PSI Risk Case Study Assignment: Worth 20% of Final Course Grade:

Company Background

Plastic Services Inc (PSI) is a Toronto based manufacturer of plastic products. Founded in 2005, PSI
began as a pioneering producer of recyclable plastic cutlery for local restaurants. Through sustained
growth and capital reinvestment, PSI expanded its production capabilities to capture a larger share of
the consumer plastic goods market. PSI’s current line of plastic goods include cutlery, food containers,
water bottles, and cups. PSI has a total workforce of 600 staff spread across five departments (refer to
Appendix A for organization chart).

Scenario

Like many other companies, the emergence of COVID-19 dealt a heavy blow to PSI. The demand for
their line of plastic products sharply declined as consumer spending behavior shifted towards other
consumer products such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and hair care products. By the second month of
the pandemic, PSI was forced to lay off 40% of its workforce to maintain operations.

In light of dwindling sales and slumping demand, Nam Shah, the PSI CEO, convened a meeting with the
five department directors to present a new business plan. The surge in demand for Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) for front-line health workers and essential businesses has created a supply shortage in
the market. This has created a public health threat for the provincial government of Ontario. To rectify
the threat, the Government of Ontario invoked an emergency powers act restricting the sale and export
of PPEs to only the province of Ontario. To further mitigate against the threat, the Government of
Ontario also issued special grants for eligible companies capable of producing PPEs. Nam’s proposal is to
modify PSI’s current production line to make face shields and transparent barriers. In order to be eligible
for the grant and capitalize on the supply shortage, PSI will need to begin production within one month
and requires the participation and coordination of all five departments. All five department directors
pledged their support for Nam’s proposal and nominate their departmental managers to serve as
members of an executive steering committee. This committee is tasked with identifying and assigning
resources to support the project. PSI has contracted you as a project manager to plan, manage, and
execute Nam’s business plan. The target market includes hospitals, medical offices, grocery stores, and
other essential businesses.

Points to Consider

 PSI will need to ramp up its production to 100% pre-COVID capacity in order to meet the
very tight timeline
 Engineering has indicated that it can modify its current production line to manufacture the
proposed products, but requires a different type of plastic than it currently uses for its suite
of finished plastic products
 Health & Safety has indicated that the current production floor setup has staff working in
close proximity to each other and does not conform to the social distancing measures
Hospitals and medical offices are not typical customers, Sales & Marketing will need to
establish new customer contacts and secure purchase orders
Risk Management Assignment

Task 1: Risk Identification

I. Based on the information provided in the case study and/or the supporting
organization chart and WBS, identify and describe three significant risks associated
with this project. Define the risk and why you believe each risk has potential to
occur. Also, make sure to list any assumptions related to your chosen risks (Risk
identification is worth 30% of total mark for this assignment)

II. Determine the risk priority for each of the three risks you have identified using
(Risk priority is worth 40% of total mark for this assignment):

 Risk Probability Matrix (make whatever assumptions that are required to

complete this task). Focus on risks that you believe to have a moderate or high
probability of occurring.

 Risk Impact Assessment Matrix to indicate how each of your identified risks
would impact the project’s cost, time, scope and/or quality (make whatever
assumptions that you require to complete this task). In addition to identifying the
risk impact (L,M,H) you need to provide an explanation as to support your risk
impact assessment.

 Identify the relative priority of each of your identified risks using a Risk Priority
Matrix

 Use the Excel templates provided for this assignment on Blackboard.

Task 2: Risk Response Strategies (worth 30% of the total mark for this assignment)

Develop a strategy for responding to each of the three risks you have identified. Make use
of the terminology and tools presented in this course. Be specific regarding which of the
risk response strategies you are using. Which are primary and which are secondary?

IMPORTANT NOTES:

 In preparing this assignment, make whatever assumptions you require about the
project. There is no expectation that you possess any expertise in plastics
 manufacturing. However, try to make your assumptions as realistic as possible
based on cited research, where possible.

 In submitting the computer file of your report, strictly adhere to the following:

o Complete this assignment in Microsoft Word. Copy the Excel

spreadsheets into the MS Word document. Do not submit separate MS
Excel documents. PDF documents will not be accepted.

o Remember to put your name and GBC number on the cover page of
the assignment AND in the file name that you upload to Blackboard

 Complete this assignment as if you were providing it to a business client. Use

professional language. Do not use slang or colloquialisms.

 Upload your completed assignment to Blackboard (it is in the Assignments

section) by 11:00pm (Toronto Time) October 19, 2022

 The format of the report should be as follows (marks will be deducted if format
differs from below):

o Introduction – provide a brief introduction to the assignment

o Risk 1
 Risk description and assumptions (1-2 paragraphs)
 Risk Probability Matrix
 Risk Impact Matrix
 Risk Response

o Risk 2
 Risk description and assumptions (1-2 paragraphs)
 Risk Probability Matrix
 Risk Impact Matrix
 Risk Response

o Risk 3
 Risk description and assumptions (1-2 paragraphs)
 Risk Probability Matrix
 Risk Impact Matrix
 Risk Response

o Risk Priority Matrix for three risks

Evaluation Rubric

A B C D F Points
Assigned
Conceptual  Excellent  Good understanding  Inadequate  Missed most of the  Minimal or no
Understanding understanding of the of concepts and understanding of essential points and understand of
and Issue purpose of the issues as they relate the purpose of the issues; poor concepts and
Identification assignment and the to the assignment; assignment or the understand of the issues; lack of /80
related concepts and more depth and issues that need to overall purpose of understanding of
issues. Excellent development needed. be addressed. the assignment. the purpose of the
presentation of Some issues with the Information is not Numerous issues assignment. Very
information. manner in which the well presented. with presentation of poor presentation
Significantly exceeds information is information. of materials.
basic requirements. presented. Meets  Score: 48-55 points
basic requirements  Score: 40-47 points  Score: <40 points
 Score: 64-80 points
 Score: 56-63 points

Quality of Work  High level of  Coherent sentence  Inconsistent to  Low quality work.  Inaccurate and /20
accuracy and clarity and paragraph inadequate Poor sentence incomplete
in content. Minor to structure; some errors sentence and structure, numerous
no errors in grammar in grammar and paragraph grammar and/or  Score: 0-10 points
and spelling. Proper spelling; minor errors development; work spelling errors; lacks
APA formatting. in APA formatting; needed on APA format.
meets minimum grammar and
 Score: 16-20 points standards. spelling; improper  Score: 10-11 points
APA format.
 Score: 13-15 points
 Score: 12-14 points
Total /100
Appendix A: PSI Organization Chart
Appendix B: WBS

Produce PPEs

3
1 2 4 5
Human
Production Procurement Sales Design
Resources

2.1 4.1
1.1 3.1 5.1
Determine Identify
Define machine Define resource Design face
required plastic prospective
modifications requirements shield
quantity customers
1.2 5.2
2.2 3.2 4.2
Modify Design
Assess & Select Conduct hiring Conduct sales
production transparent
preferred vendor campaign calls
machines barrier
3.3
1.3 2.3 4.3 5.3
Develop
Re-design Purchase plastic Secure customer Design ventilator
workplace safety
production floor materials contracts components
measures
1.4
3.4
Perform
Onboard new
production test
hires
run