A Critical Analysis of Drone Delivery Systems

The main reason why the Wilmots are investing in a drone delivery system is because they need fast deliveries and want to cut down on delivery costs. Medicine is a product that requires accurate and quick delivery, and drones might be the solution for this. Today's drones can't lift heavy things, but medicine is light, so it's perfect for drones to carry and deliver. It would be even more beneficial if a single trip could handle multiple deliveries—covering all the orders in one go. In the long run, it will save fuel and reduce the need for human labor. From one store, a drone could cover the whole city. Plus, we can monitor the drones from the office since they have cameras, providing a live feed.

Risks Identification

There are various risks associated with drone delivery. Drones can invade personal space and could be used for spying. National security might be at risk if terrorists use drones to gather information. Excessive drone use can also disrupt bird habitats and even kill birds. If drones are used near airports, it will make it very difficult for air traffic controllers to provide accurate information to pilots. Drone batteries don't last long, which can affect deliveries. For people living in crowded apartments in big cities, delivering to the right address will be tough. In bad weather like rain or snow, drone delivery might not be possible. The landscape and air traffic play significant roles in successful drone deliveries.

Stakeholder Management

If this project is successful, DroneTech will benefit greatly. More companies will adopt this system, and investment in advanced drone research will increase. GPS and navigation companies will invest more to improve product delivery. The demand for drone pilots will rise. Separate flight paths for drones will be designated, and drone pilots will have to follow certain rules. Insurance companies offering drone insurance will see increased business. Tech experts will need to develop algorithms for free obstruction air routes for drones to follow. The e-commerce industry will benefit significantly as it will reduce business costs. Companies making drones and cameras will also profit from the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) delivery system. Training companies offering professional drone piloting courses will also make gains.

Executive Summary

This report discusses the challenges faced by a project manager in making the right decisions and their impact on the company and its stakeholders. Making decisions isn't easy as it directly impacts the company's financial condition, resources, and environment. The manager's ethical principles might conflict with the current situation because there are significant risks associated with the decision. In such conditions, the manager needs to analyze the pros and cons of the decision, which requires deep analytical skills and consumes valuable time.

Introduction

In this case, I'm the team leader of a management consultancy service company that provides services to a medium-sized company to improve its manufacturing efficiency. The company has many departments, and it's controlled by four regional directors. They control their regions independently as they have significant power since they are part of the company's executive board. We are discussing Project A under a regional director. The director reported that Project A is being delayed due to its complex structure and design. However, our investigation found that there is a breach of contract and various design flaws, causing the project's delay. We also found that there is a loss of £7 million to £10 million, and the project will be delayed by at least three months. However, the regional director wrongly informed the financial director that the total loss would be £4 million to £5 million and the project would be delayed by only two months.

Section 2: PMI Ethics

Ethical Analysis of the Case Study

There's a clear violation of business ethics in this case. Some of the major principles of business ethics are honesty, integrity, promise-keeping, loyalty, fairness, care, respect for others, truthfulness, commitment to excellence, leadership, reputation, and accountability.

Here, the regional director misuses his autonomous power to mislead the company about the progress of Project A by providing false reports to the financial director of the manufacturing company. First, he tries to manipulate the ongoing investigation by providing false information regarding the report. The main reason for the project's delay is the flawed product design. To overcome this faulty design, he breached the contract. This could lead to a lawsuit against the regional director and the company, and the company might have to pay huge compensation to the customer. This would cause a financial crisis for the company as they would need to pay extra direct costs in product manufacturing due to the project's delay.

This will affect the company's financial health. The company's stakeholders would suffer huge losses and might withdraw from the company or sell their shares. This would degrade the company's stocks in the market, and no one would lend money to a company in great loss. This might lead to the company's bankruptcy. Many workers are associated with the company, and their future would be at great risk. The company might not be able to pay their salaries, leading to thousands of people being unemployed.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) has designed a code of ethics for good decision-making. Its members include responsibility, honesty, respect, and fairness as values for ethical professional conduct. The regional director clearly violates this PMI code of ethics. He is not transparent with the company and his colleagues as he hides the real details about the delay of Project A. He is not responsible to the company as his actions could mislead the financial director and might lead the company towards bankruptcy. The regional director does not respect his company or his colleagues since he goes behind the investigation's back to provide false reports to the financial director to save his job. He is not fair to his colleagues, the company, and the company's stakeholders as his actions will affect many lives.

Recommendation

Here the role of the regional director comes into play. He should follow the PMI's (Project Management Institute) code of ethics. He should be honest with himself and the company. The consultancy service company should present its report to the board of directors, and immediate corrective action should be taken. First, the product design process needs to be addressed and immediate construction should start. The company should obtain credit from the market to continue its production and also need cost-cutting measures to save as much as possible. The company should consult its legal advisor and follow their advice to offer compensation to the client. Immediate action should be taken against the regional director for breaching the contract. The company needs to handle all actions quietly to avoid rumors that might affect its market. The company should assure its stakeholders and workers that their future is secure and that corrective actions are being taken to resolve the issues.

Conclusion

The summary of this case study states that the company should follow the PMI's (Project Management Institute) code of ethics. Every decision can affect the company in both good and bad ways. When you have the responsibility of thousands of lives and a large sum of money is at stake, you can't make decisions that have personal benefits. It is crucial to follow some moral values both in personal and professional life to be successful. Every decision must contain ethical values or adhere to the PMI code of ethics.

Reference

1. “Delivery Drones: The Future of Delivery Business?,” My Drone Lab, 19-Jun-2017. [Online]. Available: http://mydronelab.com/blog/delivery-drones.html. [Accessed: 01-May-2019].
2. Standardizations.org. (2019). 12 Ethical Principles for Business Executives. [online] Available at: https://www.standardizations.org/bulletin/?p=133 [Accessed 1 May 2019].
3. Pmi.org. (2019). Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct. [online] Available at: https://www.pmi.org/about/ethics/code [Accessed 1 May 2019].
4. M. Alexander, “The importance of being ethical in project management,” TechRepublic. [Online]. Available: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-importance-of-being-ethical-in-project-management/. [Accessed: 01-May-2019].