Written Assignment Unit 1

University of the People.

BUS 5611: Managing Projects and Programs.

Dr. Mukesh Prasad

17th April 2024

Written Assignment Unit 1 Question
Imagine that you have recently finished your MBA and have a company that has entered the
arena of Project Management. During your interview, you are told that project management is
not something that the company has always done. In fact, the company began as a retail
software design company. As the company grew from small to medium-sized, it became
apparent that they needed to employ Project Managers to help their clients rollout the use of their
software and not leave the PM to the client. As their newest hire, you have been asked to create a
proposal for the management team to consider the installation of a bonafide Project Management
Department. Your duty is to prepare a concise (about 2-pages) proposal addressing the value of
robust project management approach will bring to the company. Be as concise as possible and
ensure that at least three key benefits are clearly emphasized.
In order to build your argumentation you have at your disposal the following reference
information:
- A PMI´s (Project Management Institute) paper discussing the project management
benefits: The Value of Project
Management (http://www.pmi.org/Business-Solutions/~/media/PDF/Business-Solutions/Value
%20of%20Project%20Management_FINAL.ashx).
Paper Assessment Criteria:
 Overall Content - Balanced presentation of relevant and legitimate information that
clearly supports a central purpose or argument and displays evidence of a thoughtful, in-
depth analysis of a significant topic.
 Research and References - Reference information from a variety of relevant, quality
sources and are synthesized into the work to strengthen/build upon the stated arguments.
 Organization - The ideas are arranged logically to support the purpose or argument. They
flow smoothly from one to another and are clearly linked to each other.
 Synthesis and conclusion - paper is logically and creatively organized with smooth
transitions. Presents a logical explanation for findings.
Introduction.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines a project as a temporary endeavor undertaken to
create a unique product, service, or result. According to Watt, A. (2014), organizations turn to
project management to deliver results consistently, reduce costs, increase efficiencies and
improve customer and stakeholder satisfaction. Watt maintains that strong, organization-wide
commitment to project management yields long-term business value and competitive advantage.
As the newly hired Project Manager for a retail software design company that has grown from
small to medium-sized company, I have been tasked with the responsibility to create a proposal
for the management team to consider the installation of a bonafide Project Management
Department. Below is the proposal explaining the value of robust project management approach
and its benefits for management consideration.
The Value of Establishing a Robust Project Management Department.
This proposal is intended to present a business case to management regarding the importance of
establishing a Robust Project Management Department. It should be noted that leading
organizations across sectors and geographic borders have been steadily embracing project
management as a way to control spending and improve project results (Watt, A., 2014). A robust
project management framework can help the project team to plan, execute, monitor, control, and
deliver the project outcomes effectively and efficiently, while managing the risks, issues,
changes, and expectations of the stakeholders.
Julia Martins (2024) argues that a well-established PMO or department facilitates a culture of
learning and continuous improvement. They help organizations capture lessons learned from
completed or existing projects and distribute best practices. By sharing knowledge, PMOs enable
project teams to leverage past experiences, avoid pitfalls, and improve project execution. PMOs
allow project teams to compare actual results to their baseline values and evaluate the overall as
well as individual performance. Devising a robust project management plan requires creativity,
problem-solving, delegation, and an in-depth understanding of key requirements.
The Benefits of project Management
Indeed Editorial Team (2023), considers project management as the process of leading
employees to complete a project and fulfill its goals. It emphasis the importance of Project
Managers who often help a team accomplish their primary duties for a project and resolve any
difficult challenges or issues that arise. They also help with planning the project, creating goals
that meet client or company requirements and ensuring the team delivers the final product by the
scheduled deadline.
Against this backdrop, companies need to establish effective project management department to
help teams increase their productivity and deliver successful results. Below are three key benefits
espoused by Indeed Editorial Team (2023) for the establishment of robust project management
approach by a company;
Improved efficiency.
It is argued that when team members operate in a company that has a project manager leading
them, it can help improve their overall efficiency. My proposal to the management of the soft
wear company is to understand and appreciate the fact that a project manager can use their
administrative skills to understand the team members’ qualifications, delegate tasks to them and
monitor their progress to improve productivity. My task as a project manager will help establish
a framework for projects that are implemented by the company. This framework can help
employees understand what to expect for upcoming projects so they can complete their tasks
more quickly and efficiently. This will help our company to attract more customers and win
more projects in a competitive world.
Better communication
A robust project management department will facilitate effective planning and collaboration
among project teams and contribute to improve communication between company departments,
executives and stakeholders. My role as Project Manager in such a company will be to ensure
better communication among project teams by using effective communication skills to ensure all
members of the project team understand the objectives and their roles. In the case of challenges, I
will ensure all stakeholders through departmental heads are kept abreast with such challenges
and strategies put in place to address them and make sure everyone stays updated. I will also
ensure that the project management department report their team’s progress to stakeholders and
executives, informing them of any major successes or setbacks and how they've resolved any
challenges. These communication processes will enable management to address issues relevant
to the operations of the company in a timely fashion.
Clear goals and objectives
It is also argued by Indeed Editorial Team (2023), that project management provides teams and
employees with clear goals and objectives to achieve successful project outcomes. As Project
Manager my duty will be to separate larger goals into more manageable objectives or action
plans for team members to perform. That way, using the action plan and smaller goals, will help
employees to better understand their tasks and how each one contributes to the overall goals of
the project. Having a better understanding of their duties can increase employees' efficiency and
productivity in the company thereby contributing to a sustainable competitive advantage for the
company.
Conclusion
Establishing a dedicated project management department for a soft wear company with potential
growth opportunities is considered a powerful management decision that would yield more
dividends for the company. Management should note that using successful project management
can help create a positive working environment for teams. When a project manager helps lead a
team through multiple successful projects, it can improve employee satisfaction and motivate
them to deliver continuous, high-quality work. Using strong leadership skills, project managers
can also help employees train and develop their skills, allowing them to become more confident
in their abilities and help customers and clients more effectively (Indeed Editorial Team,2023).
Project Management will ultimately provide a sustainable competitive advantage for the
company.
Reference
Indeed Editorial Team (2023, November 30). What’s the Value of Project Management?
Benefits and Tips. Retrieved from: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-
development/value-of-project-management#:~:text=Project%20management%20is%20an
%20important,decisions%20to%20resolve%20challenges%20quickly.
Julia Martins (2024, February 3). What is project management and its benefits? Retrieved from:
https://asana.com/resources/benefits-project-management
The value of project management. (n.d.). Project Management
Institute. http://www.pmi.org/Business-Solutions/~/media/PDF/Business-Solutions/Value%20of
%20Project%20Management_FINAL.ashx
Watt, A. (2014, August 14). Project management. BCcampus. Licensed under Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0, (Refer textbook or syllabus to download the
pdf) https://opentextbc.ca/projectmanagement/