Project Management Intranet Site Project

Business Case
JWD consulting business involves providing project management consulting services to
companies. There is an opportunity to the company in which it can increase its business
prospects by developing its intranet site that hosts information related to project management
projects for the clients.
Objectives of Business: The objectives of JWD consulting include providing expert solutions
to clients and by developing the intranet site in the required manner to host project
management information shall enable the company to expand its business. This intranet
project management site should increase the profitability of the business.
Problem Statement: JWD’s existing intranet site is being used only for company’s internal
purposes and not in any way directed towards clients. Though there is a project management
system that the company uses to manage its projects, there is a gap in the way services are
provided to the client. The gaps are in the form of using the intranet site for sharing the
project management information across the enterprise, including to clients. This might help
the company effectively manage the projects.
Assumptions and Constraints: The major assumptions are that the existing stakeholders of the
company – Consultants and clients support the project and proactively contribute wherever
required. Another one being that the costs involved shall be recovered in an year by the
company. It can be possible by increased business, and also reduced costs within the
company after this project. Final assumption is that the existing systems – both hardware and
software ought to support this new project.
Options Available: JWD has the following options Infront of it:
i. Complete purchasing of a new software readymade from external party.
ii. Develop the site completely using company’s resources.
After due discussions with the stakeholders, we go ahead with Option 2.
Project Requirements: The project requires following things:
i. Clients and users of the site should be able to access project management tools and be
able to use them in their projects.
ii. Timely updates for the site as and when required to be done by the company.
iii. Site needs to be secure for users, while keeping internal data of company confidential.
iv. The site should hold content related to project management in forms of articles, blogs
and cases accessible for clients and company alike. A good search option should also
be included.
v. The revenue generation aspect of the site should also be in such a way that the
company is paid money when there is an extent of information, that a client needs. So,
for these purposes, it should support a secure payment gateway integration too.
Financial Analysis, and Budgeting:
The cost of entire project (preliminary) – $140,000, and the duration is about 6 months. The
cost is arrived at by assuming that the project manager works for 220 hours for six months at
a rate of 8 hours per week. The internal staff works at 31.5 hours per week for six months.
Also, a sum of $ 10,800 is needed for purchasing software, while we have also included
maintenance costs for 3 years as $40,000. Benefits have also been showed in the following
table which goes on with an assumption that profits increase each year through new business.
In the following table, it is shown about how costs and benefits are projected for next 3 years,
and the Net Present Value (NPV), ROI of the project. With an NPV of $272,336, and ROI of
112%, it is very profitable and benefitting to take up this project.
Project Risks: The project includes risks in the form of lack of motivation or support from the
existing stakeholders. There are also some technical risks that come along with a project of
this sorts. Monetary risks are also present, but with a thorough financial evaluation, it should
be managed well by the company.