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1.0 Abstract
This paper is the presentation of a research proposal. It gestures to the need for improved and cohesive management processes through Hogan Lovell, a United Kingdom company that is suffering managerial difficulties. The paper begins by outlining the aims of the project. For instance, the dangers of low management processes as well as the benefits of improved management processes as witnessed in Hogan Lovell. It then proceeds to discuss primary project objectives. These are the anticipated outcomes of the project. Some of them embed in the course of the project while others feature at the end of the project. After the section, the proposal discusses project justification. This article discusses why the project is an answer to modern business challenges confronting Hogan Lovell. That is, why it is worth the costs and struggles. Research methodology is the last and the most important section discussed in the paper. Under the section, the strategies adopted towards the study are outlined.
2.0 Introduction
In the 21st century, when competition is booming, regulation is heightened, and customers are well informed, it is the worst time to be a corporate manager (Biggs, 2010). This situation worsens because investors are demanding the highest possible returns on their investments. To balance between these requirements, and as seen in the case of Hogan Lovell, managers are experiencing a list of challenges. The first challenge is employee performance problem. In many cases, employees are failing to deliver on the full potential of their abilities. Similarly, managers are constantly at the demands of managerial functions namely planning, organizing, meeting and controlling (Wickham & Wilcock, 2012). With planning, managers are compelled to prepare workable plans and stick to them. These plans must converge to the same goals shared by the organization. Similarly, managers must ensure proper organization (Johnson, 2005). Through the organization, managers require determining the most appropriate strategies through which they mobilize and distribute resources for specific functions. Moreover, they are at a constant pressure to lead. Through this function, they are required to ensure that they set certain courses for their organizations. Also, they must continually re-evaluate the plans ensure that the team does not waiver. Finally, managers are compelled to keep their organizations under control. This function provides that managers must set goals for their teams and continuously measure performance against these targets. However, modern managers seem to be oblivious to these facts. They are unable to snake through the market and attain their goals. One significant example is Hogan Lovell, a company that is suffering managerial problems. This paper will propose a consultation project about Hogan Lovell.
3.0 Project aim
The overall purpose of this project is to improve the quality of modern management, by studying the case of Hogan Lovell. This objective will begin by determining the root causes of present day management problems. For example, poor quality management, political influences on companies or in the objectivity of managers (Biggs, 2010). Second, the project aims at determining the future effects of management challenges, citing the case of Hogan Lovell. For instance, business failure, stock prices decline and lose of customers. Third, the project aims at identifying specific approaches through which these problems may be addressable. Finally, the project will aim at determining the future of companies regarding management problems. For example, how trends in management issues may affect the companies or how managers may adjust in future in response to the problem.
4.0 Project Objectives
4.0.1 Objective 1: Determining the root causes of management problems at Hogan Lovell.
To determine the cause of managerial challenges, this project will evaluate Hogan Lovell at length (Brierley, 2006). In the exercise, their financial statements will be valuable needful as well as their trend. Also, managerial approaches of Hogan Lovell will be discussed to examine potential causes of established challenges (Biggs, 2010). The main approach will be to identify changes or trends in organizations before surfacing of management problems in the company. For example, managerial conflicts followed by poorly controlled management. In such cases, organizational conflicts will be the cause of poor planning.
4.0.2 Objective 2: Determine the eventual effects of management challenges
To determine the consequences of these problems, the study will evaluate the trend of Hogan Lovell. This trend analysis will include their financial statements such as their balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flows. This is important because management challenges translate to financial statements (Maylor, 2010). Specifically, a decline or increase in their values will be checked and attributed to their causes. For example, the study may find out that due to poor planning, a particular company has suffered a decline in the level of sales. The main idea of this objective will be to identify specific times in companies where problems surfaced. The performance of the company will then be checked prior and after those points. The primary focus will be improved or decreased levels of performance (Johnson, 2005).
4.0.3 Objective 3: Determining distinct approaches through which these problems may be addressable.
The study will also address specific ways through which these issues at Hogan Lovell are addressable (Maylor, 2010). Towards this objective, the project will evaluate specific ways that identifiable companies adapt in response to challenges. For example, managers may have established planning departments to ensure that the operations of the enterprise are well managed. As a result, the company addresses planning challenges and enjoys an increase in the level of sales. In this case, the main skill will be to ascertain actions adopted in organizations that have suffered management challenges (Gardiner, 2005).
4.0.4 Objective 4: To determine the future of Hogan Lovell regarding management problems.
The project will also discuss the future of the company about control problems. Specific addresses for this goal will include:
- What will Hogan Lovell lose in the long run if they do not adopt decisive control action?
- What will be the chances of Hogan Lovell’s success if poor management actions continue?
- How will well managed Hogan Lovell surpass competitors that are not well-managed?
In a chase for this-this objective, the study will compare well and poorly managed companies as well as the differences between them, as this is a needful strategy (Cameron & Green, 2012). The project will also examine to see whether there are chances that the gaps may divide further. The primary idea is to determine the eventual fate of organizations that have management problems. The fate may be a failure, lawsuits or stock prices decline (Brierley, 2006).
5.0 Project Benefits to Hogan Lovell
- Eventual productive staff: The project will aim at identifying the challenge that employees may face and which may deter their performance. It will also encourage managers to address these factors. In the long run, corporations will enjoy performance improvement (Cameron & Green, 2012).
- Organizational motivation: This project will motivate all people affiliated specific organizations. For example, managers, investors and the public. The project will identify specific challenges and guide them on how they would handle the problems. As a result, they will find motivation in the realization that their problems have solutions (Brierley, 2006).
- Increased productivity: The project will emphasize the need for adequate management. For instance, the role of planning, organizing control and leading. Managers will appreciate the functions of these roles and in the long run, realize improved performance.
- Reduced organizational conflicts: The project will identify the root causes of management problems which are the leading causes of organizational conflicts that Hogan Lovell is experiencing.
- Increased profitability: Through the project, managers will be ready to run businesses according to the realities of the market. As a result, they are matched to handling workplace events and issues. Most importantly, they will be in positions to seize upcoming opportunities.
6.0 Project justification for Hogan Lovell.
This project justifies by four distinct reasons. They include:
6.0.1 Poor planning: According to Maylor (2010), at least nine in ten organizations have operational plans. Also, five of them do not have defined plans for the pursuance of this objective. As a result, three in them end up as failures. Theoretically, it is true that managers must learn proper planning alongside its benefits such as efficient use of resources. It is, therefore, necessary that this project is adopted.
6.0.2 Poor organization: At least one in three corporations that fail blame their fate on poor teams. Sadly, managers believe that the cause of failure is beyond their ability. Theoretical studies indicate that this claim is not true. Rather, managers are fully capable of organizing. These facts lead to the realization that managers do not fully understand their roles as organizers in their organizations. This deficiency is a gap that must be addressed, and it is in among the objectives of this research. The research is, therefore, a necessary need for present day managers.
6.0.3 Poor leadership: At least two in three organizations suffer the lack of cohesion. This problem leads to a complete collapse of one in two of these companies. Many of them also face organizational conflicts. Many managers feel that these challenges result from other parties and not themselves. Worse, they feel powerless about the problem. However, the fail to realize that they have the responsibility of the organization. It is, therefore, necessary that this project reminds managers that they can win complete control over these problems. In other words, this project is extremely significant.
6.0.4 Poor control: organizational success requires that all parties affiliating with an organization remain under watch (Burnes, 2014). In many cases, this means letting employees operate under stipulated provisions. The source adds that one in five managers fail in this role. Fearing to micromanage their employees, they leave them unattended. This mistake is fatal, and sadly, it continues to strangle many businesses. As a result, organizations bow on their knees and eventually, they exit the market. This problem is minor when addressed. Under continuous improvements, it is bound to have an eventual end. This is the goal of this project. It is, therefore, compulsory that this research continues to the end.
7.0 Business case: Background and critical literature.
Unaware, Hogan Lovell’s managers are making market survival difficult for themselves. This claim is visible from the case of Hogan Lovell. This scenario is mainly true through poor planning, organization, leadership and control. It is, therefore, necessary that managers have a development plan (Burnes, 2014). This plan is only possible through coordinated planning. At the same time, related organizations are already enjoying cost efficiency, unlike their counterparts. These objectives are achievable at Hogan Lovell through the efforts suggested in this project. A further step into leadership gestures additional problems. Hogan Lovell is running as many independent units without a common course. Suggested corrective efforts will be expensive. However, this cost will be recovered shortly after organizations begin to move as cohesive units. Finally, Hogan Lovell is already underscoring its potential through poor control. In a case of improvements, Hogan Lovell will win high scores in cost efficient ways.
8.0 Project plan
8.0.1 Resources ( MADE UP)
| Item No. | Description | Amount (£) | Percentage of total |
| 1 | Salaries to coordinators | 7,000 | 12.17% |
| 2 | Salaries to others | 19,000 | 29.57% |
| 3 | Postage | 3,000 | 5.22% |
| 4 | Printing | 2,000 | 3.49% |
| 5 | Recognition | 3,500 | 6.09% |
| 6 | Training | 7,000 | 12.17% |
| 7 | Food and traveling | 6,000 | 1.04% |
| 8 | Research | 10,000 | 17.39% |
| Total | 57,500 | 100% |
8.2 Project risks
- Lack of executives’ commitment: This scenario features when managers of the project lose interest in its initial objectives. There are several reasons for this eventuality including conflicts and frustration.
- Project management conflicts: This risk is visible when managers of the project stop to share the goals.
- Ill-defined Project scope: This scenario is true when the initial preparation for the project is inadequate.
- Inaccurate estimates: This challenge is persistent where the statistical data of projects are incorrect. For instance, budgets and time estimates.
9.0 Project control
Project control is gathering, managing and analyzing the processed adopted in understanding and influencing the time and costs of the project.
- Regular team meetings: Project managers will convene monthly meetings, precisely after every two days. In these sessions, the agenda of the project will compare against attained objectives. Additionally, tasks will be designed at these meetings.
- Earned value analysis: This strategy will require that managers evaluate statistically interpreted results. For instance, through the cost-benefit index.
- Critical path analysis: This strategy provides that managers set a project on a defined path with specific milestones. These miles stones must be useful as the road for review and benchmark. Managers using this technique must realize that delayed progress means late completion. They should, therefore, avoid delays at all costs.
10.0 Research Methodology
The study will mainly adopt qualitative and quantitative methods of research. The qualitative technique will focus on non-quantifiable data. With qualitative research, the standard methods will include interviews, focus groups, and group interviews. Discussions will mainly concentrate on personal contacts with persons assumed relevant to the study, for instance, managers and workers at Hogan Lovell. The responses received will be entered in record files and later conglomerated at a central file. Similarly, the method will also adopt group interviews. This strategy will involve interviewing many candidates at the same time. This method will be useful because it will make the sessions less expensive and quicker. Like individual interviews, responses received will be entered in record files and later conglomerated to a central file. The last technique under this section is focus groups. This tool will rely on finding a group of people what they feel about an individual question. After the stage, all the data will join in the projects database.
The second research methodology is the quantitative method. This process will focus on quantifiable data. The first sub-strategy adopted under this level is sampling. Specifically, financial statements will be sampled and studied in sections. Changes in these data will be noted and recorded separately. Similarly, the method will also rely on surveys. This strategy will provide that the team look through materials that may be valuable sources of reliable data. For instance, media information. Finally, the method will adopt literature review. This strategy will involve compiling sources that may contain useful information. The compilation will then be subject to close evaluation. The information gathered from the exercise is then combined with meaningful interpretations.
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