Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
Just an experimental question that i created while studying for My PMP
Please comment on what you think about it. And if the message I am trying to convey through relating process groups/Knowledge areas is clear from the question
You are a Project Manager assigned by your Line Manager in response to the Finance Director's Business need to have an add-on package developed to interface with the company's ERP Software. You are conducting a sourcing planning workshop attended by the Software Development Manager who is your friend, the Operations Manager for the ERP software and The delegate for the Finance Director. The Software Development Manager explains that making the product in house will be most cost effective . The delegate wants the Add on Package development outsourced whereas the Operations Manager wants the Add on package to be developed in house and the arguments are reaching an impasse.
In order to resolve the conflict , you would :-
1) Influence the Stakeholders to build the software in-house because the Software Development Manager is your friend
2) Direct the Software Development manager to explain the benefits of in-sourcing and the Delegate of the Finance Director to explain the benefits of out-sourcing and achieve consensus on the most cost effective option.
3) Outsource the development because the Finance Director is the project sponsor and his delegate is asking for it.
4) Direct the Software Development manager to explain the benefits of in-sourcing and the Delegate of the Finance Director to explain the benefits of out-sourcing and inform your decision on the most cost effective option Saving Changes...
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Prashant SonwaneSr. Program Manager| Winjit Technologies Pvt LtdNashik, Maharashtra, India
Deepesh, really tricky but real time question
1. I would go for "Outsource the development because the Finance Director is the project sponsor and his delegate is asking for it. "
In this case, we will consider "Finance Director's" as our customer / Direct stake holder as well as the Sponsor of the project.
Though the project is outsourced, we will try to collect the inputs on why they were not interested for "In-sourcing" Saving Changes...
Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
Thanks Prashant... Bereaucracy and office politics and power fights may compel you to go that way and you would have to do it to keep your job.... However PMI will have you fail the PMP because conflict resolution is why a project manager is on the payroll. There is one answer out of four that spells out the conflict resolution through problem solving approach... Thats the right answer if you want to pass the PMP exam Saving Changes...
Prashant SonwaneSr. Program Manager| Winjit Technologies Pvt LtdNashik, Maharashtra, India
LOL , I got you Deepesh ! What will be your choice then? Saving Changes...
Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
2...achieving consensus on the most cost effective solution. This will involve everyone to state their points of view, see the pros and cons of in source or outsource and help make a decision, thus achieving conflict resolution. It could be that they won't achieve that in this meeting and may have to consult experts to analyze dollar figures. But at least they can agree to follow a common path and accept the other's point of view and understand perspectives Saving Changes...
Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
You will also see from the question that they are in planning process group, planning procurement management, trying to do make or buy analysis to end up with make or buy decision. Also, the project manager is using conflict resolution technique which is problem solving and each of the options point towards.... Confronting, avoiding or forcing. This belongs to stakeholder or human resource management process group.... At the same time project manager is dealing with stakeholder so he needs to consider power, interest and influence grid.... And may well be swayed to support the sponsor Saving Changes...
