a comparison assessment report on 3 SaaS software
Order Description
The Board of Directors thought that your product report was terrific and has now asked that you provide a comparison assessment report on 3 SaaS software solutions in the form of a board report to Jim Coffee (the firm’s chief construction executive). Jim has suggested that the report should focus on
(1) a project management information system,
(2) a project collaboration system,
and (3) a building information modelling system.
“Write a management report of around 3000 words explaining (with reference to the course brief):
(a) the business value proposition of using best practice information systems,
(b) how the information systems would support the various business functional areas,
(c) how each information system would or could be used by the firm’s project managers in managing projects,
. and (d) a recommendation and the rationale for implementation of one or more of the systems
Assignment Objectives
On completing this assignment, you will:
o Develop an understanding of how to deliver a clear, effective communication that attempts to get people thinking about the problem and the potential solutions in the same way,
o Develop critical thinking skills, through identifying, analysing, evaluating and developing arguments which illustrate thoughtful appreciation of business’ need for a technology and information management system,
o Know how to search and locate literature (e.g. journal articles, trade magazines, product reviews, etc.) using library and internet resources, and
o Analyse information found in the discovered literature and synthesise new knowledge into a written report.
Assignment Brief
Scenario: You are employed in a medium sized construction firm ‘Coffee Construction Australia’ who deliver a broad range of civil projects including vital transport networks, water and resources infrastructure, railway embankments and dam construction; and major foundation and civil works for water treatment and desalination plants. Coffee Constructions Australia is an old style family based firm that has not embraced technology and the firm is having trouble managing the volume of projects and the Board of Directors has become very concerned about the firm’s reputation and future business opportunities.
You’re employed as a project director/manager and you have recently completed your Master of Project Management at RMIT. The Board of Directors thought that your product report was terrific and has now asked that you provide a comparison assessment report on 3 SaaS software solutions in the form of a board report to Jim Coffee (the firm’s chief construction executive). Jim has suggested that the report should focus on
(1) a project management information system,
(2) a project collaboration system,
and (3) a building information modelling system.
“Write a management report of around 3000 words explaining (with reference to the course brief):
(a) the business value proposition of using best practice information systems,
(b) how the information systems would support the various business functional areas,
(c) how each information system would or could be used by the firm’s project managers in managing projects,
. and (d) a recommendation and the rationale for implementation of one or more of the systems
.
Course Brief
Coffee Constructions
Background: Coffee Constructions is a privately owned (family) Australian building and civil engineering business, it commenced operations in Melbourne in 1973 initially working from an office located above an antiques shop. Coffee Constructions holds fully certified builders licences in NSW, QLD, NT and ACT. Coffee Constructions early projects included boutique hotels, large residences, Primary Schools, a range of facilities for local councils, work for the CSIRO, and a waste water treatment plant.
During the 1980s Coffee Constructions was awarded the contract to complete a regional Arts Centre. The centre contained a 490 seat theatre and a 220 seat performing arts space. The business experienced consistent growth during the 1980’s with the awarding of several high profile contracts that enabled Coffee Constructions to consolidate its position in established fields and branch into new sectors of the industry.
The 1990’s saw Coffee Constructions continue to grow. Client relationships developed during the previous two decades were further strengthened with several major projects being carried out at a tier one University. The 1990’s also saw the business expand its operations offshore into the pacific region with projects being completed in Western Samoa and in Papua New Guinea. As the 1990s closed out Coffee Constructions was completing a 50-bed psychiatric unit at the central Melbourne Hospital. Coffee Constructions entered the new millennium with 240 employees, a turnover of $295m.
Works in regional Victoria continued to expand with construction of two regional District Hospitals and the Marine facility. Operations in New South Wales gained momentum with a large Construction Management contract being awarded by a University. This was shortly followed by a wide variety of projects including a new bookstore and, various contracts to construct facilities for the Federal and NSW Governments.
A Queensland office was established in Brisbane in the early 2000s. Within the first few years of operation in Queensland, Coffee Constructions had successfully delivered two iconic projects for the Queensland Government. The financial Year 2013 saw Coffee Constructions’ turnover exceed $480 million.
Coffee Constructions’ expertise spans the construction industry spectrum, from smaller renovations to multi-million dollar projects. Over the past 4 decades the portfolio has included: education buildings, hospitals, healthcare, and industrial facilities, telecommunications and data centres, as well as infrastructure projects such as water and wastewater treatment plants, and transport networks
Scenario: You are employed in ‘Coffee Construction Australia’ who deliver a broad range of civil projects including vital transport networks, water and resources infrastructure, railway embankments and dam construction; and major foundation and civil works for water treatment and desalination plants.
Coffee Constructions Australia is an old style family based firm that has not embraced technology and the firm is having trouble managing the volume of projects and the Board of Directors has become very concerned about the firm’s reputation and future business opportunities. The extent of technology employed by the firm consists of Microsoft Project and the Microsoft Office suite of products and email.
You’re employed as a project director/manager and you have recently completed your Master of Project Management