Project Management: Expansion of Walmart Shipping Destinations
Background
Walmart is the leading retail company in the world. A Forbes report reveals that in 2019, it earned a total revenue of $517 billion (Russell, 2020). It draws part of its revenue from outside the United States. Amazon follows closely second on the list but with a higher market capitalization. This shows that there is a huge potential for growth in the area of global ecommerce. Currently, Walmart’s online store supplies the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marina Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands (Walmart, n.d.). The service areas are minimal. Therefore, there is a need for expansion in international shipping. As the project manager, I will have a team of ten full-time members with different areas of expertise.
Project Management Phases
- Project Initiation
The first step of the project management process will involve identifying a problem or opportunity and ensuring that it is feasible. The purpose of this phase is to justify the need for the project. At this stage, I will develop a business case that defines the problem and identifies a solution. The business case will describe the issue or opportunity, list possible options to address it, indicate a cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment, and describe the most suitable approach (Westland, 2007). It will also summarize an implementation plan. During or after developing the business case, I will conduct a feasibility study to evaluate each proposed solution to identify whether it can produce the intended benefit. The study will also ascertain whether the costs are reasonable and whether risks can are manageable. I will then formulate terms of references to explain the vision, objectives, scope, deliverables, and required funding. After that, I will create job descriptions and appoint a project team with skills that are vital for the success of the project.
- Project Planning
The skills of my project team will be particularly essential during the planning phase. At this point, I will develop a central project plan with the help of the project team. The plan provides a description of the steps of implementation of the project, a schedule of activities, tasks, and resources, and a list of assumptions and possible limitations. The project team will, under my supervision, develop other plans such as a resource plan, financial plan, quality plan, risk plan, acceptance plan, communication plan, and procurement plan (Westland, 2007). We will then contact suppliers in order to get ready for implementation. Some of the supplies that we will require are web development services, Enterprise Resource Planning software, international transport and logistics services, and advertising services. We will also need capital to launch the project and legal services to ensure that we comply with the law. After developing the plan, I will review it with the team and make any necessary changes. The plan provides a roadmap that ensures that work is well organized and flows smoothly. It clarifies the roles of each member of the team and facilitates coordination at the execution level.
- Project Execution
The third stage will entail putting the project plan into action. If a good plan is in place, the execution process will not be tedious. Each member of the team will put their skills into action. They will perform the tasks assigned to them at the planning phase. My role will primarily be administrative at this phase. I will oversee the execution of the various plans while measuring them against the deliverables that we set out to achieve (Westland, 2007). I will also assign further tasks as they arise and monitor progress using project management tools. My organizational skills will be applied to ensure that goals are met on time and in a satisfactory manner. Execution will also test my leadership skills as I coordinate and communicate with team members and project stakeholders.
- Project Monitoring and Control
The monitoring and control function is linked to the execution function. It places a responsibility on the project manager to ensure that all execution efforts are well managed and monitored. At this stage, I will measure progress and test implementation against the plans that are in place. For example, I will refer to the procurement plan and ensure that my team member in charge of procurement is complying with it. I will also require that the team presents periodic status reports that indicate their progress. Further, I will identify problems that have arisen during execution and take corrective measures to ensure that the project remains efficient.
- Project Closing
When all the goals of the project have been attained in terms of deliverables produced, the project will close. Closure can only take place when the project sponsor approves of it. This phase will involve handing over all the project documentation to the project sponsor, concluding the contracts with suppliers and other parties, releasing the resources that have remained after the execution, and disbanding the project team (Westland, 2007). A final comprehensive project report will be given to the project sponsors. After closing the project, I will conduct an analysis of the whole process and identify any failures and areas of improvement.
Conclusion
The project management process is a comprehensive progression that ensures that a project is successful and produces desirable results. All the members of the team play an essential role in the project management process. They ensure that an exhaustive and well-formulated plan is in place. They then apply their skills as they implement the plan, ensuring that the product of their work is satisfactory. Further, they assist in reviewing the project at each stage to highlight issues and resolve them promptly. If the team is well-coordinated, it works smoothly, like the cogs in a wheel. Each role in the project depends on another. This eases the burden of micromanagement from the project manager.
References
Russell, C. (2020, January 9). Who Are The 10 Biggest Retailers in The World? Forbes. Retrieved May 5, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/callyrussell/2020/01/09/who-are-the-10-biggest-retailers-in-the-world/#345bc6b13802
Walmart. (n.d.). Where We Ship. Walmart.com. https://help.walmart.com/article/where-we-ship/3ebce0aadbda4c2399fc1273ac59eb9c
Westland, J. (2007). The Project Management Life Cycle: A Complete Step-by-Step Methodology for Initiating, Planning, Executing & Closing a Project Successfully. Kogan Page Publishers.