International Capital, Inc. being a small venture banking company, secures finances for small to medium sized companies as its area of specialization. This happens as a result of its capability to utilize a homogeneous scheme format for each engagement. On this basis, the company’s standard of network is usually changed only by activity times and extraordinary circumstances. In this relation, the Firm’s project manager Beth Brown has compiled a system of information and activity times for the customers. In connection to this, a description is given to each activity and an immediate predecessor identified and stated (Kerzner, 2003).
Importantly, the firm researches on a client company and coordinates needs proposal with the client as well as estimating future demands and cash flow. In addition, the firm’s manager ensures that the future plans for client company are drafted and at the same time legal documents are created and approved. It should be noted that, before the manager signs contracts and transfer funds; there must be an integration of all drafts into the first draft proposal, lining up of potential sources of capital as well as checking, approving and printing final legal proposal. Further, this company’s plans are passed through a project review committee of colleagues which ensures that all required details are covered, times are practical and the capital is accessible (Kerzner, 2003).
From this case it can be revealed that, for any client company to be given a contract there must be a follow up of some stages that would help in ensuring whether a company is worthy to be given the contract or not. In addition, the International Capital, Inc. ensures that there are adequate resources and times are reasonable in order to secure finances of the client company and at the same time make profits (Kerzner, 2003).
It can be deduced from the case that, the project manager faces some problems when it comes to activity times and standard network. In this case, giving reasonable times to clients and activities can be a problem that results to changes in the standardized project format. This is a problem because the project manager can give an activity a long or a short period of time than it is required and hence changes the whole arrangement. It is worth noting that, each activity should be given a reasonable period of time for easy continuation of other activities and maximization of profits (Kerzner, 2003).
In order to solve the above stated problem, the project manager should assess each activity thoroughly and decide what time span should be assigned to it. In this case, an activity that generates less profits should be given a shorter period of time in order to maximize resources by distributing the remaining time to other activities. Additionally, small scale investments should not be given equal period of time with the large scale investments. It is of importance to note that, this method would work because the project manager is in a position to determine the activities that generates more incomes than others. Further, small activities would be assigned lesser time as compared to bigger ones in order to ease the manager’s work and maximize profits (Kerzner, 2003).
To wind up, the International Capital, Inc. has been faced by challenges when it comes to activity times. On this basis, the project manager should make sure that the time allocated to each activity is realistic and there is availability of the required resources. This would happen when different activity times are directly proportional to the amount of profits generated.
Reference list
Kerzner, H. (2003). Project Management Case Studies, 8th edition. New York: Wiley Publishers