Hyten Corporation, Essay Example

Hyten’s management is facing opposition on several ends due to the possibility of accepting formal project management. Some departments like the Finance Department believe that formal project management will increase their workload and they may not have the required personnel to fulfill responsibilities. Some people like the plant workers feel they may have to learn new skills and outsiders may be hired and given preference over them. Similarly, people at the engineering department feel that formal project management will result in unnecessary intrusion into their work. The engineering department personnel also feel that their work is too technical and other departments do not properly understand the work they do.

Some managers do have valid concerns against the implementation of formal project management. Finance Department doesn’t have adequate personal and formal project management will require additional tasks such as cost analysis. The Finance Department has not been given any assurance regarding additional personnel and if they are made to do additional work with the same staff, it will only lead to lower morale and possible defection of employees to other companies. Director of MIS, Herman Hall’s concerns are also valid because most of MIS personnel are already working on projects. Formal project management may require them to leave current projects and in addition, developing an adequate information system is a time-consuming task. MIS Department probably also needs additional personnel, just like Finance Department.

At the same time, there are several benefits in implementing formal project management. First of all, it will reduce costs and time to complete projects as well as improve quality due to better coordination between departments. It will also help prevent many costly re-works. The departments will also get to know each other’s work and needs better. The department will also have a better idea of their mutual interdependence which will further improve cooperation.

While Hyten’s management could do a better job of developing company-wide support, it still has taken a reasonable approach towards implementing formal project management. The company organized a seminar which introduced all managers and other management-level employees to formal project management. The seminar helped the participants better understand formal project management and how it works. In addition, the company also took steps to gather suggestions and feedback from all the participants. By involving departmental and plant managers in the decision-making process, the upper management has shown its commitment to building a consensus. While Hyten’s management did seek suggestions and feedback from departmental and plant managers, it did little to alleviate their concerns such as personnel shortage and how the implementation may affect them and their subordinates. To build support, it is necessary to address concerns of all managers as well.

Formal project management should give employees more room for personal growth. This will also help build support for the initiative because employees will be able to see personal benefit as well and, thus, it will improve employees’ morale as well. Since departments will have to take each other’s concerns and suggestions and they will have to keep each other updated on the progress, some departments may feel their independence has been compromised. Formal project management will force departments to work more closely with each other which is why some departments may think they have less freedom in setting their own direction now. The primary concerns the employees have regarding formal project management are that it will increase their workload and may even lead to hiring of outsiders. Some also fear that they will have less autonomy in the way they work and many do not see any need to learn new skills when things are already fine the way they are.

The management needs to be sold in formal project management because it cannot succeed unless there is commitment at the highest levels of the organization. In addition, the management is responsible for allocating resources and the formal project implementation will be a failure even if it is effectively planned unless the management provides the necessary resources to support the new system.

Hyten Corporation should address managers’ and employees concerns and assure them that the company will provide all necessary support to ensure that departments are able to do their job properly. The company should also explain to departments and employees how formal project management will benefit them as well through lower costs and higher profits. The management should also tie managers’ and employees’ compensation in some form to the success of the formal project management. In addition, the company could also distribute some of the additional profits among the managers and the employees to reward them for improving operating efficiency. Once the company’s interests are aligned with the departments’ and employees’ interests, managers and employees will be motivated to support formal project management plan and make it a success. Open communication, commitment at the highest level of the organization, and assurance of all necessary support will alleviate employees’ fears and help them see the personal benefits as well.