Reference no: EM131880619

PROJECT REPORT

ALFA Company, is a global leading commodities company and a processor of agricultural goods, mainly grains and oilseeds. ALFA Co. originates, processes and transports approximately 31 million tons of products, it is active in over 20 countries and employs more than 8 000 people globally at peak season.

In the recent years, Alfa Company has successfully implemented a Commodity Trading and Risk Management System(CTRM) and a Global Enterprise Planning application (ERP). All the internal trade to encashment processes are integrated and optimized. The next step for Alfa Company, is now to start the digital transformation roadmap. The first step will be the implementation of a Web Portal application.

Main objectives of the implementation of a Web Portal:

- Improve efficiency in Domestic Trading and Execution Operations
- Push time/resource consuming activities to customer (contract management, document management, payments, invoices...)
- Release Operations and trading valuable time by:
- reducing their allocation to administrative client activities (client services, status updates on confirmation client's data management, contracts sign of...)
- automating recurrent, vanilla trading operations (transactional tool)
- Reduce Operational Risk by reducing reconciliation activities though full process integration.
- Increase FO Agility by given Clients direct access to managed Operations

The company has also completed a marketing research summarizing the main concerns of today's farmers. They are summarized in the below points:
- Crop production information
- Supply the growing global demand
- Availability of land for expansion (rent or buy)
- New government mandates and regulations
- Marketing and legal assistance
- Trade policies and regulations on food security
- Development and use of bio-fuels
- Getting advice from trading companies and equipment experts
- How to market own products and get access to market information
- Water Management

Web Portal application in the industry:

The implementation of a Web Portal, is not considered to be an innovation project but a catch up project. Most competitor in the market already have a similar solution implemented. The technology that will be used is Java, most of the applications of Alfa company are developed using this technology.

Implementation assumption:

The main activities that will be digitalized through the WebPortal will be: Settlement, Payments, Contract Management including electronic digital signatures, Price Fixing, Contract allocations, Order Management, Invoices, Price Publications, Quality management...
Alfa Company has no in-house software development capabilities therefore all the development of the product will be outsourced to a third party company. Also, it has been decided that they will not adapt any existing solution in the market but developed a new one.

Main costs:
- Third party software development (USD500k)
- Performance Testing (50k)
- Data upload into Web Portal from main CTRM (150k)
- Travel and expenses (25k)

Main Resources from ALFA Company:
- 1FTE Project Manager
- 1FTE Global BA
- 1FTE Release Manager
- 0.5FTE Architect Manager
- 0.5FTE Support Analyst
- 1FTE Quality Analyst
- 2FTE from Business (trading and operations)

The fully loaded cost of an internal resources is calculated to be USD750 per day.

Implementation Timeline:

The product is expected to be roll-out globally, in the 10 countries where ALFA Company operates. In different waves:
o Wave 1: Argentina and Mexico (in 12 months)
o Wave 2: Brazil (3 months after wave 1)
o Wave 3: US and Canada (3 months after wave 2)
o Wave 4: China, India and Australia (3 months after wave 3)
o Wave 5: Russia and South Africa (3 months after wave 4)

Quantitative Expected Benefits:

- 20% reduction on total number of Operational staff, currently 800 (160 expected reduction).
- Increase Company market share

Qualitative Expected benefits:
1. Customer loyalty.
ASSIGNMENT:
As the IT Project Manager allocated to this initiative, please answer the below questions:
1. Why is this a Project and not a Business as Usual activity?
2. Why ALFA Company should put in place a Project Management Methodology/Framework to deliver this project?
3. Why the company has decided to use Traditional V-Model Methodology to deliver this project instead of Agile?
4. Is the implementation of a Web Portal aligned with the Strategy of the company?
5. Following the Project Management Framework- Entry Tool. Which type of Artifact would need to be developed during the Life Cycle of the Project? Please list them.

You are now about to attend the project "establish and launch Milestone", due to the urgency on implementation, both milestones have been merged. In order to ensure you will get the relevant approval to proceed please prepare a presentation containing:
- Business problem to solve by this project (Rational)
- Solution proposed and scope
- Project Costs and Business Case
- Success Criteria
- Benefits (Qualitative and Quantitative). Main KPIs
- Project Time-Line
- Resource Requirements
- Sourcing Strategy

Please include the following artefacts:
- Project Charter
- The Communication plan
- Risk and Action Log
- Main Project Roles and Responsibilities

Finally, please propose the Service Management Structure to implement once the project is Live (GBPOS, BPOS, BAs...).

Attachment:- Template Project.rar

Attachment:- Appendix.rar