Bahir Dar University

Bahir Dar Institute of Technology

School of Computing
Department of Software Engineering

Project management group work

Course code: SEng4062
Course Title: Software Project management
Batch: Fourth Year
Group Assignment

Section: A
Name ID
Abebe Tafere 1101973
Behailu Teshager 1103508
Wolassa Mekonen 1103168

April,2022
Submitted to: instruct. Minasie L.

Project management group work

1.Watch a video about a famous company, such as Google, Apple, or Walmart, that focuses on
its treatment of workers and customers. (You can find several documentaries on the Internet)
How do these organizations manage their human resources? How do they treat customers and
suppliers? Do they treat people differently in different parts of the world or in different
positions? What perks do they provide? Which perks would be most important to you, and why?
Summarize your findings and opinions in a one- or two-page, and cite the references you use. (6
points)

Solution:
How do these organizations manage their human resources?
These organizations manage their resources by providing an equal opportunity to all and
managing diversity, which means hiring employees and promoting employees regardless of
gender, personality differences, cultural traditions, ethnicity, and monitory differences.

These organizations have become employer of choice because customers, suppliers, applicants,
and fresh graduates want to work for them because of how they value their employees, how they
train and develop the potential and skills of the employees, and finally, how they made their
employees feel about working in their organization.

Instead of disciplining their employees, they motivate their employees through training and
development, equal salaries and wages, and employer-employee participation. There are more
benefits in these companies which is part of their strategic human resource management plans as
well as the promotion of teamwork, empowerment, support, and autonomy in their work.

How do they treat customers and suppliers?

Gaining competitive advantage among the suppliers and customers is one way to stay in the business.
That is why it is really essential that companies treat their customers and suppliers to attain loyalty,
achieve customer satisfaction, and stay in the game.
One of the sayings businesses have now been shape up or ship out hence, businesses should get a higher
market segment in the industry and treat their external stakeholders with respect, fairness, transparency,
and professionalism.
How these stakeholders stay with the company is a must for company longevity, stability, and
sustainability. They give their customers their utmost priority and even part of their customer
management plan and strategy. They maintain contracts and legal agreements with these stakeholders so
they can establish a long-lasting business relationship, expand their business, and maybe, consolidate or
merge in the later life of the business.
Do they treat people differently in different part of the world or in different positions?

Project management group work

Yes, people treat other people differently or in the different parts of the world because of the
differences in cultural tradition, language, religion, gender preferences, professional
relationships, and fear of being left out or ridiculed. This is the reason why there are manners,
habits, and cultural acceptances in all forms of business relationships and positions such as
handshake, eye rolling, dinner etiquette, professional agreements settings, as well as
conversation and respect for other cultures. The treatment should be based on the culture of the
client, supplier, or other external stakeholders that impact of the business in terms of
profitability, sustainability and longevity.

What perks do they provide?

Some of the perks that these companies provide to their employees are flexible working
schedules, retirement plan, union pay benefits, high salaries, car plan, insurance (both on car and
life), flexible plans on housing arrangements, medical and dental benefits, and even travel and
transportation plus optical and wardrobe allowances.
Which perks would be most important to you and why?
The three most important perks or benefits are the flexible plans on housing since this is not
only a basic need, but a luxury that most people want to acquire or have in their lifetime. Paying
rent is cumbersome compared to living in a house that allows for smaller amortization.
Second, medical and dental benefits are essential since they protect employees from diseases
and the conduct of health maintenance.
Third, are the flexible working schedules because some of the workers are working mothers or
fathers or those with disabilities, hence a flexible work day allows productivity, boost employee
morale, earn company trust, and allow for work from home arrangements, among others. There
are other benefits but these three are the most important to encourage employee morale and
establish skills growth.

So, these are my observations and opinions about working in large companies and the benefits
for clients.
Source: https://coursepivot.com/tutor-answers
https://www.coursehero.com/textbook-solutions

2. Summarize three of Covey’s habits in your own words and give examples of how these habits
would apply to project management. Document your ideas in one page, and include at least two
references. (4 points).
Solution:
Project managers can use Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People to help
themselves and project teams become more effective.
The seven habits include:
1. being proactive: - ability to choose how you will respond to a given stimulus or situation.
2. starting from the end: - Start with a clear destination in mind.

Project management group work

 3. put the main thing first: - we must put first things first. We must have the discipline to
prioritize our day-to-day actions based on what is most important, not what is most
urgent.
4. win / win thinking: - relationships, that are mutually beneficial and satisfying to each
party.
5. striving first to understand and then to be understood:- Before we can offer advice,
suggest solutions, or effectively interact with another person in any way, we must seek to
deeply understand them and their perspective through empathic listening.
6. achieving synergy: - valuing the differences — the mental, emotional, and psychological
differences between people which allows us to uncover new possibilities through
openness and creativity.
7. and sharpening the saw: - To be effective, we must devote the time to renewing ourselves
physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially. Continuous renewal allows us to
synergistically increase our ability to practice each habit.

 Habits 1, 2, and 3 are focused on self-mastery and moving from dependence to

independence.

 Habits 4, 5, and 6 are focused on developing teamwork, collaboration, and

communication skills, and moving from independence to interdependence.

 Habit 7 is focused on continuous growth and improvement and embodies all the other
habits.

Empathic listening is a key skill of good project managers. Developing a personnel management
plan involves defining, assigning, and documenting the roles, responsibilities, and reporting
relationships in the project.
Responsibility Allocation Matrix (RAM), HR plans, resource histograms, and RACI charts are
key tools for defining roles and responsibilities in projects.
The main output is the human resource plan. Acquiring a project team means assigning the right
staff to work on the project. This is an important issue in today's competitive environment.
Companies must be innovative in finding and retaining good IT talent.

Project management group work

Resource load shows the number of individual resources that are required by the existing
schedule at certain times. Bar charts show resource utilization and indicate resource reallocation.
Resource leveling is a method of resolving resource conflicts, such as over-allocating resources,
by deferring tasks. Aligned resources require less management, lower costs, create fewer
personnel and accounting problems, and often improve morale.

Two important skills of a good project manager are team development and team management.
Teamwork helps people work more efficiently to achieve project goals. Project managers can
recommend one-to-one training to improve teamwork skills, organize team events for the entire
project team and key stakeholders, and provide reward and recognition systems that encourage
teamwork. Project managers can use several tools and techniques, including observation and
conversation, project performance assessment, interpersonal skills, and conflict management, to
effectively manage their teams.
There are several modes of conflict resolution, and they can be considered in two dimensions:
the importance of the task and the importance of the relationship. Spreadsheets and project
management software such as Microsoft Project 2010 can assist project managers in managing
project human resources.
The software allows you to easily create Responsibility Allocation Matrices, create resource
histograms, identify over-availability resources, level resources, and provide various views and
reports related to project human resource management. Project Human Resource Management
involves much more than using software to facilitate organizational planning and resource
allocation.
Source: https://www.coursehero.com.
https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/habits-of-highly-effective-people-summay

3.Research recruiting and retention strategies at three different companies. Make sure that the
strategies use contrasting approaches. For example, find out how Google treats its workers, and
compare the approach with that of Foxconn or another company in the news. What distinguishes
one company from another in this area? Are strategies such as signing bonuses, tuition
reimbursement, and business casual dress codes standard for new IT workers? What strategies
appeal most to you? Summarize your ideas in one page that cites at least three references. (6
points).

Project management group work

Solution:
In a world of technology, innovation, and competition, any organization must have strong
recruitment and retention strategies to attract and retain the best talent in the industry.
1. Recruitment and Retention Strategies - Google:
Google is one of the best IT companies in the world. He is known for his search engine:
Google, which changed the way people search on the Internet.
Hiring and recruiting:
“The most important criteria used by the Google HR system in selecting candidates are
intelligence, creativity, commitment to excellence and alignment with the organization. The
company does not use work experience as the main selection criterion,”(Lombardo, 2015,
The Google Selection Process ”). Apart from the usual recruiting tactics, they have a variety
of quizzes to test logic and analytical skills, skill-based questions, and more. They have
extensive and one of the best hiring processes in the industry.
Keep:
Google considers employees to be assets. They are given the freedom to do things according
to their understanding, innovation is promoted, a healthy work-life balance, fun at work,
many perks beyond a healthy above average pay package.
“Google Compensation Packages are the primary human resource management tool the
company uses to retain quality human resources. The company's compensation packages are
competitive and above average. For example, Google gives high wages and salaries. In
addition, employees receive free meals and other perks and perks. The typical office design
emphasizes fun and creativity that attracts and retains creative and innovative employees.
Google Human Resource Management uses coaching and mentoring to retain and develop
people with leadership potential “(Lombardo, 2015,” Google Retention Programs”).
2. Recruitment and Retention Strategies -Microsoft:
Microsoft is known as one of the most famous technology companies in the world. His
employees are his intellectual assets; it is one of the most famous companies in the world.
Hiring and recruiting:
“Microsoft prefers intelligence over experience. He is one of the aggressive recruiters who
believe in hiring the best in the world. Hiring strategies include problem-solving skills,
thought processes, and self-control exercises. These strategies are favored more than real

Project management group work

 technical tests, they not only push potential employees to their creative limits, but also push
analytical skills more than traditional skills “(Priyadarshini, no., P. 5)
Microsoft's hiring strategies reflect their philosophy. According to Silistra (2007),
"Microsoft is actively recruiting the right people and is focusing on the right type of people,
not the right skill level." They were looking for the smartest and most purposeful people and
they did it persistently. Retention strategies:
“In the beginning, Gates strongly believed that employee ownership was critical to
increasing employee motivation and retention, instead of offering high salaries to employees.
After the listing on the stock exchange, this continued, and the company offered stock
options to employees based on performance. The link between individual performance and
remuneration is critical to this, with semi-annual performance reviews related to salary
increases, bonus payments and stock options “(Silistre, 2007, Employee Benefits).
The goal of every retention and motivation strategy is to make sure that the best talent
doesn't leave the organization. Some of the best strategies Microsoft uses are: Buying stock
and retiring employees; maternity leave; Assistance in training; medical insurance; fun
culture; a policy of casual dress code “(Rogers, 2016).
3.Recruitment and Retention Strategies - Foxconn:
The Taiwanese company Foxconn is the largest contract electronics manufacturer in the world,
making devices, in particular, for Apple and Amazon. Many of Foxconn's manufacturing
processes do not require extensively trained workers. The production process is simplified as
much as possible, so workers do not need special knowledge or training to complete most tasks.
Industrial design technicians regularly use stopwatches and computerized engineering devices to
check workers. If they can meet the quota, the goals are increased to the maximum possible.

On an iPhone assembly line, a female worker described how her tasks were measured to the
nearest second: “I take the motherboard off the assembly line, scan the logo, put it in an
antistatic bag, apply a label, and put it on the conveyor belt. ... Each of these tasks takes two
seconds. I do five tasks every ten seconds “(interview, October 15, 2011). As production grows,
workers face major challenges if they cannot complete orders on time. In some departments,
where workers usually take a 10-minute break, those who do not meet the hourly production

Project management group work

plan are not allowed to rest. New workers are constantly berated for being "too slow" on the
assembly line, no matter how hard they try to keep up with the "standard" pace of work.

Here's a rundown of some of the issues reportedly plaguing the Foxconn factories:
■ Wages and operating time. In 2012, Foxconn was accused of underpaid wages and excessive
working hours.
■ Minors and illegal workers. Foxconn admitted that it hired teenagers as young as 14 to one of
its factories in 2012. At the end of last year, Apple confirmed that students were found to be
working overtime at the factory where its iPhone X is made - in violation of local laws. ...
■ Low standard of living. In 2012, the New York Times reported that three-room staff
apartments can accommodate up to 20 employees.
Foxconn, for its part, has tried to tackle emerging issues as they arise, making their businesses
safer and raising wages to boost morale. But a new report from China Labor Watch and The
Observer suggests there is still work to be done.
Google and Microsoft strategy standards: Most of the strategies of these tech giants seem to be
similar, which is why these companies attract and retain the best in the industry.
Microsoft and Google are leaders in their respective fields. Their methods are respected and
their employees are respected around the world. For most people, being associated with these
organizations as an employee is a symbolic achievement. I remember reading an article that said
it was "easier to get hit by lightning or get into Harvard than to get a job at Google." These are
the rigorous hiring procedures these companies use to distinguish the best from the rest.

The strategies I like the most: Flexible working hours, casual dress code, decent wages,
vacations and freedom of creative and independent work are the winners for me; Anything
greater than these strategies are special perks that will make the strategies even more enjoyable.
It is difficult to find a job in such companies due to the fierce competition, but I hope to someday
work with one of them. The road is long and difficult, but the goal is worth the effort.
Source: https://www.coursehero.com.
: https://www.chegg.com

Project management group work

4. Find examples of how project teams use new technologies to communicate project
information. Which technologies seem to be most effective? Document your findings in one
page, citing at least three references. (4 points).

.
Solution:
The project requires teamwork, and the project team will have many members.
Members communicate with each other for many reasons and share information using new
technologies.
There are some technologies to communicate project information.
They are: -Email:
Email is one technique used by the project team to share information by sharing text files,
audio, and video files, and one can do online chat through Gmail for sharing
information.
These files can be sent as an attachment, and members can view it at any time (Martinelli,
Waddell, & Rahschulte, 2017).
Instant messages:
This is like sending short messages, which allows the team members to communicate and
share information in real-time.
Websites:
This is accessed using the internet with a domain name. Project team members can post any
information in their group in a company’s website.
Video conferences:
Video conferences allow one to chat like face-to-face interaction.
It provides audio, video, and share screen facilities to share information.
Project management system:
Project management systems use database and networking technologies to provide teams
with a central facility for storing, managing, retrieving, and archiving project data, reports,
and budgets.
Companies set up a database, either on their premises or at the site of a service provider, with
password control and other forms of authentication to ensure secure access.
Social networks:
Social networks like Twitter, Facebook. Project teams can create a group for their team in
social networks, and team members can update the details of the project, and other
information regarding the project can be shared by posting it in that group (Binder, 2016).
Blogs:
The project team can use blogs to share project information by posting it on their blog. The
blog runs using the software. It does not require any password authentication to access posted
information. Technology seems to be most effective is video conferencing: The same
company will have many branches, and it will be located in different locations.
Project team members will be in same location or in different geographic locations. Video
conference is the live conference between team members. Team members are in different
location in many companies. There are many video conferences like skype, net
meetings, go to the meeting, and many more (Schwalbe, 2015).

Features will be different for all, but some common features are:

Project management group work

 • Team members can do conference as a group.
• Any team member can share documents and other project information on their
screen,
and it will be available to all other members.
• Information can be shared by the team members visually.
• One can make presentations and share their screen that will be visible to all
members.

source: https://www.studypool.com
https://mytoptutor.com/app/register.

5.Suppose Bahir Dar Institute of Technology is considering a project to develop an information

system that would allow all employees, students, and customers to access and maintain their own
human resources information, such as address, marital status, and tax information. The main
benefits of the system would be a reduction in human resources personnel and more accurate
information. For example, if an employee, student, or customer had a new telephone number or
e-mail address, he or she would be responsible for entering the data in the new system. The new
system would also allow employees to change their tax withholdings or pension plan
contributions. Identify five potential risks for this new project, and be sure to list some negative
and positive risks. Provide a detailed description of each risk and propose strategies for
addressing each risk. Document your results in a one paper. (6 points).
Solution:
Risk 1
Risk: New customer
It is the first time to make a project for a college, we do not know too much about this
college. Building good customer relationship is the strength of ours, which often leads to
further projects with that customer. But we may have trouble to work with this customer
since they are new to us.
Risk Response: Make sure that the project manager is sensitive to the fact that this is a new
customer and takes the time to understand them.
Risk 2
Risk: Poor cost estimate
Description: It is a project that related to college's information system construction, thus
there would be a complex project consisted by several parts, such as students, teaching staffs
or customers. The size of this system maybe vary during the project, also the estimate cost of
this project cannot be certain.
Risk response: The project manager should take care of every step of the project and define
the scope of the project as accurate as possible.
Risk 3
Risk: Poor time estimate
Description: This project covers whole college; all the people related to this college should
be considered in. And this system is designed for college, so, the project should be done on
time. But there are too many unexpected instances and constrains, such as fixed project cost,
fixed number of project members, also too many inter-related schools in the college, the
system should be designed in a reasonable structure.

Project management group work

 Risk response: The manager should monitor every procedure of the project in order to make
sure each part of project can be done on time. And furthermore, some additional cost should
be considered when it is urgent to finish some parts of project to match the time plan.
Risk 4
Risk: Low users' participance
Description: After the system rolls out, at least 90 percent of all the users should be register in
the new system. But college is not like the company, there are always more than 20,000
people in a college including teaching staffs. Therefore, make sure everyone in the college
needs to use this new system will log in this system in two weeks. Still should consider the
people who do not come to college frequently will ignore this.

Risk response: The project manager should prepare to advertise the new system, and estimate
the proper usage of the new system. It is better to assign certain staffs to promote the coverage of
the new system.

Risk 5
Risk: Difficult to maintain
Description: This new system is open for public in future, therefore, too many users will access
to this system in some situation. Too high access at some time or too many
requests without appropriate reply with cause the bad impact to the system.
Risk response: The manager should forecast possible situation that will occur in the future, and
prepare certain solutions for these instances, such as hire experts that offer consultation time
every week, and reply the question asked by the user.

Source: https://www.coursehero.com.

6. Search the Internet for the term IT outsourcing and find at least two articles that discuss
outsourcing. Summarize the articles and answer the following questions:( 4 points)
a. What are the main types of goods and services being outsourced?
b. Why are the organizations in the articles choosing to outsource?
c. Have the organizations in the articles benefited from outsourcing? Why or why
not?

Solution:
IT outsourcing refers to acquiring computer or internet related services or goods from a source
which is outside the organization.
Searching the internet from the term IT (Information Technology) Outsourcing result in
hundreds of results.
Two articles that one finds interesting are:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology_outsourcing
 http://www.slideshare.net/amaitanshu/ites-business-models
Types of IT goods and services outsourced include:
 Programming work
 Business process outsourcing, it does not require technical skills
 Software testing work

Project management group work

  Website management work, includes designing, programming and maintenance
 Research work
 E-commerce work
 Web security and solutions
 Computer hardware product manufacturing
 Cloud based outsourcing
Organizations outsource because it provides them following major benefits:
 It gives them access to qualified and skilled professional and technologies. This is one of
the main reasons for outsourcing.
 It reduces both fixed and recurrent costs at economies of scale which are not available to
client as such.
 It allows the client organization to focus on its core business, by outsourcing the IT
related work to some other company
 It provides flexibility in terms of outsourcing staffing during periods of peak workloads.
 It increases accountability as the outsourcing contract binds the supplier.
 It allows client organization to share any associated risks with the outsourcing partners,
thereby reducing its own burden
 Offshore outsourcing to a country in a different time zone, gives the client organization
the added advantage of using full 24 hours day.
Organizations benefited from outsourcing
As stated in the articles above, like American Express, Standard Chartered, British Telecom –
Mahindra Managed Outsource HSBC and so many others have benefitted immensely from
outsourcing. This is evident from the trend that organizations have opted for the same as it makes
business sense. The reason obviously includes benefits sited above. Additionally, it can be said
that, through strategic outsourcing to another partner, the organization is not only providing
customers with best services, but also increasing productivity while at the same time managing
the in-house resources intelligently. Outsourcing can enable organization to accelerate time to
market, reduce costs and take advantage of external expertise, assets or intellectual property.

THANKS FOR ATTENDING!

Project management group work