Case Study: Project Harmony

Scenario $1($pp $279-281)$:

The BlueSky Software Development Company is initiating a new project called Project Harmony. The goal of Project Harmony is to develop an integrated communication platform that combines video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management tools into a single, user$-$friendly application. The project team consists of $12$ members, including software developers, UI$/$UX designers, a project manager, and a client representative.

Project Harmony Timeline:

$$ Project Kickoff: January $1$

$$ Initial Development Phase: January $2-$ March $31$

$$ Beta Testing Phase: April $1-$ May $31$

$$ Final Development Phase: June $1-$ August $31$

$$ Launch Date: September $1$

Team Members:

$$ Project Manager: Jane Doe

$$ Client Representative: John Smith

$$ Lead Developer: Alice Brown

$$ Software Developers: Bob, Charlie, Dave

$$ UI$/$UX Designers: Eve, Frank

$$ Quality Assurance: Grace, Harry

$$ Support Team: Ian, Jack

Key Challenges:

$1.$ Integration Issues: The software modules developed by different teams are not integrating smoothly, leading to delays.

$2.$ Conflicting Opinions: Team members have different opinions on the design and functionality of the application, causing conflicts.

$3.$ Communication Breakdown: Inefficient communication among team members leading to misunderstandings and duplicated work.

$4.$ Unresolved Bugs: Persistent bugs in the software that need immediate attention and resolution.

Tasks for Students:

Task $1(3$ pts$)$: Identifying Problem$-$Solving Methods Given the integration issues, what problem$-$solving methods should the team apply to address this challenge effectively? Provide a detailed approach using the chosen method$($s$).$

Task $2(3$ pts$)$: Decision$-$Making Approaches With conflicting opinions on the application design, what decision$-$making approach should the team adopt to reach a consensus? Explain how this approach will help resolve the conflict.