Assignment Sample on 7058MAA Management Frameworks
1. Introduction
The present report is based on the connection to the choice of going green with an electric bus transport in the United Kingdom. The selection of the six-sigma approach is defined and justified within the study. The six-sigma approach aims to improve the processes involved, reduce wastage and errors, and increase customer satisfaction. The prerequisite is defined for the usage with the benefits provided by the approach in the progressive integration of technology in the company systems.
2. Literature review
2.1 Concept of project management methodologies
A methodology is considered as a collection of different methods, techniques, practices, processes, rules and procedures. In the case of project management methodologies are strict and specific and also contain a group of steps that present different activities of different life cycles of a project. Project management institute (PMI) describes methodology as a system of techniques, rules and practices used by employees or workers to execute any specific work properly (Meredith, Shafer & Mantel, 2017). However, proper project management methodologies help to plan any business project safely with the help of different methods and techniques. According to Meredith, Shafer & Mantel (2017), proper management helps employees to motivate themselves to work effectively for the company and its sustainability as well. Hence, project management methodology is important for every individual organisation to achieve its future goals and competitive advantages from the target business market.
2.2 Theoretical framework
There are several different types of project management methodologies chosen by different companies to execute any new business plan successfully or to modify any existing business plan within the company. As stated by Meredith et al. (2020), several theories are there that help to find out importance of project management methodologies for a company to execute its new business plan in the target business market. Different theories that describe project management methodologies include;
Scientific management theory
Project management methodology is one of the essential managements of structuring an organization efficiently. According to Scientific management, theory management does not only share creative and innovative ideas with the development team of any organization but also shares creative ways to resolve any issue in an organization. According to Tengberg & Valencia (2018), project management methodologies are closely related to change management in an organization that helps to change the culture and structure of the organization creatively.
Project management methodologies in the organization not only influence relationships between employees but also creates a healthy environment for working sustainably. It also helps to motivate the internal and external stakeholders of an organization in creating more engagements and stabilize the workflow effectively.
Human relation theory
Project management methodologies play a vital role in maintaining culture among employees and hierarchy to maintain a balance in the workflow of the organization. According to Human relations theory, the proper implication of project management methodology provides hygienic factors to the stakeholders and stimulates an organization.
This is the reason most companies try to incorporate organisational culture to stimulate the workforce in meeting the objective of the company effectively. As stated by Zahroh & Fachrunnisa (2017), human relation theory shares the concept of verbal and non-verbal communication and the way they influence the culture of an organization. hence, a proper project management plan or methodology is important for every individual company to achieve competitive goals.
2.3 Different types of PMM methods and their real-life applications
There are several types of project management methods such as Waterfall methodology, Kanban methodology, Agile methodology and Six Sigma methodology. This part includes a huge discussion about different types of methodology that has been provided with its real-life application in different companies.
Waterfall methodology is used to help to stabilize the workforce and workflow in an organization, whereas innovation management helps to resolve any issues creatively. Employee engagement and employee performance is the key element for achieving success and meeting the objectives faster (Thummadi & Lyytinen, 2020). Hence, most software companies use waterfall methodology as it provides linear approaches to software development and maintenance of existing software plans.
At the same time, it helps to provide such hygiene factors to the employees that influence their engagement and performance both simultaneously. Thus, the presence of both elements is vital in an organization.
Kanban methodology refers to the innovative ideas that can be incorporated into the organizational structure to add more competitive advantages to the company. Marketing innovation of the UX design team board refers to the development of innovative ways to market a new product or previously launched product in the market (Saltz & Heckman, 2020).
Kanban project methodology tries to motivate employees in risk-taking and performing innovative and creative approaches in the organization. Market culture is a more result-driven structure and market-oriented structure that is extremely competitive.
Agile methodology is useful for marketing innovation that refers to the development of innovative ways to market a new product or previously launched product in the market. The last one is technology innovation, which refers to technological innovation, which is very relevant and important in the present scenario and future industry 4.0.
Main and important examples of Agile project methodology include Dynamic system development (DSD), Feature Driven Development (FDD), Lean Software Development (LSD) and many more (Improta et al. 2020). Hence, this project methodology helps to develop plans based on its needs and also holds stand up meetings which help the company to choose sustainable methods to execute any project.
Besides that, the Six Sigma methodology helps to reduce waste or errors by increasing customer satisfaction by producing or innovating new products to the business market. However, this is driven by statistical analysis and data analysis to minimize mistakes or errors whereas maximizing product manufacturing and value of business projects (Gupta, Modgil & Gunasekaran, 2020).
Hence, for this e-Bus, the company will use a six-sigma project methodology as it needs to minimize risks and challenges to develop this project. Therefore, Six Sigma methodology will be beneficial for the company to design e-Bus in the target marketplace to support Go green government choice.
3. Justification of methodology selection
Six Sigma is a disciplined and detailed project methodology that helps to improve different aspects of project or business management. As stated by Girmanová et al. (2017), the six-sigma model helps to reduce errors and increase deficiency. Moreover, helps to motivate the internal and external stakeholders of an organization in creating more engagements and stabilize the workflow effectively. At the same time, due to lack of knowledge and improper planning of management sometimes, organizations failed to incorporate a suitable culture for their company. Besides, lack of innovation management can be seen in some SMEs as they have not understood the importance of it yet.
Therefore, to establish Bus in the marketplace Six sigma project methodology has allowed the company to build strong communication with its employees and customers. At the same time, its methodology is important to reduce technical and mechanical errors that mostly occur during the manufacturing of any electronic device. Main role of Six sigma model includes;
Customer focus
Most important principle of the Six Sigma model is it helps to focus on the customers whereas it is also important to target a specific group of people in the target business market. At the same time, the Six Sigma approach helps in better understanding the requirements to fix or continue a process with minimum wastage. This will enable the project to develop sustainable electric buses with renewable energy and not rely on natural resources (Sayid Mia et al. 2017). However, customer focus helps the company to launch e-Bus in the target business market with a settled aim of services launching.
Continuous improvement
Six Sigma methodology plays an important role in continuous improvement to gain a competitive advantage from the target business market. As stated by Sayid Mia et al. (2017), to develop any project company managers need to focus on continuous improvement so that they could attract more customers towards the company or services. In this case, it will allow the project of e-Bus to measure, analyse, control and improve the processes in conducting a review of the current processes. This will allow the project managers to gain a better understanding of the processes going on and the needs for its improvement. However, Six Sigma methodology is appropriate for the company to e-Bus in the business market as it helps the project by continuous improvement.
Data usage
Besides customer focus and continuous improvement, the Six sigma model helps to use data from different sources. As stated by Sodhi, Singh & Singh (2019), using data from different sources will help a company to innovate their business plan with more effective data and using modern technologies as well. Hence, six sigma helps in maintaining the international standards and impacts the quality of the construction positively. However, as quality improves, the method provides sustainability in the processes as well as the organisation. Moreover, this methodology will help e-Bus in reducing their exposure to risk, making the organisation more effective and efficient in providing the products and services to the consumers.
Increase flexibility
Flexibility is an important factor that helps a company to adjust to any difficult situation or market demand. As stated by Sodhi, Singh & Singh (2019), the HR manager of a company needs to focus on business project flexibility so that it could help the company to prepare an advance plan to overcome any failure. However, it will help the organisation in choosing a technology that has fewer risks towards improving the systems.
4. Prerequisite for the Selection
The effectiveness of the six sigma approaches is included in project management systems alongside the sigma methods in the process of management. The six sigma methods emphasise a better understanding of the customer needs and demands by eliminating the defects and wastage. As per the views made by Anthony, Vinodh & Gijo (2017), the main element of the six-sigma approach is aimed at clarifying the bottom-line financial and technical objectives of the project. However, effective selection and management are provided based on the importance of evaluating the success factors. The steps of implementing a six-sigma approach can be identified as:
Define
The first phase of the six-sigma project management approach defines the objectives and scopes of the project, construction of electric buses. As per the views of Smętkowska & Mrugalska (2018), the phase signifies the collection of relevant information regarding the processes involved as well as the customers. The collection of the data on the processes provides a broad spectrum of the needful, in this case being an engineering project and management framework. However, the collection of data provides an understanding of the scope, time, cost and quality of the process needed by the manager to ensure the flexibility of the project (Sebestyen, 2017). This enforces the definition of clear requirements for the engineer as well for the construction to exhibit innovation.
Measure
The second phase of the six-sigma approach being measurement measures the data depending on the current situation and process metrics. As per the studies of Gleeson et al. (2019), the phase will measure the objectives of the program of the project management of the construction of electric buses to eliminate pollution by reducing emissions. The phase will undertake the same constraints of scope, time, cost and quality to measure each of them providing strong interrelated factors. According to Kosieradzka (2017), the six-sigma model will enforce better scheduling, immovable deadlines, precise monitoring as well as increased buffers to accomplish the project with fewer risks and failures. The valued contribution of measurement will enable e-Bus to constrict the needs and requirements of project management and engineering.
Analyse
The phase of analysis in the six-sigma project management will enable e-Bus to analyse the data collection for finding the root cause of the problem. As per Wu et al. (2017), the phase will analyse the problems in the process of reviewing the ongoing processes in the wake of the creation of electric buses. The risks of additional scheduling, padding, increased reserves, costs, defects are identified in this phase and further measured again on the current situation and process metrics. This will help e-Bus in ensuring the quality and analysis of the spectrum of information provided by the study. According to Sebestyen (2017), further understanding of the scope, time, cost and quality of the process analysed by the manager to ensure the flexibility assesses the improvement after identifying the issues in the processes.
Improvement
The phase of improvement after analysing the errors in the then present processes cater for development and innovation in the resources and methods for innovation. On the basis of the arguments made by Erdil, Aktas & Arami (2018), the phase provides solutions to the identified issues that hamper the integrity of the processes. However, this phase will help e-Bus ltd. in improving its product resources and quality of the service provided to the customer. This will eventually help in ensuring the going green of the project to cater for the environment in controlling the emissions. As per Smętkowska & Mrugalska (2018), the improvement in the operations of the process will ensure the quality of the project and manufacturing within a given budget and efforts put in the work. However, the relationship between the scope and quality as it optimises the project parameters related to other parameters.
Control
The last phase of the six-sigma approach ensures the cost and quality of the rest of the phases of definition, measurement, analysis and improvement. As per the views of Meredith, Shafer & Mantel (2019), the control implements solutions evaluated on the mechanisms implemented to hold the gains including the standardisation of the organisation. This will enable the company with the opportunity of contributing to enhancing the project management of the making of electric buses. In addition, the phase provides properly recognised solutions and implementations assuring quality in the specifications in the product and services. Provided that the relationship between quality and cost holds crucial importance, yet the six-sigma approach benefits the quality in optimised costs.
5. Benefits of the implementation
The six-sigma approach benefits the effectiveness of the project management systems by emphasising the needs and demands of the consumers. The benefits of the approach in the project of building electric buses can be identified as:
Standardisation
The achievement of culture for improvement will benefit the project of creating electric buses in the process and decision of going green. As per the analyses made by Meredith, Shafer & Mantel (2019), the six-sigma approach helps in better understanding the requirements to fix or continue a process with minimum wastage. This will enable the project to develop sustainable electric buses with renewable energy and not rely on natural resources. The method will cater to the decision of going green with less wastage and less emission by the use of electric engines. These features will help to build and maintain the standards of e-Bus and project management.
Improved Business Processes
The six-sigma approach caters to identify the knowledge needed for the continuity of the project being implemented. Further, it will allow the project of e-Bus to measure, analyse, control and improve the processes in conducting a review of the current processes. This will allow the project managers to gain a better understanding of the processes going on and the needs for its improvement (Laureani & Anthony, 2018). A clear knowledge of the performance will impact the quality of the creation of e-buses with the ability to achieve improvement in the same.
Sustainability in Quality Improvement
The six sigma approaches in project management reduce errors to insignificant numbers and provide a review of current processes going on. This feature helps in maintaining the international standards and impacts the quality of the construction positively. However, as quality improves, the method provides sustainability in the processes as well as the organisation (Fangel, 2018). This feature will benefit e-Bus with improved business processes as well as quality improvement as managers review the processes and their continuity. The eliminated errors in insignificant numbers improve implementation in the quality of batteries, engines and buses.
Reduced Operational Costs
Operational costs are significant for a new business or product that cannot be fully eliminated. However, the six-sigma approach provides a drastic reduction in operational costs by lowering the exposure to risk (Galli & Kaviani, 2018). This feature will help e-Bus in reducing their exposure to risk, making the organisation more effective and efficient in providing the products and services to the consumers. This feature will cater for their theme of going green as well associated with a decrease in the process cycle time that will eventually reduce the amount of wastage. The result with fewer touchpoints, non-value adding activities and to reduce the cost as well as waste.
Improved Regulatory Compliances
The regulatory compliances of the six-sigma approach in the project management of e-Bus will cater for finance and audit, technology as well as legality. These features will help the project in being efficient in its regulations aiming to improve the funding’s, time cycle reduction in cost estimation and several others. As per the views made by Erdil, Aktas & Arami (2018), the regulatory compliance in the internet technology aspect will help the organisation in choosing a technology that has fewer risks towards improving the systems. The legality is aimed towards improving the compilation of critical and non-critical documents in the project of electric buses.
6. Conclusion
Based on the above discussions, it has been depicted that project management of electric buses manufactured by the company e-Bus depicts the implementation of the six-sigma approach. It has been found that the implementation of the six-sigma approach has catered for the organisation, to begin with, the experience transformation and excellence in the project. The project is to be completed within several rounds in multiple critical and non-critical functions that will cater for the organisational culture. It has been found that the six-sigma approach has helped in the development of the empowerment of driving the key features of identification and improvement in the project management. Furthermore, with measurable critical defects, the method has been identified across the management all along the project process to cater for betterment and improvement.
References
Books:
Antony, J., Vinodh, S., & Gijo, E. V. (2017). Lean Six Sigma for small and medium sized enterprises: A practical guide. CRC Press. Retrieved from:https://nibmehub.com/opac-service/pdf/read/Lean%20Six%20Sigma%20for%20Small%20and%20Medium%20Sized%20Enterprises%20by%20Antony-%20Jiju%20(z-lib.org).pdf
Fangel, M. (2018). Proactive Project Management. Van Haren. Retrieved from: https://www.bruna.nl/images/active/InkijkPDF/cb/9789401803076.pdf
Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., & Mantel Jr, S. J. (2017). Project management: a strategic managerial approach. John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from: https://www.academia.edu/download/30240879/42a8009c3d9c5.pdf
Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., & Mantel Jr, S. J. (2017). Project management: a strategic managerial approach. John Wiley & Sons, Retrieved on: https://www.academia.edu/download/30240879/42a8009c3d9c5.pdf
Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Mantel Jr, S. J., & Sutton, M. M. (2020). Project management in practice. John Wiley & Sons, Retrieved on: http://aa.jo/sites/default/files/webform/pdf-project-management-in-practice-jack-r-meredith-samuel-j-mantel-jr-scott-m-shafer-margaret-pdf-download-free-book-e446c9f.pdf
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