They manufacture product that are used as raw materials by large manufacturing companies and the construction industry. After the merger in 1994 in an effort to retain both Information Services they outsourced the department to STC. Woodson was hired in 1995 to help improve the company competitive position and profitability.
His plan was to improve customer service by improving the supply chain management. This case study looks at the problems faced by Modern Materials, Inc. in automating their business processes. Review of the Literature In 1994, Modern Materials, Inc. outsourced its Information Services organization to STC. Modern Materials, Inc. Information Services staff were all hired by STC as a part of the contract. Except for the change in management in Information Services operations remained. Harvey Wooden was hired in 1995 as vice president of quality by Modern Materials, Inc.
His aim was to improved Modern Materials, Inc. customer service thus improving the company’s competitive position and increasing profit. Martin (2012) So in 1996 Woodson proposed a Supply-Chain Management System Project that would significantly improve its business processes and fully support the company’s information systems. The project got approved in 1998 and was scheduled to be completed in 2001. As the project began serious problems also began to surface. The Company had gone through a downsizing exercise and remaining staff now had to double up on duties.
The Term Paper on Steps to improve marketing intelligence in companies
According to Kotler (2009) a marketing intelligence system is a set of procedures and sources managers use to obtain everyday information about developments in the marketing environment. A marketing intelligence system also facilitates accurate and confident decision making in determining market opportunity, market penetration strategy and market development metrics. Hans Heldin (2010) noted that ...
During this, the project requirements still had not been defined but the design of the system started. Thus problems occurred when the code was written and the system implemented because it had reworked to meet requirements. Modern Materials, Inc. also had a major problem with being Y2K compatible so some resources were now diverted away from the Supply-Chain Management System Project. The project fell behind schedule due to these problems and worse their champion Woodson left Modern Materials, Inc. in 2000. Leach assumed control of the project when Woodson left.
Though an enthusiastic and forceful leader, Leach had no experience in an IS Organization. Under his management they installed the entry order system but not without problems. Testing did not go smoothly and the system had to be reworked. Mathew West explanations for the condition of the project, West expressed major concerns about the Supply-Chain Management System Project, saying that they need to admit that the supply-chain management project is a failure, minimize the company’s loses by killing it and move on.
He realized that it is hard to abandon a project that they have invested so much time and effort in, but times were so tough for the company that they could not continue to waste money on the project. West main concern was the cost of the project it was affecting their stock and profits and he feared the worst, that Modern Material, Inc. would go bankrupt. George Leach Explanations for the condition of the project. Leach recognized that the project was behind schedule and well over its budget but thought the original problems had been dealt with so the project could be completed.
The downsizing of the company, the Y2K problem and the loss of their champion Woodson were the major problems that needed to be dealt with. Over budget and well past the deadline, the project did have some success, the order-entry system was installed and some other components almost completed. Carol Young Explanations for the condition of the project. Young’s findings showed that the consensus of the staff was that the project had failed. The major problem was that the requirements had not been defined correctly, thus some of the components of the project would have to be reworked.
The Research paper on Project charter, scope management, project planning
Create a Project Charter, Requirements Document & Work Break Down Structure Apply scope change management processes Demonstrate understanding of project planning through the analysis of a case study [Note: Topic Notes 4(Initiation), 5 (Project Planning) and 6 (Scope Management) provide the background to complete this assignment) PART I (68 marks) PROJECT CHARTER, WBS, SCOPE CHANGES [NOTE: Part ...