Organization of projects:
The project organization principles of EADS Astrium are:
• Matrix structure
• Responsibility in one hand (‘captain principle’)
• Strong reliance on system technology
• Strong process orientation
• Integrated teams including cost and schedule controllers
• Clear assignment of responsibilities
• Transparent assignment of budget
• Involvement of all team members in the management of cost, schedule, risk, and claims
• Strong leadership
• Great autonomy for each team member
Question: Assess the project governance structure at EADS Astrium. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this structure? Characterize the organizational culture at Astrium. Whatimpact does this have on the project management structure?
Source: Benz (2005)
Mini Case 4: How to lead international projects
The German project manager in Brazil who was introduced in mini case 8.1 (Koster, 2010, pp224-225) had difficulties in retaining good people in light of poaching activities from competitors. One morning, his controller told his direct colleagues in the landscape office that a wall of her house had collapsed over night. The project manager overheard the conversation and immediately organized a place where the controller and her family could stay while the house was repaired. Another day, his purchaser came in several hours too late. He said that he had hit a pothole and his tyre had burst. The cost of the damage came to 500 US$ and was considerable when compared to his monthly salary of 400 US$. The project manager arranged for a special company loan for him. The controller and the purchaser felt well taken care of and developed a strong sense of loyalty to their project manager.
You need to read the min case in Koster, 2010, pp. 224-225.
Question: Discuss what type of leadership style would be most appropriate in this context and why; what would be your suggestions to build a high level of trust among the project management team?
Case Studies Source
Koster, K. (2010), International Project Management, Sage Publications, ISBN978-1-4129-4620-9.
Appendix 1: Submission of Coursework
Unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing by the module leader, all coursework on this module is submitted via Blackboard only. It will automatically be scanned through a text matching system (designed to check for possible plagiarism).
Plagiarism is the practice of presenting thoughts, writings or other output of another or others as original, without acknowledgement of their source(s). All material used to support a piece of work, whether a printed publication or from electronic media, should be appropriately identified and referenced and should not normally be copied directly unless as an acknowledged quote. Text translated into the words of the individual student should in all cases acknowledge the source.
• DO NOT attach a CA1 form or any other form of cover sheet;
• YOU MUST include your name and student ID on the first page of your assignment.
To submit your assignment:
• Log on to Blackboard at https://learning.westminster.ac.uk;
• Go to the relevant module Blackboard site;
• Click on the ‘Submit Coursework’ link in the navigation menu on the left-hand side, as advised by the module teaching team;
• Click on the link for the relevant assignment;
• Follow the instructions.
You will be given details by the module teaching team about how and when you will receive your marks and feedback on your work.
REMEMBER:
It is a requirement that you submit your work in this way. All coursework must be submitted by 13.00 (pm) on the due date.
If you submit your coursework late but within 24 hours or one working day of the specified deadline, 10% of the overall marks available for that element of assessment will be deducted, as a penalty for late submission, except for work which is marked in the range 50 – 59%, in which case the mark will be capped at the pass mark (50%).
If you submit your coursework more than 24 hours or more than one working day after the specified deadline you will be given a mark of zero for the work in question.
The University’s mitigating circumstances procedures relating to the non-submission or late submission of coursework apply to all coursework.
Please note the conditions listed below:
- You should use the same software versions as those running in the computer labs of Marylebone campus. If you use different version or different software, you will be doing so at your own risk and technical support will not be available.
- There should be no zipped files.
- Your university email address must be included in the documentation, in the event the lecturer marking the work needs to contact you.
- You should always keep a copy of the submitted work