Assignment 4 Luiz Felippe Alcantara
Luiz Felippe Alcantara Systems Engineering Management
February 1, 2015. Dr. Bill Phillips
Como Tool and Die
1 – Does Como have a choice in whether to accept project management as a culture?
I don’t think so, since Ford is their major costumer and they require four product development leaving Como out of choice, to keep in business they need to accept project management or change their larger client.
2 – How much influence should a customer be able to exert on how the contractors manage projects?
How they influence depends on the size of contractor or what the percentage of the company profits they are responsible. If the contractor is small then you can give them some control because you have more products and clients to carry about, but in case of a major costumer as Ford is to Como, there will be some limitations or they will lose the small clients, because Ford will want the company working as they need their work. However you should never let other companies control your business.
3 – Was Como correct in attacking the cultural issue first?
They are correct in attacking cultural issue first, because they need to overcome a 60 years old culture and it’s not an easy task. Therefore only if the culture is favorable can the project manage be implemented.
4 – Does the time frame of thirty six months seem practical?
I think so, they have a strategic plan defined, the task force already identify the cultural issues and the four critical risk, and also they have propose a resolution for those problems. It seems completely practical the time frame, however for me it should be done as soon as possible since they already have everything set up for the changes and the Ford established a time frame of twenty four months for achieve the objectives.
5 – What chances of success do you give Como?
Considering the 60 years of experience and it seems the executives, project manager, and all employees understood completely the new tasks, and which changes must be done
February 1, 2015. Dr. Bill Phillips
Como Tool and Die
1 – Does Como have a choice in whether to accept project management as a culture?
I don’t think so, since Ford is their major costumer and they require four product development leaving Como out of choice, to keep in business they need to accept project management or change their larger client.
2 – How much influence should a customer be able to exert on how the contractors manage projects?
How they influence depends on the size of contractor or what the percentage of the company profits they are responsible. If the contractor is small then you can give them some control because you have more products and clients to carry about, but in case of a major costumer as Ford is to Como, there will be some limitations or they will lose the small clients, because Ford will want the company working as they need their work. However you should never let other companies control your business.
3 – Was Como correct in attacking the cultural issue first?
They are correct in attacking cultural issue first, because they need to overcome a 60 years old culture and it’s not an easy task. Therefore only if the culture is favorable can the project manage be implemented.
4 – Does the time frame of thirty six months seem practical?
I think so, they have a strategic plan defined, the task force already identify the cultural issues and the four critical risk, and also they have propose a resolution for those problems. It seems completely practical the time frame, however for me it should be done as soon as possible since they already have everything set up for the changes and the Ford established a time frame of twenty four months for achieve the objectives.
5 – What chances of success do you give Como?
Considering the 60 years of experience and it seems the executives, project manager, and all employees understood completely the new tasks, and which changes must be done