Initial Project Assessment Running Head: INITIAL PROJECT ASSESSMENT Initial Project Assessment 1 Initial Project Assessment 2 Initial Project Assessment The initial project assessment is the most important aspect that usually decides the success of any project of a company. In this, as a leader/manager of a major company that has agreed to participate in the citywide Adopt-a-School program, I have to lead the program for Book Bag drive sponsored by this company. In this consideration, as the project manager, the initial project assessment can be conducted as below: 1. Project Charter Documents Project Objective: The main project objective of the company is to fulfill the needs of the customers through availability of the Book Bag drive in the market. Further, this project objective is also related to increase sales of the Book Bag drive and influence the customers to take part in viral marketing of the products (Berman, 2007). At the same time, this project objective can also be considered as making a brand image of the Book Bag drive in the market and reputation of the company as a quality product. Finally, the project objective of this company is also related to make greater standing and competitive edge in this industry for a long time. At this stage, it can be stated that the project has various scope in the market related to the Book Bag drive to maintain its value in the market through making revenue. Additionally, customers would get full satisfaction in this initial stage of the project because of the promotional cost. Now, as the project manager, the role is to reach towards maximum customers and achieve the setting goals and objectives of the company effectively and efficiently (Berman, 2007). Further, as the project manager, Initial Project Assessment 3 establishment of the company image between customers is also a responsibility that has to be accomplished. Benefit to Customers: Every project is established in the motive of providing benefits to the customers and grabs the opportunity of their faith and trust on the business policy of the company. In this scenario, the benefits of implementing the project to the customers can be seen as efficiency in delivering the products and services and enhanced customer satisfaction (Berman, 2007). Further, this project would also provide benefits to the customers a good quality product. However, this project can fulfill the needs of the children of the community in order to ensure that they would start the school. At the same time, the benefits of implementing the project to the customers can also be assumed as generating interests for organizing book drives and other benefits, such as packing in manageable boxes. Project Assumptions and Constraints: It is a true fact that a project in the initial stage faces various challenges in the path of the success. Further, manager would ensure that project team members are available as needed to complete project tasks and objectives. The other assumption of the project is that team members will adhere to the manager through proper communication. Thus, the items that must be in place or that could hinder the project as the constraints are the budget of the project, and time restrictions, as well as resource limitations (Royer, 2014). Additionally, resource skill limitations are also a constraint of the project that can delay the working system of the project operations. In this, the budget of the project is the main part to accomplish the Initial Project Assessment 4 project successfully. However, in case of lack of proper budget in the initial stage of the project, the success would be delayed. On the other side, time restrictions can also adversely affect the project that can be seen as stress and mental pressure of the manager and on the other employees. Time restrictions can increase the costs of the project because of achieving the goals of the project at the right time that would require other resources (Royer, 2014). In most of the situations, resource limitations, such as man power and lack of enough products can create constraints in the project initiation stage. At last resource skills limitations, such as lack of talented employees can also hinder the project initiation stage. Project Stakeholders: The project success generally depends on the participation of the various stakeholders. These stakeholders are concerned with both internal and external environment of the organization (Royer, 2014). In this consideration, the internal and external parties involved in and affected by the project as citywide Adopt-aSchool program for the Book Bag drive are described as below: Internal Stakeholders/Parties: The internal parties that are directly involved in this project are employees of the company, team members of the project, and manager/leader. Further, marketing department members and quality control department can also be considered as internal stakeholders/parties that are involved in the completion of the project (Kendrick, 2015). Apart from these internal stakeholders, director of this company is also involved to check the initiation stage of the project that is on the right track or not. External Stakeholders/Parties: The external parties involved in this project are the project sponsors, retailers, and wholesalers. These external stakeholders can Initial Project Assessment 5 participate in the project execution effectively and efficiently because they can help to promote the product (Kendrick, 2015). The project sponsors are the most important stakeholders that help to influence people through their relationship with the buyers. Further, customers, such children and their parents, as well as school community are also some external stakeholders affected by the project effectively. High-Level Milestones: This section is important for accomplishment of the project because it makes the strategy easy to understand and target the objectives. In this, tasks of the project and their completion dates can be involved to make the program easy and effective (Kendrick, 2015). This can be understood from the following table: Milestone No 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 Tasks of the Project Initial Project Start Complete Gathering Requirements of the Project Complete Design of the Project Team Selection Initial Meeting with Team Members Appropriate training to the team members Preparation of site facilities for implementation Citywide School Visits Preparation of Progress Report Submission of Final Report of the Project Completion Dates 7/20/2015 7/30/2015 8/10/2015 8/15/2015 8/18/2015 8/25/2015 8/30/2015 9/30/2015 10/7/2015 10/10/2015 Broad-level Cost Estimate: In order to accomplish a project successfully, cost estimation is required to know the total budget of the project. In this scenario, the overall project cost for team resources would be at least $10000 in which various costs can be included in a one month citywide program. Further, the cost of the specific purchase or services would be at least $5000 in which fuel, meals, and accommodation can be Initial Project Assessment included (Taylor, 2007). Apart from these project cost, the costs of the marketing items can also be considered and it would be almost $2000 to implement the project. Now, there is a question that who will be funding the project. In this scenario, it can be assumed that the sponsors of the project would arrange funds for the project to make it successful. Further, the company can also provide some funds to initiate the project. 6 Initial Project Assessment 7 2. Stakeholder Analysis Document and Scope Statement The main stakeholders that are affected by the project can be assumed as school going children, and their parents, as well as school community. Further, students of the junior college can also be considered as stakeholder for the Book Bag drive. These stakeholders are the main target of the project because they show their interest and expectations to purchase the Book Bag drive (Taylor, 2007). The level of interest of these stakeholders is different in which children show a high level of interest. After that their parents and school community show reasonable interest to purchase the book bag drive. However, the expectations of these stakeholders are almost same in which students show some different expectations than the other stakeholders because of style and fashionable nature. Therefore, these stakeholders are most important for this citywide Adopt-a-School program due to future business concern in the market (Taylor, 2007). Thus, it can be expected that these stakeholders have important influence on the success of the project. These are the base of this product in the future consideration when they would purchase on the regular basis. Initial Project Assessment 3. Scope Statement This project has various scopes in the market that can establish the business of this company effectively. In this, the scope of this project can be seen as grabbing attention of the stakeholders towards the Book Bag drive and increasing earning through fewer efforts and expenses in the marketing of the products. 8 Initial Project Assessment References Berman, J. (2007). Maximizing Project Value: Defining, Managing, and Measuring for Optimal Return. USA: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Kendrick, T. (2015). Identifying and Managing Project Risk: Essential Tools for FailureProofing Your Project. USA: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Royer, P.S. (2014). Project Health Assessment. USA: CRC Press. Taylor, J. (2007). Project Scheduling and Cost Control: Planning, Monitoring and Controlling the Baseline. USA: J. Ross Publishing. 9 \f\f\f\f