...I. PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROJECTS Unique, one-time operations designed to accomplish a specific set of objectives in a limited time frame. Examples of Projects • Contsructing a shopping complex • Merging two companies • Putting on a play • Designing and running a political campaign Examples of Projects within business organizations: • Designing new products or services • Designing advertising campaigns • Designing information systems • Reengineering a process • Designing databases • Software development • Designing Web pages Projects may involve considerable cost, Long time horizon and some involve a large number of activities. – must be carefully planned and coordinated to make the project successful. II. BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT KEY DECISIONS IN PROJECT MANGEMENT Much of the success of the projects depends on key managerial decisions over a sequence of steps: 1. Deciding which projects to implement 2. Selecting the project manager 3. Selecting the project team 4. Planning and designing the project 5. Managing and controlling project resources 6. Deciding if and when a project should be terminated 1. Deciding which projects to implement This involves determining the criteria that will be used to decide which projects to pursue. Typical factors include: - Budget - Availability of appropriate knowledge - Skill personnel - Cost-benefit considerations Of course other factors may override these criteria such as: ...
Words: 1742 - Pages: 7
...Mexican Crazy Quilt Upon opening the subsidiary in Mexico, Linderman Industries was faced with several issues in getting the operations up and running to hand over to Mexican managers. The project manager, Carl Conway, encountered several challenges in his quest to complete the project successfully. Problems included, finding the correct employees for the various key positions, getting the cooperation and support of other divisional managers and having positions at the home location for returning employees who accepted the Mexican assignment. According to Stevenson, there are several decisions that management must make in order for a project to be successful. These decisions include, “selecting a project team (Stevenson, 2012, p. 744).” Conway faced a few setbacks in building his team. He intended to hire Emil Banowetz and Bert Mill, but was unsuccessful. Strong measures were used to secure Bob Cates to join the team. As Kathleen Melymuka, a writer for Computerworld, pointed out, “it takes the right mix of "soft" skills, personalities and attitudes to gel and achieve results (Melymuka, 2014).” Conway faced lots of resistance from several of the divisional managers. For example, the vice president of engineering refused to support his employees move to the project team. Another example is the vice president of manufacturing refusal to use a metric measurement scale in production. The personnel director had to intervene to resolve a situation between the project...
Words: 615 - Pages: 3
...Week 4 Mini Case Analysis: The Case of the Mexican Crazy Quilt Molly Thorvilson Operations Management 201410-MGT-713-W4B University of St. Mary 11/16/14 Linderman Industries implemented a project organization strategy in an attempt to kick-start a Mexican subsidiary. While it may have been a difficult situation, Project Mexicano ended up being successful. Projects are composed of a unique set of activities established to realize a given set of objectives in a limited time span. (Stevenson 774) Projects go through a life cycle that involves definition, planning, execution, and delivery and termination. (Stevenson 774) All of these steps were made and achieved in the case of Linderman Industries. Project organization worked in this case. That being said, there are other strategies to achieve a similar goal, and Linderman Industries could have had an even more positive outcome if it had explored other strategies before going ahead with project organization the way it did. Just one of the problems with Linderman Industries’ project organization strategy was that there was no assurance that those who took on new roles in Mexico City would have their same position when the operation ended. These team members were existing employees of the organization that were offered new opportunities that had virtually no promise after two years. Furthermore, the workers may end up working for two bosses who impose differing demands, it may disrupt friendships and daily routines,...
Words: 652 - Pages: 3
...ANALIE M. PURA December 21,2013 MBA II Strategic Management of Change Saturday 7:30-10:30 am Article I. Macdonald’s: A Leader at Vertical Integration Summary: Macdonald is an international food chain. In the year 1990 it has experience a decrease of sales. Because Macdonald has problems getting local bakeries to produce the hamburger bun. After experiencing quality problems with two local bakeries. Mcdonalds builts its own bakeries. When Mcdonald decided to operate in Russia, it found that local suppliers lacked thecapability to produce ingredients of the quality it demanded. The firm was forced to vertically integrate through the local food industry on a heroic scale,importing tomatoe seeds and bull semen and indirectly managing dairy farms,cattle ranches and vegetable plots. I t also had to construct the world largest food processing plant at a huge cost.,in South America. Mcdonalds also bought huge ranches in Argentina to raise its own cattle. As a result today, Mcdonald’s is able to use vertical integration to protect product quality and reduce its global cost structure. Review: Madonald is a global food chain. The firm experience decrease in sales. So they determine the problem and solve it with strategic planning by Vertical Integration. Vertical integration is a company is entering new industries to support the business...
Words: 764 - Pages: 4
...Reading Response: The Miracle Quilt By: Kelly Cleary This story was about a quilt that a woman bought at a city- wide garage sale. It was a sweet story about the old days when her grandmother showed Janine how to sew. I was thinking this story was too descriptive. It went on and on about the details of making a quilt and the details on the three pound miracle this woman had found. I personally did not like that part much. This sort of thing doesn’t interest me. It reminds me of a time when I saw my friend crochet and thought I should try it. I found out the hard way, that crochet is very difficult, and tedious. It just wasn’t my sort of hobby. I didn’t completely hate the story because it was very nice that the woman took such an interest in this quilt and who made it. I also liked when the grandmother was telling Janine about the days when the women were stuck in their homes and they started quilting to keep them from going stir crazy. I couldn’t imagine living in a place where there was no television or neighbors for miles. I also liked that there was so much love and work put into these quilts. All the history and stories behind quilts was very interesting. Before this story I never knew how quilts came to be. Personally I don’t like the design. I’m more modern. I think quilts are mostly used by older people. I don’t think that the quilt Janine found was a...
Words: 264 - Pages: 2
...1. Which of the following is suitable for copyrighting? A) buildings B) business methods C) musical compositions D) product logos E) The NIKE sign Points Earned: | 0.0/2.0 | | Correct Answer(s): | C | 2. Utility patents for inventions are valid for 20 years. A) True B) False Points Earned: | 2.0/2.0 | | Correct Answer(s): | True | 3. A ________ is a patent that protects the functionality of a patent. A) utility patent B) method patent C) design patent D) process patent E) Shark Tank Patent Points Earned: | 0.0/2.0 | | Correct Answer(s): | A | 4. A competitor can lawfully discover a trade secret by performing reverse engineering A) True B) False Points Earned: | 0.0/2.0 | | Correct Answer(s): | True | 5. A patent in the public domain can be purchased by a non-patent holder A) True B) False Points Earned: | 2.0/2.0 | | Correct Answer(s): | False | 6. ) A ________ is a product formula, pattern, design, compilation of data, customer list, or other covert business information A) copyright B) trade secret C) trademark D) patent E) All of the above Points Earned: | 0.0/2.0 | | Correct Answer(s): | B | 7. What federal statute was enacted by the Congress to protect trade secrets? A) Sarbanes-Oxley Act B) Lanham Act C) Telecommunication Act D) Economic Espionage Act E) None of the above Points Earned: | 0.0/2.0 | | Correct Answer(s): | D | 8. According to the public use doctrine for patents, ________...
Words: 2414 - Pages: 10
...Marketing Activities List There are a huge spectrum of topics that fall under the term marketing. There is an equally large list of marketing activities that can be performed by entrepreneurs, marketing managers and media planners on a regular basis. It is important to categorize and schedule various marketing activities within a business to be certain your message gets out the way you want it to be heard. There are three basic categories of marketing activities that you can put on your to-do list. Ongoing * There are certain marketing activities that must be performed on a daily, monthly or yearly basis over and over again. Activities such as advertising, direct mail, article writing, blog posts, online marketing and market research all fall under the ongoing marketing activity category. Ongoing advertising refers to placing ads in magazines, newspapers, on radio, television or billboards. One-time * Some marketing activities will only need to be used on an as-needed basis. Often, this means you will only delve into the activity once. Examples of a one-time marketing activity are new product creation and implementation, starting a referral program, writing a book, creating a new website, a seminar, webinar or other one-time promotion. Idea Generation * Idea generation marketing activities are those which precipitate new ideas and concepts that can be used in your business. These include brainstorming by yourself or with team members, initiating joint ventures...
Words: 263 - Pages: 2
...and preshrunk. Some of the quilts are made with reversible sides so you can either show a beautiful patchwork look or a solid flower pattern. The Greenland Home Antique Chic King Quilt Set is oversized yet light and long enough to provide a nice draping over the mattress. The quilted patterns are arranged to mix and match easily. The bedspread and shams can be used all season round, however, it's suggested for use during summer and fall. With good care this set will last you for years and never be out of fashion. Another good set is the Greenland Home Blooming Prairie Full/Queen Quilt Set. This vibrant colored quilt is best used between early spring and late winter. This particular set is recommended for pet owners, it's very durable and any pet hair is barely...
Words: 761 - Pages: 4
...Kristina Presbitero Professor Bush English Composition II September 13, 2012 Young Adulthood: The Fitting Room for Identities Just as we use a fitting room to try clothing on before we purchase it, young adulthood can be seen as a fitting room for the many identities that we are familiar with, along with the ones we are still discovering. As we grow older, we try to fit ourselves into one particular group that seems familiar to us. While reading “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, we see Dee’s world revolving around this premise. The article “Stylish vs Sacred in ‘Everyday Use’” written by Houston Baker provides great evidence for this idea. Dee’s arrival home brings an unwelcome surprise as they notice she has altered her physical appearance, and attitude alike. This leads to her betrayal of family values. Dee’s arrival home makes a strong impression on her family. Walker writes, “A dress down to the ground, in this hot weather. A dress so loud it hurts my eyes. There are yellows and oranges enough to throw back the light of the sun” (Walker 365). This gives the impression that Dee wants to stand out above all others. Along with the flashy dress, she pairs huge bangles and hoop earrings, as if the outfit needed an extra pop of color. This dress may have made sense if not for its impracticality. Even though Dee finds the dress hot and cumbersome, she still wears it to sport her newfound identity for her family. She accomplishes her goal of standing out when compared to her...
Words: 1194 - Pages: 5
...appliqué. Festive patchwork textiles created for special occasions are found in many places throughout India. Pieced and appliquéd household items are made by women for dowries. These objects include decorative bags, pillows and sitting mats. Appliqué played a part in religious textiles as well. It has long been used to make decorative clothing, because most clothing is used until it is worn out and then again reused to create beautiful patterns out of the worn fabric. This serves both economic and decorative purposes. Small pieces of fabric are cut and joined side by side to make a large piece of fabric or for repairing a damaged fabric. The craft seems to have been prevalent all over India. “ In all periods there are to be found in pieced quilts both unique and conventional designs; within the framework of the latter each maker had full liberty in terms of colors, arrangements, sizes of the...
Words: 1282 - Pages: 6
...modern times, a quilt is generally thought of as a decorative bed covering. However, the term actually originates from the sewing method. Quilting is the act of stitching through three layers of material, generally a top, a middle filler layer of down, flax or wool, and then a bottom layer. Stitching the layers to hold them together provides more insulation and warmth (History). ”One of the most universal fabric arts is quilting.” (Bonnice) In addition to providing a layer of warmth for beds, quilts were also hung over windows and doorways to help keep out the cold weather (Johnson). At first, the stitching on quilts was just a rough tying together of the material. (Lewis, p 2). The tufted quilt is tied in enough places to keep the filling from shifting and bunching (History) This method was not extremely durable, and since European women were already practiced embroiders, they began to use those techniques on quilts as well, to hold the filler materials in place better. (Lewis, p 2) Like other household goods, quilts were brough by the colonists when they came to settle here in America. (Lews, p 10) The colonists only had the fabric material they brought with them to use. Quilts were functional items, as the women did not have time for the artistic traditions of quilting which they had learned in Europe (Johnson). As these household goods wore out, blankets were patched, and even combined with old cothes and other blankets as filler material in a new quilt. (Johnson) Fabric...
Words: 2058 - Pages: 9
...The Symbolism of Quilts Designs used in quilts are not necessarily symmetrically organized; rather the art of quilting reflects an aesthetic understanding by the makers of what the quilt represents for them in their everyday experience. (Barkley-Brown, 1990). The shape of a quilt results from the meaning that the individual quilters give to the pieces that compose it. This art form is known as gumbo ya ya in Creole which means everybody talking at once. (Barkley-Brown, 1990). Alice Walker’s usage of quilts in her short story Everyday Use reflects the importance and significance of a quilt in African-American history. A quilt embodies heritage and personal stories and events; a quilt is similar to a person’s own journey in that each scrap stitched into a quilt represents “a person’s world view [which] is made up of events, circumstances and influences that shape how [she] see[s] and respond[s] to the world.” (Eshbaugh, 2008, August 21). Narrated by the mother of the two main characters, the symbolism of the hand-stitched quilts in Everyday Use represents the conflicts between two sisters who each experience the world and their heritage differently. The story begins with Dee, the eldest daughter, first homecoming since leaving for college. Walker describes Dee as a woman who no one ever told “no.” Dee is well-educated, wears bright colors that accentuates her full-figured body and exudes confidence. However, Dee will never be satisfied in life, and she...
Words: 1116 - Pages: 5
...while managing their tasks as caregivers and overseers of the brood. In the early Western communities, quilting began as a way of using limited supplies in a unique way in order to create bounty where naught could be found. “It is pioneer women, who overcame limited supplies with great creativity and perserverence of spirit, and brought the humble Patchwork Quilt into the fabric of American history and society. The Pioneer Quilting Bee was a spring and summertime way of socializing after being housebound all winter (and of finishing the quilt tops that were pieced throughout the winter months).” (Amish Quilter website) Bees, as they were called, were borne from necessity and grew into a greater power. The power of the feminine bond is strong. Women storytelling is a core of the bee. Quilting became an outlet and a form of sisterhood that is now very much the root of the Amish family order. “Like the traditional barn-raising, where members of the community work together to build a barn, quilting bees offer opportunities for the women to help each other. Socializing as they work, Amish quilters gather around a quilt frame and finish several tops in a single afternoon. “(Quilting in America) Although it began as a simple form of piecing scraps together to make use of every bit, the art of quilting became an outlet it seems for the women of this society. Quilting became a freedom from the boundaries. Eccentric designs have arisen where nondescript where the norm. It became...
Words: 441 - Pages: 2
...Assignment Artifact: antique quilt from rural Appalachian village in West Virginia from 1890, currently on display in the Heritage Farm Museum of cultural artifacts in Huntington, West Virginia. Appalachian Quilts For this assignment I have decided to focus on quilts and their cultural and historic importance. One in particular caught my eye, which is a multi-colored antique quilt that I discovered while researching the Appalachian people of rural West Virginia. While there are many different cultural artifacts that are a part of the history of the Appalachian people, this is one that has deep roots in that often times quilts get passed down from generation to generation. It is a patchwork quilt that was first started by the grandmother of a coal miner, Leanne Thomas in 1890 who left the quilt unfinished in order for her children to add patches to it and then continue the tradition. The colors featured are cream and red. The prints used also feature yellow, blue, orange, purple, green, black, tan, and brown. It is hand-sewn with triangle pieces that are attached together with pieces of yarn. The quilt has an abstract geometric pattern that is made by altering the direction and placement of both blocks and rows. Each particular patch was said to signify an important event such as a birth or death that occurred, as well as to represent a member of the family. This specific quilt is unique because it was said to be one of the original quilts created with both synthetic dyes...
Words: 812 - Pages: 4
...My vacation to Walt Disney Linnie Hernandez Murphy hall 108 September 14 The entertainment was the most fun of all the fireworks the music, And the dances the things that made me smile was the charters shaking your hands and giving all kinds of hugs away, going to the most happiest place on earth, imagine entering a place filled with the smell of homemade cookies, the green trees shaped like the animated characters, The day we arrived i was so excited i got to enjoy father all to my self The most important thing to me was getting the chance to tell my father how much fun i was having , later that day my dad was not feeling to well before we got there he said his legs were hurting pretty bad and that he should have scheduled a doctors appointment, he had to walk with a cane most of the way, I suggested that we rode more rides then walked he agreed it was probably the best thing to do, Finally arrived at the mickey mouse play house they had t shirts for sell hats cups every thing you could image, This trip made me fill closer to my dad like maybe he wasn’t so bad ...
Words: 410 - Pages: 2
