Reference no: EM133770374

Business Analytics Project Management

Report: Leadership in Operational and Discovery Analytics Projects

Assessment Description

Imagine you will be managing two projects - one operational project (given below) and one innovative discovery analytics project (that you will find yourself). You need to write a report and deliver a presentation addressing and comparing both projects set up using the criteria outlined.

Assessment Overview

Part 1 - Written Case Study

PART A - Operational Project - (900 Words)

Operational projects are about improving existing processes and solving practical challenges.

You have been asked to initiate a project looking at how to build the infrastructure to support the increasing number of electric vehicles on the road. Before you start the project, you have been asked to assess the project including leadership, risk and methodology.

PART B - Discovery Analytics Project (900 Words)

Discovery analytics projects are those in which participants are trying to gain new insight, create completely new ways of doing things or make improvements using data and analytics techniques.

You are to research analytics projects and case studies. Use these as inspiration to find a similar unique project of your own, and then answer the questions in relation to your innovation analytics project.

PART C - Reflection, Structure and Referencing (400 Words)

Reflect upon the similarities and differences of the projects discussed in Parts A and B. Present your report clearly with particular attention to formats, flow, research, and referencing.

Part 2 - Video Assessment
You will be asked to video yourself answering a short quiz (2-3 questions) about your written response to Part 1 of the assessment and the course in general. The video assessment is a timed assessment lasting 10-12 minutes.

The questions will be long answer questions where the student will be asked to verbally elaborate on their written paper and why the made some of the choices and recommendations. The student will talk through their response and their logic to demonstrate a deeper knowledge of their written paper and the course material.

PART A - Operational Project (900 Words)

How the increased popularity of Electric Vehicles will require new EV charging infrastructure

Over recent years, there has been an increase in the number of Electric Vehicles (EVs) being bought and used. EVs bring many benefits including environmental impacts, longevity of vehicles and greater connectivity. However, EVs suffer from one big problem, whereas petrol cars take 2-3 minutes to refuel at the petrol station, EVs take much longer to charge. In addition, the number of charging stations compared to petrol stations throughout the country is low.

Therefore, there is a big push to build a sustainable infrastructure to support EVs. You are tasked with developing a comprehensive project plan to develop a charging network that is both efficient and appropriate.

Before you embark on the main project, assess the following aspects and set up of the project:

Operational Project:

Clearly define the objectives of your project, specifying the desired outcomes and benefits
Explore existing literature on EV charging infrastructure design, with a focus on best practices, technological advancements, and case studies.
Identify challenges commonly faced in implementing these projects and potential solutions.
Identify and analyse key stakeholders, both internal and external, who will be involved in or affected by the project including their needs and outcomes
Suggest a project management methodology
Incorporate project management principles into your methodology, such as:
Risk management and quality assurance
Leadership style, Team dynamics, working style and cultural fit
Project methodology
Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the progress and impact of the project.
Define key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure the success of the energy efficiency initiatives.
Find and use at least five supporting references for your report, including at least 2 references from lecture slides. List the references in Harvard format. Structure your work as an executive report with clear headings, clear language and well thought through ideas presented and explained clearly.

PART B - Discovery Analytics Project (900 Words)

The Discovery Project aims to explore new areas of knowledge and thinking to uncover novel phenomena or solutions. The project prioritizes curiosity-driven inquiry, encouraging risk-taking and fostering a culture of innovation. The Discovery Project not only seeks answers but also aims to refine questions, sparking further inquiry and paving the way for future breakthroughs across disciplines.

Discovery Analytics Project based on a similar analytics innovation case study project of your choice:

Introduce the project in your own words and clearly define the objectives of your project, specifying the desired outcomes and benefits
Suggest a project management methodology
Incorporate project management principles into your methodology, such as:
Risk management and quality assurance
Leadership style
Team dynamics, working style and cultural fit
Project methodology
Describe the best team roles for undertaking the project, and include one that would add more diversity to the team
Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the progress and impact of the project.
Define key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure the success of the energy efficiency initiatives.
Explain how you would democratise the project across the business to involve the workforce
Find and use at least five supporting references for your report, including at least 2 references from lecture slides. List the references in Harvard format. Structure your work as an executive report with clear headings, clear language and well thought through ideas presented and explained clearly.

PART C - Reflection, Structure and Referencing (400 Words)

Compare the two projects from Part A and B in terms of, but not limited to, Characteristics, Project Methodologies, Human Resource Requirements and Optimal Leadership Styles.

How do operational projects, centered around improving existing processes and solving practical challenges, compare and contrast with discovery projects, which involve original research and the pursuit of new knowledge, in terms of their objectives, methodologies, operations and overall design.

Please provide a comprehensive analysis exploring the key differences and similarities between these two types of projects.

Present your report clearly with particular attention to formats, flow, research, and referencing.