Background
The selected company for this particular project is RedBalloon, which is an online gift retailer in Australia. The company has decided to develop a mobile app in order to facilitate their online business further. Currently, the company has an ecommerce website that can be accessed by the customers through personal computers and smartphones for online shopping. However, a website has only limited features and moreover, the personal data and information of the customers like address, phone number, payment card details and others. A mobile app is much more secure and can have a large number of different features unlike a website. As per the agreed plan, a standard project life cycle will be followed for the development and testing of the mobile app before it will be downloadable for the customers.
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In this report, a project plan has been prepared for the development of the mobile app for RedBalloon.
Background of the Company and Company Network Diagram
RedBalloon is online gift retailer based in Australia. The company operates through an online website in which a customer visit, view all the items sold by the company, their prices, their availability in stock, order for selected products and then making online payments or choose to pay cash on delivery. However, the company found that the online website was not sufficiently secure and the customers who choose to save their card information for future use may have their personal and card information stolen by online hackers and other malicious files. Hence, the board members of the company decided to develop an online mobile app that can be downloaded by the smartphone users and used for online shopping.
The company network diagram is shown as follows.
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Figure 1: Company Network Diagram
(Source: Created by Author)
Project Scope
The main scope of the project involves the development of mobile app for RedBalloon in order to take the advantages that are not gained in case of the website. However, marketing details, promotion and business strategy involving the mobile application is out of scope of the project.
Project Objectives
The main objectives of the project are as follows.
- To determine the required features for the app
- To determine an appropriate time frame of the development
- To determine an appropriate and feasible budget for the project
- To develop the mobile app as per plan, schedule and budget
- To test the mobile app before going live
- To allow users to download the app free of cost
Project Charter
Project Schedule
An estimated schedule for the project is shown in the following table.
|
Task Name
|
Duration
|
Start
|
Finish
|
|
Development of Mobile App for RedBalloon
|
126 days
|
Mon 8/20/18
|
Mon 2/11/19
|
|
Project Proposal and Discussion
|
13 days
|
Mon 8/20/18
|
Wed 9/5/18
|
|
Identification of Issues with the Website
|
2 days
|
Mon 8/20/18
|
Tue 8/21/18
|
|
Identification of Advantages of Mobile App
|
2 days
|
Wed 8/22/18
|
Thu 8/23/18
|
|
Proposal for a Project
|
1 day
|
Fri 8/24/18
|
Fri 8/24/18
|
|
Approval of Proposal
|
2 days
|
Mon 8/27/18
|
Tue 8/28/18
|
|
Final Decision on Mobile App Development
|
3 days
|
Wed 8/29/18
|
Fri 8/31/18
|
|
Discussion on Necessary Features of the App
|
1 day
|
Mon 9/3/18
|
Mon 9/3/18
|
|
Discussion of Appropriate Budget for the Project
|
1 day
|
Tue 9/4/18
|
Tue 9/4/18
|
|
Proceed with Final Approval
|
1 day
|
Wed 9/5/18
|
Wed 9/5/18
|
|
Project Planning
|
14 days
|
Thu 9/6/18
|
Tue 9/25/18
|
|
Appoint Team for Project
|
2 days
|
Thu 9/6/18
|
Fri 9/7/18
|
|
Develop Project Charter
|
4 days
|
Mon 9/10/18
|
Thu 9/13/18
|
|
Determine Project Scope
|
0.5 days
|
Mon 9/10/18
|
Mon 9/10/18
|
|
Determine Project Objectives
|
0.5 days
|
Mon 9/10/18
|
Mon 9/10/18
|
|
Prepare Estimated Schedule for Project
|
1 day
|
Tue 9/11/18
|
Tue 9/11/18
|
|
Develop Work Breakdown Structure
|
0.5 days
|
Wed 9/12/18
|
Wed 9/12/18
|
|
Develop Project Network Diagram
|
0.5 days
|
Wed 9/12/18
|
Wed 9/12/18
|
|
Determine a Feasible Budget for the Project
|
1 day
|
Thu 9/13/18
|
Thu 9/13/18
|
|
Develop a Stakeholder Management Plan
|
1 day
|
Fri 9/14/18
|
Fri 9/14/18
|
|
Develop Communication Plan
|
1 day
|
Mon 9/17/18
|
Mon 9/17/18
|
|
Identify and Manage Risks
|
5 days
|
Tue 9/18/18
|
Mon 9/24/18
|
|
Proceed to Project
|
1 day
|
Tue 9/25/18
|
Tue 9/25/18
|
|
Project Initiation
|
7 days
|
Wed 9/26/18
|
Thu 10/4/18
|
|
Prepare List of Resources
|
1 day
|
Wed 9/26/18
|
Wed 9/26/18
|
|
Procure Necessary Resources for Project
|
3 days
|
Thu 9/27/18
|
Mon 10/1/18
|
|
Appoint Mobile App Development Team
|
1 day
|
Tue 10/2/18
|
Tue 10/2/18
|
|
Assign Budget of Project
|
2 days
|
Wed 10/3/18
|
Thu 10/4/18
|
|
Project Execution
|
82 days
|
Fri 10/5/18
|
Mon 1/28/19
|
|
Initiate Development of the App
|
2 days
|
Fri 10/5/18
|
Mon 10/8/18
|
|
Install Development Platform in the Workstation
|
3 days
|
Tue 10/9/18
|
Thu 10/11/18
|
|
Install Necessary Support Software
|
5 days
|
Fri 10/12/18
|
Thu 10/18/18
|
|
Develop the App
|
15 days
|
Fri 10/19/18
|
Thu 11/8/18
|
|
Add Necessary Features
|
15 days
|
Fri 11/9/18
|
Thu 11/29/18
|
|
Finalize Beta Version
|
5 days
|
Fri 11/30/18
|
Thu 12/6/18
|
|
Test the Beta
|
10 days
|
Fri 12/7/18
|
Thu 12/20/18
|
|
Find Bugs and Issues
|
5 days
|
Fri 12/21/18
|
Thu 12/27/18
|
|
Solve and Remove Bugs
|
5 days
|
Fri 12/28/18
|
Thu 1/3/19
|
|
Develop Final Version of the App
|
10 days
|
Fri 1/4/19
|
Thu 1/17/19
|
|
Testing of the App
|
5 days
|
Fri 1/18/19
|
Thu 1/24/19
|
|
Go Live
|
2 days
|
Fri 1/25/19
|
Mon 1/28/19
|
|
Project Completion and Sign Off
|
10 days
|
Tue 1/29/19
|
Mon 2/11/19
|
|
Submit Documentation of the Project
|
5 days
|
Tue 1/29/19
|
Mon 2/4/19
|
|
Review and Appraisal
|
2 days
|
Tue 2/5/19
|
Wed 2/6/19
|
|
Sign Off
|
2 days
|
Thu 2/7/19
|
Fri 2/8/19
|
|
Official Closing
|
1 day
|
Mon 2/11/19
|
Mon 2/11/19
|
Accordingly, the Gantt chart of the project is developed as follows.
Figure 2: Project Gantt Chart
(Source: Created by Author)
Work Breakdown Structure
The work breakdown structure of the project is shown as follows.
Figure 3: Work Breakdown Structure of the Project
(Source: Created by Author)
Project Resources and Budget
The main resources of the project (human and material) and their estimated rates are shown in the following table.
|
Resource Name
|
Type
|
Max. Units
|
Std. Rate
|
|
Project Manager
|
Work
|
100%
|
$200.00/hr
|
|
Finance Manager
|
Work
|
100%
|
$175.00/hr
|
|
IT Manager
|
Work
|
100%
|
$150.00/hr
|
|
Developer
|
Work
|
100%
|
$75.00/hr
|
|
Tester
|
Work
|
100%
|
$75.00/hr
|
|
Hardware Requirements
|
Material
|
|
$2,000.00
|
|
Software Requirements
|
Material
|
|
$2,500.00
|
Finally, based on these rates as well as the list of activities in the project, the following budget has been determined and shown in the table.
|
Task Name
|
Resource Names
|
Cost
|
|
Development of Mobile App for RedBalloon
|
|
$193,900.00
|
|
Project Proposal and Discussion
|
|
$22,200.00
|
|
Identification of Issues with the Website
|
IT Manager
|
$2,400.00
|
|
Identification of Advantages of Mobile App
|
IT Manager
|
$2,400.00
|
|
Proposal for a Project
|
IT Manager
|
$1,200.00
|
|
Approval of Proposal
|
Project Manager
|
$3,200.00
|
|
Final Decision on Mobile App Development
|
Project Manager
|
$4,800.00
|
|
Discussion on Necessary Features of the App
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$2,800.00
|
|
Discussion of Appropriate Budget for the Project
|
Finance Manager, IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$4,200.00
|
|
Proceed with Final Approval
|
IT Manager
|
$1,200.00
|
|
Project Planning
|
|
$36,000.00
|
|
Appoint Team for Project
|
IT Manager
|
$2,400.00
|
|
Develop Project Charter
|
|
$11,200.00
|
|
Determine Project Scope
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$1,400.00
|
|
Determine Project Objectives
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$1,400.00
|
|
Prepare Estimated Schedule for Project
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$2,800.00
|
|
Develop Work Breakdown Structure
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$1,400.00
|
|
Develop Project Network Diagram
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$1,400.00
|
|
Determine a Feasible Budget for the Project
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$2,800.00
|
|
Develop a Stakeholder Management Plan
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$2,800.00
|
|
Develop Communication Plan
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$2,800.00
|
|
Identify and Manage Risks
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$14,000.00
|
|
Proceed to Project
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$2,800.00
|
|
Project Initiation
|
|
$13,300.00
|
|
Prepare List of Resources
|
IT Manager
|
$1,200.00
|
|
Procure Necessary Resources for Project
|
Hardware Requirements[1], IT Manager, Software Requirements[1]
|
$8,100.00
|
|
Appoint Mobile App Development Team
|
IT Manager
|
$1,200.00
|
|
Assign Budget of Project
|
Finance Manager
|
$2,800.00
|
|
Project Execution
|
|
$98,400.00
|
|
Initiate Development of the App
|
Developer, Tester
|
$2,400.00
|
|
Install Development Platform in the Workstation
|
Developer, Tester
|
$3,600.00
|
|
Install Necessary Support Software
|
Developer, Tester
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Develop the App
|
Developer, Tester
|
$18,000.00
|
|
Add Necessary Features
|
Developer, Tester
|
$18,000.00
|
|
Finalize Beta Version
|
Developer, Tester
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Test the Beta
|
Developer, Tester
|
$12,000.00
|
|
Find Bugs and Issues
|
Developer, Tester
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Solve and Remove Bugs
|
Developer, Tester
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Develop Final Version of the App
|
Developer, Tester
|
$12,000.00
|
|
Testing of the App
|
Developer, Tester
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Go Live
|
Developer, Tester
|
$2,400.00
|
|
Project Completion and Sign Off
|
|
$24,000.00
|
|
Submit Documentation of the Project
|
Developer, Tester
|
$6,000.00
|
|
Review and Appraisal
|
IT Manager, Project Manager
|
$5,600.00
|
|
Sign Off
|
Developer, Finance Manager, IT Manager, Project Manager, Tester
|
$10,800.00
|
|
Official Closing
|
Project Manager
|
$1,600.00
|
Considering some buffer budget and additional budget, it can be said that the overall estimated budget for the project is $200,000.
Project Network Diagram
The network diagram of the project is developed as follows.
Objectives of the Project
Figure 4: Project Network Diagram
(Source: Created by Author)
Stakeholder Register and Communication Matrix
The stakeholders who will be involved in the project and their roles and responsibilities in the project are shown in the following table.
|
Stakeholder Name
|
Stakeholder Designation
|
Role and Responsibility
|
|
Mr. A
|
Project Manager
|
Approval and management of project, management of other stakeholders, approval of request, monitoring, controlling and supervision of project, introduction of change management
|
|
Mr. B
|
Finance Manager
|
Management of budget, allocation of funds, allocation of additional budget subject to project manager’s approval
|
|
Mr. C
|
IT Manager
|
Supervision of the IT department, determination of the issues associated, determination and proposal of solutions, listing and procurement of necessary resources, supervision of the entire project work, reporting to the project manager
|
|
Mr. D
|
Developer
|
Development of the mobile app as per the pre set requirements
|
|
Mr. E
|
Tester
|
Testing of the mobile app for solving bugs and glitches
|
Appointment of stakeholders in the project also requires a suitable communication management plan that is developed as follows.
|
Stakeholder
|
Communication Need
|
Communication Frequency
|
Communication Mode
|
|
Project Manager
|
Project update, new requirements
|
Weekly
|
Verbal meeting, email
|
|
Finance Manager
|
Budget requirements, need for additional funds
|
Bi-Weekly
|
Email, finance report document
|
|
IT Manager
|
IT requirements, project update
|
Daily
|
Face to face communication
|
|
Developer
|
Requirements of the app
|
Before start of project
|
Meeting
|
|
Tester
|
Overall structure of the app
|
Before testing phase
|
Face to face communication
|
Risk Register
There are some risks that may occur during the course of the project. It is important to address these risks in order to ensure the success of the project. Some risks are discussed in the following table.
|
Risk Name
|
Effect on Project
|
Chance of Occurrence
|
Mitigation Plan
|
|
Budget Risk
|
High
|
Medium
|
Conduct feasibility test before finalization of the budget
|
|
Schedule Risk
|
Low
|
Medium
|
Ensure the estimate schedule is followed without major delay
|
|
Cyber Security Risk
|
Extreme
|
Very High
|
Install sufficient amount of protection using anti-virus software and defender firewall before initiating the development of the mobile app
|
|
Lack of Technical Expertise
|
Very High
|
Medium
|
Ensure the developers will be able to add all the necessary features in the app and to test the app successfully for bugs and issues
|
Conclusion
In this report, a brief project plan has been developed for the development of mobile app for RedBalloon. As per the requirements of the project, the overall scope of the project includes the development of the app but it excludes other aspects like promotion, marketing and business strategy. Based on the initial estimations, the project will require approximately 126 days for completion and although there is not any major time constraint, it is suggested that the project is completed within this timeline because major delays will result in increase in the overall budget. Again, based on the estimations, the approximate overall budget required for the project is $200,000. RedBalloon is a sufficiently large company to support such a high budget for mobile app development but it is also required to ensure that the quality of the app developed is of the best quality and also all the features discussed in the meeting are incorporated in the app. All bugs, glitches and issues must be solved during the testing phase so that the customers do not face any problems while using the app.
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