Part 1: Initiating Scenario Biotech, Inc. is one of the world’s fastest growing
ID: 372169 • Letter: P
Question
Part 1: Initiating Scenario
Biotech, Inc. is one of the world’s fastest growing biotechnology firms. In addition to performing basic research, the company provides several FDA-approved drugs. They have recently expanded into the genetically modified food market and energy market, as well. The company has over 30,000 employees today, having added almost 10,000 people last year alone. They predict that they will continue to grow in the future. They currently are headquartered in California and have offices in six other states and five other countries. They plan to open four additional offices next year. Part of the reason for the company’s success has been their strong work culture. The company’s founders wanted to focus on using science and innovation to improve people’s lives. They believe in hiring highly talented and motivated individuals who can work well on self-managed teams. You have been working for Biotech, Inc. for the last two years in their information technology department. You have just been assigned as a senior systems analyst supporting the new Resource Management System Project. Due to their rapid growth, the CIO and the VP of human resources have both made this project a priority to help manage the company’s workforce. Their current system is not working well for doing basic functions like applicant tracking, new employee orientation, benefits management, employee security, compensation, etc. There are currently several decentralized systems various managers use for managing their people, including software to help assign people to various projects. The main goal of this project is to provide one centralized yet flexible system to more effectively manage all of Biotech, Inc.’s people. Senior managers believe it will take about one year and $1 million for this important project. They also feel it would be best to purchase an existing application and tailor it, as needed.
Part 2: Planning Scenario
David and Liz formed a search committee to find the best candidate for managing the Resource Management System Project. After reviewing many strong candidates, they decided to hire Anna to manage this critical project. Anna worked for a consulting firm and had successfully implemented several human resource systems in large organizations. Since this was a high priority project that should be completed in one year, they felt it was appropriate to go outside the company in this case. They knew they were paying a premium for Anna’s contract, but a lot was at stake. David and Liz agreed to be joint project sponsors, and they hand picked you to be the main internal IT liaison and Andres to be the main HR liaison. They would let the new project manager, Anna, form the rest of the project team
Part 3: Executing Scenario
You are having several challenges on this project. Biotech, Inc. originally focused on developing drugs to help fight diseases, but the new CEO, Justin, has emphasized the need to increase profits by tapping into other markets, including genetically modified foods and fuels. The types of people who work on the former market are often very different from people working on the latter markets. They often have different educational backgrounds, skill sets, and values. Most of the people hired in the past year have been hired to support these new markets. Even though Anna and the Resource Management System Project team tried to do a good job managing key stakeholders, they are having difficulties with several employees who disagree with the company’s new marketing strategies. Just a month into the project, several senior managers in the research and drug-related departments have voiced their opposition to having a centralized system and process for hiring people and managing benefits and compensation. A few very vocal managers said that they would continue to hire and manage their resources their way no matter what. It has also been difficult collecting data on how resources are currently managed throughout the company and gathering firm requirements for the new system. Most HR system providers sold several different modules that provided different functionality, and you wanted to make sure you purchased only what was needed. Anna also knew that it was best to try to minimize the need to customize an off-the-shelf application. Many people felt that any centralized system would stifle their creativity and force them to work in a bureaucracy, so they were not open to sharing information or providing feedback as you try to gather requirements and existing data.
Tasks
1. Anna decided to call a team meeting to discuss the current situation later that day. Develop an agenda for this meeting to work through some of the challenges you are facing. Write several alternatives for addressing these challenges. Be sure to address handling opponents to this project and suggestions for ensuring a smooth transition to the new system. Assume the sponsors will not be at this meeting, but you have a meeting with them tomorrow to discuss some of these issues, and you know they want your suggestions on what to do.
2. Anna has asked you to use a systems management approach to help identify the technical, business, and organizational issues related to just the requirements gathering part of this project. Create a table listing potential issues (at least three in each area) along with potential strategies for addressing each issue.
Explanation / Answer
1.
Answer:
Agenda for meeting:
Title or topic
Short description of the topic
Person responsible for the item
Time allotted
List of reference documents related to the item