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 of its field. However, the ability of the project management profession to remain viable in an ever- changing world is dependent upon the member 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 as vehicles to accomplish an organization's strategic goals. Include in your argument the evolving changes in the world that will affect the way you manage projects, what human and organizational changes you think will allow for the improvement of project management and, what alternative 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
• Map organizational objectives, goals, and strategies to the project outcomes.
• Discuss (at the level of Application) if the project organization reflects organizational strategies.
• Discuss (at the level of Application) if there has been a proper selection of project sponsor and project manager.
• Demonstrate the adequacy of project policies, procedures, and techniques.
• Show (at the level of Application) the uses of scope, time, cost, and quality with associated performance standards.
• Show (at the level of Application) how to communicate the project to the organization.