Question

Essay response to 10 questions. Please do not cut and paste answers. Answer the questions in your words and explain your responses as needed. Examples are great. Quality responses are better.

1. Why is project implementation important to strategic planning?

2. Explain the interaction of technical and socio-cultural dimensions of project management. Are they related?

3. Why should organizations look at results besides ROI when selecting projects?

4. Discuss the pros and cons of the checklist versus the weighted factor method of selecting projects.

5. What are the conditions that would support a strong matrix organization for project management versus a dedicated team?

6. What are the important factors for successfully completing a project?

7. What questions does a project objective answer? What would be an example of a good project objective?

8. What are the key elements of a typical scope statement?

9. What are the major types of cost in a typical project? Which costs are controllable by the project manager?

10. Project risks can/cannot be eliminated if the project is carefully planned. Explain.

Answer 1

1.

Strategic planning is the process whereby an organization comes up with documentation showing how it plans to move from its current to the desired situation. A strategy based on strengths and weaknesses within the organization predicts changes in the environment, helping in the proper allocation of resources in the enterprise (Sadeghifar, Mehdi, Shahram, Hamid & Mohammad,2015).Project management is essential in executing an organization's strategy. It is the process of planning, scheduling, and controlling activities needed for the accomplishment of project objectives. Having strategies ensures successful completion of projects in an organization. Project strategies are managed at the integrative, administrative, and operational levels. The strategy used to accomplish each level's objectives shows the objectives of the next level. Sinceprojects are a means of achieving set strategic goals, each project should relate to the organization strategy. Strategic planning brings reliability through the alignment of the organization’s objectives (Stukalina, 2016).

 

2.

The socio-cultural dimension is the “art," whilethe technical dimension is the “science” of project management. A project manager should find a balance between the socio-cultural and technical dimensions. Traditionally, the measure of project success was based on time and budget. However, measures like scope, quality, and a measure of casualties in interrelationships should be considered. Although the measures of budget and time are suitable in the short term, it may have adverse effects in the long run. The interrelationships of the five measures are represented in a project management Triangle, wherethe cost sideshows the total cost.

 

In contrast, the time side shows the duration of the project.Inside the triangle, people and equipment are the resources used. It highlights quality showing how the project satisfies client expectations. The triangle indicates the relationship that exists between the scope, duration, and cost of a project (Igwe& Anthony, 2018).

 

3.

According to Serra & Martin (2015), project success is an integral part of business success. Therefore, organizations should ensure that selected projects are successful in executing their strategy. With a project's efficiency, an organization can analyze results. When selecting a project, its success can be accessed through evaluation and appraisal. An appraisal is done before commencement to define expectations and measure relevance. Evaluation involves analyzing the achievements against previously described success criteria. Although there are several ways of evaluating project success, it should be done on a subjective or situational basis. Different perspectives that use the same criteria can evaluate a project as a failure or success. On the other hand, criteria can be appropriate for some perspectives but not for others. For example, ownership, investment, and project management success are assessed using different criteria and perspectives. Project managers ensure alignment of all stakeholder expectations to define project success.

 

4.

The purpose of a descriptive checklist is to assess projects providing a record of essential aspects for scoping and recognition. Checklists increase a manager’s awareness of how they should determine projects. They help in creating awareness of a project's environmental impact. Impact quantification is done using the weighted-scale method. The main limitation of this method is its failure to link single activities to the environmentalaspects affected. Descriptive checklists are exhaustive by including the impacts experienced in each stage of a project. However, it is a method that does not provide information about the magnitude of impact. The checklist method tries to sectionalize the environment. Systems of the environment are made of composite interrelated parts that incorporate loops for feedback. Weighted checklists lack this aspect. It is a method that should be implemented with care. Its quantitative characteristics differentiate alternatives and mustbe used when an evaluation requires a quantitative solution (Modak& Biswas).

 

5.

According to Cristóbal, Fernández & Diaz (2018), structuring a project requires formulating an organizational structure. The structure defines the relationship of the project with other projects, the external environment, and the relationship among the members of the project. The matrixstructure is a combination of a line- staff structure and project structure. It is used in highly innovative organizations with advanced technologies, large organizations in a dynamic environment, and in sophisticated knowledge, where project results are entirely new products. The project manager works closely with other team members and sometimes compete for resources with other unit managers. It is, therefore, essential to maintain a high level of communication between the project manager and unit managers. Complex organizations work best with the matrix structure bringing accountability. Organizations based on projects are mainly concerned with the inertia rooted in their system. Such organizations result in more bureaucracy comparedto the bureaucracies they should replace.

 

6.

According to Garbharran, Jeevarathnam& Thulani (2012), successful projects involve meeting all stakeholders' needs, having a competent project manager, adequate resources, and having contractual agreements with all relevant stakeholders. The organization should utilize up-to-date technology. Adopting new technology creates a competitive advantage, resulting in project success. Past experience is also very essential. Project members should always document knowledge gained from the project to prevent mistakes in future projects. An environment ought to be created, where team members are motivated, which results in optimal performance. Additionally,they should be given a clear scope of objectives to avoid “grey areas." In the course of any project when changes occur, the team must be flexible and adaptable,to achieve success. Communication is another critical factor for any successful project. Whenever a project's objectives and scope are set, there must be constant communication with all stakeholders as the project continues for the effective dissemination of information.

 

7.

Successful organizations set goals and write clear statements expressing their objectives. Effective goal setting requires that objective statements are formulated using a clear framework.A goal is the desired result of an action to be achieved in the future. An objective is a sub-goal: a short-term change resulting from activities performed. The effects of the immediate output lead to the attainment of objectives in the short term, which, over time, contributes towards achieving the overall goal. An objective hasa specific scope, an object of the outcome, hierarchy, measurability, short-term duration, the significance of effectiveness, and SMART expression ofgoals. An objective is a statement specific on short term accomplishment. Writing SMART objectives statements sets a standard for goal setting, giving way forward for planning and implementation. SMART model outlines the five essential criteria that every effective objective statement should fulfill. Many organizations use SMART as a guide in an objective formulation (Ogbeiwi, 2017).

 

8.

A scope statement ensures the establishment of a firm basis for each project. Project managers state a project's name, owner, objective, stakeholders, and sponsors. Also, it identifies a project's requirements, outcomes, milestones, and constraints. Defining the project objective needs the establishment of businessgoals. Objectives evade scope creep, which occurs when stakeholders impacted by project outcome request adjustments to products. A scope statement identifies the reason for project initiation. It gives the direction of the project by emphasizing the benefits expected. It contains a measure of success by creating a marketing strategy. The goals of a project are defined, and a scope statement helps qualify product requirements. All risks, dependencies, and assumptions should be listed in a scope statement. It is a statementthat sets expectations on project duration. Scope creep results in project failure and can be avoided by documenting what is included and what is omitted in the project (Duggan, 2020).

 

9.

According to McQuerrey (2020), estimating project cost depends on the industry, scope of the project, and the project time frame. The typical cost of pre-planning includeschoosing project employees, managers,doing market research, and hiring consultants. Materials are what a project manager buys to help in the project. For instance, if it is a construction project, materials include concrete foundation,plumbing, electrical components, and paint. All parties employed in the duration of a project are human resources costs. In addition to salary, the cost of insurance and benefits are applicable. Costs incurred in operation of a project include inspections, buying supplies for the project, paying relevant costs on a facility, and everyday operations. Operations involve the cost of running machinery and collection or delivering products or supplies. For instance, operating costs on a buildingproject wouldinclude the cost of a cement mixer and the cost of renting a hydraulic lift for roof shingles deliver.

 

10.

Risk is uncertainty in the circumstance that impacts a project. (Keshk,Ibrahim &Ysory, 2018).Unexpected problems are encountered no matter the planning. Team members quit, and resources become scarce. Planning can identify potential problems; analyze their likelihood, enabling proper action to be taken. Finding a more natural way to handle a task helps the project. In planninga project, risks are uncertain since they are yet to happen. Eventually, some of the risks planned for do happen, and that's the time to deal with them. Risk can be handled by avoidance, mitigation, transfer, and acceptance. The best way to tackle a risk is by avoiding it. If it can be prevented, it can’tharmthe project. When a risk is unavoidable,mitigation is the way. It involves taking action thatreduces damage to theproject. A transfer can be done by buyinginsurance. Acceptance happens when avoidance, mitigation, or transfer fails (Watt, 2014).

Strategic planning is the process whereby an organization comes up with documentation showing