course materials

1. 3 page paper due tomorrow
September 2021Week 6: Scenario ActivityTABLE OF CONTENTSScenario
SummaryIntroductionYou are a Project Manager for a small private but growing company
that specializes in the manufacturing of military electronics named Integrated Systems
Design (ISD). You have been tasked with putting together a contract for a recent award for
the government for your company’s newest technology. Your company’s technology, called
Independent Operation (IO) offers limited artificial intelligence capabilities to allow drones
to operate independently. The new computer brain that your company has developed will
allow drones (or other equipment) to operate without the need to remain in contact to
avoid being disrupted in the field. The company, Integrated Systems Design, realizes that
their technology is new, but it will likely be copied by others who are attempting to
accomplish the same.Company DetailsThe company is called Integrated Systems Design
(ISD) and they have been producing military grade electronics and guidance systems for
about 6 years and have grown to have 5 million dollars in sales this year. They specialize in
high end, highly reliable and cutting edge type items. They have been primarily doing
business with the US Military and Department of Defense.The company is based in Los
Angeles. The Los Angeles office handles sales, distribution as well as customer service. The
Los Angeles facility houses manufacturing, research and development, marketing, supply
chain, distribution, and reverse logistics. All manufacturing is done in the US, but some
components are purchased overseas. The total number of employees is 20.Since the
company understands that others will try to copy their technology, the company has been
firm about making sure that all people involved have signed nondisclosure documents and
that all material supplied is always marked confidential.Current SituationISD has just been
awarded the largest contract ever for the company as the government seeks to corner the
market by contracting for the exclusive use of the Independent Operation (IO) technology.
The government wants exclusive use of the technology and in turn the government will
agree to protect the technology and treat it as a national security secret to avoid having
information disclosed about the project. Although the contract will be for 30 million dollars
over the next five years, there are those that are concerned that this might limit the
company’s growth potential.Your TaskThe President of the company has asked you to
discuss with the key players to find out their position about moving forward with the
contract, to put together a pros and cons list, and to put together details about the essential
elements of the contract that need to be included.Your RoleAs the project manager, you
have been tasked with gathering feedback from different parties and to put together a go

2. forward plan. Below is a summary of some of the important comments from your
individual meetings with these individuals.Key PlayersClick the left or right arrows to view
the key players.Accessible CarouselPreviousPhil, ISD Vice President, Operations“I think that
this government award is great, but I worry if we will be able to supply everything they
requested. I want it to happen, but all the problems land on my desk and if we cannot
produce, the government will cancel the contract. I’m not saying that we can’t do it, but one
cannot just double production overnight.Our operational footprint is still quite small and
expansion will be tough. Also, lets not forget the government wants everything delivered in
Virginia and we are based in Los Angeles. Its not just a walk down the road and now we will
be moving our proprietary technology that we will have to protect in transit. It just is a very
complex situation that will take planning and coordination so we need to be careful about
how the contract is written. I know that the government wants everything tomorrow, but
we need to be smart about how we expand. We don’t want to be in a situation where we
over promise and under deliver, because then the government will have a reason to cancel
the contract. If the government cancelled the contract, we will own a lot of stock and have
no sales.”