1. Who would you recommend Stacey Thomas select to serve as project manager? Why?

2. How would you recommend this project be organized? Functional project? Pure project? Matrix? Why?

3. Do you agree with Ms. Thomas’s decision that the project should be staffed internally? What are the major advantages of staffing the project with Quantum employees? Are there any advantages to utilizing the services of an outside consulting firm?

MINI CASE 

Quantum Bank Inc. is a regional bank with branches throughout the southeast. In early 1999 the bank launched a Web site that provides its customers with the ability to check account balances, obtain information about the bank’s various services, obtain contact information and email questions, and link to a variety of other useful sources of information. Given the site’s tremendous success, competition from both traditional and nontraditional organizations, and the desire to expand its presence beyond its current geographical area, Quantum decided to expand its online offerings significantly. More specifically, Quantum would like to expand its Web site to include an online bill payment service, allow customers to apply for credit cards and loans online, open accounts online, and manage their investment portfolios online. Vice-President of Information Systems, Stacey Thomas, has been charged with overseeing the project. One of her first tasks was to select the project manager. Because of the strategic importance of the project, she had a strong preference for staffing the project internally as opposed to employing the services of one of the many consulting firms available that specialize in these types of projects. After developing a list of ten or so possible candidates to serve as project manager, she was finally able to pare the list down to the two finalists described below.