DQ’s responses 400words in total
Rebecca Sperry
SundayApr 19 at 11:51am
Manage Discussion Entry
After reading the article, Freelancer.com’s Matt Barrie on how to Monetise 5 Billion People, (Nicholson, 2014), there could potentially be several opportunities for project managers to utilize the global workforce. When obtaining materials, opening bids to the global market would create more competition which could result in obtaining a product for a much lower cost. The same would be true for services. Depending on the type of project, services, equipment, or parts could be more easily accessed from a larger pool of suppliers. The challenge here is that, while the market would be flooded with all types of materials at potentially a lower price, the ability to establish a relationship with vendor and to gain trust may be a challenge. “Expanding competition, emerging technologies, and improved communications have altered most of the customers’ tolerance for less than full satisfaction with the products and services they receive”(Benton, 2014, p. 419).
Resource
s
Benton, W.C. Jr. (2014).
Purchasing and supply chain management
(3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://www.redshelf.com
Nicholson, D. (2014, April 2).
Freelancer.com’s Matt Barrie on how to monetise 5 billion people (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnicholson/2014/04/02/freelancer-coms-matt-barrie-on-how-to-monetise-5-billion-people/
Taly Hernandez
MondayApr 20 at 1:49pm
Manage Discussion Entry
As with everything it touches, technology has also had its hand in developing the service sector. It has opened up the doors to a global word of services that companies and project managers can utilize using the Internet. Benton (2014) stated, “Over the past 60 years, the service sector has taken on an increasingly important role in the world economy. In the United States, jobs in the service sector have increased from just fewer than 50 percent of the total jobs in the U.S. economy to more than 85 percent of the total jobs. One-third of this growth has taken place in the last 20 years as organizations offering financial services, health care, communications, food, insurance, transportation, utilities, hospitality, entertainment, and virtually every other kind of service have proliferated” Procurement processes, and Communication forums can be two services a project manager can use globally without the need of local personnel.” (P. 419)
There are various benefits of procuring material for a project from a global supply base. Decreased in operational costs, expedited workflows, and opening up the doors for opportunities of employment to countries and people that have no other form of income. These global opportunities are providing economic growth and development to third world countries and a dream to those who inhabit them. Rural people are learning new technological trades and are being developed to participate in an ever-growing market that is the business world.
Benton, W.C. Jr. (2014).
Purchasing and supply chain management
(3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://www.redshelf.com:
Rebecca Sperry
SundayApr 19 at 12:19pm
Manage Discussion Entry
According to Benton (2014), “The critical path method (CPM) is a robust logical system for panning and scheduling using bar charts” (p. 429, para. 3). The CPM provides a graph that show the relationships between tasks and shows the status of the project at any given time (Benton, 2014). With the visual representation, the project manager can easily monitor progress and adjust as needed (Benton, 2014). The CPM sets the quantity of work, the order the work is to be done, and how quickly each task should be completed (Benton, 2014). The CPM uses a network of arcs and nodes in which the arcs represent the tasks, while the nodes represent the when the task begins and ends (Benton, 2014). The diagram, which represents the “logical relationship between the activities” serves to allow mathematical manipulation (Benton, 2014, p. 430).
The CPM requires specific steps in the project planning. The first step is to specify each activity in the project (Benton, 2014). The second step is to sequence the tasks within the project (Benton, 2014). Next, the diagram can be drawn with the nodes and arcs (Benton, 2014). Estimating the time to complete each task is the next step in the process. After that, identifying the critical path, which are tasks that cannot be delayed and must remain on track (Benton, 2014). The next step is to continually update the CPM diagram once a task has been completed or updated (Benton, 2014). Lastly, CPM crashing is the last step. This occurs when the project is sped up (Benton, 2014).
Of the many projects in which I have been involved, I have never used the CPM diagram before. I have however, used Gantt charts and other tracking methods to keep projects on track. Having a visual representation of the tasks and a timeline in which to complete them allows for the project to have a better chance of staying on track. Understanding the dependencies of how one task relates to another is key to understanding how once a task gets off track, it can impact the rest of the project. Also, for stakeholders, this type of diagram would easily show the status of the project and identify upcoming steps in the process.
Resource
Benton, W.C. Jr. (2014).
Purchasing and supply chain management
(3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://www.redshelf.com
Taly Hernandez
MondayApr 20 at 2:23pm
Manage Discussion Entry
The Critical Path Method is a new format for me, but it does remind me of the DMAIC steps in Six Sigma. Each letter represents a different step of the data-driven improvement cycle and keeps the project clear and cohesive and all aspects together. The CPM creates explicit instruction and a path that assists in getting the set goals accomplished. It clearly states the activities needed, sequences, scope of services, estimated time of completion can all be found in the trajectory of a CPM.
I believe the CPM method is a useful methodology for me to use in regards to projects that are across different campuses. These campuses are all set in different locations, and all have independent needs. As a Support Services team, we have tackled the project of standardizing cleaning products, paper products, and floor care. In this case, the CPM algorithm can be used to independently track the campuses while including them in a larger picture. The goal here is to eventually transition all campuses to the same products but all on their own time schedule. The CPM can help track and organize this project while creating and enforcing a clear path to be followed. Benton (2014) stated, “In general, the network diagram represents logical relationships between the activities to complete the project.” (P. 430).
Benton, W.C. Jr. (2014).
Purchasing and supply chain management
(3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://www.redshelf.com: