Reflective Assessment Category 2 Written Assignment Self-re.docx

Reflective
Assessment Category 2: Written Assignment / Self-reflective
writing 1 - Critical Reflection on Dissertation/project
completion
During this week, you are required to submit your second
written summative assessment of 3.600 words, which counts for
the 30% of your overall grade.
Please pay attention on the below Task Requirements:
Task: Provide a critical self-reflection of the process of
completing your dissertation project through different phases.
During the process of completing your dissertation, you have
gone through different phases as an attempt to act as business
consultants and assist the client to meet its requirements. In
order to do this successfully you have gone through the
identification of aims and objectives towards client’s
requirements, located and discussed industry’s related
information as supportive evidence for business position and
your aims and objectives towards the suggestions you made,
completed an A3 map including a Gantt Chart that comprised a
concise summary of the problem and solution as well a
communication tool for reporting problems and suggestions for
improvement to management.
Now in this summative assessment you need to identify how the
process of completing your dissertation/project that included the
above brief main steps will assist you to apply this knowledge
to your business’ future operations as well identify how this
learning process expanded your thinking as well developed your
skills as future business leader.

You can approach your Self Reflective writing as per the below:
1. Assumptions 25%
Why it is critical to identify clearly stated business’
requirements? If the clients’ requirements were not provided in
a pre-determined view and you were responsible to identify or
assume what is required to improve a business, will you be able
to summarize all the information needed? You can rely your
answers based on the below:
· Challenging assumptions ie double loop learning (Argyris and
Schon, 1974)
· Reflection, reflectivity and reflexivity
2. Ethics and values 25%
How did you come up with the specific aims and objectives?
Did your ethical principles and values play any role to your
proposed intentions to come up with certain aims and objectives
to assist the Client to meet its requirements? Should our aims
and objectives reflect corporate social responsibility by
avoiding decisions that could possible harm organizations or
society?
You can rely your answers based on the below:
· Understanding our personal values
· Transactional Analysis Drivers (Kahler, 1975)
· Be perfect; Be strong; Try hard; Please people; Hurry up
· The impact of values on professional work (Anti) -
discriminatory practices (Thompson, 2012)
3. Time Management 25%
Why it is important to create a Gantt chart that outlines the

main tools and timeframes of the completion of your
suggestions? Do you believe that listing down certain
timeframes for future actions may impact the way of dealing
with tasks?
4. Learning from Experience and Moving Forward 25%
In case you will identify similar requirements in your business
environment, will you do the same process again? I yes why, if
not what would you do differently going forwards? You can rely
your answers based on the below:
· Theoretical models of experiential learning
· Driscoll’s ‘What’ model (2007)
· Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle (1984)
· Progression and Regression (Illeris, 2014)
· Managing change as a way of moving forward
· Managing stress as a way of moving forward
· Moving from ‘doing reflection’ to ‘reflection as a way of
being’ as a way of moving forward.
Guidelines for completion:
1. The word limit is 3.600 words, +/- 10% inclusive of
appendices. Bear in mind that the appendices count towards the
word limit so avoid including organisational material such as
annual reports in any appendices.
2. Where you quote directly or take ideas from something you
have read you must reference these correctly using the Harvard
referencing system, not numbered footnotes.
3. Assignments should be word-processed in Times New Roman
12 point type.
4. As this is a self reflective practice within your writing you
can use of the first person such as ‘I’ or ‘we’.

PART B: Reflective Portfolio.
The completed Reflective Portfolio that includes ALL the
sections MUST BE SUBMITED through the VLE link for
GRADING. Prior of submitting make sure that the document
includes the following:
1) Cover Page and List of Contents
2) Assumptions
3) Ethics and Values
4) Time Management
5) Learning from Experience and Moving Forward
6) References (if you are using text-citations and theoretical
viewpoints)
Word limit 3.600 (+/- 10%)
REFLECTIVE PORTFOLIO
Assessment Category 2: Written Assignment / Self reflective
writing 1 - Critical
Reflection on Dissertation/project completion
Dear Students,
During this week, you are required to submit your second
written summative
assessment of 3.600 words, which counts for the 30% of your

overall grade.
Please pay attention on the below Task Requirements:
Task:
Provide a critical self reflection of the process of completing
your
dissertation project through different phases.
During the process of completing your dissertation, you have
gone through
different phases as an attempt to act as business consultants and
assist the
client to meet its requirements. In order to do this successfully
you have gone
through the identification of aims and objectives towards
client’s requirements,
located and discussed industry’s related information as
supportive evidence for
business position and your aims and objectives towards the
suggestions you
made, completed an A3 map including a Gantt Chart that
comprised a concise
summary of the problem and solution as well a communication
tool for reporting
problems and suggestions for improvement to management.
Now in this summative assessment you need to identify how the

process of
completing your dissertation/project that included the above
brief main steps will
assist you to apply this knowledge to your business’ future
operations as well
identify how this learning process expanded your thinking as
well developed
your skills as future business leader.
You can approach your Self Reflective writing as per the below:
1. Assumptions 25%
Why it is critical to identify clearly stated business’
requirements? If the clients’
requirements were not provided in a pre-determined view and
you were
responsible to identify or assume what is required to improve a
business, will you
be able to summarize all the information needed? You can rely
your answers
based on the below:
Challenging assumptions ie double loop learning (Argyris and
Schon,
1974)
Reflection, reflectivity and reflexivity
2. Ethics and values 25%
How did you come up with the specific aims and objectives?

Did your ethical
principles and values play any role to your proposed intentions
to come up with
certain aims and objectives to assist the Client to meet its
requirements? Should
our aims and objectives reflect corporate social responsibility
by avoiding
decisions that could possible harm organizations or society??
You can rely your
answers based on the below:
Understanding our personal values
Transactional Analysis Drivers (Kahler, 1975)
o Be perfect; Be strong; Try hard; Please people; Hurry up
The impact of values on professional work
(Anti) -discriminatory practices (Thompson, 2012)
3. Time Management 25%
Why it is important to create a Gantt chart that outlines the
main tools and
timeframes of the completion of your suggestions? Do you
believe that listing
down certain timeframes for future actions may impact the way
of dealing with
tasks?
4. Learning from Experience and Moving Forward 25%
In case you will identify similar requirements in your business
environment,
will you do the same process again? I yes why, if not what
would you do
differently going forwards? You can rely your answers based on
the below:

Theoretical models of experiential
learning o Driscoll’s ‘What’ model
(2007)
o Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle (1984)
Progression and Regression (Illeris, 2014)
Managing change as a way of moving forward
Managing stress as a way of moving forward
Moving from ‘doing reflection’ to ‘reflection as a way of
being’ as a way of
moving forward.
Guidelines for completion:
1. The word limit is 3.600 words, +/- 10% inclusive of
appendices. Bear in mind
that the appendices count towards the word limit so avoid
including
organisational material such as annual reports in any
appendices.
2. Where you quote directly or take ideas from something you
have read you
must reference these correctly using the Harvard referencing
system, not
numbered footnotes.
3. Assignments should be word-processed in Times New Roman
12 point type.
4. As this is a self reflective practice within your writing you

can use of the first
person such as ‘I’ or ‘we’.
Plagiarism
You are free to quote directly or indirectly from any
publication, provided that you
give a reference for the author or originator. In other words, if
the research or the
views you cite are not your own, then you MUST acknowledge
your source(s), in
accordance with the Harvard style whereby citations are made
in the text by
author and date, with a full alphabetical listing at the end of the
paper. If you fail
to acknowledge your sources, you run the risk of being accused
of plagiarism,
which is an academic offence. The University’s guidelines on
academic offences
are available online.
http://asaqs.southwales.ac.uk/documents/download/5/
Please note that tutors cannot read large amounts of material
prior to handing in,
so please do not ask them to do so. We can advise on style and
overall structure
but will not proof read. Draft assignments cannot be evaluated
by module staff.
Please submit your work through the Turnitin link set up in the
Assessment folder
on the module’s Blackboard site. Please use your University
identification
number, not your name, and ensure that the document is clearly
marked in terms
of your Scheme, the module and the module leader. Number

each page of the
document submitted. It is recommended that you place your
identification
number on each separate page of the document.
Length: A word processed self reflective essay of 3,600 (+/-
10%) words
(inclusive of appendices, NOT inclusive of references).
Submission deadline: End of week 15
http://asaqs.southwales.ac.uk/documents/download/5/
REFERENCES
Argyris C. and Schon, D. (1974), Theory in Practice: Increasing
Professional
Effectiveness, San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass
Driscoll, J. (2007), (ed), Practising Clinical Supervision: A
Reflective Approach
for Healthcare Professionals, Edinburgh: Baliere Tindall,
Elsevier.
Illeris, K, (2014), Transformative Learning and Identity,
Abingdon: Routledge
Kahler, T., (1975), ‘Drivers – the key to the process script,’
Transactional

Analysis Journal, 5/3, 280-4
Kolb, D. (1984), Experiential Learning: Experience as the
Source of Learning and
Development, New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Thompson, N. (2012), Anti-Discriminatory Practice, 5
th
Edn, Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan
Reflection
Highlights the need for further research, based on the economic
impacts of renewable energy developments on the Welsh
tourism industry
(particularly industry based research)
This
Report
contributes to raising awareness regarding
the economic impacts that onshore wind energy has on the
tourism sector in Wales
.
Further research into economically focused case studies is on
going
Further Development of Supporting Theory is ongoing
Porter’s Diamond was taken out of V2 due to a difficulty in
linking to the other models and relevance to the objectives.
Contribution
Will show a clear understanding of the size, growth, trends and
success factors of the tourism industry in the 7 Strategic Search
Areas

by using market analysis to determine
the size and future trends of the sector, using desk research
from industry and government data and also using survey to
capture survey from local stakeholders
.
To determine the economic impact of proposed developments on
the tourism industry; by using number of analytical tools to
look at the benefits and
dis
-benefits
, such as a PEST analysis focusing on economic trends to
measure potential economic impacts. Also using a Cost Benefit
Analysis to see whether the potential benefits outweigh the
potential
dis
benefits (particularly at an economic level)
T
o determine how Wind Farm developments could enable tourist
activity in Wales
, by using an input-output analysis to measure the relationship
between wind farm development and the tourism industry and
also by looking at the economic effects of this relationship in
terms of multipliers.
Shall provide complimentary support to the achievement of the
key project aims, including; potential for positive economic
impact in the Welsh tourism sector
Supporting Theory
Objective Based:
Stakeholder Mapping
Mendelow
(1991)
–
to identify key stakeholders and to identify interests of
stakeholders in relation to economic impacts of tourism in
Wales.
Also identifies possible conflict of interests and can be used to

look deeply at the relationships between these stakeholders.
Market Analysis
Kress et al (1994)
–
mainly used to assess the size, growth and future trends of the
tourism sector. Size will focus on volumes (turnover, visitors,
GVA). Trends focuses on potential changes in sector
(opportunities + threats
)(
could change market size). Also uses desk research for industry
figures (Govt, trade etc) as well as attitude surveys.
PEST Analysis
Used
to look at the political, economic, socio cultural, technological
changes in the business environment
.
Helps to identify potential opportunities and threats (particular
focus on economical side).
Cost Benefit Analysis
Depuit
(1844)
– used to measure the positive and negative consequences of a
project
over a period of time
, while including s
ocial and environmental impacts.
Used to see if it is economically beneficial to the regions in
terms of tourist activity.
Can be a quantifiable way of comparing other projects.
Input-Output Analysis
Leontif
(1966)
– used to identify interrelationships in a regional economy
which may lead to a multiplier effect

, focusing on economic activities (output/GVA, employment,
income).
Looks for direct, indirect and induced economic effects from
wind farm development into tourism.
SWOT Summary
Andrews et al (1969)
– to summarise the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
threats of the project. Used as
summary
of an external
analysis (stakeholder
, market and PEST)
and internal analysis
(Cost Benefit and Input-Output)
in order to show complete potential of the project.
Industry Based:
TAN-8
Welsh Assembly Government
(
2005
)
Economic Opportunities for Wales from future onshore wind
developments
RenewableUK
(
2013
)
Onshore Wind: Direct & wider economic impacts
RenewableUK
(
2012
)
Community Commitment: The benefits of onshore wind

RenewableUK
(
2011
)
Planning Policy Wales: Edition 5
Welsh Assembly Government
(
2012
)
Investigation into the potential impact of wind farms on tourism
in Wales
NFO World Group
(
2003
)
The Economic Impacts of wind farms on Scottish Tourism
Moffat
Centre 2008
)
Economic Impacts of Tourism
Stynes
D
(
2001
)
The Ontario Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model
(TRIEM)
Centre for Spatial Economics
(
2008
)
Assessing the Economic Impact of Wind Farms on Tourism in
Scotland:
GIS
Riddington

(2010)
Deliverables
Understand the size of the tourism industry in areas of current
and potential wind farm development, by looking at:
Stakeholder Mapping
Market Analysis tools
Determine the economic impact of proposed developments on
tourism – using benefits and
dis
-benefits, by looking at:
PEST Analysis
Cost Benefit Analysis
(Focusing on economic benefits and
dis
benefits)
Determine how wind farms may enable tourism activity, by
looking at:
Input-Output Analysis (Focusing on the Multiplier Effect)
SWOT Summary
Client Requirements
To
Undertake
a study to estimate the economic impact on the Welsh tourism
industry from on shore wind farms and any of its associated
infrastructure.
This study shall strengthen the projects potential to
:
Increase Tourism activity in Wales
Increase
economic activity in
the tourism sector in
Wales
Increase employment
from wind farm developments
Identify the adv

antages and disadvantages of the
s
e
project
s
on the tourism sector
The Dissertation/Management
Project
© University of South Wales
Paula Stephens
Questions you may have:
• What do I need to do?
• What is a Client Project?
• Why am I acting as a Consultant?
What Have I Got to Produce?
• There is one piece of assessment for this module that is
comprised by 2 parts; the
management project and the final reflection.

• It is a 12,000 word management report
• IT IS NOT a 20,000 academic research project (a traditional
Dissertation)
• You are taking on the role of a consultant bidding for a
project (for your company).
This will test important business skills
• The better the report bid…..the better the final
grade
Do I Need to Gather Primary Data?
NO
• You are bidding to win a Client Project (the client is
your company). You need to identify what would be
done in the future
• If you provide the data then you have worked for free.
• This is not a good way to survive in business and be able to
eat!
– If you were to win the bid,
– then you would get the money,

– then you would do the work
You are showing the Client that you know the best
way to achieve the required aims of a specific
study !!!
What is the process of a Client
Project?
Client projects follow basic steps:
1. Client identifies a problem/issue to be addressed
2. Client provides a PROJECT BRIEF that generally describes
the nature of the
problem/issue
3. Client asks interested companies/consultants to BID for the
work
4. Consultants submit a report that clearly shows and explains
how they

would do the study
5. The Client selects the bid that best fits their needs
6. The Client gives the successful Consultant the money to do
the work
7. The Consultant does the tasks that were identified in the BID
report
The client project will be identified by yourself – you are
looking for a
project your company would benefit from.
You will not be expected to work out the costs of the project –
we want you
to focus on the relevant methods to use
Why Am I a Consultant?
• One of the key skills for a manager is to be able to understand
what is
required in a task and set out the best way to achieve it
• This is essentially about COMMUNICATION – a fundamental
management skill
• Clients can exist within a company as well as outside e.g.

departments
looking for projects to be completed; scarce resources to be bid
for
• Bidding for a research project is a good way of developing a
range of research
and communication skills
• You have to THINK AHEAD about what would need to be
done
• The purpose of the report is to show the client What you
would do and
Why you would use the methods identified
• If you can not show a ‘client’ what you would do for them you
are not
communicating well…. you will lose the work or get sacked
Project Management Theory
• What is a Project?
– “A human activity that achieves a clear objective against a
timescale”

(Source: The Association of Project Managers)
– “A non-repetitive activity that is goal oriented, has a set of
constraints, has a
measurable outcome and changes something”
(Source: Maylor, 1996)
The Deming Cycle
The Deming Cycle
• PLAN:
– Design or revise business process components to improve
results
• DO:
– Implement the plan and measure its performance
• CHECK:
– Assess the measurements and report the results to

decision makers
• ACT:
– Decide on changes needed to improve the process
Characteristics of a Project
• All Projects have: -
• Stakeholders
• Uniqueness
• Objectives
• Resources
• Schedules
• Quality
• Uncertainty
• ‘Finiteness’
• Change

Types of Client Project
Even though a Client project is an individual study there are
types of
project that are commonly asked for:
• An Evaluation study
– A Client needs part of the business or specific task reviewed
to see if it has
achieved the targets set
• A Feasibility study
– A Client wants to do something new and needs a study to
identify whether it is
possible and or desirable e.g. Launch a product into a new
market
• A Scoping study
– The Client is interested to find out what factors may be
relevant in a different business activity
It is a good idea to work out if your Client project is one of
these
Methods & Tools

Whatever the type of project you will need to identify relevant
and
recognised Methods & Tools
The nature of the Client project will help to work out what
methods are
relevant, e.g.
• An Evaluation study would normally require Cost/Benefit
tools as part of the approach
• A Feasibility can often make use of a PESTLE to identify
broader trends
relevant to the study
• A scoping study may be based on a particular industry so
could use Porter’s Five
Forces and Market analysis models
• Stakeholder mapping is often a very good model to identify
relevant individuals and
groups who should be involved in the study
It is important that the relevant subjects are identified for the
particular study that you are
going to do as the Client briefs will be different

• What is A3 Reporting
• Key Elements of A3 Reporting
• (1) The Research or Project aim
• Background & Context
• (2) The Objectives
• Pragmatic problem solving
• Academic problem solving
• (3) Supporting Evidence
• What methods are relevant to the study?
• (4) Gantt Charting
• (5) Contribution
– The Value of your approach to the Client
• Tutorials 3 & 4
What is A3 Reporting?
• A structured problem-solving approach used by industry (e.g.
Jaguar & Toyota,
EADS Cassidian et al) that aims to improve operational

performance;
• Central to this is the training of people within a structured
problem-solving
methodology that uses a tool called “The A3 Problem-Solving
Report”.
• The methodology follows steps to proceed from – ‘problem
identification’ to
‘resolution’ in a fashion that fosters learning, collaboration,
and personal
development.
What is A3 Reporting?
• How?
– The problem-solver / project manager records the results of
investigation and
planning in a concise ONE-page document (i.e. the A3 Report)
that helps
facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration;
– The term "A3" simply derives from the paper size used for the
report;
– Industry actually uses several styles of A3 reports for solving

problems,
for reporting project status and for proposing policy changes-
each
having its own "storyline."
• For the Business Project module we have focused on ONE
simple
bespoke version of the A3 report;
– It is the most basic style, making it the best starting point and
has been
adapted for you to -Plan, Do, Check & Act as you progress
through your
projects - (“The PDCA Cycle”, Deming, 1986) .
The A3 Report
Student Name and Number - Report Title -
1 Research aim or Project aim
What is the background?
What is the reason/rationale/motivation for this project?
4 Methods

Explain the main steps of the study
Use a Gantt Chart to track and report your project milestones.
2 Objectives
What does this project intend to do – i.e. the deliverables?
What questions will it answer for the Client?
What problems will it solve for the Client?
You should be able to identify this in clear bullet points 5
Contribution
The Outcomes: -
Will the project achieve its aims – critical reflection of
proposed
approach.
What are the advantages and potential weakness of the
proposed approach in terms of delivering the stated aim and
objectives.
3 Supporting Evidence
What are the main topics that underpin this project?
What literature has informed the research?
What Methods would be suggested to do this study?
What evidence is there from industry to support these
choices?

A3 Report – Why use it?
• Most problems that arise in organisations are addressed in
superficial ways, what
some call "first-order problem- solving."
– I.E. we work around the problem to accomplish our
immediate objective, but do not address the ‘root
causes’ of the problem so as to prevent its recurrence.
• By not addressing the ‘root cause’ we can encounter the same
problem or similar
types of problem again and again and as a result, operational
performance does not
improve.
• The A3 Process helps people engage in collaborative, in-depth
problem-solving
methodology – it is rigorous and underpinned by management
theory;

• It drives problem-solvers to address the ‘root causes’ of
problems which
surface in day-to-day work routines;
• The A3 Process can be used for any situation and in any type
of organisation;
• Our research and continuous interactions with industry
informs us that
when used properly (i.e. the process is followed and
completed) - the chances of success improve dramatically.
• So, this is why we are offering A3 Reporting to help you
manage your projects;
• Not only will A3 help you now, but also in the future, as
embedded in the A3 process
are 7 key employability skills recognised by industry.
Employability Skills
• Self-management

• Team working
• Business and customer awareness
• Problem solving
• Communication and literacy
• Application of numeracy
• Application of information technology
Employability Skills
• Underpinning all these skills / attributes, the key foundation,
must be a positive
attitude: a 'can-do' approach, a readiness to take part and
contribute,
openness to new ideas and a drive to make these happen.
• Employers also value entrepreneurial graduates who
demonstrate an innovative
approach, creative thinking, bring fresh knowledge and
challenge
assumptions.
– http://highereducation.cbi.org.uk/uploaded/CBI_HE_taskf
orce_report.pdf

– www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/20110509-building-for-growth.pdf
http://highereducation.cbi.org.uk/uploaded/CBI_HE_taskforce_r
eport.pdf
http://highereducation.cbi.org.uk/uploaded/CBI_HE_taskforce_r
eport.pdf
http://www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/20110509-building-for-growth.pdf
(1) The Project aim
• What is the aim of the Client Project?
– What is the (strategic) reason/rationale/motivation for this
project? i.e. what is the
range of problem(s) or issues involved?
– What impacts / implications would these problems
have if: -
• You attempt to address them in your project?
• If your project or the organisation does not address

these problems / issues
(2) The Objectives
• What does this research / project intend to do – i.e.
the deliverables?
• What questions will it answer for the Client?
• What problems will it solve for the Client?
• You should be able to identify this in clear bullet points
(3) Supporting Evidence
• What to research?
– You need to identify the methods that you would use to do
the study for the Client (if chosen)
• How do you do this?
– Understand the relevant topics for the Client problem
– This will help identify relevant models and tools that could

be used to do the
study
• What do I use to help me?
– Academic Theory – most models come from work by
academics to help
solve business problems
– Industry examples – what methods have already been
used in order to solve similar problems?
(4) Methods
What are you practically going to do for the Client?
• You need to be able to show the specific activities that would
need to
be completed in order to the project to be done successfully.
• Each Method or Tool identified in Section 3 will need tasks to
enable the data to be
gathered and analysed.
A way of making sense of these activities is through Gantt
Charts

• Main advantage of Gantt charts – they are a useful
communication tool & easy to
understand – “a picture paints a thousand words”;
• Provides a compact overview of responsibilities & progress on
the project;
• Helps to calculate the start and finish times of each activity on
the
Gantt chart.
(4) Methods - Gantt Charting
• What is a Gantt Chart?
– Henry Gantt a pioneer of scientific management – work
study
• Gantt Charts highlights the “critical path” in a project.
• Gantt charts are simple representation of a project from the
view of the
TIME taken for each activity and the RESOURCES required at
any
point in time;
• Used to monitor actual progress against a plan e.g. on a
month-by-

month, week-by-week or day-by-day basis;
• Gantt charts can be produced separately for each
person or parts of projects to show their total workload;
• Arrows can be added to show the interrelationships and
interdependencies of different activities;
• Any slack or float time can be shown in each activity;
How to complete a Gantt Chart
• Starting at the end date of the research / project and work
backwards to: -
– Identify all of the specific activities needed for the total
project – i.e. compile
an ‘activity list’;
– Avoid general headings e.g. Data gathering, PESTLE analysis,
etc
– What are the start and end dates of these activities?
– Understand each activities dependencies & interdependencies
– E.G. Some activities can only start when a previous activity
has
completed – it is therefore dependant upon that earlier activity!
» These activities are likely to be on the projects “critical path”

– i.e.
the longest duration through the project and MUST always be
completed on time;
– E.G. Some activities can take place simultaneously, i.e. at the
same time
as other activities!
» These activities are likely to have “slack” or “float” times
attached
to them and will not be activities on the projects critical path
– Identify these key milestones between the end date and today
– Map the activities onto your Gantt Chart
(5) Contribution
• What were the actual outcomes or Deliverables?
– Will Research project achieve its aims?
– What are the potential the unexpected benefits /
drawbacks?
– Did you set “SMART objectives” for the Research / Project?
– What was the innovation, impact, knowledge embedded
and contribution made by the research / project?

(5) Contribution
• Specific - precise outcomes
• Measureable - ways of measuring success
• Attainable - always achievable but innovative and challenging
• Realistic - achievable within defined constraints
• Time-bound - always a stated time for
achievement
Finally
• Remember all of this needs to be completed on ONE A3 page
report – please see examples provided by the Tutor in class.
– So:-
• More than one page will not be accepted!
• There maybe lots of data that underpins the A3 but: -
– We want to see it summarised on your A3 report!

– Can you focus and prioritise?
• A3 illustrates a Manager’s ability to “Manage by
exception!”
• Can you demonstrate this skill?
Thank you!
Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6Week 7Week
8Week 9
Week 10Week 11Week 12Week 13Week 14Week 15Week
16Week 17Week 18Week 19Week 20Week 21Week 22Week
23Week 24Week 25Week 26
Task ID
TasksDurationDependencies
AKick Off Meeting and Client Communication1 Week-
BObjective 1 - Functional Requirements7 Weeks
A
CStakeholder Mapping4 Weeks
A
D
Stakeholder Identification1 Week
A

E
Stakeholder Meetings/ Conversations1 Week
A,D
F Stakeholder Priorisation2 Weeks
A,D
G Stakeholder Matrix (incl. Prioritisation and Objectives)1
Week
A,D,E,F
HSoftware Benchmarking3 Weeks
C
I Data Collection Process1 Week
C
J Benchmark Analysis2 Weeks
C,I
KObjective 2 - Structural Requirements8 Weeks
B
LSystem Environment Analysis3 Weeks
B
M Interview with the IT Leader/ Application Owners1 Week
B
N Producing of IT Environment Graphics2 Weeks
B,M
O Need Analysis1 Week
B,M,N
PPersonnel Analysis3 Weeks
L
Q Project Role Planning (Which roles are necessary?)2 Weeks
L
R Actual State Analysis (Does the company has the staff?)1
Week
L,Q
SRisk Identification and Analysis8 Weeks
B
T Risk Identification4 Weeks
B
U Risk Evaluation3 Weeks

B,T
V Risk Ranking (Matrix)2 Weeks
B,T,U
WObjective 3 - Resources Requirements7 Weeks
K
XProject Time Planning3 Weeks
K
Y Project Break Down and Time Estimation2 Weeks
K
Z Draw Network Diagram1 Week
K,Y
AA Draw Gantt Chart1 Week
K,Y,Z
ABLife-Cycle Cost Analysis4 Weeks
X
AC Analysing Types of Costs and Necessary Activities2
Weeks
X
AD Data (Cost) Collection for Revealed Activities2 Weeks
X, AC
AE Cost Accumulation1 Week
X,AC,AD
AFProducing the Study3 Weeks
B,K,W
AGRecommendations2 Weeks
B,K,W
AHStudy Submission1 Week
B,K,W,AF,AG
AIPresentation of the Results1 Week
B,K,W,AF,AG
AJ
Evaluation Meeting1 Week
B,K,W,AF,AG
Key:
Slack Time
Ancillary Process

W
AF
Gantt Chart
Critical PathBK
Timeframe (6 months = 26 Weeks)
AJ
DISSERTATION PROJECT:
A SCOPING STUDY DETAILING THE NECESSARY
REQUIREMENT
FOR DEVELOPING A BUSINESS APP
A PROJECT BID FOR COMPANY X
Executive Summary
This document below is a report bid for Company X which
intends to obtain a scoping study on the necessary requirements
of developing a business mobile app. The report gives an
overview of factors that needs to be considered before
committing resources to the app development process and also
help the company in making preparations that will help manage
the development of the app and increase the possibility of a
successful outcome. The bid covers those issues highlighted by
the client and provide a guide to executing the project by
formulating aim and objectives targeted at giving form to the

study. Secondly, the report delivers a detailed theory section
that support the tools and techniques used for analysis and also
focused on identifying and explaining the relevant methods used
in completing the study in a clear manner. Thirdly, in a bid to
achieving successful and timely result, the report used the Gantt
chart in planning and determining where and when an activity
needs to be performed. This technique is applied so as to
ascertain and describe the various activities that needs to be
taken to complete the bid timely and effectively through the
adoption of the Gantt chart in planning the events. Lastly is the
contribution of the tools and techniques used in producing the
study of relevance to the project and why they have been
adopted in the study. The procedures and processes undergone
in producing this report represents the best practices and serves
as an eye opener in the area of app building and design.
Table of Contents
1.0 Client Aim and Objectives4
2.0 Supporting Theory5
2.1 Objective 15
2.1.1. Market Analysis5
2.1.2 Interactive model analysis6
2.2 Objective 28
2.2.1. Stakeholder mapping8
2.2.2. Task/technology fit analysis9
2.3 Objective 312
2.3.1. Examination of app development processes12
2.3.2 SWOT analysis13
3.0 Gantt Chart15
3.1 Gantt Chart Methodology16
4.0 Contribution18
4.1 Market Analysis18
4.2 Interactive model analysis18
4.3. Stakeholder Mapping19
4.4. Task/technology Fi19
4.5. Examination of the app development process20

4.6. SWOT analysis20
5.0 References21
6.0 Appendices24
6.1 Appendix 1 – First version of A3 Map24
6.2Appendix 2 – Second version of A3 Map25
6.3 Appendix 3 – Third version of A3 Map26
1.0 Client Aim and Objectives
Company X an SME in the food sector has made a call for
consultants to undertake a scoping study on the necessary
requirements for developing an app for the business based on
their understanding of key facts and the importance of apps in
increasing both sales and visibility of businesses.
Therefore, the Company is looking to engage a consultant to
undertake a scoping study for the requirements of developing a
mobile app so as to ensure the company’s:
· Visibility to customers at all times
· Provide value to customers
· Create a direct marketing channel
· Cultivate customer loyalty
· Stand out from competition
· Build brand recognition
As stated above, the purpose of this report is to conduct a
scoping study on app development for Company X, utilising
effective scoping techniques so as to achieve the study
objectives as stated below:
Objective 1: Aim at evaluating mobile app designs and
suitability in line with the business goals, this is done by:
· Conducting market analysis
· Utilising interactive model analysis
Objective 2: Aim at reviewing the app design components for
the business by:
· Conducting stakeholder mapping
· Adopting the principles of task /technology fit
Objective 3: Strategising for effect app development and
launching by:
· Examining mobile app development processes

· Carrying out SWOT analysis
The methodology used is this study is designed to provide the
client with high valued service which is aimed at realising the
business objective of developing a business app that will
facilitate business transactions in a timely manner. Also, the
study is conducted using information obtained from industry
based studies, case studies and past researches. Furthermore,
organisation wide assessment tour will be carried out in order to
collect necessary information required for the development and
content of the app and also point the usefulness of the study to
the client while providing critical analysis that justify the
methodology used in the study. 2.0 Supporting Theory
The significance of this section is to conduct a detailed
evaluation of academic theories significant to and applied in
this study while the theories will help in identifying and
evaluating the framework from industrial based practices that
are relevant to the study. In order to accurately carry out a
scoping study on the requirements for developing a business
app for Company X, the section focuses on theories that allows
for full analysis of the objectives of this study. The objectives
are explained as follows: 2.1 Objective 1
2.1.1. Market Analysis
Going by the objective which is aimed at evaluating mobile
application design for business use, it is therefore vital to carry
out market analysis in order to identify the market the business
is serving and consider the best app design that fit both the
market and the technology being introduced into the business.
Market analysis is an early step in deciding whether there is an
audience or a need for an idea (i.e. introducing a mobile app)
while an understanding of the market needs and the complexity
of what they can cope with provides businesses with relevant
information that is important in developing a unique marketing
plan (Slater et al; 1995). Market analysis help to describe the
stakeholders characteristics, competition, target customers
profile and how the company can gain advantage over others in

marketing its products and service in order to create a
successful business venture (Dalgic and Leeuw, 1994). So for
Company X to embark on developing an effective business
mobile app, a market analysis needs to be conducted primarily
for the following reasons according to Slater et al, (1995):
To determine if the target market is properly understood with
regards to their needs, expectation and preferences, also it help
to determine if the app need to be integrated into an existing
care pathway and how, i.e. does the app need to run on a
particular operating system or hardware device and finally
consider if the app should be paid for, free or should it come
with an existing service.
Mobile app development can be time consuming and expensive
endeavour therefore, careful consideration aimed at developing
a mobile app can be done through market analysis in order to
meet a clearly identified need of the market (University of
Bristol, 2016).
Also, market analysis has the potential of helping the company
in knowing the make up of the potential users in order to design
the features they can cope with and designing these features in
the app, how users will have access to the app (i.e. do customers
need to register and generate user name and password), the level
of transactions that can be carried out via the app, the aspect the
of the app that the public will be allowed to access and
restricted from etc. (Educause, 2011).
2.1.2 Interactive model analysis
An interactive application is a system in which the user interact
with the computer in a conversational mode (Aaker and
Weinberg, 1975). This model is an abstraction of a real world
system which demonstrates the interactive relationship that
exist between supplier’s offer and the buyer’s perceive product
(Linn, 2010, Aaker and Weinberg, 1975). This model structure
the means available for the business (supplier) to induce meta
as well as physical values which are realised in the in the world
of the buyers’ perception (Linn, 2010). The idea of businesses

using computer terminals in communicating directly with
models was proposed, and in an increasing number of
organisations the idea is becoming a reality (Aaker and
Weinberg, 1975). The motive behind this is that businesses
conceive a total product that is perceived as having a value
higher than the price asked by a large number of potential
buyers (Linn, 2010).
An increasing number of successful applications have been
recently launched for downloads on tablets and smartphone with
components and functionality more closely mimicking the
computer, for example several players in the food industry such
as Bwtri in 2014 launched its business app known as ‘Caws
Cymru’, McDonalds in 2015 launched it app known as
‘McDonalds mobile’, Domino’s in 2011 launched its ‘Easy
order’ mobile app and have used these apps in developing
advert programmes for their products (Aaker and Weinberg,
1975). These apps are software applications that can be
downloaded onto smart phones, e-readers and tablets to provide
solution to marketing hiccups or satisfy a niche requirements,
the apps can also be accessories that are attached to a mobile
communication devices and smart phones (NHS, 2014).
Furthermore, these apps can be programmed to inquire the
conversational language the user would like to use depending on
the customers the business is serving and the user response will
determine the feedback the app display to the user (Aaker and
Weinberg, 1975). In order to ensure an effective business app,
the end users which are often times the customer needs to use or
be involved with the app which implied that stakeholder
(including the customers) does not only use the app but be
committed to it and this is reflected in their subsequent
relationship with it. In developing mobile app lots of decisions
needs to be made and each of those decisions can have a
dramatic effect on the total cost of the finished app and can
affect its chances of being successful (NHS, 2014).
Furthermore, in defining an effective business app, Aaker and
Weinberg (1975) highlighted the following as important:

Stakeholder perception of the app’s usefulness, their
willingness to devote effort and time to using it and their
dependence on it for carrying out transactions.
However, the following needs to be considered in the
application development process as highlighted by Doolittle et
al. (2012); NHS (2014):
- A need assessment that ensure detailed understanding of the
aim and purpose that the app is set to achieve.
- An understanding that the app design should be simple and
easy to use by stakeholders.
- An understanding of the mobile security issues which includes
gateways, portals, one time passwords and mobile virtual
private networks (VPNs).
- Determining the user base for the mobile app operating system
OS.
- Following established regulations on production and
deployment models.
Following the increasing functionality linked to mobile device
hardware, it implied that mobile apps are more capable of
delivering increased functionality and has the capability of
responding faster than earlier devices (NHS, 2014).
Based on the foregoing discussions of the objective above and
the understanding of the conditions for introducing a business
mobile app for Company X which operates in the food industry,
two types of apps can be recommended suitable for the business
which are: the native app and mobile web app (Jobe, 2013).
The native app work on a mobile device and is developed
specially for the device software platform and uses specific
coding to using the device features such as the GPS capability
and the built in camera (NHS, 2014). A well built native has the
tendency of providing rich user experience with enhanced
control of the look and feel of the app and can also access
device specific features as the GPS, cameras and are likely to
work when the device does not have internet connection and can
be subject to development standard of the hardware maker
(Educause, 2011).

While mobile web apps on the other hand refer to web
applications that are designed and developed to imitate the
native applications as much as possible but they are executed in
a web browser in the host platform (Jobe, 2013). However,
mobile web apps can increasingly compete comfortably with
native app in terms of functions (NHS, 2013). Furthermore,
mobile web app allows a single development and support
process irrespective of supported device and typically depend
on internet connectivity, often with lesser functionality
compared to native app but can work on a wide range of devices
and does not need to be downloaded and installed (Educause,
2011). As a result Company X can choose to go for anyone that
best suit their purpose using information generated from market
analysis as explained above.
2.2 Objective 2
2.2.1. Stakeholder mapping
This objective is focused on guiding the client Company X in its
choice of choosing between apps by reviewing the app fit and
design components for the business which will ensure that all
stakeholder interest relating to the app are effectively met by
carrying out stakeholder mapping as a way of identifying the
key players and their interest in the app.
Stakeholder refers to all persons or groups with legitimate
interests participating in an enterprise without whose support
the organisation will cease to exist (Donaldson and Preston,
1995; Clarke, 1998). On the other hand, it can be said that the
company is a system of stakeholders operating within the larger

system of the host society that provides the necessary market
infrastructure for the firm’s activities (Clarke, 1998). In the
execution of the project, a powerful individual stakeholder may
have a significant influence on the project decisions and are
most influential in shaping the strategy for the project
(Newcombe, 2003). However, developing and maintaining a
separate version of app for numerous stakeholder devices can be
very expensive and may require the developers to share
revenues with the vendor’s app store (Educause, 2011).
The central task in the process of reviewing app design for
deployment to business in Company X is to manage and
integrate the relationships and interests of employees,
customers, suppliers and other groups in an approach that
ensures the long term success of the firm and promoting shared
interests (Freeman and McVea, 2001). These groups have
expectations which the app is under pressure to fulfil this can
pose as a challenge owing to the fact that there may exist
conflicting expectations from stakeholders and these conflicts
may revolve around short term versus long term objectives, cost
efficiency versus effectiveness, control versus independence
(Newcombe, 2003). Developing and launching a mobile
business app to facilitates business transactions can be likened
to what Freeman and McVea (2001) termed “strategy
development” this is done in two approaches that involves:
prediction and adaptation which is the process of carrying out
environmental scanning to identify trends that can help foresee
the future business environment and the second approach
involves identifying the best way for the firm to adapt to the
future environment in order to maximize its position as it has
been established that organisations practicing stakeholder
management will be successful in conventional performance in
terms profit, growth and stability (Donaldson and Preston,
1995).
The consultancy recommends undertaking a stakeholder analysis
for the company through a familiarity tour of the company in
order to identify the stakeholders in the app who need to be

involved in designing and development of the app or kept
informed which can include both individuals and organisations
(NHS, 2014). However, based on this study and its aim the
following are the likely stakeholders that ought to be put into
consideration in the app design and development are:
Internal stakeholders: This can include stakeholders at the
executives or management, divisional and departmental level
and the employees. These stakeholders may want the app
designed in a specific way or have some features which may
reflect their functions or ease their operational task (NHS,
2014).
External stakeholders: These consist of external individuals,
organisations or network of organisations who may have
influence in the app development and may be impacted by the
development and deployment of the app and these can include;
services providers (such as content providers, application
providers, payment agents), Communication providers which
provides communication service that enable mobile devices to
access mobile services (these actors include; mobile network
operators and the internet service providers), regulatory
authorities (they set the legal and societal framework in which
mobile business will evolve) and the end users (the consumers
are also important players in these project because they can
determine the success or failure of the business app
(Camponove and Pigneur, 2003; NHS, 2014). Furthermore,
external stakeholder can include providers of complementary
products to the company offerings which may proposing a link
to their site from the company’s proposed app.
In designing the mobile app components, the stakeholders
identified above (both internal and external) are put into
consideration by ensuring the platform has the capacity to
service substantial number of customers at any time and also
ensuring that the content of the app is carefully and
professionally chosen in order to accommodate all relevant,
effective and easy to use features. Also the app will be
developed in a cost effective way and expanded project scope

that ensure the technology fit the task to which it is meant to
perform (Doolittle et al., 2012).
2.2.2. Task/technology fit analysis
In designing and developing business app for Company X, the
consultancy will consider the impact of information technology
and compare it with the task it is expected to perform in order
to ensure its fit for purpose. Information technology (IT)
innovations such as mobile and wireless technologies can only
be successful when developed into applications and later put to
use (Gebauer and Shaw, 2002). The essence of task technology
fit is to ascertain that for information technology to have a
positive effect on individual performance, the technology must
be utilized and the technology must be a good fit with the task
its supporting (Goodhue and Thompson, 1995). Task-technology
fit (TTF) utilisation and user attitudes about the technology
result into individual performance impact through its ability to
make obvious the importance of TTF in explaining how
technology leads to performance and also make more explicit
the links between the construct by providing a stronger
theoretical basis for thoughts about issues relating to the impact
of IT on performance outcome (DeLone and McLean, 1992;
Goodhue and Thompson, 1995). The application of TTF in the
design and development of business app is to take into
consideration the fact that mobile app can cover a wide range of
usage than applications with a specific usage such as group
support systems (Gabauer and Shaw, 2002). In designing the
task the app will perform, the consultancy analyze task on
different levels according to different characteristics which
include: ambiguity, repetitiveness, structure and complexity of
cognitive processes i.e. complex vs simple task (Campbell,
1988; Simon, 1977). However, based on past experience,
interdependency may arise in the app design. Three types of
interdepedence that may arise are highlighted by Thompson
(1967) as sequential, pooled and reciprocal and it is suggested

that the application of relevant organisation technologies that
enables intensive, mediating and long-linked duties to ensure
task coordination. However, the company can measure the TTF
of the app after it is launched by those factors highlighted by
Goodhue and Thompson (1995) as; ease of use, quality,
timeliness, locatability, compatibility, authorisation,
relationship with user and system reliability as against these
measures TTF can undergo modifications to suit the purpose of
the company. The diagram below illustrate the task and
performance expectation of the app.
Source: Goodhue and Thompson (1995)
The project need to undertake TTF to ensure effectiveness and
foresee all possible failures that may result from the design and
development. When the app is fully launched it will serve as an
integral part of the day to day operations of the business as the
company will rely on it to generate revenues, attract customers
and communicate with suppliers therefore the cost of failed
online transaction can be huge also an hour of downtime can
cost the business huge sum in lost of sales (Pertet and
Narasimhan, 2005). Furthermore, downtime can result in:
damage to the company’s reputation, dissatisfied customers and
lost of employee productivity example of this is what
Amazon.com suffered in 2001 as a result of downtime which
cost the an estimated amount of £17,000 per minute of
downtime (Conrad, 2001). The following are the possible cause
of app failure that needed to be guide against as highlighted by
Pertet and Narasimhan (2005).
-Softwares failures and human error which is the most
significant cause of errors.
-System overload, complex fault recovery routines and resource
exhaustion.
-Software failure arising from system complexities, inadequate
testing and weak understanding of system dependencies.
-App inaccessibility which can last from minutes to days.
Security violations.

Having taken all these into consideration the main idea is that
mobile app can best be applied and successful when there is a
good fit between the technology and the underlying tasks
(Gebauer and Shaw, 2002) which is the objective the
consultancy is seeking to achieve so that the company can
derive full economic and other benefits when the app is
deployed to business.
2.3 Objective 3
2.3.1. Examination of app development processes
This section is aimed at enabling Company X mobile app
developers and providers strategies to effectively develop and
launch the app into business by summarising the app illustration
done above and highlighting a detailed analysis of step by step
approach of developing the app.
The following approaches represent a best practice as
highlighted by Microsoft (2012) as:
1) Choosing between a native app and a web app: This has been
explained earlier with features and capabilities in 2.1.2 above.

2) Examining the mobile app experience: This stage defines the
important characteristics of modern mobile app of which are
born out of best practices and provide a useful framework
through which planning and designing of the features are done.
As a result, a mobile app ought to be:
Lightweight and responsive: This section suggests that in the
design stage of the app, consideration should be given to speed
to which content can be accessed on the app. As a result, apps
should be lightweight and void of latency by avoiding
unimportant heavy markup, use of unnecessary and gratuitous
effects and poor data management. A better way of determining
the right size is to consider how long it will take users to load a
page (Varshney and Vetter, 2002).
Designed to fit each device’s capabilities and constraints:
Mobile gadgets come in different sizes, shapes and different
CPU power. As a result, instead of developing an app specific
to a certain platform browser, device grouping is a better
alternative to deliver a flexible app which target the lowest
common denominator app, and further layer additional features
and enhancements with reference to the capabilities and
constraints of each browser and device.
Enhanced, platform-agnostic user interface: This process is
strengthened by market analysis explained earlier. i.e. an app
can be well designed and has a nice interface but may be hard to
use. Users may make mistakes as a result of incomprehensible
language used, have difficulty if finding a feature and what a
feature is used for. Therefore, an enhanced interface should
work well with back end business logic and allow users to
complete their task effortlessly.
3) Choosing device and level of support: This section aim at
identifying those devices the app will support, and the users
achievable user interface experience on their devices by
determining the browsers and devices the app will support.
Considering the key features and behaviour of the app,
experience and context of use, i.e. whether the app will be
designed for all purpose use or restricted to shopping activities

etc. as explained in (2.2.2) TTF above.
4) Options for building mobile app experience: Making decision
on the approach to use in developing a mobile app is always not
easy, this is due to the various techniques available on building
an app and their various advantages and disadvantages
(Microsoft, 2010). Moreover, making this decision depend on
the circumstance and consideration of linked factors such as
resources, content structures, timeline and design architecture
(Educause, 2011).
The above listed steps constitute the minimum process that need
to be taken in building a mobile app after which the builder can
then proceed to the testing stage of the app in other to identify
any area where there may be a malfunctioning in the app while a
simple app as illustrated with upto four screens will cost
between £1,000 to £7,000, app with multi-features will cost
£30,000 upward, also app that can store information on mobile
device cost between £5,000 to £30,000 (NHS, 2014).
Furthermore, the SWOT analysis will give an inkling of the
possible downside that can be experience in the app
development processes.
2.3.2 SWOT analysis
This section explore the literature and provide a summary
details of the limitations and challenges that can be
encountered in building the app and by extension the threats the
app can pose to the business as a result of lapses that may be
observed in the app functioning and on the other hand highlight
the strength of building the app as the company can decide
either to build the app in house or contract it out and how it can
be of benefit to the company.
Paliwal (2006) explained that the SWOT is preferred for
assessing projects as it yields useful information about the
viability of the project due to the predictive capabilities in
determining how the app will fare in the light of changes taking
place around it. The consultancy emphasise carrying out this
analysis based on Milosevic (2010) explanation of SWOT from

the company’s point of view that from the moment the company
decides to undertake the project (being app development), the
company is in suspense regarding the final outcome and the app
being met to last over a period of time, large part of the
benefits from the investment are realised in the future therefore
the study highlight the risk involve so that the company can
decide the level of risk its willing to take so as to ensure the
project yield expected results. This follows Barney (1995)
description of SWOT as a framework that points to the
relevance of internal and external forces that help in
understanding the source of competitive advantage and also
assist to portray organizational situation and identify what
information is needed and the decision that are likely to be
made at the company level (Balamuralikrishna and Dugger,
1995). The SWOT analysis for this study is used to compare
builing the app in-house and contracting it out below:
Strength: Building an app in house has the benefit of connecting
the internal stakeholders, their objectives and actively
participating in formulating the execution plans and because
they formulate the plans they understand it and will assist in
producing the desired result and protect the company sensitive
data (Apple, 2011). On the other hand, contracting out the app
building to specialist has the benefits of using their extensive
experience in developing, operating and implementing mobile
app, and follow-through checks anytime, anywhere problem
arise with the app (T-system, 2012).
Opportunities: Building the app in-house has the capabilities of
availing the company the knowledge of app building, ability to
work on any area users are finding difficult to use immediately
and also has the opportunity of saving cost by bye passing
intermediary directly to relevant providers (Microsoft, 2012).
On the other hand, the company can push the responsibility to
consultant who will do the running around to ensure the app is
designed to specification, the company will save more resources
by saving the pay it would pay the staff in regular employment
in the company and cost of developing it wrongly.

Weakness: The limitations to building an app in house can be
due to lack of expertise knowledge needed to securely design
and build the app without exposing the app users and the
company to unnecessary risk as there will be lots of sensitive
info on the device (Denim, 2011). On the other hand, external
builders based on their past experience has the understanding of
app development, the risk involved and will always put
measures in place to guide against those risk (Microsoft, 2012).
Threats: Organisations today are exploring ways of pushing
tasks/functionality to the app and this pose as a threat to the
company as competitors and hackers are looking for ways of
breaking into the network as a result the company need a
specialist on ground to monitor and stop any suspicious attempt
to break into the system as a successful hacking can paralyse
the business activities pending when the problem can be
resolved (Denim, 2011).
In conclusion, the SWOT has been used to weigh the pro and
con of building a business app in-house as compared with
contracting it out to consultants who are expert in the field after
a review of literature on SWOT analysis in order to use the
strengths to lessen the company’s vulnerability to threats,
overcome weaknesses to attain opportunities and prevent
weaknesses to avoid the company being more susceptible to
threats (Chaermack and Kasshanna, 2007).

3.0 Gantt Chart
3.1 Gantt Chart Methodology
Gantt chart is commonly used by project managers in project
management due to its useful ways of showing how activities
and tasks are displayed against time. As a result, this study use
the Gantt chart method to highlight the various activities to be
performed, state the starting and ending time for each activities,
show how long each activity is planned to last, highlight where
an activities overlap with another and the extent to which it
overlaps and finally show the start date and end date for the
whole project (Gantt.com, 2016). This study also focused on the
fundamental activities related to the project over a six month
period so as to meet the deadline and avoid knock-on effect on
the remaining part of the project. Furthermore, the detailed
nature of the Gantt chart ensures the task schedule is workable
and also ensure that remedy to potential obstacles are in place
before the commencement of the project.
Going by the illustration in the Gantt chart above, the tasks are
divided into sections, each of which relate to the objectives set
by the client which is the Company X. This method was
particularly chosen to illustrate the ways through which each
objective is met using appropriate analytical tools. Furthermore,
the objectives are divided into subsections whereby each
subsection presents the analytical tool used and the
corresponding activities required to complete the study. This
method is important because of its ability to help work out the
practical aspect of the project, i.e. it states the task that needs to
be done before another can start and this approach ensures that

a detailed sequence for the completion of a task is stated
thereby ensuring a timely delivery of the project.
Gantt charts are important in project management due to its ease
of use and simplicity to understand by the client and other
stakeholders (Wilson, 2003). The main activities of this project
as shown in the Gantt chart above emphasize on the successful
execution of the set objectives by constantly holding meetings
with the client. As a result, if there be a delay in holding the
scheduled meeting with the client, there will be a spill-over
effect and will have an impact on the entire project. As a result,
it is important to schedule tasks along with appropriate timing
that will be sufficient for carrying out research that the task
might require and also highlight how the different tasks are
interconnected and depend on the completion of one before
proceeding to the other so as to achieve the set objective and
ensure that the needs of stakeholders and client are met.
In completing each objective highlighted in the chart above, the
activities needed to complete each objective must be carried out
for the consultant to proceed to the next objective. Wilson
(2003) illustrates that the activities in a Gantt chart are
presented in two dimensions where the horizontal axis shows
the placement in time which should be strictly adhered to, the
vertical axis represents the activities to be completed for the
project to be executed effectively and efficiently. Also,
activities on the Gantt chart are separated using different
colours and dependency lines signifying important time issues
and when all the tasks are to be completed. The relevance of
this is that it is helpful in understanding the activities in the
chart especially the complex tasks, this will help in carrying
along all stakeholders in the project and also facilitate joint
agreement on expectations the company will be expecting from
the consultancy during the scheduled meeting for feedback and
progress report.
Detailed planning and research is required for all activities
under each analytical tool as a result the project need both
primary and secondary research so as to get detailed

information on the requirements for developing a mobile app.
As a result, the consultancy allocate time to each objective
according to the research requirement of the task to be
performed. This is so because of the need to meet the client
requirements and maintain a regular interaction and
communication with the company throughout the project (Miller
et al., 2001).
An important element in the Gantt chart methodology is the
allocation of ‘Slack Time’ to tasks. This shows a time where
more than one activities can take place simultaneously without
affecting the whole schedule. As a result, this project allocates
slack time to tasks that does not have direct impact on the chart
critical activities. This ensure the allocation of slack time in a
way that controls any unexpected circumstance that may affect
the overall completion of the project. Istrate et al. (2014)
describes this approach as a realistic view that help recover
from hindrance and adjust to changes.
In conclusion, Wilson (2003) describes the Gantt chart
methodology as a popular tool for project managers to use as an
effective means of displaying important information and also
provide an interface that enables users to state problems,
enhance understanding and proffer solutions. It also enhances
coordination between project managers and stakeholders,
provide clarity of task and effective time management while
ensuring that all the project objectives are met.

4.0 Contribution
The demonstrated frameworks and analytical tools used above
are based on high quality research aimed at enlightening the
client through the study. The attached Gantt chart above
highlight the relevant activities that will be involved in the
study to satisfy the models chosen for each objective which is
done through analysis of relevant literature and case studies.
This section ensures that a detailed assessment of the
deliverable outcome for the project is done and a set pattern for
meeting client requirements for the study is clear while making
sure the client is informed of the reasons for the approaches
adopted for the study and how effective they are in meeting
their requirements. 4.1 Market Analysis
In project management research, theory holds that market
analysis and testing is often carried out first by project
managers before making most decisions (Alketbi and Gardiner,
2014). It is argued that organisations seeking not just increase
revenue and profit but transformation in their business use
market analysis as a tool for achieving their purpose (Pursche,
1990). For this study, market analysis and the interactive model
help transmit information regarding the end users of the app,
their level of exposure to modern technology and also determine
the level of app (technological) complexities they can cope with
as Alketbi and Gardiner (2014) explained that this tool is
considered to be the simplest technique used by project
managers in solving complicated issues bordering on customers
expectations.

4.2 Interactive model analysis
In evaluating the suitability of mobile application for business
use, the interactive model play an important role because it
consider the need for allowing larger number of people have
access to organisations software applications for larger number
of purposes and in a wider number of contexts (Paterno, 2000).
Also, the model ensure this by making the system easy to use
why taking into consideration some factors in the design of the
interactive application that encourages involvement, active
engagement and reaction, two way communication, physical
action and feedback (Karimova, 2011). Furthermore, the model
help in determining the level of formality adopted, how
information is presented, and the level of abstraction that can be
use in the app as a tool for creating compelling and easy to
understand interaction (Paterno, 2000). This model further
ensure that the app is designed and developed in a way that is
beneficial in arousing the users and motivate them to stick to
the interactions longer, engaging and encouraging the users to
return over time, persuasive and increase sales, increase trust
and make people feel more secure and comfortable about
releasing personal information online, promoting a feeling of
personalised experience by making users feel special and also
creates feelings of liking, friendliness while supporting
generalised positive feelings towards the company (Reeves,
2016).
As a way of satisfying the first objective, the study made use of
market analysis and interactive model to evaluate the suitability
of business app to the company, which the consultancy consider
effective and beneficial tools. The interactive model consider
the relevance of customers having direct access to the company
and market analysis analysed the customers with regard to the
level of complexity in technology they can cope with.
4.3. Stakeholder Mapping
In reviewing the app building and design for the company, it
becomes necessary to conduct stakeholder mapping as a way of

identifying key stakeholders and featuring their interest in the
app design. This tool is important for the company in
identifying these stakeholders who can affect the project and
then managing their differing demand through communication
and fashioning out ways of realising the proposed project
objectives (Olander and Landin, 2005). For the company to
acquire relevant data on the app design, there is the need to
carry out extensive primary research in the form of interview
inquiring on their interest, designs, interactions and other
features in the app in a way that ensure the project objectives
correspond with the stakeholders’ (Freeman, 1984).
Stakeholder theory has been regarded to be important in
identifying stakeholders in any project and allows everyone to
understand the importance and influence of the project, allow
for continuous improvement while it can be effectively used to
determine stakeholder requirements by project managers
(Kennon et al., 2009; Scholl, 2011; Olander and Landin, 2005).
As it is believed that the views and initiative of stakeholders in
the project can be useful for strategic planning and design
process (Clarke, 1998). This justifies the relevance of
implementing stakeholder mapping in the review and design
stage of the project.
4.4. Task/technology Fit
Having known the technology at hand, this tool helps in
determining the task the company will like to be performed
using the app and then build the app to perform the task
identified to be done through the app i.e determining whether
the task will be best perfomed by native app or mobile web app.
Goodhue and Thompson (1995) explain that tasks are actions to
be carried out to turn input to output why task characteristics in
this case are those that make the company to rely heavily on
certain aspects of information technology. While technology on
the other hand, are tools used in carrying out tasks. As a result,
in building the app TTF will be used in helping to get a

reasonable balance between task to be formed and the
technology which is the app. The tool relied on Tornatzky and
Klein (1982) postulation that successful innovation happens
when the task and the technology are compatible. As TTF is the
correspondence between functionality of the technology,
individual/organisational abilities and the task requirement
(Goodhue and Thompson, 1995).4.5. Examination of the app
development process
The app development process is undertaken in order to give a
clear understanding on the task the app need to perform (TTF),
for whom it is meant (market analysis), and the environment it
needs to operate in (NHS, 2014). This aspect made clear app
design and development processes and the key steps that need to
be taken using an agile development process, while the process
offers a responsive and rapid approach to the building of the
app and its functionality using a range of development tools
with tried and tested processes. The section also serves as a
document to support internal development of the app and also
provide a clear and unambiguous requirements external
developer can seek if the company decides to outsource the app
development. This section strengthens Abrahamsson et al.
(2014) postulation that anyone with the needed skills can build
a mobile app while a good knowledge of the specific
characteristics and challenges of developing software for mobile
devices is required which this study has provided.
4.6. SWOT analysis
SWOT is used as an important support tool for making decision
and systematic analysis of of the company external and internal
capabilities and also provide a strong basis for decision making
(Yuksel and Deviren, 2007). In choice of developing the app,
the section uses the SWOT as a tool to highlight the benefits
and privileges the company stand to gain while on the other
hand it explained the short comings and possible consequence
of developing the app in-house. As a result, SWOT is used as a
tool to help the company in selecting amongst strategic
alternatives in the light of the strength, weakness, opportunities

and threats involved in building the app (Hanley and Spash,
1993).
5.0 References
Abrahamsson, P., Hanhineva, A., Huikko, H., Ihme, T.,
Jaalinnoja, J., Korkela, M., Koskela, J., Kyllonen, P. and Salo,
O. (2014) ‘Mobile-D: an agile approach for mobile application
development’, 19th annual ACM SIGPLAN conference on
object-oriented programming systems, languages and
applications.
Apple, (2011) ‘In-house app development accelerator guide’
Avalable at:
http://www.apple.com/fr/iphone/business/docs/20110801_in_ho
use_app_accelerator_guide.pdf (Accessed:// 24 April 2016)
Balamuralikrishna, R. and Dugger, J. (1995) ‘SWOT analysis: A
management tool for initiating new programmes in vocational
schools’, Journal of Vocation and Technical Education.Vol.12
Iss.5
Barney, J. (1995) ‘Looking inside for competitive advantage’,
The Academy of Management Executive. Vol. 4 No. 2
Camponovo, G. and Pigneur, Y. (2003) Business model analysis
applied to mobile business. In Proceedings of the 5th
International conference on Enterprise Information Systems, 23-
26 April.

Chandler, A. (1962) Strategy and structure: Chapters in the
history of the industrial enterprise. Cambridge, Ma: MIT Press.
Chermack, T.J. and Kasshanna, B. (2007) ‘The use and misuse
of SWOT analysis and implications for HRD professionals’,
Human Resources Development International. Vol.10 No.4
Clarke, T. (1998) ‘The stakeholder corporation: A business
philosophy for the information age,’ Long Range Planning, Vol.
31 Iss. 2
Conrad, R. (2001) Carlifornia power outages suspended for
now. Availabe at: http://news.com/2100-1017-251167.html
(Accessed: 06 April 2016).
Dalgic, T. And Leeuw, M. (1994) ‘Niche marketing revisited:
Concept, application and some European cases,’ European
Journal of Marketing, Vol.28 No.4
Darden Business School Working Paper No. 01-02. Available at
SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=263511. (Accessed: 4 April
2016).
Denim Group (2011) ‘Secure mobile application development
reference’ Available at:
http://denimgroup.com/media/pdf/mobileDevreference.pdf.
(Accessed: 25 April 2016)
Doolittle, J., Moohan, A., Simpson, J. and Soanes, I. (2012)
‘Building a mobile application development framework’, Intel
White paper. Available at
http://communities.intel.com/docs/DOC-19555 (Accessed: 05
April 2016).
Educause (2011) ‘7 Things you should know about mobile app
development’ Available at:
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EST1102.pdf. Accessed
[18th April 2016]
Fisher, S. (2009) Guide to writing a killer marketing plan.
nsbdcLibrary [online]. Available
at://www.nsbdc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2010/11/Guide_to_writi
ng_a_killer_marketing_plan.pdf (accessed: 20 April 2016).
Freeman, R.E. and McVea, J. (2001) ‘A stakeholder approach to
strategic management,’ Jobe, W. (2013) ‘Native apps Vs.

Mobile Web Apps,’ International Journal of Interactive Mobile
Technologies, Vol. 7 Iss. 4
Karimova, G. Z. (2011) ‘Interactivty and advertising
communication’, Journal of Media and Communication Studies.
Vol.3 No.5.
Kennole, N., Howden, P. and Hartley, M.(2009) ‘Who really
matters? A stakeholder analysis tool’ Extension farming system
Journal. Vol.5 No.2
Microsoft (2012) ‘Building modern mobile web apps’ Availble
at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994907
(Accessed: 24 April 2016)
Millar, G., Simeone, R.S. and Carnevale, J.T. (2001) ‘Logic
models: a systems tool for performance management’,
Evaluation and program Planning, Vol.24 No.1
Milosevic, I.N. (2010) ‘Practical application of SWOT analysis
in the management of a construction project’, Leadership and
Manage,ent in Engineering, Vol.10 No.2
Newcombe, R. (2003) ‘From client to project stakeholders: a
stakeholder mapping approach’, Construction Management and
Economics, Vol.21 No.8
Olander, S. and Landin, A. (2005) ‘Evaluation of stakeholder
influence in the implementation of construction projects’,
International Journal of Project Management. Vol.23 Iss.4
Paliwal, R. (2006) ‘EIA practice in India and its evaluation
using SWOT and analysis’, Environmental Impact Assessment
Review. Vol.26 Iss.5
Paterno, F. (2000) Model-based design and evaluation of
interactive applications. London: springer.
Pertet, S. and Narasimhan, P. (2005) Causes of failure in web
applications. Available at
http://resipository.cmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi (Accessed: 06
April, 2016).
Reeves, B. (2016) ‘The benefits of interactive online
characteristics’, Available at:
http://sitepal.com/pdf/casestudy/standford_university
_avatar_casestudy.pdf (Accessed: 19 April 2016).

Slater, S.F., Mohr, J.J. and Sengupta, S. (1995) ‘Market
orientation’ Wiley International Encyclopedia of Marketing.
T-System (2012) Mobile application services. Secure access to
business processes anytime, anyplace. Available at://t-
systems.com/blob/246782 (Accessed on:24 April 2016).
University of Bristol (2016) ‘Application Guidelines for
Schools, department and other organisational units who are
interested in developing mobile applications (mobile apps),’
Available at://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/styles-
guides/documents/mobile-application-guidelines.pdf. Accessed
[16th April 2016]
Valentine, M. (2008) ‘Strategic advantage and the Microsoft
application platform’ Available at:
http://download.microsoft.com/download (Accessed: 19 April
2016).
Wilson, J.M. (2003) ‘Gantt Charts: A centenary appreciation’,
European Journal of Operational Research. Vol.149 Iss.2
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6.0 Appendices6.1 Appendix 1 – First version of A3 Map

6.2Appendix 2 – Second version of A3 Map
6.3 Appendix 3 – Third version of A3 Map
Page | 4
Requirements Elicitation for
Mobile B2B ApplicationsA project-based consulting approach

Management Summary
Mobile B2B applications are an emerging issue when it comes
to the adoption of new technologies in business, providing
innovative opportunities for multiple operations between
customers and companies. For organisations that have decided
to implement such an application within the scope of a project,
the requirements elicitation process depicts an important step in
order to determine necessities and to build a basis for
subsequent strategic decisions. This paper depicts an offer for a
B2B food sector company with the intention of identifying the
requirements for such a project. The introduced approach
utilises approved methods and techniques from the fields of
project and software management.
The offer covers an examination of three relevant categories of
requirements. In order to determine the functional requirements
(functionalities the B2B application has to exhibit), the methods
stakeholder analysis and software benchmarking are introduced.
For the structural requirements (possibility and appropriateness
to implement the application within the company’s structural
circumstances), system environment analysis, personnel
analysis as well as risk identification and analysis cover a basis
for future decisions. Finally, project time planning and life-
cycle cost analysis investigate the resources requirements the
company will have to face. The study will be conducted within a
timeframe of 6 months (26 weeks) which is illustrated by a
Gantt-chart. Overall, the holistic character of the approach, the
acknowledged benefits of the individual methods as well as the
recommendations which can be derived on the basis of the
defined objectives will make the study of high value to the
client and provide adequate information for further actions
regarding the application’s programming and implementation

process.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction – Background and Objectives 1
2. Supporting Evidence – The Requirements Elicitation
Approach 2
2.1 Objective 1 – Functional Requirements 3
2.1.1 Stakeholder Analysis 3
2.1.2 Software Benchmarking 3
2.2 Objective 2 – Structural Requirements 4
2.2.1 System Environment Analysis 4
2.2.2 Personnel Analysis 5
2.2.3 Risk Identification and Analysis 6
2.3 Objective 3 – Resources Requirements 6
2.3.1 Project Time Planning 6
2.3.2 Life-Cycle Cost Analysis 7
3. Study Gantt-Chart 8
4. Contribution 10
4.1 Stakeholder Analysis 10
4.2 Software Benchmarking 10
4.3 System Environment Analysis 11
4.4 Personnel Analysis 11
4.5 Risk Identification and Analysis 12
4.6 Project Time Planning 12
4.7 Life-Cycle Cost Analysis 13
5. Concluding Remarks 13
I. References 14
1. Introduction – Background and Objectives
New communication technologies always bring along new
chances and ways of conducting daily business operations. In
this context, the utilisation of the internet to collaborate with
trading partners depicts a notable advance within the last two
decades. These direct electronical collaborations are commonly
labelled as business-to-business (B2B) applications, which for
example target “e-procurement, supply-chain management

(SCM), and B2B e-payment” (Al-Naeem et al., 2005, p. 41).
Due to the rise of mobile devices like smartphones or tablets
and the concomitant increased usage of professionals’ mobile
devices during work, especially mobile B2B applications have
been evolving as an important tool for customer relationship
management (Smilansky, 2015). Nowadays, people already
spend more time using mobile applications than internet via
traditional desktop computers (Zamfiroiu, 2015). Well-known
software manufacturers already detected this development,
offering mobile B2B applications for multiple business purposes
(Tornack et al., 2011).
The client, an SME providing food products to catering
companies, is aware of this progress and intends to program and
implement a mobile B2B application for his customers.
However, due to the high complexity of such IT projects, only
an extensive exposure of the requirements can prevent the
project from certain failure (Azadegan et al., 2013). Based on
the results of more than hundred research and development
projects, Dvir et al. (2003) point out that project success is
strongly correlated with the definition of those requirements. In
order to determine relevant requirements of this project, a study
shall provide valuable information about different project
necessities. Regarding software development, this process is
commonly labelled as ‘requirements engineering’ respectively
‘requirements elicitation’ which describes “seeking, uncovering,
acquiring and elaborating requirements for computer based
systems” (Zowghi and Coulin, 2005, p. 19). Although
requirements elicitation is mostly perceived as the first major
step of a software engineering project, the shape of its process
and used methods varies, depending on the particular project
(Vijayan and Raju, 2011). Hence, this report can be understood
as a consulting offer to conduct a requirements elicitation study,
outlining all pertinent methods which are of importance for the
individual case of the client.
It is of fundamental importance that the study as well as the
development of the mobile B2B application for the client itself

can be seen as projects. Projects are unique sets of temporary
activities with a definable goal, which cut across functional
lines and imply risks as well as costs for an organisation
(Nicholas and Steyn, 2012). That is why project management
methods as well as experiences from software project
management case studies will take a key role in the presented
requirements elicitation approach. The study covers the
following objectives and related methods in order to reveal the
client’s requirements for the project of developing and
implementing a mobile B2B application, whereas objectives and
methods build on one another:
Objective 1: Identifying the functional requirements of mobile
B2B applications within the food market for catering companies
· Stakeholder Analysis
· Software Benchmarking
Objective 2: Identifying the structural requirements to program
and implement the application within the current company
structure and capabilities
· System Environment Analysis
· Personnel Analysis
· Risk Identification and Analysis
Objective 3: Identifying the resources requirements the client
has to raise for programming, implementing and operating the
mobile B2B application
· Project Time Planning
· Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
At first, the offer will illustrate the intended relevant methods
which are required in order to reveal the particular requirements
of the three objectives. Here, the methods are described shortly,
while evidences from project management background
exemplify the adequacy of the methods. Based on the introduced
methods and their approximate time need, the offer will
illustrate the intended approach with the aid of a Gantt chart,
providing an overview with start and end times for the
individual project steps and methods. Subsequently, the

contribution of the particular methods and the project as a
whole will elucidate why the illustrated approach is the most
useful one for the company’s objectives, supported by several
industry cases. Finally, the concluding remarks will summarise
the main details of the offer in order to provide final decision
guidance towards this offer.2. Supporting Evidence – The
Requirements Elicitation Approach
The general aim of the study is to provide a holistic research
approach for the client, which covers all relevant kinds of
requirements in order to assess the necessities of programming
and implementing the mobile B2B application. The following
chapter illustrates the background as well as the individual
processes of the particular methods.
It has to be considered that the information gathering process of
all the intended methods requires an open communicative
exchange with the client. Changing client requirements or
circumstances can occur during the whole requirements
elicitation process and should be incorporated as soon as the
changes are identified. Therefore, a continuous two-way
communication process with the client in the form of a
permanent contact person secures adequacy of the study
(Nakatani et al., 2014). This is supported by Houdek and Pohl
(2000) who examine the requirements elicitation process of
Daimler-Chrysler projects and emphasise that over 50% of the
requirements changes happen after the actual identification
process.2.1 Objective 1 – Functional Requirements
As already indicated, B2B applications are able to cover several
functionalities, from being just a marketing tool to comprising a
whole e-procurement system including embedded sales and
payment possibilities (Al-Naeem et al., 2005). In order to
provide a basis for the further requirements analyses, the
examination of the functional requirements focuses on the
questions, how the application has to look like to please the
stakeholders and in which functional direction (e.g. sales,
marketing, supply-chain management, e-payment, etc.) the
application has to go. Overall, the client receives knowledge

about what the market and its key players require of the B2B
application.
2.1.1 Stakeholder Analysis
Stakeholder analysis as a project management technique is
widely acknowledged among management practitioners and
researchers as a part of the requirements elicitation process,
providing a broad layer of necessary information (Glinz and
Wieringa, 2007; Newcombe, 2003). Stakeholders of software
are persons, organisations or other groups who affect or are
affected by the software (Power, 2010). The technique tackles
the questions of who the relevant project stakeholders are, how
their wants and needs look like as well as how important they
are in comparison to other stakeholders. It should be considered
that each project has its own stakeholders which may partly not
be that obvious as it would appear (Lock, 2013). All of these
stakeholders have expectations for the intended software, with
the wants and the needs often being in conflict with each other
(Newcombe, 2003).
The stakeholder identification process for the client happens on
the basis of a brainstorming meeting, as suggested by Calvert
(1995). Here, also the client participates due to his superior
knowledge of the internal proceedings and affected groups
(Pouloudi and Whitley, 1997). The identification particularly
focuses on what Sharp et al. (1999, p. 389) call ‘Baseline
Stakeholders’, which represent internal and external “users,
developers, legislators and decision-makers” with respect to the
complete predicted software lifecycle. After the identification
of the relevant stakeholders, direct stakeholder communication
is necessary in order to determine their needs and requirements.
This can happen through structured meetings or personal
conversations. This step ensures an understanding and
involvement of the relevant stakeholders from the beginning of
the project (Passenheim, 2009). Also, the prioritisation of
stakeholders and their individual requirements are elementary
steps towards stakeholder comprehension since stakeholders are

not equally important for the mobile application. Overall, this
prioritisation has to consider the strategic adjustment of the
company (Glinz and Wieringa, 2007). On the basis of these
results, a final stakeholder matrix with objectives, priorities and
contributions is produced (Lock, 2013). Difficulties during the
stakeholder analysis may especially emerge in the case of hard
accessibility of stakeholders as well as if there is an individual
stakeholder with diverging inner objectives (e.g. in the case of a
heterogeneous organisation) (Jepsen and Eskerod, 2009).
2.1.2 Software Benchmarking
On the basis of the stakeholder analysis, the subsequent
software benchmarking examines if there are already existing
best practice examples in the market which coincide with the
results of the stakeholder analysis’ objectives. Here, the
analysis especially focuses on those functional requirements,
which were identified by those stakeholders with the highest
prioritisation. Benchmarking describes the practice of
comparing the own organisational operations with equivalent
processes of industries’ market leaders. Doing so, it is possible
to gather information and achieve an improvement of the own
business operations by applying this information (Watson,
1993). In this sense, software benchmarking can be understood
as a certain kind of focused competitive analysis which,
however, also includes software companies as well as best
practice examples of comparable markets. With this form of an
external benchmarking analysis, it is possible to set the
functional requirements of the client on a level which enables
him to compete with his competitors on a qualitative and
technological high level (Hines, 1998).
Since benchmarking subjects (competitors and software
companies) are already set, the first step of the software
benchmarking process is the collection of data (Kodali, 2008).
The data collection process for software benchmarking as such
is a qualitative one (Jones, 1995). The information is derived on
the basis of general market reports from acknowledged data

bases such as Key Note, Mintel and MarketLine as well as
providers of special benchmarking reports such as Best
Practices, LLC. Furthermore, the online visibilities of software
manufacturers such as SAP, Oracle and Microsoft offer further
information about their mobile solutions for several industry
segments including the food industry. Based on the gathered
data, an analysis and evaluation of the benchmarks is performed
subsequently. This analysis will compare the identified
stakeholder objectives with the elaborated benchmarks in order
to set the final functional requirements which the mobile B2B
application has to fulfil in order to achieve a possible
competitive advantage within the industry (Kodali, 2008).
However, it also has to be considered that benchmarking has its
bottlenecks. In times of fast changing technology, it is not taken
for granted that current software benchmarks remain the same
benchmarks in the future. Hence, long-term developments have
to be considered (Kumar and Harms, 2004).2.2 Objective 2 –
Structural Requirements
After the prior techniques exposed the functional requirements
of the B2B application, the subsequent methods will focus on
the question, if the client fulfils the structural requirements to
program and implement an application with such functions
within the current organisational environment. Especially IT,
personnel as well as risk capacities play a pivotal role due to
their influence on the matter whether the client is able to solve
respectively control deviations and occurring risks or whether
external service providers could be an alternative.
2.2.1 System Environment Analysis
The system environment analysis provides the basis for the
structural requirements analysis. Before, the stakeholder matrix
with its objectives and prioritisation as well as the results of the
software benchmarking analysis revealed the functional
requirements of the mobile B2B application (Nicholas and
Steyn, 2012). Subsequently, the system environment analysis
has to examine how “easy” it is to program and implement those

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