Brown's online Bookstore Project
Project Scope Statement Template
Project Name: / Brown's online Bookstore ProjectProject Number: / 1
Project Manager: / Steven Jones
Date: / 16.02.2007 (12.05.12)
Business case
Sales Revenue has been falling steadily for a small family owned Dublin based bookseller business. The Brown’s Bookstores would be particularly well known for selling a wide range of books of Irish interest at very good price.
The Bookstore needs to go on-line in order to increase sales and to compete with other on-line bookstores.
Objectives
Set up a new corporate website with ecommerce shop to:
1. Increase revenue.
2. To become aligned with available technologies
3. Promote the actual bookseller chain.
4. Expand Product range.
5. Provide opportunity to review and buy on-line Books, Videos, Computer Games, Music CDs.
6. Function of secure Payment/Fulfillment/Returns.
7. 5.24/7/365 online availability
8. To be completed within specified timeframe and budget.
Scope description
The project to be completed and combined to a service of multiple participants.
The Online Bookshop Website should be designed, developed, tested and installed from start to finish by outsourced company Dodgico on the software and hardware supplied by Dodgico. The testing of the Website must take place no later than from the 31st of August 2007. Live content of the site should be uploaded by the 3rd of November 2007. The Payments and Fulfillment service to be outsourced to a payment processing company Slan.
Acceptance criteria
First testing results to be provided by 15th of September 2007 with frequency of 2 weeks. The project to be Accepted upon a creation of ecommerce shop supporting 24/7/365 service to the customers willing to purchase Books, Videos, Computer Games, Music CDs with go live date of 12th of November 2007
Deliverables
1. Website designed across different geographic regions and not reliant on home markets which in turn will increase economies of scale.
2. Website design must promote the 100 history of the company.
3. Separate categories for CD's, Videos, video games and books have been implemented with an easy to navigate search function.
4. A 'preview this book' section was put in place in order to get an idea of product before purchase.
5. An option to choose to read website in a different language is apparent on all pages.
6. Website supports multi-currency to increase overseas profits.
7. Online help feature along with integrated support allows for year round customer satisfaction.
Exclusions
1. Network upgrades not going ahead.
2. Communication and monitoring equipment.
3. Additional cooling system required.
4. Broadband not getting an upgrade.
Constraints
1. The Budget has being confined to €450,000. No money for potential project overruns.
2. Staff involvement in the project will be minimal; Internal IT resources will have a minimal role in the project.
3. Lack of consultation with employees and unions, employees may refuse to cooperate with the project when it is complete.
4. No funds has been allocated within the budget to train employees, and hire additional IT and logistics staff
5. The computer room is inadequate to hold the required infrastructure.
6. The network will require upgrading and broadband connectivity will need to be improved. There is no money in the budget to do either.
7. Signing the contract with Dodgico, will constrain the company’s options.
Assumptions
1. The Project budget will not exceed €450,000. The sum of €450, 000 has been made available to complete the project. It is assumed that this figure will not be exceeded.
2. A completion date of the end of November has been confined to the project. The assumption is that the project will be completed by the end of November and be ready for the Christmas market.
3. The Internal IT resources would have only a minimal role in the project.
4. The Project would official start on the 26th of February, following the appointment of a project manager
5. Dodgico will supply all of the hardware and software.
6. Dodgico will be responsible for designing, developing, testing and installing the new website from start to finish.
7. The steering committee will meet every month to review the project and to support the project manager.
Known Risks
Increased competition from international online market
Apathy towards project within senior management team, cost/time (speed to market) balance.
Time frame for completion very tight – missing Christmas market may have a significant impact on already tight funds.
1. Tender process was not introduced for the nomination of suppliers – both Dodigco and Slan have been appointed on recommendation – risk therefore that Browns will not receive the best service and value for money – no bench-marking.
2. Dodgico
a. Skills shortage – key web developers have left the company and have not yet been replaced.
b. Internal PM issues, recent projects over budget and schedule
c. Design and development of website plus supply of all software and hardware, also responsibility for testing is solely contracted to Dodigco, this level of input into the project means that any failure in the process by Dodigco will seriously undermine the delivery of this project.
d. May be short term funding issues in Dodgico, is the company sufficiently well funded enough to deliver on this project in the time frame?
e. Known previous performance issues.
3. Lack of any provision for any IR issues in the role out of the new website, also no allocated time for training. Lack of support or industrial action from (very concerned) key operational staff and unions could undermine or derail a fast and efficient role out.
4. Lack of provision/budget for the skilled additional staff plus any redundancy payments necessary.
5. Slan appear to be a competent supply however out-sourcing such significant elements that ultimately determine the long term success of the website may undermine the timely completion of the project.
6. Possible infrastructural deficits, computer room, cooling and monitoring system, broadband connectivity, communications system.
High Level Estimate’s of Time and Cost
Project organization and Governance
Steering committee – (Dan Brown, Chairman, GB, JB, MB, consultant) – Project Manager – Sub-contractors.
Milestones / Date
Project manager appointed / 16th February 2007
Contracts finalized / 30th March 2007
Website developed and ready for test / 31st August 2007
Live content developed and loaded / 3rd November 2007
Go Live / 12th November 2007
Project Budget
Maximum budget EUR 450,000.
WBS – Work Breakdown Structure
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