Assignment task: In this assignment, you will demonstrate your project planning skills in your role as a contracted project manager and apply the fundamental project management tasks and principles.
As an independent project manager, you have just been contracted by Innovative Automotive, an automobile accessories company that has been in business for 15 years. The company developed a new product: an after-market accessory that attaches to any windshield wiper and helps solve the problem of removing bugs from the front windshield.
You have been hired to manage the product launch. The project was started 18 months ago and was managed by the then-director of product development who has left for another opportunity. This project is floundering. It is 6 months behind schedule and over budget, and it lacks commitment from the four other functional groups who are key stakeholders: sales, accounting, IT, and order processing. This product needs to be brought to market in 6 months.
Write a 700-to 1,050-word project plan draft of how you intend to bring the project up to speed in which you:
1. List the 3 primary characteristics of this product development project that qualify it to be considered a project.
2. Summarize the project life cycle that will likely follow this project.
3. Identify 2 to 3 of the constraints that the PM will be required to manage.
4. Identify at least 5 stakeholders you imagine will be the key to the success of this project.
5. Determine the best project structure for this project.
6. Describe the type of power you will likely have as a contract PM leading this project and requiring input and fractional resources from various other departments.
7. Summarize the steps you will take to reform the team and name the type of team culture (using the Human Synergistics Circumplex) you will try to develop.