CanGo Analysis and Recommendations

CanGo Analysis and Recommendations

After observing various CanGo meetings and CanGo personnel, we feel that there are several key issues facing CanGo, that could prohibit the company from growing positively and at a rate that is acceptable to the company. We have put together this analysis to provide CanGo with not just the issues facing you, but detailed recommendations on what to change and why it is important to do so. The issues we would like to focus on at this time are:

1. Leadership
The key to a successful team is a good leader. The leader sets the standard, controls the morale and drives the progress of the team. Without adequate leadership, the team is merely a group of individuals doing their own jobs for their own advancement. The leader is the one who brings them together as a single unit and drives them to perform as such, not just for their own advancement, but for the advancement of the team as well as a driving force for the advancement of the company. 2. Goal Definition

It is necessary for a person or a team to know the specific goals in order to achieve them. Well-set goals provide focus. If the goals are too broad then direction can be lost; if too difficult then it may seem as though the goals are overwhelming and unachievable thus making the final project deliverable seem less likely to succeed. 3. Detailed Communication

The best laid plan will go nowhere if unable to communicate it to those needed to implement it. Communication is one of the most important skills needed not only within a team environment but in every aspect of business and interpersonal relationships. 4. Training

Employees cannot succeed if not given all of the tools. Training is a very important tool in the business toolbox. Teaching employees the basic functions of their roles can help them perform at a more superior level. 5. Team Work

For any project to be successful, the staff needs to pull together as a team. Goals and priorities need to be set and everything organized so that information can be found and deadlines met. 6. Staffing and Delegation

Effective project managers are able to delegate tasks to staff members (resources) so that the project is manageable for all involved. In addition, project managers should be advised of these resources at the start of a project, and aware of the existence of such aid throughout the course of the project. The following pages will address how we see each of the above issues affecting CanGo and our recommendations for improvement.

Leadership
Leadership can be defined as the ability to guide, direct, or influence people. A team is sometimes said to be only as strong as its weakest link, and the weakest link should never be the leader. One of the most prominent interpersonal skills that a manager uses is leadership. Strong leadership is apparent in all successful projects. A strong leader is able to communicate effectively the vision of the project, and is able to inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things. In observing CanGo, your top managers lack the leadership skills necessary to drive CanGo to the next level. Starting at the CEO level and working down through the organizational management chart, there is a lack of strong leadership in all departments. In order for CanGo to take the next step in growing the company, top managers need to be not just managers, but leaders. When giving information to other team members or delegating tasks, leaders give detailed information, defined goals and support throughout the project.

Goal Definition
From our observation, CanGo lacks goal definition when presenting new projects. All projects should have a project statement that identifies the major conceptual ideas and include a statement of work (goals). Goals must be specific from the start of the project to ensure a successful project outcome. They should be short and to the point and should contain clear language and terminology so that they will not be misunderstood. Upon identification and definition of project goals, they need to be well documented. A formal Statement of Work (SOW) is one such area of documentation, as well as in the project scope and project charter. Using a Gantt chart during the project helps keep the identified goals organized as well as sets specific timelines in which to meet those goals. As the project moves forward, consistent monitoring of the goals will determine if they are being met, and if they are on time and within budget. An example of a goal as seen in a Statement of Work would be: “Design and prototype a gaming system using automation from a SQL database by Q2 2013, pilot system by Q3 2013, Q4 2013 full market release of product. Totally project not to exceed $280,000” Additionally, when management approaches employees about projects, the information provided is vague and undetailed. Providing specific goals is imperative to assist with a successful project outcome. I would recommend that management provide employees specific goals along with budget and timeframe to resolve this issue.

Detailed Communication
Communication is another area where CanGo should improve. Through observation, we have seen that there is no formal communication plan with respect to projects. There should be a systematic procedure, technique or process used to transfer information among project stakeholders. Simply verbalizing a brief overview does not send the intended message to each team member. Simply instructing a team member to complete a task, does not give them the proper tools to complete the task; and when that task is complete, it is completed to the vision of that team member, not to the vision of the manager. Even something that seems simple, like a business meeting, should have some type of detailed communication as to what needs to be accomplished at the meeting. All projects, regardless of size, should have a communications management plan in place. This plan would inform how, when and by whom information regarding the project will be communicated. Having this plan will ensure that all project goals and objectives are being met and are within the project scope.

Training
Training is a huge part of a successful business having a positive future.
Training in several areas will help individuals better themselves as well as the job they are doing for the CanGo Company as a whole. Managers should know the steps that should be taken by a team to gather information on an idea and how it will affect the company as a whole. Managers should be able to analyze project profitability on the company as well as customer impact on the project. Managers must be well versed in task delegation as well as basic office etiquette and how to act in a professional manner with other co-workers. All managers and employees should understand respect in the work place when someone is working. All associates need to be mindful of what individuals are doing in the offices around them and how their office interactions affect that. Additionally, organization is a key component to project success. All managers and team members need to be organized in such a manner that if an emergency happened and one team member needed to leave, another team member would be able to pick up right where that team member left off and understand what needed to be done. Organizational skills training is imperative to achieve this result.

Team Work within an Organization
One of the most important aspects within a successful organization is the sense of team and the ability of employees to function collectively as a single unit towards a common goal. According to Business Dictionary.com, “A team becomes more than just a collection of people when a strong sense of mutual commitment creates synergy, thus generating performance greater than the sum of the performance of its individual members.” For CanGo to successfully advance to the next level, this sense of team will need to be developed and improved. There are many different ways to develop and promote a team environment. Sending management to a team building skills seminar is a good start. Management can then communicate and apply the learned skills within the office, initiating the sense of team. Clear communication of the vision, mission and values of the organization will help the employees feel they are all working towards the same goal. Weekly meetings to discuss progress and resolve any conflict also help employees feel that they are part of a team and encourage teamwork. Once the organization begins to function as a unified team, performance improves and additional work can be accomplished. This improved productivity leads to profitable growth, or the next level.

Staffing and Delegation
Successful businesses and projects are built around individuals coming together and working as a team to promote the company, solve problems or create great things. It is important to assign each team member specific tasks to accomplish as no one person can do it alone. Our observation of CanGo shows that managers do not delegate tasks to other resources, but instead try to go it alone. In order for a project manager to be able to delegate tasks to other individuals, they must have resources made available to them. Looking at staffing will be an important part of CanGo’s growth. Having just an adequate amount of people, may not be enough to be successful. It is out recommendation that CanGo review its staffing levels to ensure that project managers have enough resources to be able to compile a project team and delegate tasks to those individuals. When employees are assigned a project, they should be provided with deadlines as well as the overall time given for the project. Knowing exactly what the deadline is provides an indication as to the need for additional staffing. It also offers the ability to delegate tasks to get the work completed on time.

References
team, definition. (2013). Retrieved from BusinessDictionary.com: Project Management Institute. (2013). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. In A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. Newtown Square: Project Management Institute. Statement of work, retrieved from