In Assignment 1, you have defined key portions of your project. Now, it is time to develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and project schedule for your project. Note: Please use the project from

Project Proposal: Initiating & Planning

Gregory Finney

BUS 517

Dr. Steve Englehart

Strayer University

May 11, 2019

Project Proposal: Initiating & Planning

Project Summary

My organization plans to expand its operations by improving the accessibility of its products to different customers and groups. Therefore, it has launched a market expansion project, which will be comprised of team members who will identify three outlets that are more convenient for customers to check in and make purchase decisions. As part of the project scope, the project team members will connect with businesses and individuals to expand their market share for its hand-knitted mats, dresses, and pullovers. The implementation of the project will require training of Human Resource (HR) team members who will operate within the newly established business environments.

Project Goals and Objectives

Goals

1. To be one of the leading producers, suppliers, and seller of hand-knitted mats, dresses, pullovers, curtains, and other home and business garments.

2. To train and employ at least two hundred employees by the end of six months.

3. To establish at least three manufacturing utilities and three wholesale/retail outlets by the end of 12 months.

Objectives

1. To identify three manufacturing unit locations to rent or buy three and three wholesale/retail outlets within the first month of the project's commencement.

2. To train at least two hundred employees who have attained at least a Six Sigma Green Belt certificate level on applying problem-solving frameworks such as DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control and how to handle different roles from knitting to sales and marketing within the first six months.

3. To establish a relationship with at least 20 businesses that can be potential customers and retailers who can stock the fabrics in their stores for display and sales within the first seven months.

Key Customers and Stakeholders

The primary customer target market is art galleries, hotels and guest houses, and chain stores. Secondary customers will be individuals who can buy finished fabrics for personal use. The primary customers were selected based on their capability to purchase the finished products in bulk. Nevertheless, secondary customers have the potential to provide a stable market for the products even though they may not buy the goods in large quantities. The main stakeholders for the project will be shareholders who will be expected to fund the project sufficiently for its expansion once the project starts. They (stakeholders) are a crucial element of the project since their financial support can cushion the project against collapsing, and their input has the potential to ensure a quick start and rapid growth (Muller, 2017). Another group of stakeholders are the manufacturers and suppliers of wool yarns that will be used as raw materials. The company will not be manufacturing yarn and cotton sheets as raw materials for product production. Instead, the company will solicit professional buyers to seek out and purchase wool yarn from selected high-end manufacturers of yarns. Those selected companies will serve as long-term business partners and stakeholders in the project.

Milestones and Deliverables for the Project

Establishment of Production or Manufacturing Units

The first milestone for the project will be the establishment of three manufacturing unit locations to rent or buy three and three wholesale/retail outlets within the first month of the project's commencement. These will be the places in which a group of selected team leaders and their teams will work together to transform the raw materials into finished products. To achieve this, specialists will be sent to look for appropriate rental facilities for the setup of the three production units. The priority matrix specifies this task to be achieved within one month from the onset of the project.

The second deliverable will be to employ and train at least two hundred employees who have attained at least a Six Sigma Green Belt certificate level on applying problem-solving frameworks such as DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control and how to handle different roles from knitting to sales and marketing within the first six months. These employees will oversee production, distribution, sales, and marketing of the products. Their training will be specialized in that applicants who will be interested in the production section will be trained solely in manufacturing and productions of the products, whereas those who are interested in sales and marketing will be trained in those specialized areas. This will be done to ensure that employees work in the departments that will enable them to handle the tasks that they think they can perform best based on their interests to make the work more enjoyable and increase their productivity (Ashforth, Kreiner, Clark & Fugate, 2017).

The third milestone will be to establish a relationship with at least 20 primary businesses within the first seven months of the onset of the project. The trainees who opt for the sales and marketing section of the project will begin to conduct advertisements and marketing in ways that include approaching the primary customers professionally and online advertising after one month of their training (Patrutiu-Baltes, 2016). They will also continue to look for additional customers throughout the project.

Timelines of the Main Events

The project will start with the recruitment of 200 employees to work and employ different sections of the project. Recruitment will be based on applicants' areas of specialization, or areas of interest. The recruitment process will run for two weeks. Secondly, a selected team of ten current employees will be tasked with the responsibility to look for appropriate locations that the three productions and three sales units will be established. This is expected to take no more than one month of the project's allotted schedule. The employees will be trained in these facilities till the end of the project and after the allotted 12 months. The next part of the project will be to conduct sales and marketing. This will be done throughout the project even after the 20 primary customers have been found. Management will invite interested shareholders to fund the project sufficiently for its expansion once the project starts. The actual business activities will begin after six months.

Estimated Costs

Renting the six premises will cost approximately US$49,500 in the 11 months. The equipment will cost about $10,000, while employee training will cost about $10,000. Further, the costs of marketing and advertisement will be about $10,000; and the value of the raw materials to start with will be about $20,000. Therefore, the total approximate cost of the project will be US$99,500.

References

Ashforth, B. E., Kreiner, G. E., Clark, M. A., & Fugate, M. (2017). Congruence work in stigmatized occupations: a managerial lens on employee fit with dirty work. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 38(8), 1260-1279.

Muller, R. (2017). Project governance. New York: Routledge.

Patrutiu-Baltes, L. (2016). Inbound Marketing-the most important digital marketing strategy. Bulletin of the Transylvania University of Brasov. Economic Sciences. Series V, 9(2), 61-69.