Gap Analysis: Harrison-Keyes
Harrison-Keyes, a global publisher of print products, is experiencing a decrease in profits as the result of competition from low cost retailers and other obstacles. In an attempt to remain competitive; the company created an initiative to implement electronic publishing (e-publishing) into their business practices. Failure of leadership to incorporate proper planning and implementation processes caused preventable setbacks in the project and poor employee morale. To overcome project obstacles Harrison-Keyes is facing, leadership must identify issues and convert them into business opportunities and include each department into the revitalization process. Performing a gap analysis will provide Harrison-Keyes with information necessary to make informed decisions to alleviate the current gap preventing progress of the project. Identifying issues and opportunities, stakeholder perspectives, and ethical dilemmas will allow leadership to create and meet end state goals that will be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely).
Situation Analysis
Issue and Opportunity Identification
Several issues have arisen since the e-publishing project started. The root cause of all the problems stemmed from leadership not establishing or putting in place an effective plan with clear short-term and long-term goals of the work control process to implement the e-publishing project. The e-publishing plan was implemented without assessing for possible risks. Backup contingency plans were not put in place to offset issues such as Asia Digital Publishing’s (ADP) inability to meet deadlines then being wiped out by costal floods. Leadership did not put any project control proce ...