PARTI PHILOSOPHY AND CONCEPTS FLEXIBLE BENEFITS SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION AT SHAHA MEDICAL CENTER CASE 1.2 system that would reduce the cost and improve the service of its employee benefits coverage new system would have to meet four goals: improved responsiveness to employee need management of Shah Alam Medical Center decided to procure and implement a s, add ce objec- resent- nancial Systems (FS), and Information bility, better cost management, and greater coordination of human resour atives from four departments-Human Resources [HRI, Fi Services lIS)-and six te tives with business strategies. A multifunctional team of 13 members was formed with rep chnical experts from the consulting firm of Hun and Bar Software (HBS Early in the project a workshop was held with participants from Shah Alam and HBS to clarify and finalize project objectives and develop a project plan, milestones, and schedule. Project com- pletion was set at 10 months. In that time HBS had to develop and supply all hardware and soft- re for the new system; the system had to be brought on-line, tested, and approved; HR workers employees had to be educated about and enrolled in the new benefits process; and the enrollment The director of FS was chosen to oversee the project. She had the technical background and had to be trained how to operate the system and load existing employee data; all Shah Alam data had to be entered in the systerm had previously worked in the IS group in implementing Shah Alam\'s patient care information system; everyone on the team approved of her appointment as project leader. She selected two team leaders to assist her, one each from HR and IS. The HR leader\'s task was to ensure that the new system met HR requirements and the needs of Shah Alam employees. The IS leader\'s task was to ensure that the new software interfaced with other Shah Alam systems Members of the Shah Alam team worked on the project on a part-time basis, spending roughly half their time on the project and the other half on their normal daily duties. The project manager and team leaders also worked part-time on the project, although each gave the project priority. Shah Alam\'s senior management had made it clear that meeting project requirements andt deadlines was imperative. The project manager was given authority over functional managers and project team members for all project-related decisions. im QUESTIONS 1. What form of project management (basic, program, etc.] does this case most o resemble? The project manager is also the director of FS, one of several departments that will be cons of her being selected? that they give the project top priority 2. affected by the new benefits system. Does this seem like a good idea? What are the pros an Comment on the team members part-time assignment to the project and the expectat 4 Much of the success of this project depends on the performance of team member not employed by Shah Alam, namely the HBS consultants. They must develop the enti hardware/software benefits system. Why was an outside firm likely chosen for such important part of the project? What difficulties might this pose to the project manager an meeting project goals?
1. This project most closely resembles basic form of project management as it involves basic requirements for handling a project i.e. HR for human resource management, FS for financial requirements, IS for data requirements its analysis and technical experts for handling the project.
2. Yes, according to me this is a good idea as she as knowledge of almost all the fields of the project as she has a technical background and also worked in IS previously thus have knowledge of IS as well and as she is the director of FS she has knowledge of this field as well and thus can prove to be a good project manager.
The pros are her experience and exposure of the different fields involved in the project.
The cons are that she would have a lot of responsibilities and workload being the director of FS and project manager at the same time. Also she being the director of FS could be biased towards others working in the team and from different fields.Also her ability to manage people from different fields at the same time could be difficult for her.
3. I disagree with the team members part time assignment on the project and expecting the top priority as if one gives some thing a top priority other works or the normal duty that they are doing will be affected and thus according to me first one work should be completed which has high priority with all focus and effort into that.
4. An outside firm was chosen for such an important part of the project may be due to lack of skilled technical experts matching the needs .
This can pose difficulties like the difference in culture and working style of the technical experts as they belong to different firm and are not aware or habituated to the culture and working style of Shah Alam Medical Centre.
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