CASE STUDIES

(PROJECT MANAGEMENT)

MERCENE, JOHANNA B.
BSIS- 3B

Chapter 1
 INTRODUCTION

CASE: AaronSide to Teams

Answers

1. (a) Relay race approach has its good idea to conduct first a study of what the consumers’ desires
before getting into the decisions of making a new project or product to determine the needs of the
customers. But, having this approach is much suitable for local projects. In the other hand is the
Cross- functional approach. Cross functional approach is ideal to a large project especially if the
project is getting worldwide. This approach needs to hire experts’ people to build a team for the
departments. With this, the success of the project can exceed from the expectation. But, failure of
the project has its big chances if the department or team was not united.
(b) In my own evaluation, I think it is the relay race approach. Because for me it is much better to
have a not so small project successful than having a large project with a big lost of yours if you
failed.
2. It is the Swedish company who has more power while less power was on Aaronside.
3. Yes. It is because cross- functional approach requires hiring expert people to build a team for a
certain project.
4. I think it is because of the fact that VPs want to make the major decision by themselves without the
consulting to the members. Additionally, VPs request to the members to bring only the necessary
information and come up to that kind of decision without asking for any opinion or approval from
the members as respect to their presence.
5. Yes. Because it is not right to tolerate such things.

CASE: Cocable Inc.

Answers

1. The advantage to the Cocable case is that the company was open for a change to improve their
company. Additionally, the employees were trained to the extent of their capabilities to work at
Cocable for the continues development of the company. But introducing project management to
new product development can lead to difficulties in the part of the company especially on the
employees. The company would provide money on the trainings and increase their annual expenses.
Taking this risk also can’t give them an assurance to the progress of Cocable Inc.

CASE: A RobustArm Global Industries’ Sledgehammer

1. The SPM process is very important to the company because it push them to the top as they
receive the Baldridge award. That moment turns to the non-stop changing for their company’s
improvement. Employees were also proud being them part of the company and boost them to
do their best to work with the company which was a global multi-million-dollar business.
2. The RGB was on the right way in developing SPM process. They strictly follow the steps and
phases of SPM which direct them for good results perhaps developing this process need more
money and can results to reunited team because SPM promotes equal opportunities to all team
members to become boss.

CASE: Another Trojan Horse

Answers

1. First of all I would like to say that it was an inspiring event in history of project management. I
learned that It really takes time to have a complete and successful project. It matters to follow steps
and never skip on every phases that the project needed. Trojan Nuclear Plant proved that waiting is
worth. The team of John were patiently making the project into smaller division until Trojan Nuclear
Plant achieved its best

CASE: Call a Truck

Answers

1. CAT, Inc.
2. James, the new elected CEO of CAT, Inc. made a vision that pertains to the changes of the company
that opens it to the world of technology probably with the use of computer. CAT, Inc likely got its
new-look to the public. It gets bigger and better. It provides the customers (drivers) convenient and
satisfactory services to meet their needs that the other company can’t provide.
3. Project management plays as their guide to established changes in the company. It provides them
processes to a smooth flow of their projects.

CASE: The Project Hand- off Method

Answers
 1. Yes, there are multiple project managers in control of the project as it progressed through the
development life cycle. With them, the management of the project was accomplished through a
project management model. Hence, a project manager with the functional expertise specific to
the phase of development the product was currently in assumed ownership of the project.
2. Yes, because it was clearly stated there that hand-off method of development is usually in
smaller, less mature, and technically the companies focused into it although the true project
management value is not well understood.
3. Hand- off method is projects by definition are finite,(pros) their impact should continue after
they have been completed. (cons)The consequence (If not), one may question what the point of
the project was in the first place. Many projects roll themselves into operations. The company
should now be using the information or system that resulted from the project. A transitional
period will often take team members directly from the project into their roles in the daily
operations of the company.

Chapter 2

CULTURAL ASPECTS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT

CASE: Engineering Culture at Beck

Answers

1. Definitions of culture mentioned in the case:

 Engineers pride – the habit of calling their selves “engineers”, which they are.
 “Run to the end” – the first priority was securing new business, and a concern for
producing a product at times fell through cracks.
 Designers to cost (cost to design) – this approach implies that engineers first design the
product, then they figure out the price, which the customer may consider overly high.
 Customer centric – is being able to help translate what customer’s precisely want of the
product design.

2. What I want is Beck’s culture is that having that “Customer centric” approach. It is good to know
that this kind of culture can able to translate the customer’s wants. With this, they can provide a
better service for the customer.

CASE: The Jamming

Answers

1. The jamming approach work well in the 2nd scenario. It was defined there as “cohesive” which
shows unity in spite of differences in cultures but showcasing each expertise to contribute in the
project to meet success.
2. According in the situation, (pros) the jamming is a fine method to be used in a team. Success of
the project is possible like shown in scenario 2. It has a good effect if only the members would
have a very good harmony working together. In addition, its plasticity may be such great asset to
multicultural project managers that many of them view it as ideal in the development of
culturally responsive project management strategy like what they saying “two heads are better
than one”. Meaning having different cultures is like having different evaluator that probably
become the asset of the company . But like what the case define,(cons) Jamming’s basic design
may not be in tune with all cultures and may not even be appropriate for the execution by
teams composed of members with varying levels of competency in other people’s project
management scripts. Jamming is possible also for an “overpersonalization” of relationship
between the project manager and the counterpart, characterized by high emotional
involvement, loss of touch with and ignorance of other team members, and reluctance to
delegate.

Chapter 3

PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESSES

CASE: Special Session

CASE: Waterfall Software Development

Answers

CASE: Extreme Programming

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CASE: Do You ZBB?

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Chapter 4

PROJECT INTEGRATION PROCESSES

CASE: Special Session

Answers

CASE: Waterfall Software Development

Answers

CASE: Extreme Programming

Answers

CASE: Do You ZBB?

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