Organizational project management

Organizational project management is a structured approach to planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling resources and procedures to accomplish specific goals within a predetermined timeline and budget. It involves the identification of objectives and outcomes, the development of a plan to achieve them, and the coordination of resources, stakeholders and personnel to effectively complete the project. It requires effective communication and team collaboration and is critical to achieving successful outcomes and meeting organizational goals.

Example of organizational project management

• The implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system: An ERP system implementation is a complex, multi-faceted project that requires clear objectives, comprehensive planning, and detailed execution. It involves the coordination of multiple departments, personnel, and stakeholders, and requires effective communication and team collaboration. This project requires a structured approach to manage the different components, such as mapping out the project plan, identifying stakeholders, setting goals and milestones, developing strategies and procedures, and ensuring that all deadlines are met.
• The launch of a new product: Launching a new product requires careful planning and coordination of resources. It requires the identification of objectives, the development of a marketing strategy, the allocation of a budget, the selection and training of personnel, and the coordination of vendors and other stakeholders. An organizational project management approach is essential to ensure that all components are completed in a timely and efficient manner.
• The relocation of an office: Relocating an office is a complex, multi-faceted project that requires careful planning. It involves the coordination of multiple departments, personnel, and stakeholders, and requires effective communication and team collaboration. An organizational project management approach is essential to ensure that all components are completed in a timely and efficient manner. It involves the identification of objectives and stakeholders, the development of a plan to achieve them, and the coordination of resources, personnel, and vendors to ensure successful completion of the project.

Best practices of organizational project management

1. Establish Clear Goals and Objectives: The key to successful organizational project management is to set clear goals, objectives and timelines from the outset and ensure that everyone involved understands the desired outcomes. This should include a detailed description of the project and its expected results, as well as the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders.
2. Develop a Comprehensive Plan: A comprehensive plan outlines the scope of the project, the resources and personnel needed to carry it out, and the timeline for completion. It should also include risk management and quality assurance steps designed to ensure successful outcomes.
3. Monitor Progress: Project progress should be monitored throughout the lifecycle of the project, with regular updates and reports to stakeholders. This helps to ensure that the project stays on track and any potential issues are identified and addressed quickly.
4. Track Resources: Project managers should track and monitor the use of resources during the project lifecycle. This includes tracking personnel resources, equipment, materials, and other resources as they are used, and ensuring that they are used efficiently and appropriately.
5. Communicate with Stakeholders: Regular communication with stakeholders is essential for successful organizational project management. This includes providing project updates, addressing questions and concerns, and ensuring that all stakeholders are kept informed of progress and changes.
6. Utilize Technology: Technology can be a powerful tool for organizational project management. Software such as project management software, task tracking software, and document collaboration tools can help project managers to effectively manage projects, track progress, and ensure successful outcomes.
7. Utilize Best Practices: It is important to utilize best practices when managing organizational projects. This includes creating and utilizing project management processes, utilizing industry standards, and taking advantage of industry trends and tools.

Steps of organizational project management

Organizational project management is a structured approach to planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling resources and procedures to accomplish specific goals within a predetermined timeline and budget. The following are the essential steps of organizational project management:

• Define project objectives: Establishing the project objectives is the first step in project management. This includes determining the project goals, scope, deliverables, budget, timeline, and resources.
• Develop a project plan: A project plan outlines the activities, tasks, timelines, and resources needed to successfully execute the project. It should include specific details such as milestones, dependencies, and risks.
• Assign roles and responsibilities: Assigning roles and responsibilities allows team members to know who is responsible for what. It also helps ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
• Monitor progress: Monitoring progress is essential in ensuring that the project is on track. This includes tracking progress against the project plan, identifying potential risks, and taking corrective action as needed.
• Evaluate results: Evaluating results is important to ensure that the project has achieved its objectives. This includes analyzing the results, determining any lessons learned, and making recommendations for improvement.

Advantages of organizational project management

Organizational project management offers several advantages, including:

• Improved efficiency and productivity - By breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, project management allows organizations to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently.
• Increased visibility - Project management tools provide visibility into the progress of projects, allowing managers to track progress, identify areas of improvement, and monitor performance.
• Improved teamwork - Project management encourages collaboration, allowing teams to work together more effectively and efficiently.
• Cost savings - By breaking down tasks into smaller stages, organizations can save money by only investing in the resources that are necessary for each stage.
• Improved communication - Project management tools and processes allow for better communication between members of the team, which can improve the quality of the project and its outcomes.
• Reduced risk - By properly planning and managing resources, organizations can reduce the risk of project failure and ensure successful outcomes.

Limitations of organizational project management

Organizational project management is a valuable tool for planning, organizing and managing resources to achieve specific goals and objectives. However, it is also subject to certain limitations. These include:

• Limited resources: Project management can be limited by the availability of resources, both financial and personnel, to carry out the project. It can be difficult to secure enough resources to carry out the project, which can lead to delays or even project cancellation.
• Time constraints: Project management is subject to the constraints of time, which can be difficult to manage. Projects require timely completion to be successful, and delays can lead to the project becoming unprofitable or even failing.
• Complexity: Projects can become complex, involving multiple stakeholders and processes, which can be difficult to manage. Additionally, project management must be able to scale up or down depending on the complexity of the project.
• Communication: Effective communication is essential for successful project management, and any communication failures can have negative ramifications for the project. Additionally, communication between stakeholders must be managed in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
• Risk management: Project management must also be able to identify and manage risks associated with the project. Failure to do so can lead to delays, budget overruns, or even project failure.

Organizational project management — recommended articles

Applications of project management — Traditional project management — Project implementation phase — Execution of the project — Aspects of project management — Importance of project management — Project management knowledge areas — Successful project management — Benefits of project management

References

• Müller, R., Drouin, N., & Sankaran, S. (2019). Modeling organizational project management. Project Management Journal, 50(4), 499-513.
• Crawford, L. (2006). Developing organizational project management capability: Theory and practice. Project Management Journal, 37(3), 74-86.
• Hyväri, I. (2016). Roles of top management and organizational project management in the effective company strategy implementation. Procedia-Social and behavioral sciences, 226, 108-115.