- Your Company (Dubai Intelligent Software Systems Ltd) is one of the leading software houses based in Dubai. It has a strong reputation in the areas of bionics and automation.
- The Company’s core product is a range of sophisticated multi-function software packages for use in robotic related hardware. These software packages are designed to accept a wide range of command inputs from machine-machine and man-machine interfaces. These inputs are used to manage and control a wide variety of bionic and automation devices using either real-time or pre-programmed command signals tailored to meet the requirements of the individual output server or power controller. The software solution is based on bundling standard multi-purpose software modules which can be ‘plugged’ together rather than developing individually tailored modules to meet the needs of specific functions. Consequently, the complex software incorporates state of the art technology, including the use of advanced control algorithms.
- Your company is a typical software business. There is a fair-sized Systems Engineering department, conventionally organised as a software design and writing house with a strong organisational hierarchy. Having evolved from a small core of key personalities who set up the original business, the Company has never been specifically organised for project working. The current MD was recruited from Silicon Valley when the original founder exercised his significant share options and took early retirement 18 months ago. There have been increasing problems with some recent contracts, unnecessary delivery slippages and cost overruns, and the new MD is trying to change the way the Company operates. He recently read a book extolling the virtues of ‘project-based management’ and is sold on the basic concept (to the point of boredom). However, he is faced with the ‘if it ain’t broke why mend it syndrome’ of many of the senior department heads, most of whom were at university together before they set up the business in 1988.
Monday Morning
- You are a manager working in the Engineering Department. The Engineering Director calls you into his office and explains that he wants you to work with a couple of colleagues to look at a new business opportunity.
- He explains that the Marketing Department has been approached by a potential client, Merritron, inviting us, along with other companies, to tender as a potential partner in its bid for a contract to supply a major petrochemical Company, Gateway Oil (GO), with an automation-based device. GO are keen to introduce such a device because of the implications of anticipated UN global health and safety requirements. The initial order would be for some 5,000 units to be deployed worldwide for use in GO’s production facilities and oil exploration teams.
- The client is proposing that your Company would develop and provide the software to meet the product statement of requirement (SOR) outlined below.
Statement of Requirements (SOR)
- Gateway Oil wish to purchase a minimum of 5,000 units of the following device with delivery of 20 working prototypes in June 2022 for field testing with production deliveries commencing in January 2023.
• The device is to be capable of undertaking a multitude of tasks in field and production environments. It is to operate in higher and lower temperatures (+60o C to -40oC) than human beings can sustain, as well as working in high-risk environments (e.g., where there may be asbestos contamination).
• The normal working life cycle of the device is anticipated to be a minimum of 10 years/60,000 operating hours.
• The device is to be an autonomous unit, requiring the minimum of off-line-maintenance.
• Each device is to have a docking unit for recharging power etc.
• The device is to be capable of self-learning routine tasks.
• The device is to be capable of tackling more advanced tasks via software uploads (knowledge transfer and training).
• The device is to be fully mobile in three dimensions.
• The device is to have real-time visual data capture, voice data access and have a transmitted speech capability.
Sample Solution
