RESEARCH

PROPOSAL
2023
Research Proposal on Task planners and tracker in
Usangu Logistics

Usangu Logistics
 Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction____________________________________________________________1
Objective______________________________________________________________1
Scope_________________________________________________________________1
Rationale______________________________________________________________2
Methods_______________________________________________________________2
Conclusion_____________________________________________________________2

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Introduction
A study states that 85% of people spend valuable time searching for misplaced
documents and information highlighting a common issue in many workplaces and
personal settings. This inefficiency happens when tasks aren’t organized and related to
data. Maintaining a lengthy task list with multiple deadlines, client requirements, and
resources can be quite a tedious task. Unfortunately, this can lead to wasted time,
decreased productivity, and frustration among individuals and teams. To address this
problem, companies and individuals can consider implementing better information
management practices and using digital tools for planning and tracking tasks in hand.

A task planner and tracker are tools that allow planning, organizing, and prioritizing
tasks, ranging from your daily tasks to large projects. With the right task tracker, you
can track the time taken per task, automate reporting, etc. Task trackers can also track
the productivity levels/performance of individuals or a team, giving you insights into
how they spend their time on different projects. You can then check the team’s
progress to optimize their work accordingly. This way, a task tracker does more than
just let you create tasks and map out things to be done. It’ll also help in scheduling and
allocating tasks, automating time tracking (staying on deadlines), tracking task status to
improve productivity, and reviewing task performance.

When choosing a task tracker and planner, factors like your specific workflow,
collaboration needs (if any), platform preferences (web, mobile, desktop), and the
features that matter most should be considered. While these options offer free plans,
they often have premium or paid versions with additional features for users who
require more advanced capabilities. Be sure to explore each tool's offerings and
compare them to find the one that best fits your needs and budget.

A task planner and tracker benefits include improved task visibility, better
accountability, reduced delays, streamlined communication, and data-driven decision-

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making. Implementing such a tool in your Task management framework can lead to
enhanced productivity and successful project outcomes.

Objective
The objective of researching task planners and trackers is to enhance productivity,
streamline workflow, and improve the overall project and task management of Usangu
Logistics.

Scope
This proposal explores the effectiveness of task planners and trackers in improving
productivity and task management in Usangu Logistics.

Rationale
Inefficient task management and lack of clear visibility into work progress are major
contributors to logistics delays and decreased productivity within our company. This
hypothesis likely may led to the decision to use a task tracker and planner as a potential
solution to address these issues.

The hypothesis is that the current methods of managing tasks are inefficient, possibly
relying on manual tracking through emails, Excel sheets, SAP or verbal
communication. Team members and project managers may struggle to know who is
responsible for specific tasks, the status of those tasks, and whether they are on track to
meet task performance. This inefficiency may result in tasks being overlooked, not
properly prioritized, or delayed, leading to missed deadlines, or additional costs. To test
this hypothesis, the company may decide to implement a task tracker and planner tool.
This software aims to address the inefficiencies by providing a centralized platform for
task management, assignment, prioritization, and progress tracking. It is expected that
this tool will improve task visibility, accountability, and overall project management
efficiency.

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Methods
The Usangu Logistics may set specific metrics to measure improvements. These could
include tracking project completion times, assessing the number of tasks completed on
time, and evaluating user satisfaction with the new tool. If the data shows a significant
improvement in task management and work efficiency, it would support the hypothesis
that the lack of these capabilities was a major contributing factor to project delays and
decreased productivity.

Conclusion
In conclusion, while SAP is a powerful system with extensive capabilities that can be
adapted for task tracking and planning, it may not be the most efficient or cost-
effective solution for task tracking and planning, especially for simpler needs. To
determine the tool best fit for requirements and budget, the Usangu logistics should
carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using SAP in comparison to
dedicated task tracking and planning tools.

References
1. https://www.elastic.co/pdf/workplace-search-infographic?
elektra=blog&rogue=new-state-of-find-gic
2. https://www.timedoctor.com/blog/task-tracker/#intro
3. Tyson R. Browning, Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business,
Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Email: t.browning@tcu.edu

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