For your company, what is one example of a project? What are the tasks? Does your company use Gantt charts? What are your recommendations?
A great example of project with our firm (Target) would be when there is a promotional sale during a specific time period such as now during the holiday season. The planning portion of the project is typically made up of a team of employees and managers where goals are set and strategies are created to achieve the set goals. Managers of a Target store may set goals on a weekly basis and or monthly basis to assure that sales goals are reached. Also, all specifics of such goals or projects are documented by the management team in order to have reference points. The scheduling portion of projects at Target refers to when the goals are broken down to specifics such as how many sales each employee is required to obtain within a week or month.
When Target has to set up for a display or special promotion, like a new seasonal section, new displays, or price changes, they rely on their price and presentation team members. What this team is responsible for it updating displays and shelves. They check signs and labels for accuracy while maintaining a clean store. These team members work with charts simmilar to Gantt charts to complete these tasks.
Scheduling may be altered for employees in order to insure that sales goals are achievable.
Managers will also look at previous year sales to again create strategies that will help achieve goals. Furthermore, managers may also look at employee’s previous sales history within the firm and decide whether an employee may be positioned in a different department where he or she may be more effective for the store and its sales volume.
Target's success in these areas, indicates they are making the right decisions when it comes to managing projects. As long as team leaders continue to manage their employees properly, this method will continue to work.
