Project Management of the Motorcycle Company - Coursework Example

? The Motorcycles Company Introduction Global motorcycle manufacturing and distributing industry has become one of the competitive industries as several leading organizations within this industry are trying to introduce differentiated motorcycles to meet current market demand. The essay will discuss about a motorcycle company’s business operation strategy based on the information that are provided in the case study. Generally the organization uses medium sized engines in motorcycle cruiser to manufacture and market fuel-efficient and middleweight class motorcycles. The size of these engines ranges from 500 cc to 1000 cc. Now the organization is planning to introduce large tour class motorcycles in order to target those customers who love to travel long distance. The proposed target market for this segmented motor cycles are the males aged between 35 and 60. The organization is targeting the customers whose income level ranges from 55, 000 US dollar to 100, 000 US dollars. The management of the organization decided to develop new strategies for newly proposed motorcycles. In addition to this, the organization will try to continue with its existing products in order to maintain existing client base. Discussion This part of the essay will outline required process steps that are required to develop the motor cycle. Process Steps and Rational for response First of all, it is important for a project manager to identify key suppliers for the required engines that are used in touring class motorcycles. Many suppliers and distributors are available in the market. But it will be effective for the organization to rely on old and existing suppliers. The project management team should find out effective and skilled workforce who has the ability to fix the engines and parts and develop new touring class motor cycle. It has been discussed in the case study that the organization is trying to use larger than 1100 cc engines in their touring class motor cycle. In addition to this, the organization is quite new in this business segment. Therefore, it is important for the organization to select skilled and experienced employees who have the proper knowledge about the manufacturing of these motorcycles. Quality of resources is also an important thing to be considered. The organization should develop a budget for manufacturing and distributing these motorcycles to end customers. The organization should try to give high quality parts and engines in the motorcycle to gain significant customer loyalty and high brand preference. In addition to this, effective budget management process will help the organization to determine the pricing of motorcycles. The project management team should try to incorporate advanced technology in business process as it will help the organization to reduce the operating time and cost. In addition to this, the employees of organization can feel limited work pressure by this strategy implication. Promotion is an important element for an organization to market its products and services. Motorcycle rally, digital media promotions and online advertising will help the organization to create huge brand awareness. Last but not the least; the organization should give value to after sales service and feedback process as it will help the organization’s project management team to improve the quality of the motorcycles. Recommended Strategy to senior executives It is important for the organization to focus on its existing business activities rather than wholly focus on new business strategies. It is true that the organization is implementing new business and product differentiation strategy based on the recognition and profitability of existing business. The senior executives should realize that maintaining business sustainability in the long term is the important objective for the organizations. On the other hand, creating some brand awareness on the mind of target customers for the newly developed motorcycle would serve short term needs of this motorcycle company. It is impossible for the organization to achieve huge success through this product differentiation strategy at the initial point of time. The senior executives should try to adopt advanced technology in business processes. In addition to this, the senior executives need to be encouraged by the project managers to increase the performance of workforces. Two important resources are required to meet these long term and short term objectives. One is manpower resource and other is technological resource. Quality of engines will determine the quality and longevity of newly developed touring class bikes. The organization need to hire professional technical consultant to maintain high quality of these motor cycles. Implementation of advanced technology will help the organization to introduce most advanced and automated touring motor cycles. It will increase the comfort level of the riders during a long trip. On the other hand, it is important to motivate entire workforce to communicate with the upper level of the organization (Collier & Evans, 2011). Effective communication within the departments of the organization will enhance the decision making process. Effective decision making process will ensure significant strategy development. Maintaining business performance and growth of old and existing products is also important for the organization. The organization already has developed potential client base for its existing products. It is quite difficult for the organization to shift this customer segment to the newly developed motorcycle. Implementation of product life cycle tool will help to judge the effectiveness and demand of the existing product. If it is determined that the product has reached to the maturity stage then the organization can implement repositioning strategy for the existing products. On the other hand, change in market demand and customer needs will help the organization to attract old and new target customers towards the newly developed products. Therefore, it is clear from the above discussion that adoption of advanced technology and effective human resource can help the organization fulfill short term and long term objectives. Project Management Leadership Style Effective leadership style of the project manager is required in this project to increase core competencies. It is important for the project manager to develop, encourage and motivate the team so that they can perform effectively. The manager has to take care of all the professional and personal needs of employees to keep them motivated. In addition to this, effective time management ability can help the project manager to complete entire project within assigned time period. It will enhance effective customers, supplier and stakeholder relationship of the organization (Vanhoucke, 2012). It is true that several organizations are implementing workplace diversity in the business processes. Therefore, it is important to reduce the cultural differences in a workplace. Inadequate team performance management and lack of collaborative work performance can create several workplace conflicts. Participative and supporting leadership style will help the organization to reduce the possibilities of this workplace issues. Communication with business clients, suppliers and distributors are important for the performance of the organizations. Effective communication with business clients will help the organization to get significant sponsor for project operation. It is recommended for the management of the organization to introduce informal and flat organizational hierarchy to motivate employees to communicate effectively with top level management. These aspects can be ensured only through effective leadership style and process of the project managers. Risk Mitigation Strategies It is highly important for the organization to develop risk mitigate strategies in order to complete the project successfully and to get positive project outcome. First of all, it is important for the organization to ensure workplace safety. Health and safety of employees have become one of the major concerns for the project management organizations. Effective workplace environment will help to motivate the key internal and external stakeholders to take part in the decision making and strategy development process (Kerzner, 2013). Secondly it is important for the organization to develop an informal organizational structure for the new project. Quality control and international relationship department have major role to play in this project as the organization is trying to target mass customers around the globe. On the other hand, the organization is introducing new products. Therefore, it is important for them to consider the quality factors of the motorcycles. Last but not the least; it is important for the organization to maintain the business growth of its existing products as revenue and profit through these existing products will help to support the new product at initial stage. In addition to this, sales of existing products will help the organization to maintain its profitability for first five years until the new touring motorcycles reach to the growth stage of product life cycle. Conclusion It is clear from above discussion and recommendation that the project management of the motorcycle company has to implement effective leadership style to complete the project. The project management team needs to consider the quality of the products to achieve brand loyalty. On the other hand, it is important for the marketing department to implement effective promotional and customer relationship strategy to improve its market share. The motorcycle company needs to focus on the sales of existing motorcycle cruisers as these products will help the organization to develop financial strategies for new project for next five years of business operation. Effective workplace environment, valuable time management, strong relationship with suppliers and stakeholders, and significant quality control will help the newly developed products to get success within next five years. References Collier, D., & Evans, J. (2011). Operations Management. New York: Springer. Kerzner, H. (2013). Project Management. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Vanhoucke, M. (2012). Project management with Dynamic Scheduling. New York: Springer. Read More