Project management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Project management - Research Paper Example A project is not a routine task, it is a certain set of functions designed to achieve a particular goal. Sometimes the project team involves people who usually do not work together; they are acquired from different departments, different organizations & different localities. In simple terms, Project Management involves a temporary group activity. Project Management is related to the application of knowledge, techniques & skills to complete a project efficiently & effectively. It is a strategic decision by the organization to enhance their competencies by tying the project outputs to the organization’s objectives. Previously project management referred to the collection of project data & metrics for evaluation & then accordingly making changes to increase efficiency & productivity. For the past decades, this area of management have become quite popular within the corporate world because of the following reasons- (ds.psu.edu 2) The average salary of a project manager is quite hi gh in comparison to the managers of other domain. Every year, a huge amount is spent for the purpose of accomplishing various projects. Lately, project management has been included as a subject of study in various educational institutes. It acts as a control mechanism for various projects. Project management helps in controlling the human capital, budget, quality, resources, time frames & communication. Project Life Cycle Projects always have a starting date & an ending date which means just like products, projects also have a definite life cycle that starts with the starting date & ends with the ending date. The diagram shows the different phases of a project life cycle- (weill.cornell.edu 1) Here we are given a particular business case where we have to modify the present structure of the University into a Wi-Fi enabled campus. We need to replace all computers & introduce iMacs for the classroom. Also we are required to complete the job within the month of June as the research woul d start from July onwards. We need several staffs for this purpose. Selection of the appropriate option for the given business case The appropriate solution that has been selected for the business case is requesting financial aid from the government as it is a reliable source of funds. On the basis of this option we are going to discuss further about this case with the help of the A3 tool. The context of Toyota can be considered while exploring the concept of A3. The managers of the company implement a tool called A3 that is named keeping in mind the internationally accepted paper size.A3 consists of a series of boxes arranged in a template. The boxes include the operations in the following order- 1. To establish the context of the business & the importance of a specific issue 2. To define the present status of the problem 3. To identify the desired outputs 4. To analyze the circumstances to ascertain causality 5. To offer countermeasures 6. To establish an action plan 7. To chalk o ut the follow-up process This method helps the managers to train others regarding the analysis of the root-cause & channel them towards scientific thinking. This is a tool for constant improvement & learning. We are required to use one management tool for the current business case & we would consider applying the A3 framework.

Are Rising U.S. Tensions with Russia and China Signs of a Return to Research Paper

Are Rising U.S. Tensions with Russia and China Signs of a Return to the Cold War - Research Paper Example 4. The missile defense system has caused Russia to deploy its ballistic missiles across Europe. 5. China and Iran have a close eye on US movements in Afghanistan, and its trembling relations with Pakistan. There are negligible or no chances of a second cold war among US, Russia and China because: 1. The three nations are matured and developed to make a mistake they made long ago. 2. It is not in the strategic interest of the three nations that such a war takes place. 3. There is much at stake, and a lot to lose if the war eventually breaks out. 4. US has its hands full with Afghanistan and Pakistan, it will risk going to war with a super power which can cause irreparable damage. 5. Iran is of significant concern to US at the moment. Americans will not risk Iran becoming a nuclear power for notorious reasons. Let us consider the chances of another cold war erupting among the Three Titans. The first cold war started in 1945 and went on till 1991, with the eventual defeat of the Soviet Union. The named cold war comes from the ability of nations to be in a state of war without direct military involvement. Military action is to be avoided because of the fact that it would bring a nuclear catastrophe to the nations’ door step. ... War.1 The question in one’s particular mind would arise that if there is no military involvement, then how is it possible to be in a war situation? These battles are fought through military coalitions, strategic conventional force deployment, and nuclear arms race. The rivalry is also seen at the level of sports and technology. The most famous technological competition between US and Russia is the Space Race. Military alliances such as the US led NATO and the Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact agreements were enforced to display military might.2 Considering the current situation between the Titans, we can asses that an environment is being built towards such a catastrophe. China seems to be very upset with the US movements in Afghanistan and its influence in the political mainstream of Pakistan. On the other hand, Russians are strongly condemning the US movements on the European soil. Its move to deploy Missile shields have irritated the Russians to an extent that led to a Georgian pounding some time back. Georgia is an ally of the US, but at the time when Russia was all out thrashing it, the Americans could only sit and watch the show because any US move would have been at the cost of war with Russia. The story of conflict does not end with Europe or Pakistan, Missile Shield or the US movements in Afghanistan. The three nations are of very different opinion on the matter of Iran. The Islamic republic of Iran is accused by the US of developing nuclear weapons or the WMDs. Iran suggests that its nuclear program is for civilian reasons and it has the right to use nuclear technology for civilian reasons. The US has tightened its sanctions on Iran and is threatening it to go to any limit possible to stop it from developing nuclear weapons. The extent could be by bombing its