Lano Sirwan

MGT
14.01.2024
HW 2 /

1. Which stages of the project life cycle in Figure 6.6 are evident in this case? Explain.

ANS/ There are a few parts of the project life cycle that can be seen here:
Starting Point: The Ford Escape Hybrid was the first plan for the project. This was
because Ford wanted to make an eco-friendly SUV and compete with Toyota and Honda in
the hybrid market.
Planning: The project needed a lot of planning to come up with the hybrid
technology, set goals for speed, fuel economy, and emissions, and put together a team of
scientists and product engineers.
Execution: The team worked on developing and making the Ford Escape Hybrid,
which meant solving technology problems and working with providers around the world.
Monitoring and Controlling: As described in the text, the project stayed on track by having
regular meetings and reviews to talk about any problems that came up.
Conclusion: Even though it wasn't said directly in the text, the project would end when
the Ford Escape Hybrid was successfully launched and put on the market.

2. Was it a good idea for Phil Martens, head of product development, to have two
project managers—first Prabhaker Patil and then Mary Ann Wright—to head the
Escape Hybrid project? Explain.

ANS/ It was a good idea for Phil Martens to have two project managers for the Escape
Hybrid project. Each would bring a different set of skills and ideas to the table.
As a scientist who had worked in Ford's research lab, Prabhaker Patil was a good choice to
spark invention and new ideas early on in the project.
With her focused and goal-oriented approach, Mary Ann Wright made sure the project
stayed on track and the team moved from improving the car to finishing it.
Patil's creative leadership and Wright's management skills worked together to make a fair
way to handle the project's different stages.

3. From a project manager’s standpoint, what are the toughest challenges with this sort
of high-visibility, high-risk project? Explain.

ANS/In the eyes of a project manager, some of the hardest things about working on a big,
risky project like the Ford Escape Hybrid are:
Complexity: It can be hard to manage a project that uses a lot of different advanced
technologies and is very technically complex because you have to make sure that all the
different teams work together and that all the systems work well together.
Competition: There is a lot of competition in the market, and the product needs to stand out
from similar ones. This makes it harder to meet or beat customer standards.
Resource management means allocating resources, like funds and people, in the best way
possible so that big goals can be met on time.
Risk management: It is very important to find and reduce risks, especially in projects that use
new technologies.
Stakeholder demands: In a high-profile project, it can be hard to balance the demands of
different stakeholders, such as buyers, leaders, and stockholders.

4. Which of the project manager roles in Table 6.2 did Mary Ann Wright play in this
case? Explain.

ANS/As the project manager in this case, Mary Ann Wright did a number of things, such as:
Leadership: She was a great leader because she set clear goals and standards, kept the team
motivated, and made sure that everyone was on the same page with the project's goals.
Communication: She set up an organized meeting routine and worked with providers around
the world, stressing the importance of good communication.
Problem-Solving: She stressed how important it was to work together to solve problems and
pushed the team to have a problem-solving mindset.
Time management: Mary Ann Wright was determined to keep the project on track and avoid
any delays that were not necessary.
Controlling Risks: Even though it wasn't said outright, she probably helped find and deal with
the project's risks.

5. Would you like to have been a member of this team? Why or why not?

ANS/If someone wanted to join such a team, they would have to think about their own
tastes and job goals. There were people who might have wanted to be on this team for the
following reasons:
Challenge: Working on a notoriously dangerous and well-known project like the Ford Escape
Hybrid is a one-of-a-kind chance to work on cutting-edge technology and have a big effect.
Innovation: Working on new ideas and cutting edge technology with a group of people can
be mentally exciting and professionally fulfilling.
Influence on the Environment: Helping to create a vehicle that is better for the environment
fits with the beliefs of people who care deeply about the future.
Teams: The case describes a team culture that is highly driven and works well together.
People who do well in these kinds of settings might be interested.
But, as the text says, some people might not want to be on this team because of the long
hours and high pressure that come with these kinds of projects.