Schedule and Cost Control Techniques - Quality Essay

Schedule and Cost Control Techniques - Quality - Essay Example However, from the perspective of the project management, total quality management poses a slightly different orientation. Quality in terms of project management means "project management technique or strategy that is implemented to assure that an awareness of quality is embedded in all phases of the project from conception to completion." (http://www.project-management-knowledge.com, 2008). It is believed that implementing quality in service oriented organizations as well as the project management is trickier in comparison to the manufacturing concerns mostly due to the measurement issues related with the quality (David A.Waits, 1994). However, despite that organizations and project managers are continuously stressing on the use of quality measurement tools for project management so that a consistent level of performance is achieved which is comparable with certain standards of quality. Insuring a good quality in project management requires that certain key areas are taken care of before implementing the concepts of quality and expecting the results which may be exceeding the expectation. First and foremost, it is very critical that quality assurance within the project management must get the commitment from the top management. Top management of the organization must have the ability to plan for the quality in project management but also have the required willingness to provide the resources to the project managers to deploy the necessary resources required to make the quality an integrated part of the project management. Further, top management of the organization must review the progress made against the set standards for the project management and must have the ability to reward the appropriate successes made in achieving the required quality standards for projects.It is also important that in order to achieve the quality in project management, the employees' em powerment is the key. This empowerment is achieved through the training and development of the members of the project teams. Further, empowerment can also be achieved through initiating the culture of appreciation and rewarding the genuine successes made towards achieving the required quality within the projects as well as through the various suggestion schemes so that the members of the project management team should feel themselves as part of the project as well as the whole organization. This can create strong stimulus for the project management team to deliver beyond the expectations of the management while achieving and maintaining a defined level of quality also. In order to achieve and maintain quality within the projects, it is very critical that the decision making is based on the facts and not made out of the emotions or guess work. As we have been discussing the various techniques of project management such as PERT and CPM, it is of the highest importance that the data provided for calculations made with the help of such techniques are correct and that the decisions made by the project managers at the various stages of the project are made inconsistent with the available facts and figures. This

Environmental Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Environmental Analysis Paper - Essay Example The Hershey Company markets brands such as Hershey’s Kisses, Ice Breakers, and Hershey’s Reese among others. Also, it is the leader of the dark and premium chocolates such as Hershey’s Extra Dark, Cacao Reserve, and Hershey’s Special Dark. Other popular brands such as Milk Duds, Payday, Kit Kat, and Almond Joy have tremendously contributed to the success of the company to achieve revenues of about six billion dollars (The Hershey’s Company, 2012). Like other businesses in the world, the Hershey Company operates with business environment that is pre-disposed with business environmental factors such as legal-political, socio-cultural, economic, and technological factors. This paper will seek to conduct an environmental scan and economic analysis on Hershey’s, including the remote, industry, and operating environments. Macroeconomic Forecast Macroeconomic forecast helps provide the consumers, businesses, and government with information necessary in making better decisions (Kew and Stredwick, 2009). The macroeconomic forecast indicators affect Hershey’s in the future and are important that they are considered to be part of the strategic planning of the Company. Increasing GDP in America (though at a smaller rate) and in other countries where its products are sold is favorable in boosting the purchase of the products and increases the prospects of the Hersey’s success (McGuigan, et al., 2011). In the light of this, the strategic planning of Hershey’s will include considering increasing its supplies especially after global financial crisis has completely faded away. Also, reducing rate of unemployment widens the pool of people earning income and therefore increasing the number of people able to buy Hershey’s products (Brenner, 2010). However, unemployment rates in some countries have remained constant or have soared therefore threatening to reduce sales of Hershey’s products in those countri es. Thus, Hershey’s strategic planning will moderate supply in various markets based on the prevailing unemployment rates (McMahon., 2008). In addition, inflation as a macroeconomic factor affects the Hershey’s products presently and in the future. Increase in prices of commodities in various markets that Hershey’s sells its products; tend to affect the performance of the Company (McGuigan et al, 2011). The increase in the cost of production of other consumable commodities including sugar and chocolate confectionary products make the consumers to be cautious in their purchasing, as well as prompting them to focus more on basic commodities than on commodities that they consider to be â€Å"luxurious† (Brenner, 2010). The seemingly high inflation rates in most markets call for a strategy that meets all the market niches. For example, Hersey’s products can be packaged in quantities and prices that reflect the inflation rates of particular markets. Dem and and disposable income is another macroeconomic factor that affects the success of a company like Hershey’s (Morden, 2007). Reduced demand and disposable income of consumers may affect the sales of Hershey’s products in America and in countries where the Company’s products are sold (McGuigan et al, 2011). Therefore, Hersey’s strategy should seek to enhance consumers’ demand and to package quantity and prices that reflect the disposable income of the targeted markets. Non- Economic Factors in the Remote Environment Social and Cultural Social and cultural