Assignment:
Strategic Approaches to Project Portfolio Management
Neverauskas, B., & Ciutiene, R. (2011). The theoretical approach to project portfolio maturity management. Economics & Management, 16, 845-851.
Note: Reflection for this article - Do you have experience dealing with an international project team? Often dealing with individuals that are using English as a common means of communication, although it may not be their native language, puts us in a position to do the best we can extracting technical nuggets, even when the material or written communication may not be what many native English speakers deem to be easy to read or understand. This particular article was selected on purpose by the course developers to give everyone in this course an opportunity to experience an international scenario. At any one time, firms manage a diversity of projects all at different stages of evolution. Some firms manage their project portfolios through the management systems and processes applied to operational activities while others are increasingly relying on one or multiple project management systems. This reading assignment is intended to discuss theoretical approaches to project portfolio management maturity. Institutions use projects to solve strategic problems, to perform integrated processes, and to generate innovative strategies. In order to be able to manage strategically within business environment, it is essential to discuss the maturity process of projects, project portfolio, and programs, their potential development as well as strategy management within the organization. The expansion of project-based organizations only enhances the significance of project portfolio management. The results of a correspondence analysis show that project size, impact, and complexity were the most significant variables in the formation of project portfolios.
Question: What were the authors' conclusions, and do you agree or disagree? Be sure to substantiate your analysis of your position (premise) and synthesize the results of your analysis into a stated conclusion or conclusions.
Part 2:
The practice of project management has been with us for a long time. This discipline and its evolution as a profession are detailed throughout this course. Today, project management has reached a maturity that entitles it to a rightful place in the practice and the literature in the field of Management and Business Administration. However, the ability of the project management profession to remain viable in an ever- changing world is dependent upon the members of the profession to recognize change and to adjust to that change for the good of the organization. Write a focus paper on the necessity of projects and project management as vehicles to accomplish an organization's strategic goals. Include in your argument the evolving changes in the world that will affect the way projects are managed, what human and organizational changes you think will allow for the improvement of project management and, what alternative or enhancement to project management do you see evolving. Remember, a focus paper is an argumentative essay that attempts to persuade the reader of the truth or plausibility of a specific claim or position. A focus paper is NOT a summary, commentary, journal entry, personal reflection, analysis, compare and contrast essay, or an expository essay. The objective is NOT to convey information, show how much you know, or analyze a text. Rather, the primary goal is to persuade the reader that an important, interesting, and debatable thesis is true or plausible, and that the alternative position is untenable.
Criteria for the Assignment
? Select any project (your choice, a project you know about or one that you would like to be involved with).
? Map organizational objectives, goals, and strategies to the project outcomes.
? Discuss (at the level of practical application) if the project organization reflects organizational strategies.
? Discuss (at the level of practical application) if there has been a proper selection of project sponsor and project manager.
? Demonstrate the adequacy of project policies, procedures, and techniques.
? Discuss (at the level of practical application) the uses of scope, risk, time, cost, and quality with associated planning and performance standards.
? Discuss (at the level of practical application) how to communicate the project to the Organization and stakeholders.
Components
? Cover page (please see sample assignment)
? Table of contents
? Executive summary
? Body of the focus paper (use Headings to organize)
? Conclusion stated as a recommended solutions or improvements in terms of project management techniques and tools.
? Reference page, a minimum of three scholarly journal or textbook source references cited and credited according to APA format using a minimum of six intext citations.
? The paper should be focused and to the point and containing between 700 and 900 words from the Executive Summary to the end of your Conclusion.