-performance-specifications/cs=40513 Foresman, C. (2010, April). Retrieved April 30, 2010, from http://arstechnica.com: http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/apple-delays-international-launch-of-ipad-due-to-high-demand.ars MindTools.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2010, from http://www.mindtools.com: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_00.htm Practical PM Pty. Ltd. (2008). Retrieved April 30, 2010, from http://www.mosaicprojects.com.au: http://www.mosaicprojects.com.au/Tools.html#Pertmaster Read More