Project Management Drivers

Businesses thrive and survive based on their ability to manage projects that produce products and
services that meet market needs. Below is a small sample of projects that are important to their
company's future.
ORGANIZATION: PROCTER AND GAMBLE
Project: Global Ordering, Shipping, and Billing Project
The project goal is to improve customer service, processes, and organization structure. The global
team relied on virtual communication, while closely managing risk and milestone dates. The new
system is designed to allow P&G to make real-time decisions, enabling the company to collect and
respond to consumer/retailer feedback to create more compelling promotions to increase sales. The
system should also improve efficiencies in supply chains by, for example, identifying the best
warehouses to ship products to.
—PMI Today, 2012 PMI Project of the Year Finalists, December 2012, p. 7

ORGANIZATION: CHINA SUNERGY CO., LTD

Project: Sanliurfa Solar Park, Turkey
The Chinese company, Sunergy, has entered into a joint agreement with Seul Energy, a leading solar
developer, to develop a 500kw solar park in Sanliurfa, Turkey. The plants will incorporate state of the
art technology and new types of solar cells. The project is the beginning of an ambitious program
designed to meet the expected growth in demand for energy in Central Asia.
—www.prnewswire.com/, accessed 1/5/13
ORGANIZATION: THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Project: Star Wars Episode 7
Disney spent over $4 billion to purchase Lucasfilm, which included exclusive past and future rights to
the popular Star Wars franchise. Preproduction work on the newest Star Wars feature is scheduled to
begin in 2013 with a projected release date in 2015. The Star Wars investment is seen by industry
experts as an effort by Disney to broaden its pop culture reach and re-establish Disney films in the
sci-fi/fantasy genre after the failure of space epic John Carter and Mars Needs Moms.
—businessweek.com, 11/11/12
ORGANIZATION: DISH NETWORK
Project: Hopper
Dish Network made a splash at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show by showing off the latest
generation of Hopper, a whole-home HD DVR system. Hopper includes commercial skipping
technology and the ability to move programs onto iPads and other mobile devices. The
announcement cemented Dish's position as one of the leaders in the “TV Everywhere” movement in
which favorite shows and movies can be accessed from any device at any location. Dish is counting
on Hopper and related products to compete against DirecTV and deep-pocketed cable and telecom
providers.
—Ces.cnet.com, 1/8/13
ORGANIZATION: BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
Project: Drought-Tolerant Maize for Africa
The goal of the project is to help farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa living in drought-susceptible areas
increase their maize (corn) productivity. Getting the improved maize varieties into the hands of African
farmers is the product of over two decades of research and involves a broad coalition of partners,
from governments and NGOs to seed dealers and farmers. More than 2 million smallholder farmers in
Africa are already realizing the benefits of higher yields. By 2016, the drought-tolerant maize project is
expected to boost maize yields by as much as 30%, benefiting up to 40 million people in Africa.
—gatesfoundation.org, accessed 1/9/13
ORGANIZATION: FIAT, ITALY
Project: 2013 Fiat 500 EV
Available Spring 2013, the EV is a totally electric version of the popular Fiat 500 line. The EV sports a
100-hp electric motor powered by lithium batteries with 87 miles of electric range. Fiat needs to prove
that it is a forward looking company and provide another reason to buy the 500 other than styling or
the sales curve will plunge once the cuteness fails. Success will depend upon overcoming customer
range anxiety and the risk that governments will stop supporting electric vehicles with attractive
subsidies.
—caranddriver.com, accessed 1/20/13
ORGANIZATION: SONY, JAPAN
Project: Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4)
It's been seven years since Sony released the highly successful PlayStation 3, and the Internet is
buzzing with rumors of a fourth-generation PlayStation. The PS4 reportedly will feature a tablet-style
controller and state of the art graphics. At stake is Sony's position in the $10 billion-plus gaming
industry.
—sonyps4.com, accessed 1/11/13

Dell Children's Becomes World's First “Green” Hospital *

Dateline 1/7/2009, Austin Texas: Dell Children's Medical Center becomes the first hospital in the
world to receive platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification. Platinum
certification is the highest award granted by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Dell Children's occupies nearly one-half million square feet on 32 acres that were once part of Austin's
old Mueller Airport. Its environmentally sensitive design not only conserves water and electricity, but
positively impacts the hospital's clinical environment by improving air quality, making natural sunlight
readily available, and reducing a wide range of pollutants.
In order to receive LEED certification, buildings are rated in five key areas: sustainable site
development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and environmental quality. Listed
below are some of the accomplishments in each LEED category:
Sustainable Site
 47,000 tons of Mueller Airport runway material was reused on site.
 About 40 percent fly ash instead of Portland cement in concrete yields a drop in carbon
dioxide emissions equivalent to taking 450 cars off the road.
 925 tons of construction waste was recycled on site.
Water Efficiency and Water Conservation
 Reclaimed water is used for irrigation; xeriscaped landscaping uses native plants, which
require less water.
 Low-flow plumbing fixtures.
Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation
 An on-site natural gas turbine supplies all electricity, which is 75 percent more efficient than
coal-fired plants.
 Converted steam energy from a heating/cooling plant supplies all chilled water needs.
Indoor Environment Quality and Lighting
 Most interior spaces are within 32 feet of a window.
 Motion and natural light sensors shut off unneeded lights.
Conservation of Materials and Resources
 Use of local and regional materials saves fuel for shipping.
 Special paints and flooring emit low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
“Even before the first plans were drawn up, we set our sight on creating a world-class children's
hospital, and becoming the first LEED Platinum hospital in the world was definitely part of that,” said
Robert Bonar, president and CEO, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas. “Our motivation to
pursue LEED Platinum was not just environmental. Being a ‘green’ hospital has profound, measurable
effect on healing. What's good for the environment and good for our neighbors is also good for our
patients.”
* Austin Business Journal, 1-11-2009; www.dellchildrens.net/.