Question

Since its inception, the IBM PMCOE working hand in hand with all business units worldwide
ensured that we became a project-based enterprise that applies and integrates project management
disciplines into all core business processes and systems. The initial charter drove more consistent
and broader use of project management disciplines, including the formalization of the position of
project manager throughout our organization.
Over time, the IBM PMCOE has driven the transformation and integration of project management
into the fabric of the organization. Our professionals are more experienced and capable in their
abilities to get their work done using project management disciplines. In addition to being one of
the world’s largest IT and consulting services company, IBM is a global business and technology
leader, innovating in research and development to shape the future of society at large.
Today, we see ourselves as much more than an Information Technology Company. In April 2016,
IBM’s Chairman, President and CEO, Ginni Rometty described the dawn of a new era, shaped by
AI computing and cloud platforms. She described how the IT industry is fundamentally re-ordering
at an unprecedented pace. In response, IBM is becoming much more than a “hardware, software,
services” company. We are emerging as an AI solutions and cloud Platform Company.
Fundamental to the success of this transformation is the skills and abilities of our workforce. We
are being challenged to be relevant to the marketplace of tomorrow. As a focus on continuous
learning, we have Think40 where we are encouraged to spend 40 hours every year to up-skill.
We are encouraged to have a point of view, be socially eminent and be comfortable in a customer
facing situation. We are provided with the tools and techniques, including new ways of learning
such as video, gaming and interactive eLearning techniques to enable this objective. New phrases and concepts are creeping into the everyday vocabulary of our teams, such as agile, design
thinking, calculated risk-taking and better collaboration.
IBM’s PMCOE is no exception to this transformation and 2017 marked the 20th anniversary of
the Centre of Excellence, which clearly shows our ongoing commitment to project management
as a key profession within the corporation. Our PM curriculum is delivered globally and across all
lines of business, helping to drive a consistent base of terminology and understanding across the
company. And our project and program management profession has established an end-to end
process to “quality assure” progress through the project management career path.

Questions

1.) Referring to the extract, the company reorganized to include project management in its
operations. With this in mind, justify why companies have an increased interest in project
management in recent times.
2.) Over time, the IBM PMCOE has driven the transformation and integration of project
management into the fabric of the organization”. Evident from this assertion is that this
company has and continues to align projects to its strategy.
a. Discuss (in a paragraph) the importance of aligning projects to strategy
b. Justify with real life examples why the project manager should understand the
strategic position of the firm.
3. You have been appointed the project manager at IBM, a company operating in a fast-paced
IT market. You wish to emphasize to the company bosses the need establish the sound
project priority system, and highlight some of the techniques you would employ in
selecting projects fairly. Write a discussion of not more than one page in account of these
two aspects.

Answer 1

1. A project is a set of specific operations which are performend with a view to achieve the organisational goals. A project utilises the resources, skills of the workers, costs and time of the organisation. Therefore, to achieve the organisational goals effectively and efficiently, utilise the resources in an optimum way, a project must be managed carefully. Project Management is, thus, given much importance these days.

Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements. Project Management have numerous benefits due to which it has gained much importance. The benefits of project management are as follows:

a. Defines a plan and organises hussle -

Projects are generally chaotic. The primary function of project management is to plan and organize the project to reduce this hussle. A clear path which is defined from start to end ensures such outcomes that achieve the goals of the project.

b. Establishes a schedule and plan -

Project managememt enables preparation of a schedule, according to which activities are planned and carried out. In the absence of a schedule, a project has higher probabilities of delays and costs can build up. So, good schedule is much needed.

c. Enforces and encourages teamwork -

A good project management enforces and encourages the employees to work as a team to achieve the goals of the project. Collaboration of employees is the milestone to achieve the desired goals which is ensured by good project management.

d. Maximises Resources -

A good project management helps to reduce the hussle and confusions in the project and ensure timely performance of tasks to complete the project effectively and efficiently. This ensure savings of costs and maximum utilisation of resources.

e. Manages integration -

A project can not be carried out solely. It has to be integrated with business processes, system and organization. Like a sales system has to be integrated with sales process and sales organization. A project management enables to integrate the project with such needed process, systems and organization.

f. Savings of costs -

A project management enables timely planning and performance of tasks of the project, to reduce hussle and achieve project goals. This leads to optimum use of resources and savings of costs.

g. Manages change -

A project takes place in an environment which is dynamic i.e. keeps on changing. A project can not be molded to changes if not managed properly. A good project management ensures project to adapt to changes quickly.

h. Managing quality -

Quality is the value of the product produced. A customer values quality product. A good project management helps to identify, manage and control quality. Good quality helps to retain happy customers.

i. Retain and use knowledge -

For achieving the project goals it must be managed properly. For managing a project skills and knowledge is required. Thus, project management enables project manager to use and retain their knowledge to get the best results.

j. Learning from failures -

Projects may fail sometimes if not managed properly. A project management enables the organisations to learn from its past failures and plan accordingly to achieve success.

So, due to the above mentioned benefits the organisations are paying more attention to good project management these days, with a view to achieve the project goals effectively and efficiently.