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正确答案：

(b) Effective project management could have improved the conduct of the website re-design project in the following ways:
Detailed planning
During the delivery of the project the lack of a formal detailed plan means that there is no baseline for review and control.
The absence of monitoring progress against that plan is also very evident. The meetings are events where, although progress
appears to have been made, it is unclear how much progress has been made towards the delivery of the final re-designed
website. Effective project management would have mandated the production of a detailed plan. There is no mention of a
project plan, a critical path analysis, a Gantt chart or supporting project management software.
Effective monitoring and control
The board were not kept up to date about progress and were only alerted to potential issue when the finance director became
concerned about spiralling costs. This is a failure of monitoring and control, aggravated by the fact that there is no project
plan to monitor against. Effective project management would have required formal progress to the sponsor (in this case the
board). Such monitoring should lead to project control, where suggested actions are considered and implemented to deal with
project slippage. The planning, monitoring and controlling aspects of project management are completely absent from the
scenario and so none of the usual project management monitoring and reporting structures were in place to alert the board.
Mandating of substitutes
Initial progress is hampered by the absence of key personnel at meetings 3 and 4 and the inappropriate sign-off by the RP
(already discussed above) of the technical design. The requirement for the TD to produce a technical report also slows
progress. These problems could have been addressed by ensuring that substitutes were available for these meetings who
understood their role and the scope of their authority. Effective project management would have ensured that progress would
not have been delayed by the absence of key personnel from the progress meetings.
Standards for cost-benefit analysis
The cost-benefit analysis provided by the MM is flawed in two ways. Firstly, the assumptions underpinning the benefits are
not explained. There is no supporting documentation and it appears, at face value, that year four and five benefits have been
greatly inflated to justify the project. Secondly, it would be usual to discount future costs and benefits using an agreed discount
rate. This has not been done, so the time value of money has not been taken into account. Effective project management
would have defined standards for the cost-benefit analysis based on accepted practice.
Estimating, risks and quality
The reaction of the board to the cost-benefit analysis also appears unrealistic. They appear to have suggested a budget and
a timescale which does not take into account the complexity of the remaining work or the resources available to undertake
it. The estimating part of the project management framework appears to be lacking. It is clear at the final meeting that the
website will not be ready for launch. However, the MM decides to take the risk and achieve the imposed deadline and take
a chance on the quality of the software. This decision is made against the advice of his TD and without any information about
the quality of the software. Effective project management would have mandated a framework for considering the balance
between risk and quality.

The MM does not inform. the board of the TD’s advice. The MM, like many project managers (because the MM now appears
to have adopted this role) finds it politically more acceptable to deliver a poor quality product on time than a better quality
product late. Unfortunately the product quality is so poor that the decision proves to be the wrong one and the removal of the
software (and the resignation of the MM) ends the project scenario.

正确答案：
(a) To: Susan Grant
From:
Strategic strengths and weaknesses in Marlow Fashion Group
In carrying out a strategic strengths and weaknesses analysis one becomes aware that what were formerly strengths often
become weaknesses as the competitive environment changes over time. Strengths and weaknesses analysis is focused on
the internal side of the business and is usually linked to an external appraisal of the external opportunities and threats facing
the company. Marlow Fashion Group is clearly at a crisis point in its company life and needs a strategic turnaround in order
to survive. The business model that has served them so well is no longer appropriate to the fashion world in which they are
now competing. Rodney and Betty Marlow have built a highly vertically integrated model, which gave them considerable
control over the growth and development of the company. In terms of the value chain the relationship they built up with
suppliers was mutually supportive and clearly facilitated the global expansion of the group. Control was even tighter over the
design, manufacturing and retailing of the company’s products. Marlow Fashions had successfully developed a niche market
for its products based around traditional English values. This enabled it to expand successfully and develop a worldwide
reputation for design excellence and quality.
Unfortunately, its competitive environment has changed considerably, becoming increasingly competitive and hostile. The
economics of clothing manufacturing has changed, with most clothing retailers choosing to outsource the manufacture of their
clothes. Women’s tastes in clothing have also changed and there is no longer the market for the clothes Marlow Fashion sells.
The tight control exercised by the founders has prevented recognition of these changes. Marlow Fashion has continued to
pursue outdated designs and expensive manufacturing processes that had served it well in the past. There has been some
recognition of the strategic nature of the problems as indicated by the succession of CEOs since 2000 given the task of
preventing the fall in sales and cutting costs. Unfortunately, the changes in its environment have led to some uncertainty as
to whether Marlow Fashion is a brand, a manufacturer, a retailer or an integrated fashion company.
Overall, Marlow Fashion, from being in a strategically sound position, now requires a swift strategic turnaround. Its products
and markets have changed; the relationships it has with key stakeholders are no longer strengths and its value chain andsystem no longer deliver distinctive value to its customers.
Yours,

正确答案：

 

■ The discontinuation of the product line after the balance sheet date provides additional evidence that, as at the
balance sheet date, it was of poor quality. Therefore, as at the balance sheet date:
– an allowance (‘provision’) may be required for credit notes for returns of products after the year end that were
sold before the year end;
– goods returned to inventory should be written down to net realisable value (may be nil);
– any plant and equipment used exclusively in the production of the petcare range of products should be tested
for impairment;
– any material contingent liabilities arising from legal claims should be disclosed.
(ii) Audit evidence
■ A copy of Seymour’s announcement (external ‘press release’ and any internal memorandum).
■ Credit notes raised/refunds paid after the year end for faulty products returned.
■ Condition of products returned as inspected during physical attendance of inventory count.
■ Correspondence from customers claiming reimbursement/compensation for poor quality.
■ Direct confirmation from legal adviser (solicitor) regarding any claims for customers including estimates of possible
payouts.

正确答案：