Assignment

You currently work for a retail store that carries basic household goods, some groceries, and health and beauty products. The store is located in the small community (approximately 5,000 total residents) in which you live and is looking to expand its operations in some way.

For this assignment, you are required to develop a major project proposal to be undertaken by your employer. You may decide to expand your product offerings or open an additional store in an adjacent community, for example.

You may use the questions as a general outline of what your proposal should entail.

"Project Proposal Outline"

1. Project classification? Strategic_____ Infrastructure______ Compliance______

2. What business problem does this project solve?

3. How does this project align with our organization strategy?

4. What is the impact of not doing this project?

5. How long will this project take?

6. What is the estimated cost of the project?

7. Which resources are needed to complete the project?

8. What are the major risks of this project?

9. How will we measure success?

10. Will this project require internal resources? Yes___ No___

11. Available? Yes___ No___

12. What is the estimated cost of the project?

13. How long will this project take?

14. Oversight action: Accept____ Return____

Your project proposal must include the following components:

1. Project title

2. Project manager (yourself)

3. Problem definition or project rationale: Describe the problem or opportunity for improvement.

4. Goal definition: Describe the project goals.

5. Objective definition: Quantify the savings or benefits you expect from completing this project. How much will it cost (hours, materials, methods, equipment, etc.)? Estimate how long the project will take to complete.

6. Resources: Identify the resources necessary to complete the project.

7. Risk analysis: Identify the major risks associated with undertaking this project. How likely is it that these risks will occur? How will the project be impacted if these risks occur?

Refer to "The Retail Store" below for additional information about your organization.

"The Retail Store"

Where convenience, quality, and community are our purpose.

Mission Statement (who we are): The Retail Store offers our customers convenience, quality, and great prices. By doing so, we strive to make each and every community a better place to live.

Vision Statement (who we strive to be): The Retail Store strives to be the leading retailer as measured by fiscal results and community improvement advocacy within every small community.

Fast Facts:

• $3.2 million in sales the last fiscal year
• Three stores in one state (three different small towns)
• Store size = 2,500 square feet
• About 2,500 core products from America's most-trusted manufacturers
• Three distribution centers
• 30 employees

"Must" Objectives:

• Achieve annual sales of at least $5 million.
• Participate in the improvement of at least 10 low income communities throughout the state.
• Expand core product offerings by 10% within a 2-year time frame.

"Want" Objectives:

• Expand size of stores by 10%.
• Open at least one store in a neighboring state within a 5-year time frame.