Imagine that you are employed as an IT project manager by a fast-food organization. This organization operates many fast-food shops within the region and would like to promote its brand by creating a mobile application that will provide its customers with the ability to view the nearest fast-food shop location within their geographical area.
As a member of the software development team, you estimate a total project cost of $175,000. You have designated control points to measure project progress. At control point 2, the following data is available:
Budget Cost of Work Performed: $34,000.
Actual Cost of Work Performed: $37,500.
There are various stakeholders that are interested in the progress of the project. These stakeholders include the marketing management team (internal customers), software designers, programmers, testers, and upper management. The software development team has attempted to release a mobile application of this magnitude in the past; however, lack of sponsorship, mobile development expertise, and technical infrastructure has limited the team's success.
Instructions
Write a 3 page paper in which you:
Identify at least four attributes of the mobile application development project that can be measured and controlled and evaluate how each is a critical factor for the success of the project.
Generate a project plan summary of the various project milestones. Develop a WBS that details work packages required to complete the project scope.
Develop a workflow model that can be used to inspect and detect defects during the acceptance of this mobile product through the use of graphical tools in Microsoft Word or Visio or an open-source alternative such as Dia. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
Describe how the defects detected during the acceptance of the mobile application should be reported and explain the circumstances in which a defect may not require reporting.
Analyze the communication needs of the different project stakeholders. Explain the types of project status reports that would be useful to each.
Compute the cost variance, schedule variance, cost performance index, schedule performance index, and estimated actual cost using the information presented at control point 2. Interpret the project schedule and budget status from the calculations.
Explain how the work package, binary tracking, and earned valued reporting can be used effectively during the maintenance phase of the software life cycle if various change requests may be assigned to individuals and processed on an individual basis.
Develop a risk register that will document all of the estimated risks. Assign one risk management technique for each risk and explain the basis for your selection.
Use at least three quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources.
Full Answer Section
- Performance: The app should be responsive and perform well on a variety of devices and network conditions. Slow load times or crashes can negatively impact user satisfaction.
- Security: Protecting user data is essential. The app should implement robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.
Section 2: Project Plan Summary and WBS
Project Plan Summary:
- Project Goal: Develop a mobile application to promote a fast-food organization's brand and provide users with information about nearby locations.
- Timeline: [Insert estimated project timeline]
- Budget: $175,000
- Key Stakeholders: Marketing management team, software designers, programmers, testers, upper management.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):
- Requirements Gathering
- Design
- User Interface Design
- Database Design
- Development
- Frontend Development
- Backend Development
- API Integration
- Testing
- Unit Testing
- Integration Testing
- User Acceptance Testing
- Deployment
- App Store Submission
- Marketing and Promotion
Section 3: Workflow Model
[Insert a graphical workflow model depicting the process of defect detection and reporting.]
Section 4: Defect Reporting
Defects detected during the acceptance of the mobile application should be reported using a standardized defect tracking system. This system should allow for clear and concise descriptions of the defect, its severity, and the steps to reproduce it.
Defects may not require reporting if they are minor and do not significantly impact the application's functionality or user experience. However, it is important to document all defects, even minor ones, to track their resolution and prevent future occurrences.
Section 5: Stakeholder Communication
Different stakeholders have varying communication needs. Regular project status reports should be provided to all stakeholders, but the level of detail and frequency may vary.
- Executive Management: High-level overview of project progress, key milestones, and any major issues.
- Marketing Management: Focus on how the app aligns with marketing goals and strategies.
- Software Development Team: Detailed technical updates, including progress on specific tasks and any challenges encountered.
- Testers: Information on defect resolution, testing progress, and quality assurance metrics.
Section 6: Project Performance Analysis
Cost Variance: $37,500 - $34,000 = $3,500 (Overbudget) Schedule Variance: [Insert calculated schedule variance] Cost Performance Index (CPI): $34,000 / $37,500 = 0.907 (Overbudget) Schedule Performance Index (SPI): [Insert calculated schedule performance index] Estimated Actual Cost (EAC): $175,000 / 0.907 = $193,000 (Estimated project cost has increased)
Based on the calculations, the project is currently overbudget and behind schedule. This indicates that corrective action is needed to bring the project back on track.
Section 7: Maintenance Phase
Work package, binary tracking, and earned value reporting can be used effectively during the maintenance phase to manage change requests. By tracking the status of individual change requests, project managers can prioritize and allocate resources accordingly. Earned value reporting can be used to monitor the progress of maintenance activities and ensure that they are completed within budget and on schedule.
Sample Answer
Section 1: Critical Factors for Project Success
1. User Experience (UX): A positive user experience is crucial for the success of any mobile application. Factors such as intuitive navigation, attractive design, and fast load times will determine whether users continue to use the app.
2. Functionality: The app must accurately display the nearest fast-food shop locations based on the user's GPS coordinates. It should also provide relevant information such as store hours, menu options, and contact details.