Mgt 201

MGT 201

Communication and Soft Skills

Term Paper

Memo to: Supervisor

From: Project Manager

Subject: Information for Discussion on Upgrade Database and Servers

Date: 21 January 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you of my initial findings as the new Project Manager on the database and server upgrade. I have discovered some issues that have caused some complications in completing the project on schedule and with the planned budget.

Key Points:

1. Mark Wimmer was initially the Project Manager before the project began but he resigned and accepted a position at a consulting company. Mark’s consulting company has been contracted to provide technical guidance and services for the database and server upgrade. This could lead into an ethical issue due to the fact that a previous employee who was originally the project manager now is working for a company that is providing a service in support of the project.

2. The divisional manager, Jerry Stein approved the project and has a budget of $500,000. The project is more expensive than the approved budget which requires additional funding that Jerry doesn’t have the authority to approve. The board of directors is the only approving authority for additional funding but the issue is the board only meets every quarter. This causes complications due to the project is scheduled to be completed within a six month time frame.

3. The actual amounts for funding hardware/software purchases, hardware lease/maintenance, data center services and others exceeded the projected amount for the budget. The project summary for the first three months of the project shows a misuse in the funding as the funds are allocated for certain services for the project. The budget for the first three months of project was $807,525 and the actual cost was $874.250 which exceeded the budget by $66,725.

4. Time remaining on the project will...