Project and Operations

Management

Assignment 2

New product launch – Germs detector face mask

Student Name:-Ashan Perera

UOB ID:-2021994

Unit Code:- BSS052-6

Word Count:- words ( Introduction to Conclusion)

Submission Date:-17/09/2021

Programme:-MSc in Project Management

Executive summary.

The importance of project management cannot be overstated, as it ensures that the information
presented is accurate and will add actual value to the organization's economic potential. We
work with clients who have strategic objectives, and the projects we complete for these clients
assist them in achieving those objectives. It is crucial to us that project management be used
since one of the project manager's tasks is to guarantee that projects are properly planned,
conceived, and implemented so that they may be integrated effectively into the overall strategic
frameworks of our clients. An organization's strategic objectives are closely connected with the
objectives of projects when project management is done properly. Project management is
crucial in developing a compelling business case and in calculating return on investment in a
methodical manner since it can help to ensure that the correct item is delivered, which will
ultimately result in actual value being created. To do this, the group members will critically
examine a selected project and apply appropriate project management theory, tools and
techniques to the project's management. The launching of a new product which is a germ
detector face mask introduced to protect people’s lives in this current global pandemic situation
will be detailed in this report, and the PMBOK methodology will be used to ensure the success
of the project.

During the course of a project, it is possible that risks can exist that will grow into issues, or
that the company's business plan will be altered completely. A project manager, on the other
hand, will make ensure that the project is included in the realignment process. Especially in
this case, effective project management is critical, because efforts that vary from the original
plan or fail to adapt to changing business requirements may end up being both costly and
ineffective. A critical evaluation has been conducted in this report, and the lessons gained and
recommendations have been considered in order to ensure the project's success.

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Table of Contents.

Executive summary......................................................................................................................1

1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................................................3

2.0 Business case..........................................................................................................................4

2.1 Primary and secondary objectives.......................................................................................5

2.1.1 Primary objective.........................................................................................................5

2.1.2 Secondary objective.....................................................................................................5

2.2 Key implication of SWOT..................................................................................................5

2.3 Stakeholder analysis............................................................................................................7

2.4 Key project personal and roles............................................................................................8

2.5 Key risks, constrains and assumptions................................................................................9

3.0 Time management................................................................................................................10

3.1 Work breakdown structure................................................................................................11

3.2 Activity list........................................................................................................................11

3.3 Gantt chart.........................................................................................................................12

3.4 Network diagram and critical path analysis......................................................................12

4.0 Project budget.......................................................................................................................15

5.0 Risk management..................................................................................................................16

5.1 Risk identification.............................................................................................................16

5.2 Risk assessment.................................................................................................................17

5.3 Risk mitigation..................................................................................................................18

6.0 Quality management.............................................................................................................19

6.1 Quality plan.......................................................................................................................20

6.2 Quality assurance..............................................................................................................21

6.3 Quality control..................................................................................................................22

7.0 Conclusion............................................................................................................................22

9.0 Appendices...........................................................................................................................24

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1.0 Introduction.

Covid19 virus transmits largely via respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets are emitted into
the atmosphere when humans cough, sneeze, speak, shout, or sing. These droplets can then
enter the lips or nostrils of those in close proximity, or they can be inhaled. Masks are a basic
barrier that can be used to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets to other people. Masks
have been demonstrated to limit the number of droplets sprayed when worn over the nose and
mouth.

The reality is that people are frequently tempted to reuse the same face mask due to economic
constraints and the requirement to wear face masks on a regular basis. Due to the high
concentration of viruses and germs in today's environment, it is possible for a virus to enter the
body via the face mask worn to protect the face. Life Guard International Inc began this effort
in order to avert such a situation. They decided to launch a new product which is a germ
detector face mask which detects germs when the mask is exposed to them by changing the
colour of the mask. In this report, the author will critically evaluate the new product with
respect to two other personnel protective equipments that is commonly used in the world.

This assessment consists of seven sections including this introduction followed by business
case, time management and budget of the project. In section five the risk management of the
project has been presented and under section six the quality management plan has been
discussed and finally a conclusion with lessons learned and recommendations have been
provided in section seven.

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2.0 Business case.

The provision of a dependable and effective face mask for all at an accessible price can help
protect the world from COVID -19 and other diseases. Life Guard International Inc., with its
headquarters in United Kingdom, is the world's largest maker of personal protection
equipment. America, Europe, South America, and Asia are all locations where we have
manufacturing operations. Over the course of more than a century, we have become experts in
personal protective equipment.

Over the course of 109 years, we have saved numerous lives from workplace accidents.
Despite the fact that Germ Guard® is not a piece of workplace safety equipment, the global
pandemic that is currently in effect compelled us to build a specific facemask to combat
COVID19. As a result of the hard efforts of our R&D team, we were able to develop Germ
Guard®, which has an outer surface that changes colour when a germ is identified.

As per the requirement of the management, the project options which were considered before
starting the project and their business case evaluation as follows.

1. Option A - Face shield.

2. Option B – Medical PPE kit.
3. Option C – Germ detecting face mask.

Less Effective
Less Popularaty and Demand
Complicated Production Process
Low Turnover

A Less Value addion to the Company Profile

Cater only a Specific Market Segment

Complicated Production Process
Very Low Turnover

B
Complex Packing and Logistical Involvement
Less Value addion to the Company Profile

Easy Entry to the Current Market

Low Manufacturing Cost
High Turnover and Profitability

C
Very Low Financial Risk
High Value Addion to the Company Profile

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2.1 Primary and secondary objectives.

2.1.1 Primary objective.

Primary objective is to protect the entire planet against COVID19 by making a dependable and
effective face mask available to everyone at an accessible price point.

2.1.2 Secondary objective.

Secondary objective of the “Life Guard International Inc” is to expand our footprint into the
personal care spectrum and overtake our current worldwide market leader status within the
next five years.

2.2 Key implication of SWOT.

Performing a product SWOT analysis is a process of evaluating Life Guard International Inc
current products or services in order to better understand them and, if necessary, reposition
them in the marketplace. A similar process can also be used to introduce a mask product or
service to the market.

The following benefits will accrue from doing a SWOT analysis of new Mask and how they
compare to those of Life Guard International Inc competitors and also assist them in
determining where Life Guard International Inc are now versus where they want to be in 3 to 5
years, enhances awareness of Life Guard International Inc ability to achieve desired
positioning to assist in determining what they need to do in order to attain Life Guard
International Inc goal.

The SWOT analysis of a product is intended to detect strengths, weaknesses, potential threats
and opportunities as listed below.

 The product's advantages and disadvantages in comparison to the competition.

 The possibilities for enhancing its competitive positioning.

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  Ongoing competition, new market entrants, as well as changes in customer preferences
and technological advancements provide rising challenges.
 It is necessary to evaluate one's own strengths and flaws.

It is necessary to clearly define the needs of distinct consumer segments that are not being
satisfied in full or in part by the current product in order to find opportunities. This will assist
Life Guard International Inc in determining whether or not the current product can be
repositioned or extended to meet some of these requirements.

Identifying threats should be limited to acts taken by present competitors (both broad and
narrow) that have the potential to erode product strengths, unique selling propositions (USPs),
and current competitive position. Threats should also include the following:

 Consumer tastes are predicted to shift in the future.

 Start-up companies' evolving business models, which aim to disrupt the sector by
introducing new products or services.

A SWOT analysis for the project was conducted and the findings are as follows:

2.3 Stakeholder analysis.

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The stakeholders can be defined as any individual, group, or organisation who is involved in
the outcome of a project through decisions, financial contributions, or other activities. Internal
and external stakeholders must be identified in order to maintain control over the weighting of
influence and interest they wield on the organisation. By examining the impact, influence,
interest, legitimacy, power, and urgency of the stakeholders, the stakeholder impact can be
determined. The below figure shows the stakeholder analysis done for this project and they can
be divided into the following categories based on their contribution as stakeholders.

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2.4 Key project personal and roles.

The CEO should initiate the plan and execute the project while maintaining control over it and
motivating their staff to reach the final goal. According to human resource management, the
project manager is the most dynamic figure in every project, as he or she is in charge of
overseeing all of the activities. Aside from the project manager, there are a few additional
responsibilities that are important to the success of the project.

The Vice President of quality assurance is responsible for identifying all quality risks that may
arise during the project and determining the best way to reduce them. By leading, coordinating,
and reviewing the project plan, the CEO should strengthen the relationship between each
activity and the organisation. Under the supervision of the chief project coordinator, two
project coordinators are responsible for separate tasks.

Head of supply chain is responsible for guiding the team to achieve the main objectives that
have been given to them through effective planning and coordination of the project's many
aspects. Each team consists of ten members who are assigned to do the duties assigned to them
by team leaders.

Among the responsibilities of the Human Resources (HR) Manager are the oversight and
direction of the department's normal tasks, which include hiring and interviewing employees,
administering pay benefits, and vacation time, and enforcing business regulations and
practices. Below shows the key project personnel and the roles identified in the face mask
product launch.

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2.5 Key risks, constrains and assumptions.

The successful completion of the ‘Life Guard International Inc' project is dependent on the
continuity of its execution in order to achieve its objectives. It is therefore critical to identify
risks, restrictions, and assumptions at the outset of any project.

Based on the study following key risks were identified:

 Risk of not completing the advertisement by the deadlines.

 Risk of not achieving the Mask introducing target.
 Risk of over spending the budget.
 Risk of the project scope changing compared to the initial scope.
 Equipment hired not meeting the required quality.
 Service providers of equipment and other services failing to meet the required
service level.
 Materials not arriving on time.
 Unavailability of key project personnel.

The following list summarises the project's restrictions.

• Negative health effects associated with covid19.

• Restriction of certain operations during the manufacturing process.
• Restrictions imposed by the NMRA and the WHO.

The following assumptions were made for this project based on the information collected.

• Access to important project members.

• The performance and capabilities of important project participants.
• The estimated time required to execute the project is sufficient.
• The budgeted amount would be sufficient to complete the job.
• The vendor's delivery schedules and performance concerns.
• Every year, production costs will grow by 2%.

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3.0 Time management.

The context of “time management,” the process of arranging and planning how to split project
time between various activities is defined. Good time management enables the project to work
smarter not harder so that project can get done in less time, even when time is limited and
pressures are high. If time is not handled properly, the most significant consequences are cost
and scope increases for the project. As a result, efficient time management is critical to a
successful project.

3.1 Work breakdown structure.

The progress of the work of the designed and designated work packages (WP) under each key
deliverable (KD) identified for the project's successful conclusion is monitored as part of the
project's overall monitoring system. There are some key deliverables and work packages that
have been determined as being crucial to the project's successful completion. The efficient
identification and creation of the work breakdown structure (WBS), as depicted in below
figure, ensures the efficient execution, monitoring, control, and tracking of the entire project.

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3.2 Activity list.

When it comes to projects, an activity list is a comprehensive document that includes all of the
scheduled tasks that will be required to finish the project successfully. An identifier and scope
of work description are supplied for each activity mentioned in sufficient detail to ensure that
all project team members are aware of the work that has to be accomplished for each activity
listed. The following is a list of the activities associated with this project.

3.3 Gantt chart.

Using a visual representation, Gantt charts may be used to quickly assess the status of a project
by displaying the activities in relation to the project's duration in a single visual form.
Additionally, the Gantt chart can be used to identify the employee who is responsible for a
specific job. The timetable of the task, the assignment of the appropriate project people, the
monitoring of the progress of the tasks, and the identification of any changes to the timetable or
the job that can be tracked through effective communication can all be accomplished more
efficiently with the use of a Gantt chart. The Gantt chart for this project is shown in the
following section.

3.4 Network diagram and critical path analysis.

In a project environment, a project schedule network diagram is used to depict the sequential
and logical relationship between tasks. This network diagram tool is required in order to
manage the project's timetable and work sequence, as well as to keep track of the project's
progress through each step, up to and including its conclusion. In addition to being visually
appealing, a network diagram is useful in that it clearly depicts the scope of the project because
it incorporates all of the major tasks that must be completed over the course of the project's
lifespan.
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With the help of an activity list and a Gantt chart, it is possible to create a network diagram that
will help define the critical path and critical activities in the project plan.Here the author has
included the project’s network diagram and both forward and backward pass was used to
identify the critical path as follows.

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4.0 Project budget.

The budget is responsible for the proper monitoring and control of income and expenditures.
Additionally, the project team may refer to this as a reference in order to maintain track of the
project's resources and financial elements. Additionally, it is possible to compare and contrast the
predicted and actual budgets. The budget is calculated through an in-depth review of the work
breakdown structure (WBS), the gantt chart, and the network diagram, which are all critical
components of an appropriate budget.

The estimated budget for the project is £ 73,300.00, with payback beginning in the fourth
quarter. All of these costs include a contingency for an emergency, ensuring that the project is
finished safely and on time. This contingency expense is mostly utilized to manage and mitigate
risks that may occur throughout the course of the project.

Please refer to the attached excel document for a complete budget and payback schedule for the
project.

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5.0 Risk management.

Generally speaking, a project risk is described as the occurrence of an undesirable event that
could have a negative impact on the accomplishment of the project's objectives. The risks
influencing the project have been identified via the use of risk identification methods, and
mitigation plans have been devised through the use of a risk matrix.

5.1 Risk identification.

After considering the numerous risk areas to which the project is exposed, risk identification
was accomplished using a risk breakdown framework. Additionally, the risk will be graded as
low, medium, high, or extremely high. Additionally, it is vital to identify and monitor the
internal and external variables related with the project's risks. A total of 22 risks relevant to the
project were identified, and a thorough risk registry was established, replete with mitigation
measures. The complete risk breakdown structure is available below.

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5.2 Risk assessment.

In order to conduct a risk assessment, it was necessary to weigh the consequences of a risk
materialising against the likelihood or probability of the risk materialising.In accordance with
the impact and probability of the risk, a risk rating from 0.1 to 0.5 was assigned, and the
following guidelines were followed in the assessment.

The risk assessment is done through the risk matrix and is shown in the following figure.

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5.3 Risk mitigation.

Risk mitigation plans are required in order to ensure that the identified risk has the least
possible impact on the project's success or failure. The risk mitigation measures were
implemented in order to either reduce the likelihood of occurrence or reduce the impact of the
risk materialising.

Following the identification and analysis of specific risks, a systematic method to risk
management should be employed to maximize the value of the risk. Risk management is a
continuous process that occurs throughout the life of the project.

The following are the risk management objectives:

• Contributes to the project's success by assisting in the attainment of project objectives.

• Retain control of the project and minimize risks.

• Contributes to the project's cost-effective completion.

• Minimize the project's negative impact.

The risk registry, which is created following the completion of all risk assessments, is
depicted in the table below. The following table summarizes the risk ranking, the mitigation
methods, and the risk ranking once the mitigation procedures are decided.

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 6.0 Quality management.

Regardless of the project or organisation model, quality can be considered to be a critical

component of the process. The degree to which a product or service meets the needs of the
client can be evaluated by the way the product or service is designed. Quality should be
defined from the perspective of the client, because only they can determine the quality,
whether mistakes are present, and so on and so forth.

Quality is the component that determines how good the final product or service is, and the
product or service should be of the same quality as the quality that the consumer expects from
the company. ISO 9000 is the international standard for quality assurance and management
systems. It is possible to divide quality management into three categories, which are: quality
planning; quality assurance; and quality control.

Quality Plan
Identify Critical to Quality elements using quality dimensions

Quality Assurance
Design and establish the process and procedures that are followed to ensure there is an appropriate level of confidence in project deliverables

Quality Control
Execution of the procedures to ensure deliverables comply with specifications and standards and address defects
and issues.

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6.1 Quality plan.

Under quality plan following deliverables are identified as critical to quality.

• Select the most appropriate project to complete using qualitative and quantitative
methods and define the quality management criteria and standards to be followed.

• Create a quality management plan, a checklist, quality measurements, a strategy, an

improvement plan, and any other paperwork required for the project.

• Planning for unanticipated accidents on the job, unexpected changes in environmental

conditions, the proper flow of information, and establishing a contingency plan in the
event of a viral pandemic are all critical concerns.

• Assemble a quality assurance and quality control team for the project, as well as a
feedback mechanism.

For any type of project, there should be a set of objectives that must be met, and these
objectives will aid in the identification of the quality plan. Since the quality plan will place
emphasis on the quality standards of the new product and the service provided by the project
team, it will define the overall quality of the project. Quality should be established at the outset
of the project and should be maintained during the course of the project's execution as well as
after it has been completed. ISO 9001:2015 is a quality management system that was
developed in 2015. Another approach that can be used to measure quality is Total Quality
Management (TQM). As it relates to this new face mask launching event, project team has
identified the project deliverables as mentioned above, and as a result, all of the processes and
standards in TQM should be designed in such a way that all project deliverables are completed
to the highest of quality standards.

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6.2 Quality assurance.

Quality assurance is described as a set of activities with the goal of demonstrating that the
project satisfies all of the project's quality specifications. For lack of a better phrase, it is about
how the team designs the process in order to inspire trust in both consumers and management
that all quality standards are accomplished. This measure is used to examine whether or not the
quality plan has been prepared in an acceptable manner.

The following are some of the strategies and approaches that are utilised for quality assurance:

 Using checklists, interviews and meetings - An impartial review of an activity or

product's quality checking aspects is performed.

 Auditors provide an independent audit of the product in accordance with industry

standards and contractual obligations - This activity examines a product or service in
order to assess whether or not it meets the criteria of the client.

 Check Sheets - A check sheet is any type of form that is used for the purpose of
recording information. This will aid in the discovery of facts and patterns that will be
useful in further study.

 Cause and Effect Diagram (CED) - A tool for identifying quality issues and inspection
points in a product or process. This is accomplished through the use of 4Ms, which will
provide a useful check list for first examination.

 Flowcharts - A visual representation of a process or system made up of annotated boxes

and interconnected lines that can be used to describe how something works.

The findings of the quality team will be compared to the documented process, and the
outcomes will be analysed. This will help to identify which processes need to be improved and
which processes need to be changed in a documented process. Furthermore, the comparison
will determine which practise is the most effective to implement. Quality assurance is more

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crucial when it comes to the quality of the advertisement, the process of the project work, the
stakeholders, the expectations of the stakeholders, and so on and so forth.

6.3 Quality control.

This is the stage in which inspections are carried out and actions are made to address any
flaws, non-conformities, issues, or problems that have been detected during the quality
assurance process. Throughout all of these procedures, the project team is responsible for
ensuring that all deliverables are completed in accordance with quality standards. The
following processes are carried out in order to ensure quality control in the project.

• Identify acceptable methods for resolving issues that arise during the process.
• Assist with facility maintenance activities and ensure that the facility is monitored on a
continuous basis.
• In accordance with project criteria, ensure the project team's safety and compliance with
the project's quality requirements.
• After a substantial period of time has passed since the project was completed, conduct a
continuous inspection of the project to identify any faults or additional human
requirements.
• The requirement for constant monitoring and quality inspections.
In the course of the project talks and other events, several important lessons were learned,
including: applying project management expertise to a project, identifying the practical
ramifications and roadblocks that will prevent the project from being completed, recognising
and employing practical project techniques, working in groups to accomplish objectives, and
collaborating with colleagues who have different perspectives. It is critical to thoroughly plan a
project before embarking on it. According to the findings of the stakeholder analysis, it is
critical to successfully manage stakeholders. They will assist in completing the project more
efficiently and within the time range that has been established. Time management skills are
essential for completing a project on time and within budget.

This project makes use of the project management competencies. When evaluating project
management skills, it is critical to consider how effectively the skills were applied in the project
to achieve the best possible outcomes. Because this approach is driven by client needs, it was
relatively simple to identify and document the project's requirements in a timely manner. While

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developing this project, hard skills such as AutoCAD and MS Project were utilized to ensure the
project's success.

Two soft skills that have been heavily utilized in this project are leadership and teamwork. Both
of these features must be utilized in order to complete a project on time and with a high level of
quality. Transferable talents should be utilized successfully in this project to ensure that our
project is presented in the best light possible. As a result, technical abilities, communication
skills, multitasking, critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, and the ability to present should all be
exceptional.

However, identifying the team's limitations through constant communication and identifying
difficulties and proposing remedies to mitigate them aided in raising the team's motivation.
Additionally, the training programmes supplied to the project team during the course of the
project assist them in developing their leadership and communication skills.

8.0 References.

Artto, K. A. & Wikstrom, K., 2005. What is project business?. International Journal of
Project Management.

ISO-31000, 2018. Risk management — Guidelines. s.l.:s.n.

Maylor, H (2010) Project Management, 4th edition.

Meredith, J, R., Mantel Jr, S. J. & Shafer, S. M. (2015) Project Management: A

Managerial Approach 9th edition. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons.

Parasuraman, et al., 1988. communication and control processes in dilivery of service

quality.

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 Pinto, J.K (2016), Project management –Achieving competitive advantage.

Slack, N., Chambers, S. and Johnston, R. (2007) Operations Management, 5th end, Harlow,
Pearson Education Limited.

The Project Management Institute, USA. A Guide to the Project Management Body of
Knowledge. 5th edition.

9.0 Appendices.

Appendix 01 – MS Project file.

Appendix 02 – Group presentation slides. (Group – B)

Appendix 03 – Activity list.

Activity List
WBS
No Activity Predecessors Reposibility Duration
Decision Approval/Management Go
1.1 Ahead Project Manager 2
1.2 Project Team Selection 1.1 Project Manager 2
Initializing Phase

1.3 Getting Project Team Consent 1.2 Project Manager 1

1.4 Getting Project Team Approval 1.3 Project Team 2
1.5 Develop Business Case 1.4 Project Team 2
1.6 SWOT/PESTEL Analysis 1.4 Project Team 2
1.7 Stakeholder Analysis 1.4 Project Team 1
1.8 Develop RACI Matrix 1.4 Project Team 1
1.9 Develop Communication Plan 1.4 Project Team 1
1.10 Project Kick Off Meeting 1.5,1.6,1.7,1.8,1.9 Project Manager 1

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 2.1 Product Selection 1.10 Project Manager/Project Team 1

2.2 Market Research Product A/B/C 2.1 Marketing Team 6

2.3 Financial Analysis Product A/B/C 2.1 Finance Team 12
2.4 Prototype Build Product A/B/C 2.2,2.3 Project Team 21
2.5 Prototype Testing 2.4 Project Manager/Project Team 10
Planning Phase

2.6 Supply Chain Analysis Product A/B/C 2.5 Supply Chain Team 9
2.7 Project Risk Identification 2.6 Project Team 1
2.8 Weighted Product Analysis A/B/C 2.7 Project Team 1
2.9 Final Product Decision 2.8 Project Manager 1
2.10 Marketing Strategy Development 2.9 Marketing Team 1
2.11 Risk Mitigation Plan 2.9 Project Team 1
2.12 Develop Risk Register 2.9 Project Team 1
2.13 Assigning Quality Responsibility 2.9 Quality Manager 1
2.14 Preparing Product Development Report 2.10,2.11,2.12,2.13 Project Team 1
2.15 Presentation The Management 2.14 Project Team 1
2.16 Management Approval 2.15 Project Manager 1
3.1 First Batch Production Planning 2.16 Project Team 4
3.2 Product Training 2.16 Project Team 7
Procurement Team/Project
3.3
Raw Material Procurement 2.16 Team 20
Procurement Team/Project
3.4
Execution Phase

Resource Procurement 2.16 Team 15

3.5 Resource Allocation 3.5 Project Team 5
3.6 Manufacturing first batch 3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4,3.5 Production Team 10
3.7 Testing of first batch 3.6 QC Team 5
3.8 Final Production Planning 3.7 Project Manager/Project Team 3
3.9 Production 3.8 Production Team 15
3.10 Storage and Distribution 3.9 Logistic Team 12
3.11 Execution of marketing plan 3.7 Marketing Team 2
3.12 Product Launch 3.10,3.11 Project Manager 1
4.1 Quality Plan N/A Quality Team N/A
Control Phase

4.2 Quality Assurance Plan N/A Quality Team N/A

4.3 Quality Control Plan N/A Quality Team N/A
4.4 Scope Creep Plan N/A Project Manager N/A
4.5 Finance Control Plan N/A Finance Team
5.1 Project Review 3.12 Project Team 2
Closure
Phase

5.2 Documenting Lessons Learned 3.12 Project Team 2

5.3 Project Termination & Handing Over 5.1,5.2 Project Manager 1

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Appendix 04 – Project budget.

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