Orion Shield Project

Orion Shield Project

AMBA 640-Managing Projects, Operations, and Information Systems

University of Maryland University College

April 14, 2013

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary 5

Introduction 8

Technical Management Issues 8

Ethical Issues 10

Legal Issues 11

Contractual Issues 13

Project Management Issues 13

Staffing 13

Communication 14

References 17

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Executive Summary

Scientific Engineering Corporation (SEC) was awarded a project called “The Orion Shield” project. Gary Allison, a project engineer, was handpicked by Henry Larsen to lead the project. Even though the project was completed but it faced a lot of turbulence on the way to completion. This analysis will consider various technical, legal, ethical, contractual and project management issues faced during the project and recommendations will be made in order to fix them. Each project is constrained by limitations such as scope, time and cost (Schwalbe, 2012). However, skilled project managers know how to work under these limitations which result in successful projects. It is important for everyone to learn from the mistakes made and try not to repeat them in future.

Gary worked under Larsen, director of operations, but did not have prior project management experience which led to various technical issues. Gary was not able to get adequate work force to work on the Orion Shield project which led to further delays. Lack of communication by the project manager, Gary, caused various technical issues which delayed the testing schedule further and created tension between SEC and its client. SEC should have established a program to help its employees obtain proper training before they can be exposed to leading critical projects. This can avoid unnecessary delays and misunderstandings within the project.

The Orion Shield project was not implemented very ethical nor legally. Ethical and legal issues caused by the...