Full Answer Section

1. • Relevant: Capitalize on the identified substantial new business opportunity in the growing AI market by offering a valuable service based on Uber’s established expertise, directly contributing to the revenue streams and market position of the “Uber for Business” division.
   • Time-bound: Achieve full operational launch of the data labelling service to third-party businesses within 6 months from the project start date.

2. Prepare a project scope document:

   The project scope document will define the boundaries of the project, outlining what will be included and excluded. Key elements will include:

   • Project Goals and Objectives: Restating the SMART objectives outlined above.
   • Deliverables:
     • A fully functional and scalable data labelling platform/service accessible to third-party businesses.
     • Defined service level agreements (SLAs) for data labelling accuracy, turnaround time, and security.
     • Pricing models and commercial agreements for the service.
     • Marketing and sales materials to promote the service to potential clients.
     • Onboarding process and documentation for new clients.
     • Training materials and support for clients using the service.
     • Internal operational processes and workflows for managing the data labelling service.
   • Inclusions:
     • Development and customization of the existing Uber data labelling platform for external use.
     • Integration with necessary Uber systems (e.g., billing, customer management).
     • Establishing security protocols and data privacy compliance measures.
     • Initial marketing and sales efforts.
     • Client onboarding and support for the first set of clients.
   • Exclusions:
     • Development of entirely new AI algorithms or data analysis tools beyond the data labelling service itself.
     • Integration with highly bespoke or niche client systems beyond standard APIs (to be assessed on a case-by-case basis in future phases).
     • Extensive customization of the core data labelling platform for individual client needs beyond pre-defined options in the initial phase.
   • Acceptance Criteria: Defining the criteria that must be met for the project deliverables to be considered complete and acceptable by the Project Owner. This will include successful onboarding of the initial clients, adherence to SLAs, and positive client feedback.
   • Constraints:
     • Budget of $10 million.
     • Timeframe of 6 months.
     • Reliance on existing Uber data labelling technology and central IT resources.
   • Assumptions:
     • Uber’s existing data labelling technology is adaptable for third-party use.
     • The central IT function will provide the necessary support within the project timeframe.
     • There is sufficient market demand for the proposed data labelling service.

3. Agree on approval process for any changes needed during the life of the project:

   A clear change management process is crucial. This will involve:

   • Change Request Submission: A formal process for stakeholders to submit change requests, outlining the proposed change, its rationale, and potential impact (on scope, schedule, budget).
   • Change Control Board (CCB): Establish a CCB comprising key stakeholders (at a minimum, the Project Manager, Project Owner, and Project Sponsor).
   • Impact Assessment: The Project Manager (with input from the project team) will assess the potential impact of the change request on the project’s scope, schedule, budget, and risks.
   • CCB Review and Decision: The CCB will review the change request and the impact assessment. Decisions will be based on the overall benefit to the project and alignment with the project objectives and business case. Decisions will be documented.
   • Approval Levels: Define different approval levels based on the magnitude of the change. Minor changes might be approved by the Project Manager in consultation with the Project Owner, while significant changes requiring budget or timeline adjustments will need Project Sponsor approval.
   • Communication: Communicate the outcome of the change request to the initiator and all relevant stakeholders.
   • Implementation: Approved changes will be incorporated into the project plan and managed accordingly.

Answers to Assessment 1:

1. Map out the tasks you consider are required for this project, using the Business Analytics life cycle.

   The Business Analytics life cycle typically involves the following stages. Here’s how the Uber data labelling service project aligns with them:

   • Problem Definition & Business Understanding:

     • Uber’s Assessment: Identify the market opportunity for data labelling services.
     • Project Initiation: Formal appointment of the Project Manager and approval of the business case by the Project Owner.
     • Objective Setting: Define SMART project objectives (Task 1).
     • Scope Definition: Prepare the project scope document (Task 2).

   • Data Acquisition & Exploration:

     • Data Inventory: Identify Uber’s existing data labelling capabilities, tools, and processes.
     • External Data Research: Analyze market data, competitor offerings, and potential client needs for data labelling services.
     • Data Requirements Definition: Determine the specific data requirements for the external-facing service (e.g., input formats, output formats, security protocols).
     • Data Access Planning: Develop a plan for accessing and utilizing Uber’s internal data labelling infrastructure for external clients (Task 4).

   • Data Preparation & Pre-processing:

     • Platform Adaptation: Modify and scale Uber’s internal data labelling platform for external client use, including user interfaces, access controls, and billing mechanisms.
     • Service Definition: Define the specific data labelling services to be offered (e.g., image annotation, text classification, video tagging).
     • Quality Assurance Processes: Establish processes for ensuring the accuracy and quality of the data labelling service provided to clients.
     • Security Implementation: Implement robust security measures to protect client data.

   • Model Building & Evaluation (Adapting for a Service):

     • Service Design: Design the end-to-end service delivery process, including client onboarding, data submission, labelling workflows, quality checks, and data delivery.
     • Technology Integration: Integrate the data labelling platform with other necessary Uber systems (e.g., billing, CRM).
     • Performance Metrics Definition: Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for the data labelling service (e.g., turnaround time, accuracy, client satisfaction).
     • Pilot Testing: Conduct pilot testing of the service with a small group of external clients (if feasible within the timeframe) or internal teams acting as clients.

   • Deployment & Implementation:

     • Service Launch: Officially launch the Uber data labelling service to third-party businesses.
     • Client Onboarding: Implement the defined onboarding process for new clients.
     • Marketing & Sales Execution: Execute the marketing and sales plan to acquire clients.
     • Support & Training: Provide training and ongoing support to clients using the service.

   • Monitoring & Maintenance:

     • Performance Monitoring: Continuously monitor the KPIs of the data labelling service.
     • Client Feedback Collection: Gather feedback from clients to identify areas for improvement.
     • Service Updates & Enhancements: Plan and implement updates and enhancements to the platform and service based on performance data and client feedback.
     • Change Management: Implement the agreed-upon change approval process (Task 3) for any necessary modifications.

2. Outline the steps in the project management methodology you intend to follow.

   Given the pressure for rapid delivery and the need to leverage existing internal capabilities, a Hybrid Project Management Methodology, leaning towards Agile with elements of Waterfall, would likely be most suitable:

   • Initiation (Waterfall-leaning):

     • Clearly define the project objectives (Task 1) and scope (Task 2) with upfront planning and documentation, similar to a Waterfall approach. This provides a solid foundation and shared understanding.
     • Establish the change management process (Task 3).
     • Identify key stakeholders (Task 3 answer below).