Integrating Professional Logistics Experience Essay

1. Read `Spotlight on Management` on pages 133-149 and the practice lesson `The Real World` on page 152. Please discuss the following questions in detail.  Your response to each question should consist of:  a minimum word count of 250 words and at least three (3) scholarly sources (1 resource can be the textbook):

MGT 312 WEEK 2 Functions of Management Paper Select an organization you or a learning team member is familiar with and write a 350- to 700-word paper covering the following:

Cost and Value management is becoming a large part of companies competing in today’s market. According to the text, “projects and their effective management can provide organizations with a significant competitive edge through cost reduction, enhanced responsiveness, and overall value to customers.” (Venkataraman & Pinto, 2008, p. 1). In this paper we are going to focus on some of the techniques and how they can either help or hinder a project. Through information and examples we will explore the importance of work packages and the work breakdown structure (WBS), establishing a cost and schedule performance

After collecting and acquiring the data for the service request for Riordan Manufacturing, I have concluded that the integration of the present system will be valuable to the corporation’s human resource department. The idea for this development will be constructed in regards to the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). A work breakdown structure (WBS), in project managing and systems engineering, is a deliverable accommodated breakdown of a development into diminutive modules. A work breakdown structure component may be a creation, information, advantage, or any mixture thereof. A WBS furthermore delivers the essential outline for thorough cost approximating and influence along with offering direction for agenda expansion and control.

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) breaks a project into manageable items. The WBS identifies all work elements needed to complete the project work scope. The WBS is a hierarchical tree where project is subdivided into smaller pieces called work items. The lowest level item of

The term risk has been defined in so many ways by many scholars. The term ‘risk’ itself is very broad to interpret. However, risk is often defined as a threat and it usually brings negative impacts to a person or an organisation. Hansson (2005) claims that many attempts have been made to define risk in a single meaning and eliminate other definitions which are futile and a form of ‘linguistic imperialism’. Since there is no exact meaning of risk, people describe risk based on their own perceptions and purposes. Perminova et al. (2008) and the Association of Project Management (APM) define risk as an uncertain event and exclusively negative (APM, 2006). Ward and Chapman (2003) recommend that project risk management (PRM) is categorized as project uncertainty management. Nonetheless, the term ‘uncertainty’ again brings confusion as there is no single meaning that can successfully define it (Perminova et al., 2008). On the contrary, Kaplan and Garrick (1981) define risk according to public’s risk perception. There are three criteria suggested by the authors such as the failure of that particular event, its tendency as well as the impact of the failure. Although there have been countless struggles to picture risk in a proper way, it is best that the focus should be diverted to a more important issue which is how to manage risk instead of defining it as time may not be on our side.

A project is a temporary endeavour, undertaken to meet particular goals and objectives, having a defined beginning and end, usually to bring about beneficial change or added value. The temporary nature of projects stands in contrast to, which are repetitive, permanent or semi-permanent functional work to produce products or

MGT 312 WEEK 2 Functions of Management Paper Select an organization you or a learning team member is familiar with and write a 350- to 700-word paper covering the following:

A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a framework for the project team. According to Rad (1999), a good WBS reduces the possibility of omitting key elements, simplifies the project, and encourages a systematic planning process. For this case, an outline of a WBS is depicted using the outline format:

The definition of a project is “a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service. Temporary means every project has a definite beginning and an end. Unique means that the product or service is different in some distinguishing way from all other products or services”.(Project Management Institute., 2008)

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a tool that is used to define the work elements of a project and identify its entire scope. It is the map of the project which identifies all elements of the project and allows managers to keep track and control of it. It is made of a hierarchy which facilitates the evaluation of cost, time and performance at all levels of the project life-cycle and organization. The structure illustrates the smaller units and allows for adaptation and quick communication if there a problems which need to be addressed. Definitions of each task should be clear and avoid overlapping in

To actively manage project risks, I understood ongoing communication with the project team was essential. The established weekly team meeting provided the opportunity to discuss risks related to immediate development activities. In addition to discussing the active mitigation to known risks, new risks were uncovered and added to the risk register for subsequent mitigation. As the project timeline progressed new risks were identified, these were subsequently included in the risk register, monitored and prioritised. As existing risks were mitigated they were marked as closed removing any further need to

This review entails assessing the principal risks factors that are involved in Information System Projects and how they can be managed. Particular reference will be made to the case of FoxMeyer, a Healthcare facility which is a large drug wholesaler in the United States that had failed in implementing its Information System.

The topics covered in this course on Issues in Management are relevant to many of the issues I see daily in the work environment. Some areas are specific to my current work environment and I recognize the effects it has on the organization; therefore, I will focus more on those areas in my final summary of this course.

The cornerstone of stakeholder management understands who needs what information and when or how often they need it. There will also be stakeholders who support the project and those who may either be opposed to it or who present obstacles to the project’s success. Your stakeholder management strategy must be geared toward maintaining support from those who are in favor of the project while winning over those opposed or at least mitigating the risks they may present. By understanding what a