Project Management Regarding New Online Room Booking System - Case Study Example

Documentation Report on Project Management regarding New Online Room Booking System Project Objective: An Overview ABC Corporation Ltd for Hospitality Management, located in the centre of Bristol (BPS), is associated with hospitality industry, and it provides luxurious rooms to customers. The Organization needs an online room booking system for which the firm made a contract with our software development team i.e. IdeV Technologies. This report reflects the process of this commercial web application software developed by a team of six dedicated software developers/programmers. This web application project will work as an online booking utility for customers who need luxurious rooms with 5 Star level facilities. The framework of this project comprises of several stages of systems development. The following figure illustrates the phases of project development model that is adopted for this entire online booking project development process:- The five-phase Project development system (Hackos). During the first phase of this online software development work, the team manager along with members of our team, needed to work together to define what our team is going to deliver by the end of the project. In first phase, the important deliverable is the project plan of online room booking system which outlines goals and objectives of this project. By effective planning we can meet the deadlines with our sufficient resources and thereby produce final deliverables that meet our customers' needs, and maintain the morale and energy of our team members. Without proper planning, all of these are put at risk. For adequate planning, 10% of total project time has been allocated. In view of the resources available with our team, we planned to carry on with the project as per the precedence diagram shown in Appendix-'A', where development of the project is depicted in a clear cut hierarchy of step by step. On the basis of the flow chart our team has to be entrusted appropriate jobs for maximum utilization of available man power within limited time frame. As a part of systematic planning process and as per the precedence diagram provided as Appendix 1, the project would be started with an enquiry received from client. Two members, preferably the team manager and a member, will be responsible to fix an appointment with the client to establish the outline of the project on Online Room Booking System. This process will take 2 days. After this discussion a broad idea will be generated about the objectives of the project to be developed. Subsequently a draft Terms of Reference will have to be prepared for the project team. Two members will be utilized for this purpose for two days. Then three members from our team will analyze the current booking system on a day. The same members will take 2 more days to examine other contemporary online booking systems. After observing various elements of the current booking systems, the client's requirements, and other similar online services our two members will prepare a draft initial design and explain it to the client by displaying the work flow of the utility going to be designed as per their requirements. It will take two days for designing initial model of project and for discussing with clients about its application for the online booking system. Pursuant to the suggestions and clarifications on the matter, the draft design of project will be revised to meet the newly raised queries and suggestions made by clients. This process involves three members of our team to work for duration of two days. During this time the other three members will re-examine other online booking systems for novel, unique strategies, techniques and ideas. Considering all aspects of application of new project, various processes of designing and examining the other online booking systems and discussing with the client about its implementation in a commercial perspective, our team may decide to use appropriate front end as well as back end utility(Software) for designing the project in field. Here ASP.net will be taken as front end and SQL Server will be used as back end software. ASP.net is an effective and versatile tool for making front end dynamic web pages. As a back end database server SQL Server will be the perfect one for storage of records/details regarding rooms and booking customers as well. The Project comprises of two important parts namely Customer part and Administrator part. Customer part refers to simple end users who would like to book the room online, whether he may be a tourist or a web surfer who has valid credit card for making advance payment for booking. On account of designing end user based webpage we would prefer ASP.Net as front end tool. Next part is administrator related which has database server that keeps all details regarding rooms, its availability, details of customers, etc. stored in it. As the whole project designed can be created with many type of software we preferred the above mentioned software tools even though there are other options of using open sources technology by which we can utilize PHP as front end tool and MySQL as back end database server. In the back end process we will create a database having all details of rooms. There will be separate storage table in the database for booking customers, their addresses, etc. If a customer searches Google for want of luxurious room, he should find the relevant sites impressive so that he can make use of all relevant details regarding facilities provided by the hospitality firm to customers as per their preferences. If he desires to book room/rooms he just has to go through the information that are conducive to his personal needs and the dates for which the rooms required at his convenience. Also he should pay a sum as advance through online credit card payment mode. Now it is the developmental part of project for which a revised JRP (joint requirements planning) and JAD (joint application design) workshops would be inevitable for successful completion of the project. For this purpose, there should be client-developers who develop Joint Application Design and carry them out. Here the design of master tables and their interrelation will be worked out. It requires four team members and a day's work. The preparation of document development strategy for team also requires one team member and a day. By adopting proper document development method the project flow would be smoothened. Once the database elements confirmed are to be designed, their design and implementation part starts. Two team members will exclusively be responsible for this. In the meantime, two other members are supposed to create a primary level front end form and implement a browser interface connectivity. A general analysis on the creation and functions of other booking systems will be carried out as a systematic method of project design. Four of the team members will perform the task in five days. As per the study and analysis and comparison among other similar kind of booking systems and several discussions with clients, some modifications incorporated to the browser interface to capture all relevant functions and supporting test. Two members would be sufficient for this work and it would take four days. As this project involves step by step processes, next it would be to engage two members to write textual justification for the applied interface design and standards to be selected based on online project scenario specification. As a sign of completion of project, a member will be assigned to write up the project development process. Meanwhile, other four members would demonstrate the prototype of the completed project to the client on account of getting their approval. The main purpose of demonstrating the finished work would be to get the client satisfied having seen and understood the features of completed unique online room booking utility and its functions and to make them to learn its application for customer satisfaction. One member will be entrusted to gather confirmation regarding approval from client on the demonstration displayed with respect to the completed project. This process will engage one member for seven days due to the queries from client's side and their clarifications from our side. Next process would be producing the client report against TORs. Accordingly, our team consisting of all six members would develop necessary documentation and proceed to further step ie. getting confirmation from client that the completed project is approved. Once the project is approved by the client, the remaining process will be to constitute a JRP session for the administrative staff for successfully utilizing current booking system. This involves a member of our team to administer the process of working to the staff of the client. It takes 7 days to make them understand the way of working. Our team member is to explain how the front end works, viz: what would be the process of online booking of rooms And how does customer make request for booking Once the overall concept about the functioning of newly developed online room booking system is gained by the administrative staff of the client part, the next process involves running a JRP session for the administrative staff who get an overview about the function of system. Four team members would perform for a day to complete the task. . What would be the next process on getting request from customer Here comes the relevance of back end server or SQL server. By taking a systematic approach of administering information regarding Back End Process to the client administrative staff, they will get the broad idea about the back end data storage system or Database Server. After that the data relates to online booking system and details of different range of rooms would be collected. The whole information regarding rooms available would be listed on the front end utility. The database would be extended as per the requirements to cover all room bookings. We would choose a couple of the staff to perform some simple jobs of Database Administrator who can operate the back end server with a few commands that we would provide him. He will be making changes and amendments in master tables' entry related works as per the requirement in future. As and when the work on front end as well as back end would be finalized, a revise browser interface will be used for complete system. Thus the entire work related to online booking system would be completed. On completion of both of the front end and back end as well as establishment of web level connectivity between both ends, the team will arrange a final demonstration workshop for client administrators. After this, a full system demonstration will be carried out for the client. Subject to the approval of the developed project, we would try to establish the level of staff competence with the software. On the basis of observation and study, a simple report will be prepared regarding the current staff software competence. Using this process, the staff skills requirements with client will be identified. After the proper observation and evaluation of present staff and their skills the team would analyze the new staff requirements against newly constructed application. If the induction of new staff is required then a report on staffing requirements will be projected. Subsequently, training of added staff would be required. After ensuring availability of all above resources, next comes the availability of necessary systems required in the client side. If the systems suffice to function as client administration end then there would not be any problems from the hardware context. Otherwise, the need for upgrading present hardware as per requirement in client organization will be reported. As all works on this project are accomplished we would design a staff training programme for error free application of newborn online room booking system. Two professionals from our side will provide this training to the staff. After having all these processes completed a detailed report will be compiled regarding final phase of work which includes staff recruitment, training and hardware upgradation. The compilation work will be done by all the team members as a final touch over newborn application utility. ie Online Room Booking System. Consequent on the purposeful efforts made by IdeV Project team, a web unique based online room booking system would be developed. As far as IdeV IT solutions Pvt. Ltd is concerned, it has been a great organization with its history of best quality products in software development. It is also popular among other similar organizations due to its commitment towards clients regarding quality products and proper time management. Though our team faces a lot of difficulties being not aware of the exact requirements of clients due to not getting related information from clients, we manage to minimize the errors and ignore the problems being faced by our team. Coming to the estimated cost it would be around 36,000 on account of developers' charge and 197,100 towards the fixed charges for developing this project. Thus the total cost would be approximately 233,100. The task wise breakdown of estimated cost for this project is appended below. This would be the minimum estimated cost for developing this project considering increase cost of human resources and their team members' extra efforts for this project. The time frame is 2nd June to 29th Aug 2009 and within that duration it is planned to be completed in its best way. Short Review of the Project: Aiming to the objectives of the web oriented project ie. Online Room Booking System, our team members would firstly initiate a planning of the given project with a view to meet all the requirements of clients as well as customers. As per the well defined plan a task schedule would be prepared in which the optimum utilization of human resources is ensured. Since it is the project where JRP and JAD is involved, so time to time involvement of clients is allowed. Once the project is completed as per the task schedule it would be projected to the client for final approval. On getting approval from the clients necessary implementation process would be carried out. After that training of administrative staff and completion of all formalities, full fledged application software would be ready for its launch. In an overall view it should be a good project and on the basis of report it may be presumed that developing a web project is easy task. But it involves a lot of difficulties, confusion and task management for the successful accomplishment of a bug free project. The most important factor this project is a combination of web based software and conventional one. Web base software development and conventional software development differ in a number of areas. As Emilia Mendes suggests, these differences "encompass the people involved in the development of these applications, the intrinsic characteristics of the applications, and the audience for which they are developed." (Chapter 1: What is different about Web and Software Projects 2008, p. 5). IT professionals with sound knowledge of programming, database design, and project management are necessary for development of conventional software. But for the Web development, a much wider variety of developers, like amateurs with no programming skills, graphics designers, writers, database experts, and IT professionals are required. Let me hope that I being the member of successful team would handover a best web based project to client who would feel cent percent satisfaction. Thus our project "Online Room Booking System" would be completed. References Hackos, JoAnn T. PhD. The five-phase information-development life cycle, e-book: Wiley's Information Development Managing Your Documentation Projects, Portfolio, and People. Chapter 1: What is different about Web and Software Projects Difference between web and software development. (2008). IGI Global. P.5. Retrieved August 19, 2008, from https://www.igi-global.com/downloads/excerpts/mendeschapter1.pdf Appendix 1 PRECEDENCE DIAGRAM (FLOW CHART) OF THE PROJECT PLAN BASED ON THE TASKS AND THEIR DEPENDENCIES Appendix 2 TASKS BASED FLOTING BAR CHART OF THE PROJECT COST Appendix 3 COST OF PROJECT : BREAK DOWN JOB CODE NO OF DAYS MANPOWER TOTAL MAN POWER COST OF MAN POWER DEVELOPING CHARGE TOTAL COST A1 1 1 1 900 900 A2 2 2 4 3,600 3,600 A3 2 2 4 3,600 3,600 B1 1 3 3 2,700 2,700 B2 2 3 6 5,400 5,400 B3 2 2 4 3,600 2,000 5,600 B4 2 3 6 5,400 3,000 8,400 B5 2 3 6 5,400 5,400 C1 2 4 8 7,200 7,200 C2 1 4 4 3,600 3,600 C3 1 1 1 900 500 1,400 C4 2 2 4 3,600 2,000 5,600 C5 2 2 4 3,600 2,000 5,600 C6 5 4 20 18,000 10,000 28,000 C7 4 2 8 7,200 4,000 11,200 D1 3 3 9 8,100 4,500 12,600 D2 3 1 3 2,700 1,500 4,200 D3 1 4 4 3,600 3,600 D4 7 1 7 6,300 6,300 E1 4 6 24 21,600 21,600 E2 7 1 7 6,300 6,300 F1 7 1 7 6,300 6,300 F2 1 4 4 3,600 3,600 F3 2 4 8 7,200 7,200 F4 2 1 2 1,800 1,800 F5 3 3 9 8,100 4,500 12,600 F6 2 2 4 3,600 2,000 5,600 F7 5 1 5 4,500 4,500 F8 1 4 4 3,600 3,600 G1 2 1 2 1,800 1,800 G2 1 1 1 900 900 G3 1 2 2 1,800 1,800 G4 2 4 8 7,200 7,200 G5 2 1 2 1,800 1,800 G6 2 1 2 1,800 1,800 G7 2 2 4 3,600 3,600 G8 1 2 2 1,800 1,800 G9 2 2 4 3,600 3,600 G10 2 6 12 10,800 10,800 TOTAL 197,100 36,000 233,100 Read More