Project success vs Project management success
(→Big idea) |
|||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
//Describe the tool, concept or theory and explain its purpose. The section should reflect the current state of the art on the topic | //Describe the tool, concept or theory and explain its purpose. The section should reflect the current state of the art on the topic | ||
| − | + | The way in which a project's success is measured has evolved over time. Traditionally, projects were measured using a classic approach. Nowadays, we are moving towards using a state of the art approach. | |
| − | * | + | *The classic view focuses on the requirements of the project, short-term output and time, cost and scope |
| − | * | + | *The state of the art view evaluates the overall business case, the vision, long-term benefits and the success criteria. |
| − | * Project management success | + | A state of the art view makes it harder to assess a project's success as it is more vague and harder to quantify. |
| − | + | ||
| + | A common description of a project manager’s goal is to manage projects in such a way that brings completion on time, within budget and that ensures the intended quality (Simpson WD. New techniques in software project management. New York: John Wiley; 1987). Hence, one would assume that quality and scope have been defined from the very beginning of the project. Even though the right planning of the project does not guarantee success, the lack of planning will most likely cause it to fail. Therefore, one would assume that defining the right planning, budgeting and scope clear in advance would at least, increase the chances of a project’s success. However, there have been many projects that followed the initial plan, leading to completion within time and budget while meeting previously defined success criteria but ended up failing. These projects failed to provide long-term value for the company or produce any benefits for stakeholders. Therefore, to assess a project’s success, two perspectives have been defined: | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Project success is based on the long-term benefits and value of the project. It is associated with effectiveness, which is the capability of delivering a desired result | ||
| + | *Project management success is based on delivering the requirements on time within budget. It is associated with efficiency, which is doing things right. A successful project management means planning in the right way and following the plan. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
== Application == | == Application == | ||
| Line 33: | Line 40: | ||
* When does it make sense to talk about project management/project success? Fex if a company is not project management driven | * When does it make sense to talk about project management/project success? Fex if a company is not project management driven | ||
* When is only one success enough? Do we always need to have both kinds of success? | * When is only one success enough? Do we always need to have both kinds of success? | ||
| + | |||
| + | * The value of a project and its long term benefits might be very difficult to estimate | ||
//Critically reflect on the tool/concept/theory and its application context. What can it do, what can it not do? Under what circumstances should it be used, and when not? How does it compare to the “status quo” of the standards – is it part of it, or does it extent them? Discuss your article in the context of key readings / resources provided in class. Substantiate your claims with literature | //Critically reflect on the tool/concept/theory and its application context. What can it do, what can it not do? Under what circumstances should it be used, and when not? How does it compare to the “status quo” of the standards – is it part of it, or does it extent them? Discuss your article in the context of key readings / resources provided in class. Substantiate your claims with literature | ||
Revision as of 18:01, 10 February 2022
Contents |
Abstract
(500 words)
//A brief summary of the key points of your article
Big idea
(1000 words)
- Describe Project Management Success
- Describe Project Success
- Relate the successes to theories
- What is the relationship between them
//Describe the tool, concept or theory and explain its purpose. The section should reflect the current state of the art on the topic
The way in which a project's success is measured has evolved over time. Traditionally, projects were measured using a classic approach. Nowadays, we are moving towards using a state of the art approach.
- The classic view focuses on the requirements of the project, short-term output and time, cost and scope
- The state of the art view evaluates the overall business case, the vision, long-term benefits and the success criteria.
A state of the art view makes it harder to assess a project's success as it is more vague and harder to quantify.
A common description of a project manager’s goal is to manage projects in such a way that brings completion on time, within budget and that ensures the intended quality (Simpson WD. New techniques in software project management. New York: John Wiley; 1987). Hence, one would assume that quality and scope have been defined from the very beginning of the project. Even though the right planning of the project does not guarantee success, the lack of planning will most likely cause it to fail. Therefore, one would assume that defining the right planning, budgeting and scope clear in advance would at least, increase the chances of a project’s success. However, there have been many projects that followed the initial plan, leading to completion within time and budget while meeting previously defined success criteria but ended up failing. These projects failed to provide long-term value for the company or produce any benefits for stakeholders. Therefore, to assess a project’s success, two perspectives have been defined:
- Project success is based on the long-term benefits and value of the project. It is associated with effectiveness, which is the capability of delivering a desired result
- Project management success is based on delivering the requirements on time within budget. It is associated with efficiency, which is doing things right. A successful project management means planning in the right way and following the plan.
Application
(1000 words)
- How to measure them
- Examples?
//Provide guidance on how to use the tool, concept or theory and when it is applicable
Limitations
(500 words)
- When does it make sense to talk about project management/project success? Fex if a company is not project management driven
- When is only one success enough? Do we always need to have both kinds of success?
- The value of a project and its long term benefits might be very difficult to estimate
//Critically reflect on the tool/concept/theory and its application context. What can it do, what can it not do? Under what circumstances should it be used, and when not? How does it compare to the “status quo” of the standards – is it part of it, or does it extent them? Discuss your article in the context of key readings / resources provided in class. Substantiate your claims with literature
Annotated bibliography
Provide key references (3-10), where a reader can find additional information on the subject. The article MUST make appropriate references to the and reference material provided in class – either incorporating it as a source, or critically discussing aspects that are missing from it but covered by this article. Summarize and outline the relevance of each reference to the topic (around 100 words per reference). The bibliography is not counted in the suggested 3000 word target length of the article
