Managing a Project Based Organisation

Aims of this Unit

The overall objective of this unit is to help participants become comfortable and competent in addressing the critical management issues and decisions required in establishing a project based organisation. Specifically, this unit aims to develop a participant's understanding of the principles of Project Management from a middle to senior managerial perspective in an organisational setting and to develop skills to plan and manage projects with teams.

MBA qualified professionals are expected to contribute to the strategic development and the management of associated changes for their organisation. This requires the effective and efficient coordination of the organisation's Change Managers, Project Managers (PMs) and Functional Managers. Often projects are already in play and the operation's Project Managers require significant resource support from the organisations' Executive Leadership Group and from the Senior Management.

Contemporary organisations deploy project management principles and structures as a strategy to deliver both internal and external capability improvements. The various project phases and processes associated with a project life cycle will be explored, along with the associated knowledge areas. While the learning journey does cover the basics of the project management method it is not designed to qualify the participant in the practices of project management but rather provide the context of what these professionals must do.

After the successful completion of this unit the learner will be able to provide the executive, senior management and project teams with direction and guidance in effectively embedding the project management principles into the fabric of the contemporary organisation.

Knowledge and Understanding

This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of:
• How projects fit within a contemporary organisation
• How the organisation's management works with the Project Management Team
• The interface between the Organisation's Change Manager and the PM Team
• What phases of the project's life-cycle must be supported
• What strategies can be used to integrate project management structures
• What project management principles need to be supported by the structure 
• How project-based organisations operate in contemporary business

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this course, participants should be able to:
1. Discuss the principles, skills and techniques required for the management of projects and the integration of project management concepts within a contemporary organisation's structure
2. Discuss current project management principles and best-of-breed practices and how they relate to and mesh with the management of organisational structures
3. Analyse the risks associated with implementing and executing organisation-centric projects and the development of the necessary contingency plans
4. Evaluate the importance of teamwork, leadership and the practical application of team- based skills in managing human resources within a project environment
5. Evaluate the organisation's business structure requirements against the project management framework to guide the developers and implementers of an emerging project-based operation
6. Demonstrate a high order of skill in analysis, critical reflection and evaluation and professional application
7. Demonstrate creativity and flexibility in the application of knowledge and skills to new situations, to resolve problems and to think rigorously and independently