Managing a Project's Human Resources Assignment

Managing a Project's Human Resources - Assignment Example With this new organizational emphasis on innovation, however, came a corresponding emphasis on stringent work elements (Lashinksky 2012). As such Apple is regarded as a highly stratified organization, with great degrees of privacy. In addition, there is tremendous emphasis within the organization on production and commitment to excellence with employees expected to adhere to these organizational elements or risk termination (Lashinksky 2012). Although Job’s has since left the organization, in terms of structure Tim Cook has assumed the chief executive officer position. Cook reports to a board of directors the head of which is Arthur Levinson. Cook then oversees a diverse array of departments that then oversee subordinate departments (Organizational Chart Apple, 2012). As this is a large scale organizational project the project manager will be CEO Tim Cook who will oversee Industrial Design head Jonathan Ive, Software Engineering design head Craig Federighi, and Hardware Engine ering design head Bob Mansfield (Organizational Chart Apple, 2012). These individuals will in turn oversee sub-teams of designers under them. The stakeholders are both inter-organizational interested parties, as well as stockholders. 2. There are a variety of methods of project control and coordination. Lock (2007) articulates a number of overarching notions in regards to coordination and control mechanisms, including compiling a work breakdown schedule, planning a timescale, and managing changes and managing costs. To an extent these coordination mechanisms function as large-scale signposts in the project design. In these regards, the project underwent a two-year timescale. During this period the work breakdown schedule was segmented such that overall organizational goals were on a need to know basis, with Tim Cook and Project Management heads being the only individuals informed of the true scope of the project. Project management teams within these spectrums of division undertook specific tasks. Project costs were established from a top-down structure and reassessed accordingly. In terms of managing change, an agile management approach was implemented. Agile management, also referred to as extreme project management, has been noted to be useful new method for technology companies implementing software or hardware development (Maex 2011). Agile management is an approach to design that implements dynamic iteration and change. Figure 1 below demonstrates the iteration process implemented in the project design. Fig. 1 Project Feedback Loops In these regards, upon task completion as distinguished by the previously established timescale, coordinating project elements would be combined and these elements would then undergo project iteration. Apple, Inc. is unique in its limited emphasis on customer feedback, as such iteration was conducted internally, the results of which were then reincorporated into further project design and management. In this context of unders tanding, the project was coordinated and managed in the most efficient way possible. Still, ultimate success will be determined based on return to stockholder equity, as such the market will determine if differing project management should have been undertaken. 3. There are a variety of leadership qualities that a Project Manager must possess. Kouzes (1997) indicates that one of the overarching elements is that the individual inspire a shared vision. In the context of Apple, Inc. product design has