The Key Objective of the Shinkansen Network - Coursework Example

SHINKANSEN xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Course xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Instructor xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 1.0 Introduction 3 1.1 Project objectives 3 2.0 Project Stakeholder Analysis 4 2.0.1 Output delivery stakeholder 4 2.0.2 Product Usage stakeholder 4 2.0.3 Product Support stakeholders 4 2.0.4 Funding authority stakeholders 5 2.0.5 Contributor stakeholders 5 2.0.6 Audit or review stakeholders 5 2.1 Opinion and positions of stakeholders 5 2.1.1 Urgency 5 2.1.2 Influence 6 2.1.3 Importance 7 3.0 Project Management 8 3.1 Implementation phase of the project 8 4.0 critical Analysis of the project outcome 8 5.0 Conclusion 9 1.0 Introduction The “bullet Train” also known as Shinkansen is considered to be the network of high speed railway lines. The “Bullet Train” is found in Japan and is operated by the Japan Railway Group of companies. The network begun with the Tokaido Shinkansen which is 515.4km in the year 1964 and since then, the network has expanded to 2,387.7km recently. It is quite evident that the network of railway links most key cities on the island of Kyushu and Honshu with an underway construction to also link the northern island of Hokkaido. The maximum operating speed of Shinkansen is 320km/h. Literally, Shinkansen means a new trunk line but the generally the term defines the whole railway network system (Hood 2007). The “bullet train” is considered to be the world busiest high speed railway line which is involved in carrying around 151 million individuals annually. Compared to other high speed line, the bullet train has transported over 5 billion passengers. Between Osaka and Tokyo which are considered to be the largest metropolises in Japan, Shinkansen has about thirteen trains in any given hour that run in each direction thus easing traffic in these two metropolises. Although the bullet train is considered to be a long distance transport system, it also serves passengers who travel to their work places in metropolitans region from various outlying cities (Hood 2007). The Shinkansen network has had the highest number of yearly commuters of any global high speed railway network until in 2011 when China high speed railway network surpassed Shinkansen at 370 commuters yearly. 1.1 Project objectives The key objective of the Shinkansen network is to significantly contribute to the country economic development through facilitating the growth of Japan regional industry as well as population dispersal (Fukada 1998). Other objectives are; 1. To provide an opportunity that will reduce Japanese travel time 2. To provide the safest mode of transportation 3. To provide a transportation system that will compete with air travel 2.0 Project Stakeholder Analysis For the Shinkansen, a stakeholder is any organization and individual that has been directly as well as indirectly involved in the project. These groups of individual may positively or negatively affected the in the project completion and execution and thus exerting influence over Shinkansen results and objectives. The Shinkansen project has six categories of stakeholders; 2.0.1 Output delivery stakeholder This group of stakeholder are those individuals as well as organization are responsible for effectively delivery the project output. Here, the Railway Technology research Institute who provided more technical development and the Japanese National Railway who were engaged in persuading politicians to support the plan for constructing the railway network. This group of stakeholder is directly involved in ensuring the project objectives have been met (Gray and Erik 2006). 2.0.2 Product Usage stakeholder These are individuals that directly and indirectly use the Shinkansen railway network. This group of stakeholders is considered to be ultimately responsible in achieving the project business objectives through using project deliverables. The Shinkansen projected has reported carrying over 150 million commuters in a given year. The bullet train is the globe business high speed railway line easing transport system in Tokyo and Japan which are Japan largest metropolises. 2.0.3 Product Support stakeholders This category of Shinkansen stakeholder is responsible for ensuring that the project is available for use by the product usage stakeholder (Semmens, 1997). The Railway Technology research Institute who provided more technical development and the Japanese National Railway who were engaged in persuading politicians to support the plan for constructing the railway network. These two organizations provided operational support that will guarantee the project success (Pritchard 2004). 2.0.4 Funding authority stakeholders This category of group is considered to be responsible for the outcome of the Shinkansen project and is involved is realizing funds as well as provision of resources needed. The government with the help of the World Bank is considered to be the funding authority stakeholders. The cost of constructing the railway network was estimated to be 200 billion yen. In addition, this category provides resource to ensure the project objectives have been achieved (Pritchard 2004). 2.0.5 Contributor stakeholders This category is involved in providing services as well as inputs to the Shinkansen project. Contributors include suppliers and other service provider groups. Contributors are highly involved in meeting both the service and product obligations defined in the Shinkansen project. 2.0.6 Audit or review stakeholders This are the individuals as well as organizations that are involved in reviewing the Shinkansen project as well as its deliverables so as to ensure that processes has followed the required standards (Fukada 2008). The Japan Architecture Review Committee is engaged in ensuring the right building materials have been used in the construction the railway line. The Japan Environmental Agency is involved in ensuring that the project does not pollute the environment. The agency is involved in ensuring that noise produce in the different activities in the Shinkansen to less than 70dB. Additionally, due to risk of occurrences of earthquakes, the agency also ensures that urgent detection and alarm system have been put in place. 2.1 Opinion and positions of stakeholders 2.1.1 Urgency The position of Shinkansen is based on the urgency, importance and influence. The stakeholders that will significantly benefit from the project are considered to have the highest urgency. Fig 1: Influence on the project outcomes per stakeholder category The graph above indicate that the funding authority has the highest urgency. 2.1.2 Influence Different stakeholders are considered to have different influence on the Shinkansen project. Stakeholders that are considered to shape the project implementation are known to have on other stakeholder behaviours and thus posses high influence. From the graph below stakeholders with high influence is the product usage group (Fukada 2008). Fig 2:Influence on the project outcomes per stakeholder category 2.1.3 Importance here, the stakeholder that are considered to be important if without them it is impossible to establish as well as implement the project. all stakeholders are above the threshold in based on importance. Fig 3:Importance on the project outcomes per stakeholder category 3.0 Project Management Given the high capital linked to the project, the project management team decided to implement the project in phrases. 3.1 Implementation phase of the project The Shinkansen implementation phase involved all project team and it involves putting project into action. This Phase of the Shinkansen project entailed the actual construction of the railway network. Here, the designers were involved in developing the railway network graphic materials whereas contractors were involved in building and thus the actual reorganization took place at this phase. The project team divided this phase into four sub phases namely; execution, monitoring and control and move to production. The project manager distributed both resources and task (Fukada 2008). For the monitoring and control sub phase; the project team was involved in tracking the various action items. Here, the project manager tracked the items required to ensure successful completion of the project. Additionally, the project team with the help of the assistant project manager was involved in tracking of various arising issues. There were times when actions could turn into irresolvable issues (Smith 2003). Tracking of these issues could be discussed by the different stakeholders. The success of the implementation phase was attributed by the bi weekly reports by the project manager. These reports were sent to the Japanese government through the ministry of railway, team members and others project sponsors. The good planning by the project manager played an important role in the success of the project. 4.0 critical Analysis of the project outcome It is quite evident that the Shinkansen speed rail is one of the known railway network across the globe due to its success. Success of the bullet train can be attributed to achievement of its objectives. Shinkansen is the globe busiest high speed rail line and therefore has been a key contributing factor of the Japanese economic growth. The railway network which connects the two largest metropolises of Osaka and Tokyo has played an important role in easing the transportation system in these busiest areas of Japan. The railway has been of help especially the fact that Japan has narrow gauge which and thus a greeter need for the bullet train. The critical factor that made the Shinkansen a success was the good planning and coordination among all stakeholders present. Good communication amongst project member also played a vital role in ensuring success of the project (Smith 2003). 5.0 Conclusion It is quite evident to achieve the outlined objectives, it is important to ensure there is maximum coordination among the project members. Communication is an important aspect in ensuring the success of a project. It I important that a communication plan to be develop to ensure that information or progress of the project is discussed. In future project, I will ensure that I create a rapport with all members within the project. It is further necessary to follow the project phases so that the project can be reviewed at different stages. There is need to allow project members to apply their knowledge, techniques and skills to the various activities so as to meet the project requirements. References Hood, Christopher P. (2007). Shinkansen – From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan. Routledge, London. pp. 18–43. Smith, Roderick A. (2003). "The Japanese Shinkansen". The Journal of Transport History (Imperial College, London) 24/2: 222–236. Fukada, T. 2008. "Shinkansen about more than speed", The Japan Times, 9 December 2008, p. 3 Pritchard, C. 2004. The project management communication toolkit. Artech House Publisher Gray, C and Erik, L. 2006. Project management the managerial process. New York:McGraw-Hill Semmens, Peter (1997). High Speed in Japan: Shinkansen - The World's Busiest High-speed Railway. Sheffield, UK: Platform 5 Publishing Fukada, Y. 1998. The Mechanism of Railway Tracks. Japan Railway & Transport Review, 15, 38-45, 1998 Read More