Unit 17 Assignment 2 - Project Management
P4. Introduction
The project I have chosen is Database development for a DVD rental business. The business
is currently managed by paper based resources, whenever a client wants to rent a DVD
there is a paper based series of actions that are that take place, the aim is to implement an
IT database in order to make business actions easier as well as implementing new features.
My client David Sowicki has asked me to realise a database that is able to handle all the
aspects of his DVD rental business from renting out DVDs to tracking availability of items.
Identification of stakeholders
The first step towards the project is identifying the parties involved, the most important
group of people after owners are any possible stakeholders, and these have specific right
towards the project as they are partly owner of the business. Once they are identified they
should be involved in the project. Stakeholders have the right to oppose or support a
project through a vote, they have made an investment in the business hence their opinion
should weigh on significant matters such as the development of a new project. The
stakeholder in this case is Dawid, the owner of the business, stakeholders are also clients
that take part and interest in the business.
Business case requirements
This project is planned in order to implement new features into the business as well as
improve the current methods of business. The requirements in this project are to ease the
processes of renting out a DVD, keep records, details of rentals and additional requirements
such as displaying overdue with return dates and a possible fines. Other requirements also
include producing an informative database documentation such as total rental income and
most popular DVDs rented. A crucial requirement of this project is to overcome the
difficulties that the business is having due to the high demand of DVDs, this is thanks to
external factors such as competitors shutting down their business or increasing prices,
resulting in customers choosing Mr. Dawid’s business. Finally, requirements also include a
database system that’s able to identify overdue costs and track down customers.
Specific Objectives and Deliverables
The objectives and deliverables of the project include an easy to use database that is able to
track DVDs from the stoking to the renting out processes. The database project also plans to
implement additional feature that will be useful for the DVD rental business and are part of
the requirements, these features have to be relevant to the business. Quickening the
process is also a major objective and purpose of the project as the dated paper based
system isn’t able to keep up with the demand of DVDs and the fast pace required in the
business. Another deliverable is to be able to cope with a higher amount of clients that
increased from 400 to 600, this means that the demand is increased so as a response, an IT
based database system that can cope with it should be projected and implemented.
, Benefits and success factors
There are numerous benefits of implementing an IT centred database into the DVD rental
business, firstly, the records of the clients will be much easier to track, instead of going
through dozens of papers, employees will be able to find a person’s rental history just by
inserting their name or even by scanning the back of a membership card depending on the
features chosen by the client. Secondly, the overall paper-based system has cause delays
and long queues of over 15 minutes, this means that clients are unhappy of the customer
service and the high demand has resulted in the current system to be inefficient. The
success factor of implementing this system will be that processes will be quickened and
made easier thanks to the multifunction database.
Project Boundaries or scope.
Project boundaries help to define the aspects and characteristics that are or aren’t
applicable to the current project, these should be closely related to the project’s objectives
as they are stated to make sure that there are no irrelevancies in the projects and no
implementations that are unnecessary. In the case of Mr Dawid’s DVD rental business, the
expected results are an efficient system that can help out organise and manage the rentals
and stockings of DVDs. The database should be limited to relevant features that meet the
objectives/requirements of the project, the scope of the project should be followed without
any unnecessary additions or subtractions in the plan.
Constraints
The database project could encounter constraints, firstly, the paper based system was
implemented by Dawid in order to cope with the average demand and keep prices low, after
the unexpected increase in demand a limitation of the project might be the allocation of
finances towards the project. Another constraint is the time that it takes in order to
implement the new system, this process should be done in after hours when the business is
closed so that it doesn’t affect rentals and the business’s income. Additionally, a constraint
could be the training require in order to use the new database system in the best manner,
all employees might require detailed training by a professional trainer, and there could also
be additional costs for the training processes.
Others – Sustainable issues
Sustainable issues could include the high demand that the database will have to cope, this
could increase even more due to external reasons such as competitors shutting down their
stores as well as other big companies increasing their prices, this means that the DVD rental
demand could increase further so the system should be projected to be able to cope with it.
Other sustainable issues could be related to the maintenance of the system which is crucial
in order to keep the database fast and secure. Finally, another example of sustainable issues
could be a member of staff could be temporary ill and the matter would have to be resolved
quickly by a replacement.
P4. Introduction
The project I have chosen is Database development for a DVD rental business. The business
is currently managed by paper based resources, whenever a client wants to rent a DVD
there is a paper based series of actions that are that take place, the aim is to implement an
IT database in order to make business actions easier as well as implementing new features.
My client David Sowicki has asked me to realise a database that is able to handle all the
aspects of his DVD rental business from renting out DVDs to tracking availability of items.
Identification of stakeholders
The first step towards the project is identifying the parties involved, the most important
group of people after owners are any possible stakeholders, and these have specific right
towards the project as they are partly owner of the business. Once they are identified they
should be involved in the project. Stakeholders have the right to oppose or support a
project through a vote, they have made an investment in the business hence their opinion
should weigh on significant matters such as the development of a new project. The
stakeholder in this case is Dawid, the owner of the business, stakeholders are also clients
that take part and interest in the business.
Business case requirements
This project is planned in order to implement new features into the business as well as
improve the current methods of business. The requirements in this project are to ease the
processes of renting out a DVD, keep records, details of rentals and additional requirements
such as displaying overdue with return dates and a possible fines. Other requirements also
include producing an informative database documentation such as total rental income and
most popular DVDs rented. A crucial requirement of this project is to overcome the
difficulties that the business is having due to the high demand of DVDs, this is thanks to
external factors such as competitors shutting down their business or increasing prices,
resulting in customers choosing Mr. Dawid’s business. Finally, requirements also include a
database system that’s able to identify overdue costs and track down customers.
Specific Objectives and Deliverables
The objectives and deliverables of the project include an easy to use database that is able to
track DVDs from the stoking to the renting out processes. The database project also plans to
implement additional feature that will be useful for the DVD rental business and are part of
the requirements, these features have to be relevant to the business. Quickening the
process is also a major objective and purpose of the project as the dated paper based
system isn’t able to keep up with the demand of DVDs and the fast pace required in the
business. Another deliverable is to be able to cope with a higher amount of clients that
increased from 400 to 600, this means that the demand is increased so as a response, an IT
based database system that can cope with it should be projected and implemented.
, Benefits and success factors
There are numerous benefits of implementing an IT centred database into the DVD rental
business, firstly, the records of the clients will be much easier to track, instead of going
through dozens of papers, employees will be able to find a person’s rental history just by
inserting their name or even by scanning the back of a membership card depending on the
features chosen by the client. Secondly, the overall paper-based system has cause delays
and long queues of over 15 minutes, this means that clients are unhappy of the customer
service and the high demand has resulted in the current system to be inefficient. The
success factor of implementing this system will be that processes will be quickened and
made easier thanks to the multifunction database.
Project Boundaries or scope.
Project boundaries help to define the aspects and characteristics that are or aren’t
applicable to the current project, these should be closely related to the project’s objectives
as they are stated to make sure that there are no irrelevancies in the projects and no
implementations that are unnecessary. In the case of Mr Dawid’s DVD rental business, the
expected results are an efficient system that can help out organise and manage the rentals
and stockings of DVDs. The database should be limited to relevant features that meet the
objectives/requirements of the project, the scope of the project should be followed without
any unnecessary additions or subtractions in the plan.
Constraints
The database project could encounter constraints, firstly, the paper based system was
implemented by Dawid in order to cope with the average demand and keep prices low, after
the unexpected increase in demand a limitation of the project might be the allocation of
finances towards the project. Another constraint is the time that it takes in order to
implement the new system, this process should be done in after hours when the business is
closed so that it doesn’t affect rentals and the business’s income. Additionally, a constraint
could be the training require in order to use the new database system in the best manner,
all employees might require detailed training by a professional trainer, and there could also
be additional costs for the training processes.
Others – Sustainable issues
Sustainable issues could include the high demand that the database will have to cope, this
could increase even more due to external reasons such as competitors shutting down their
stores as well as other big companies increasing their prices, this means that the DVD rental
demand could increase further so the system should be projected to be able to cope with it.
Other sustainable issues could be related to the maintenance of the system which is crucial
in order to keep the database fast and secure. Finally, another example of sustainable issues
could be a member of staff could be temporary ill and the matter would have to be resolved
quickly by a replacement.
