To organise for project management requires an understanding of the organisation’s architecture which includes the organisational hierarchy - the grouping of internal business units, the authority lines and interaction with one another. Each of these aspects should be designed to support project management within the organisation. Structure should follow strategy or else it may impede communication, coordination and decision making which are all key to success (Brevis, 2014, p. 224). Hence, an important function of upper management is to support project teams by either redesigning the organisation to emphasize projects or integrating projects into the current organisation (Graham & Englund, 2004). The increased complexity of modern day organisations …show more content…
The complexity theory is a growing trend within recent successful projects. The fundamentals of the complexity theory have sprung to life since changes in society and the evolving nature of complexity within the project environment required a different approach (Saynisch, 2010). The complexity theory embraces the interconnectedness of systems and incorporates aspects such as transformational leadership and communication (Curlee & Gordon, 2011). Transformational leadership, especially its characteristics of learning and mentorship adjusts well to complexity within a project. The world has enough managers - what ensures project success is leadership. A Project Leader, as opposed to a manager that manages the team by bending it to fit the project, guides from the front and mainly aims to realise the potential of the team by using skills and resources at his/her disposal to achieve the best from the team (Curlee & Gordon, 2011). The complexity theory is furthermore about accepting chaos in some stages of the project life cycle, but in such a manner that allows the project manager a level of individuality to move a project forward. Hence, complexity is about learning to accept certain unknowns with flexibility and grace. (Curlee & Gordon, 2011). A leader who motivates individuals can assist in creating a controlled hurricane that can conquer complex tasks. Communication lines are of the utmost importance in the complexity theory. Communication is the vessel for change management and the lifeline of any organisational change initiative. Finally, the project manager must prepare for change within a project and must retain a level of connection with contacts and leads. Change is the only constant in life and every project leader must learn to deal with the rapidly changing and demanding world
and Kashiwagi D. (2016) this project management model utilizes expertise instead of the traditional management, direction, and control (MDC). This new project management model is a leadership-based model instead of a management model. The practice of the new model requires a change in paradigm and project management structure. Some of the practices of this new paradigm include minimizing the flow of information and communications to and from the project manager [including meetings, emails and documents], eliminating technical communications, reducing client management, direction, and control of the vendor, and the hiring of vendors or personnel to do specific tasks. A vendors is hired only after they have clearly shown that they know what they are doing by showing past performance on similar projects, that they clearly understand how to create transparency to minimize risk that they do not control, and that they can clearly outline their project plan using a detailed milestone schedule including time, cost, and tasks all communicated in the language of
ABSTRACT Project . 1.0 INTRODUCTION Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, techniques to project activities to meet project requirements. Project management is accomplished through the application and integration of the project management process of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling and closing (King, 2014). Nowadays, in order to become a successful project manager and to ensure the project’s success, they should possess attributes such as critical thinking skill, analysing skill as well as problem solving skill. Meredith & Mantel (2012) define certain attributes of effective project managers as well as three specific leadership styles: Intellectual, Managerial, and Emotional.
Complexity leadership theory contrasts these models and suggests a paradigm for leadership that is much more dynamic in nature. This approach to leadership fosters creativity, learning, adaptation and interactiveness between the leaders and followers. Complexity theory recognizes that leadership is more than one person, it is rather an interplay of a variety of variables. This theory also recognizes that these dynamics are unpredictable and are subject to change. The reason why I have chosen this article is because I plan to adopt complexity leadership theory into the planning and implementation of my project.
Each year billions of dollars waste in project are been reported as a result of IT projects failure whereby a project might have failed for at least one of the measures of project success, indicating that it is imperative to enhance the manner in which projects are been managed. Contemporary IT project managers need to understand that all projects have some degree of successes and failures, which can be used as an opportunity for organizations to learn and continue develop from these experiences no matter the level of success or failure. Therefore, organizational learning and constant improvement from past experiences may be considered to be the secret to successful project management. In addition, this technique of organizational learning
With regard to projects, timeliness and communication are key to success and strong team leadership. Professional goals keep leaders hungry and striving toward future success, advancement and education. M Steps to critical
2.4. The project management life cycle Before progressing to the methodologies used in project management an analysis on PMLC (chapter 2.3) is necessary. A PMLC usually consists of five processes: Scoping, Planning, Launching, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing (Wysocki, 2013). During the scoping process these actions are taken: A project manager is recruited who extract the true needs of the client and negotiates with him how these needs will be met.
Project organizational culture (a direct influence) – various authors have researched the direct influence of project organizational culture on project success such as; organizational policies, procedures, rules, formal and informal roles (Cleland, 1999); top and line management supporting/attitude, monitoring, prioritization and project staffing (Kerzner, 2009, Andersen et al., 2009, Young & Jordan, 2008; Kearns, 2007; Tinnirello 2001; Doll, 1985); support of departments in the pursuit of project goals, employee commitment to the project goals in the context of balancing them with other, potentially competing goals, project planning – how managers evaluate it and how they view the outcomes of projects -the way work is estimated or how resources are assigned to projects, performance of project teams (Pinto,
2. Annotated Bibliography 2.1. Identification of issue or problem (affecting the delivery method) in the organisation: • Resource 2.1.1: Wateridge, J 1995, ‘IT projects: a basis for success’, International Journal of Project Management, vol. 13, no. 3, June 1995, pp 169-172. This academic research paper investigates the key criteria on which the success of projects are judged, and the factors that influence that success or lead to failure.
The development of the post-industrial revolution, the information age and globalisation are changing the nature of leadership. Leadership is one of the basic characteristics of abilities that lead to a competent quantity surveyor attempted by Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) and the leadership is one of the best ways to enhance QS’ professionalism, with leaders serving as role model for the staff (Abdul-Rahman et al., 2012). One of the critical success factors that would lead to project success is human management factor, including providing a cohesive team and leadership, good human relationship, and a comprehensive communication management plan (Abdullah,
As mentioned earlier, communication and information provision help reduce employee’s resistance to change and hence create an organizational culture that values change. According to Gill (2002), communication is the ‘blood’ of organizations and ‘oxygen’ of change implementation. Poor communication between leaders and the individual staff, on the other hand, could impede change programs (Huczynski and Buchanan, 2001, cited in Burnes, 2003). Frahm and Brown (2005) identify three communication channels, namely strategic information provision by top management, operational information provision by direct supervisors and conversations between peers (cited in Peus et al., 2009). During strategic information provision, top executives explain why changes are necessary and define their expectations from these changes projects, whereas during operational information provision, direct supervisors clarify roles and responsibilities during change processes and new requirements, if any, after the change and answer questions.
Project management is a specialty of general management. There are two traditional definitions of management. The function definition says that management covers the planning, organization, personnel, management and controlling. Another common definition states that the administration is always done by working people. Modern project management always involves working with people performed, unlike traditional hierarchical approaches.
The principle reason that motivated me to pursue the MSc Project Management course is the appeal and challenge Project Managers experience in delivering assignments they undertake in their career. The qualification, indeed, lead to very smart and modern careers for graduates who love challenges, creativity, leadership and success. As a graduate of Mathematics, I have cultivated these features in my student life. Now, for my master level of study, I would like to take my chance of attaining formal skills in the area of project management. From my research, I see that Project Management is the application of skills, knowledge and techniques to meet the objectives of a project and stake holder’s expectations.
In organisation where the goals of the project are specified by the main organisation, projects are essentially seen as a means of change. Looking at the complexness in project management, it will be more preferable to see project as an organisation instead of a tool. Describing project as a temporary organisation suggests many principles of project
Project management is defined as the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge, and experiences to attain the project objectives and requirements (Project Management Institute, 2013). This whole system of project management has many different groups of project management processes. All of these processes are classified into five
With many-sided, tagged teams and/or skill sets, the project manager is the only person who can bring together all the things and take the charge for the success of the