Chapter#1 _Extended
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Management, Sixth Edition
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Projects must operate in a broad organizational
environment
Project manager need to consider projects within
the organization context
Project managers need to use systems thinking:
◦ A system is a set of interacting components working with
an environment to fulfill some purpose
◦ Taking a holistic view of carrying out projects within the
context of the organization
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Senior managers must make sure that projects
continue to support current business needs
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Management, Sixth Edition
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A systems approach is an analytical approach to
management and problem solving
Three parts include:
◦ Systems philosophy: an overall model for thinking
about things as systems
◦ Systems analysis: problem-solving approach that
requires:
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defining the scope of the system,
dividing it into components,
identifying and evaluating its problems,
examining alternative solutions, and
identifying a satisfactory solution
◦ Systems management: address business,
technological, and organizational issues before
creating or making changes to systems
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Management, Sixth Edition
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Systems Approach
Systems
philosophy
Systems management
Systems Analysis
Business
organization
technology
Political frame
HR frame
Structural frame
functional
project
Information Technology Project
Management, Sixth Edition
Symbol frame
matrix
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Management, Sixth Edition
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Structural frame: Focuses on
roles and responsibilities,
coordination and control.
Organization charts help
define this frame.
Human resources frame:
Focuses on providing
harmony between needs of
the organization and needs of
people.
Political frame: Assumes
organizations are coalitions
(alliance) composed of
varied individuals and
interest groups. Conflict and
power are key issues.
Symbolic frame: Focuses on
symbols and meanings
related to events. how do
people dress? how many
hours do they work? how
do they run meetings?
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Management, Sixth Edition
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3 basic organization structures
◦ Functional: functional managers (vice president)
report to the CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
◦ Project: program managers report to the CEO
◦ Matrix: middle ground between functional and
project structures; personnel often report to two
or more bosses; structure can be weak, balanced,
or strong matrix
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Management, Sixth Edition
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Information Technology Project
Management, Sixth Edition
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Project
Characteristics
Organizational Structure Type
Functional
Weak Matrix
Project manager’s
authority
Percent of
performing
organization’s
personnel assigned
full-time to project
work
Who controls the
project budget
Matrix
Balanced
Matrix
Low to
Moderate
15-60%
Project
Strong
Matrix
Moderate
to high
50-95%
High to
almost total
85-100%
Little or none
Limited
Virtually none
0-25%
Functional
manager
Functional
manager
Mixed
Project
manager
Project
manager
Project manager’s
role
Part-time
Part-time
Full-time
Full-time
Full-time
Common title for
project manager’s
role
Project
Coordinator/
Project Leader
Project
Coordinator/
Project
Leader
Part-time
Project
Manager/
Project
Officer
Part-time
Project
Manager/
Program
Manager
Full-time
Project
Manager/
Program
Manager
Full-time
Project management
Part-time
administrative staff
PMBOK Guide, 2000, 19, and PMBOK Guide 2004, 28.
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Management, Sixth Edition
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