Project Team Roles And Responsibilities Information Technology Essay

Project Team Roles And Responsibilities Information Technology Essay The project Steering Committee includes management and other executive level stakeholders that will be directly impacted by the success or outcome of the CRM project. During the implementation, the Steering Committee will reach consensus or influence the most strategic objectives for CRM adoption as well as approve the implementation scope, approach, time frame and budget. Due to the relatively short duration of the actual software CRM implementation, the Steering Committee will incur more time and emphasis on CRM adoption, utilization, measurement and refinement. Post software implementation activities will include: Verifying the users are actually using, benefiting by and endorsing the system The information is being correctly organized and processed for operational support and analysis, Information is accurate, available and in proper format or structure so that customers are better served, are spoken to with uniformity across the organization (a consistent message regardless of whos speaking) and customer service consistent These individuals will include the executive level stakeholders, Project Leader, Project Manager, Lead Consultant, Finance and MIS management and sometime key users. These individuals are responsible for reviewing the progress of the implementation, understanding the current issues, resolving critical issues, providing vision of future business opportunities and direction, and supporting the efforts through moral support of the entire project team. Steering Committee responsibilities include the following: Corporate-wide data sharing: Clearly sponsoring the organizations customer information and data sharing strategy, which states that customer information is to be centralized and available throughout the organization (based on need and security pending) for sharing in order to promote effectiveness and better service the customer. This information strategy further prohibits individuals or groups from operating silo systems, shadow systems or other disconnected or standalone systems or systems which do not result in customer information being put in the designated CRM system. Provide interpretation of company or project vision, direction and execution of objectives. Provide project oversight and guidance on strategic issues and direction. Make decisions which can change project organization, project scope, or allocation of project funding. Ensure that the direction of the project continues to be in line with the original mission and goals set forth at the beginning of the project. Support the project team in the resolution of cross-functional areas. Keep informed of project status; ask questions to ensure accurate understanding. Deliver regular feedback to the project team on performance and expectations. Provide input for Project Leader and Project Manager periodic appraisal. Executive Sponsor The Executive Sponsor can be a liaison from the Project Team to the Steering Committee for a large project or can act as a substitute for a formal Steering Committee for a small project. The Executive Sponsor (often the VP of Sales, Director of Sales, President or Operations Manager) monitors the activities and progress of the Project Leader and Project Team. This individual is responsible for communicating project status to the Steering Committee, ensuring milestones are completed in a timely fashion, and providing the overall supervision of the employees assigned to the project. Additional responsibilities include being the primary contact for issues and questions from the Project Team as well as review and monitoring of the project plan milestones. Other specific responsibilities may include: Liaison to Steering Committee; Keep Steering Committee and project stakeholders updated as to project status, progress and/or any deviations. Identify and secure all required project team members for the project (e.g. Functional Champions, Key Uses, System Administrator.) Verify the dedicated participation of each required project team client representative (available to commit full-time during peak periods or coverage and backfill of team members particular areas). Regularly review project status and emerging risks and select/approve potential solutions from those presented. Provide direction on prioritization of emerging issues and risks. Provide advice and council on major project and policy decisions. Ensure the appropriate project team members and key decision makers are identified and available to fulfill their project responsibilities. Identify and secure access to additional end user staff as needed to support specific areas of expertise not represented by the project team. Provide informal project status and communications to project team members and various user communities. Project Leader This role will require an individual with strong management and communication skills who understands the operation and objectives of the CRM implementation. It is possible to have an outside consultant or vendor consultant and internal person that share the Project Leader responsibilities, however, advance planning must dictate specific roles and responsibilities. The Project Leader is the person responsible for the overall project planning and progress toward the implementation. This individual is responsible for monitoring, maintaining, and adjusting the project plan (based on the input and deliverables of team members), providing implementation experienced leadership strategies to the Executive Sponsor, and ensuring the effectiveness of the application consultants assigned to the project. Other responsibilities include reviewing and assisting in issue resolution, coordinating task dependencies, and establishing milestone project goals that keep the project on time and within budge t. Other specific responsibilities may include: Conduct or facilitate the Implementation Project Kick-off and Status meetings. Manage the customer relationship with the vendor. Confirm solid understanding of corporate objectives and expectations; if necessary, reset objectives and expectations. Approve the implementation schedule and project plan. Measurement of plan vs. actual with variance analysis. Continually monitor scope, time frame, budget and risk. Manage project resources to assure maximum efficiency, effectiveness and resource utilization. Manage consultants on project. Periodic risk management project risks and people risks and development of mitigating strategies. Significant or high impact risks should be addressed with the Executive Sponsor. Recognize change management issues and risks; develop recommendations and mitigating strategies. Periodically measure and confirm stakeholder, Executive Sponsor, Champion, Key User and System Administrator satisfaction. Functional Champions / Team Leads Functional Champions or Team Leads spearhead an individual functional area (such as SFA, Marketing, Customer Service, or a particular line of business). These individuals are stakeholders from the department or line of business most affected by the module (e.g., SFA), have complete domain area knowledge and are dedicated to the project (and generally relieved of traditional day-to-day responsibilities for departmental operations while participating on their area of the project) for the project duration. Functional Champions must be empowered to make decisions for their domain area and their user community. They lead the configuration efforts and decisions during the Conference Room Pilot (CRP) phase with each software module. They further determine the current and anticipated transaction flows within the software module. Their primary objective is to gather process and configuration information from the key users and define the business system based on that information. These individ uals may develop process flowcharts for the existing and new system processes, develop methods of resolving process gaps, identify report and data requirements for the respective modules to support the end users, and identify data conversion requirements to support their modules. Functional Champions are responsible for module testing, coordinating and facilitating key user meetings, scheduling key users for system tests, preparing process documents, approving training documentation, and ultimate training of the end users. Some of the major responsibilities for this role are as follows: Understand the as is environment and provide functional expertise and knowledge of the existing business practices. Responsible for the successful configuration, processing and implementation of functional area software modules. Reconciliation of user requirements to the new system capabilities. Liaison between user community and project team; Act as a mentor and liaison to other users of that functional area. Represent the user interests in system design and software configuration decisions. Design and configuration of software parameters for each module. Identify and implement business process improvements and changes. System Administrator (SA) In order to take and maintain ownership of CRM utilization and long term success, the client must appoint an internal System Administrator (SA). Although technical experience is not required, the SA is a more technical resource to the project team and actively involved throughout the implementation project and post production processing. The SA will utilize tools built in to the Aplicor CRM system for all or almost all SA functions. All CRM applications that operate on a relational database management system (RDBMS) require skilled SAs for steady operation. Configuration Setup: Data importing: Validate cleanliness of data, scrub data and perform imports of accounts, contacts and/or opportunities into the CRM system (e.g. uploading users data from prior systems (such as ACT)). Reconcile and verify import results. Web site configuration options: Selecting available option for system-wide utilization; such as system logo upload, splash page selection or updating of cascading style sheet (CSS). Portal User Interface (UI) management: Assist management or users with the customization or modification of Menus and menu navigation. Implementation: User and role management: The creation, modification and removal of all users and roles within the CRM system. Resetting user passwords when necessary. Security administration: Assigning and managing overall system security, user security and account-level security. Field level data list management and UDF configuration: Assist management or Functional Champions with determining or modifying acceptable values from all data list fields throughout the CRM application and assigning or utilizing User-Defined Fields (UDFs) at each page. Document Library configuration. System training: Provide initial training to staff, and new-hires on an ongoing basis, for system usage. Query management: Provide users training to create or modify queries throughout the system (using Query Manager and Query Builder). Management Administration: Troubleshooting: Provide first level response to user issues or problems. Most issues or problems that are user-oriented will be resolved by SA, all other issues and problems may be escalated to the Aplicor Helpdesk. User view management: Assist users with creation or modification of individual CRM views. Monitor system usage: Verify utilization and enterprise-wide access (subject to business need and security) and viewing of customer information. Continued user and role Management: Updating memberships and deleting outdated users and roles. Resetting user passwords. CRM Application Consultants CRM consultants require thorough software product suite skills along with a detailed understanding of the particular software modules assigned. The application consultants are expected to provide functionality information and guide the implementation of the assigned modules. Their experience with the modules provides options of configuration, process designs, options for gap and issue resolution, training to the Functional Champions, hands on task completion support and troubleshooting support for software issues. The application consultants will also provide for knowledge transfer to the key users during the User Training phase and prior to reaching a production environment. Some of the major responsibilities for this role are as follows: Provide input on task status and estimates to complete to the Team Leader Spearhead the Conference Room Pilot configuration for each module(s) Conduct analysis of business, transaction and individual user requirements Conduct Business Process Analysis for the assigned module(s) Resolve how the software will apply to the customers needs Performing Functional Champion training; conduct software training for the module(s) assigned Offer suggestions for process improvement Outline new business procedures or processes Confirm application test case scenarios, lead the process testing and analyze the test results Guide conversion efforts and strategies Lead the cut-over preparation, testing and verification Report software bugs and aggressively follow-up on fixes Provide post implementation support Identify and resolve open issues All Project Team Members Every project team member has a fiduciary duty to make a proactive and positive contribution to the project. All team members are owners of the project and the new system and are personally accountable for taking charge of their respective areas and promoting the project to their user communities and colleagues. Project Team member duties include the following: Provide input to process improvement ideas Review circulated correspondence; provide feedback as required Identify high impact / high return opportunities within respective areas Proactively ask questions and offer input Attend every Project Team status meeting; recognize the importance of this project to the organization Keep Project Stakeholders updated Act as liaison and constituent for represented user community: Keep user community informed of project status and progress, provide a mechanism for users to contribute to project and voice suggestions for improvement Contribute to the solution: never offer criticism without suggestion. Team members must be contributors, not listeners Project Office Provide day to day project management and oversight of the project. Track project status and provide status reporting Promote adherence to the project schedule Track issues and manage the resolution process Define change and risk management strategies to assure early identification and complete, expeditious resolution; Provide a framework for developing fundamental project management skills in the project team to ensure effective tracking of project status; Lead Application Consultant This role will require an individual with strong communication skills, technical skills, application expertise and business experience. The role of the Lead Application Consultant is to manage the project implementation to meet the agreed upon requirements and timeframe. In order to be successful in this role, the role will have the following responsibilities: Approve all application consultants to be placed on the project team Provide overall and daily management and support to all application consultants assigned to the project Review and verify each consultants time and expense report for accuracy Define roles and responsibilities for each application consultant Work with the Project Leader and Project Manager to learn and manage the implementation to meet the agreed upon project objectives Work with the users and other software publisher resources as required, and resolve queries and issues on an ad hoc basis Notify management of requirements for resources in order to provide sufficient lead times for resources to be made available Make timely decisions regarding the project priorities in order to minimize disruption on the project Overall responsibility for assuring the quality of work conducted by their representative consultants Attend all Implementation Project Status meetings Technical Analysts Ideally, there is one Technical Application Analyst for each module. These individuals generally come from the MIS area, are dedicated to the project and relieved of day-to-day responsibilities for departmental operations: Assist with reconciliation of user requirements to system capabilities Identification / design / development of required system interfaces Identification /design /development of required data conversion routines Modification of software applications forms/reports using publisher tools Development of working knowledge of the software application table structures/data base functionality System test planning and assistance to users in the execution of the system testing process Support for User Application Analyst tasks as necessary Focus Groups Support the project team by actively participating in the research and resolution of project issues Support the project team by actively participating in the assessment of configuration alternatives during the realization phase Engage actively in the generation of business case scenarios and the development of test scripts Participate, as required, in the execution and validation of test scripts

Healthy People 2010: Obesity and Policy Essay

Obesity is a condition that affects more than one-quarter of adults and one out of five children according to the American Obesity Association (AOA). The effects of obesity are disease, death, disabilities and morbidity. This disease does not receive the attention that it deserves from the government and insurance companies. America spends billions on health care each year. Yet, obesity is on the rise. The diseases that obesity can contribute to are part of the leading death rates. The objective of Healthy People 2010, concerning obesity, involves many issues and attributes. A few objectives are reducing overweight adults, healthy weight in children, food intake and nutrition, school nutrition, nutrition counseling and food security. All of these issues would help reduce chronic diseases and promote health with diet and exercise. To reduce obesity a policy would be adopted by the government. Insurance companies would give a discount to people who would fit the criteria of obesity. If a person were within weight limits, a discount would be given to them through insurance rates. Prevention is the key and the goal of controlling obesity in adults and children. Also, providing activities for families, through city agencies, that would not be a financial burden to the people that are considered low-income. This information needs to be measured in such a way that nationally, state and local entities can access such information. Strengthen state and community monitoring systems that will link nutrient and exercise (Healthy People 2010). Also, receiving commitments from the public and private entities that will be involved, including government, physicians and insurance companies. Obstacles may get in the way of reducing obesity in the United States. Income status, none or little activity, race, gender or family genetics are all barriers that could increase the probability of staying obese. If Americans, as a whole, fight this up coming disease with full force and the backing of the government then the reduction of obesity will happen. Education of nutrition and what is enough for our children will decrease the amount of  obesity as adults in the future. The goal is to have a healthier and stronger America. Formulation. There is a proposal for health insurance companies be liable for the education and implementation of programs that will help reduce obesity in America. Americans spend over 60 billion dollars a year on weight reduction plans or pills (AOA). Inadequate reimbursements from the insurance companies make it difficult for Americans to gain control of weight loss. Weight can be a target of discrimination in a person’s personal and professional life. Obesity can cause heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers, arthritis and death. All of which can seriously jeopardize your health. A policy must be in place to hold insurance companies responsible for providing programs for obese people. If medically diagnosed with obesity by two or more physicians then the insurance company will provide reimbursement for the reduction of weight. This will include a discounted price for a membership in a gym, which will be contracted with the specific insurance company. To pay for or equal the costs to the insurance companies, they can increase premiums for persons who are diagnosed by two or more doctors with the disease of obesity. In addition, insurance companies and/or agencies will be taxed accordingly. The tax will be set aside locally to provide activities to the community and the surrounding areas. Physical activities will be set up for a practical amount of money, which will promote and educate people in the community on weight loss and reduction of obesity in America. This will include, but not limited to, the public schools and any private division. Implementation. Once the policy is clearly written and easily understood, the local government will appoint leadership to the appropriate entities. In this case, the Health and Human Services, American Obesity Association, the state  health department and the public should be aware of the policy that is being proposed into legislation. Costs will be an issue in implementing this policy. If insurance companies negotiate with local gyms, there will be a cost reduction. If the companies advertise together as a unit that provides insurance to promote a â€Å"healthy tomorrow† then the costs to the insurance company will be minimal. In addition, the premiums will be higher for the individuals who are medically obese. That will provide a balance to the insurance company for the costs of the reimbursements to the gym. The taxation of the insurance companies will provide extra money to the surrounding community. The local government will set programs to target individuals who are overweight and want to lose it. Programs such as basketball, bicycling, soccer, baseball, aerobics, swimming, tennis and other activities that will promote a healthy America will be paid by the taxes. Evaluation. There are different ways we can evaluate this policy once it has been through the legislation process. There needs to be a specific goal, which has been obtained. A measurement and analysis of information needs to be acquired. Then a recommendation to better the policy would be the conclusion. The political process does offer many channels which perceptions of a policy’s value feeds back into the policy making process. Committees will be set up to oversee and investigate agencies. Interest group intervention can also make or break a policy being introduced in legislation. If proper media exposure were to happen, then you would know the publics point of view and possibly know what will advance the bill or policy into law. Conclusion. This policy process will take time and many efforts by the supporters and agencies involved. Having support from doctors, employers and perhaps the government officials can be helpful when fighting for reimbursements for weight loss treatments. The goal and objective is to encourage individuals with obesity to obtain the best possible medical care for their disease. This policy will also help overcome the stigma that is attached to obesity. Finally, this will urge health insurance companies and the government agencies to be responsible for programs to treat obesity as they do with other diseases. References American Obesity Association: Preventing Weight Gain (2002). Retrieved on June 27, 2005 from http://www.obesity.org/subs/about.shtml American Academy of Pediatrics: Prevention of Pediatrics Overweight and Obesity (2003) Retrieved on July 4, 2005 from http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;112/2/424 Defining Policy Formulation. The Public Policy Web (2001) Retrieved on July 4, 2005, from http://www.geocities.com/~profwork/pp/formulate/define.html Hayes, Wayne. Good Implementation (2002) Retrieved on July 4, 2005 from http://www.geocities.com/~profwork/pp/implement/good.html Healthy People 2010: Leading Health Indicators. (2001) Retrieved on June 27, 2005 from http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/uih/uih_4.htm#overandobese Healthy People 2010: Nutrient and Overweight (2001) Retrieved on June 27, 2005 from http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume2/19Nutrition.htm

Essay on Jeffersonian Vs. Jacksonian Democracy in the US

How might we distinguish ‘Jacksonian democracy’ from ‘Jeffersonian democracy’? A period of nearly 30 years are associated with the Presidency of Jefferson, his successors and his ‘democracy’ from 1801 until Andrew Jackson’s election in 1828. A vision of a united, equal America, limited government and natural aristocracy ruled the Jeffersonian style of democracy. However, with the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828, a new form of democracy, differentiating in multiply ways to the Jeffersonian America, engulfed the American political and social scene. Jacksonian Democracy, a dream of the common man, the use of the Presidential veto, and Anglo-Saxonism as well other elements dominated this form of democracy and era. Despite this, many†¦show more content†¦Glenn E. Hoover submits a slightly different approach, suggesting that Jefferson was not a supporter of elitism but instead â€Å"he recognized that there was among men, a natural aristocracy of ability. However, these differences†¦did not justify any unequal treatment†. Therefore, it can be seen that Jeffersonian democracy did not favour the privileged but recognised their existence within society, acknowledging the ability for people to transcend social classes through their own efforts. Jackson conversely championed, as Edward Pessen put it, the common ‘white’ man and was distrustful of the Jeffersonian natural aristocracy. Jackson was known to have had a simple rural background, the first president to be known by a nickname and the first President to have achieved the most prestigious office in America without rising through high office at Washington. All these factors strengthened the idea that his democracy favoured the common man, something the Jeffersonian could not claim. To Jacksonians, the country’s future lay in the hands of the common ‘white’ man, an idea supported through the fact that â€Å"the percentage of [the] eligible population that voted...[averaged] sixty-nine percent†¦Hence, from Jackson forward presidents could claim†¦they were the representatives of the people†. Countering the claim that Jackson favoured the commonShow MoreRelatedThe Doctrine Of The United States Essay1598 Words   |  7 Pag esfurther colonized by European countries and the that US would neither interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal concerns of European countries. Adams-Onis Treaty aka Transcontinental Treaty of 1819; settled a border dispute in North America between the US and Spain; treaty was a result of increasing tension between the US and Spain regarding territorial rights at a time of weakened Spanish power; the treaty ceded Florida to the US, settled a boundary dispute along the Sabine RiverRead MoreThe Constitution Of The United States Essay2016 Words   |  9 PagesPaper Over time the democracy in the United States has changed a lot. On 1796, democracy was first ratified when George Washington published his farewell address, marking one of the first peaceful transfers of power in american history and cementing the country’s status as a stable, democratic state. I will be talking about the different types of democracy in the United States, how democracy has changed for the United States, and even go into detail about how democracy can benefit a country hasRead MoreDefining The American Poet Through Leaves Of Grass : Walt Whitman3117 Words   |  13 Pagesthe review Dana states â€Å"He vouchsafes, before introducing us to his poetry, to enlighten our benighted minds as to the true function of the American poet.†(Dana, Charles A. Review of Leaves of Grass (1855)This observation, suggests that in American politics, culture, and prior literary sources we were missing this American vision. By analyzing the democracy in Walt Whitman’s poetry it is important to first analyze the origins of democracy. Language in the reviews of Leaves of Grass in the mid-nineteenth-century

Facts About Hydrogen, Atomic Number One on the Periodic Table

Hydrogen is the element that is atomic number 1 on the periodic table. The element number or atomic number is the number of protons present in the atom. Each hydrogen atom has one proton, which means it has a 1 effective nuclear charge. Basic Atomic Number 1 Facts At room temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless gas.While ordinarily classified as a nonmetal, the solid form of hydrogen acts like other alkali metals in the same column of the periodic table. Hydrogen metal forms under intense pressure, so it is not seen on Earth, but it does exist elsewhere in the solar system.The pure element bonds to itself to form diatomic hydrogen gas. This is the lightest gas, although it is not significantly lighter than helium gas, which exists as a monatomic element.Element atomic number 1 is the most abundant element in the universe. In terms of a sheer number of atoms, about 90% of atoms in the universe are hydrogen. Because the element is so light, this translates into around 74% of the universe by mass.Hydrogen is extremely flammable, but it doesnt burn without the presence of oxygen. If you were to place a lit match into a container of pure hydrogen, the match would simply go out, not cause an explosion. Now, if it was a mixture of hydrogen and air, the gas would ignite!Many elements can exhibit a variety of oxidation states. While atomic number 1 usually displays a 1 oxidation state, it can also pick up a second electron and exhibit a -1 oxidation state. Because two electrons fill the s subshell, this is a stable configuration. Atomic Number 1 Isotopes There are three isotopes that all have atomic number 1. While an atom of each isotope has 1 proton, they have different numbers of neutrons. The three isotopes are proton, deuterium, and tritium. Protium is the most common form of hydrogen in the universe and in our bodies. Each protium atom has one proton and no neutrons. Ordinarily, this form of element number 1 has one electron per atom, but it readily loses it to form the H ion. When people talk about hydrogen, this is the isotope of the element usually being discussed. Deuterium is a naturally occurring isotope of element atomic number 1 that has one proton and also one neutron. Since the number of protons and neutrons is the same, you might think this would be the most abundant form of the element, but its relatively rare. Only around 1 in 6400 hydrogen atoms on Earth are deuterium. Although its a heavier isotope of the element, deuterium is not radioactive. Tritium also occurs naturally, most often as a decay product from heavier elements. The isotope of atomic number 1 is also made in nuclear reactors. Each tritium atom has 1 proton and 2 neutrons, which is not stable, so this form of hydrogen is radioactive. Tritium has a half-life of 12.32 years.