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Assessment - Project Management Methodologies

Task Description

Introduction

Businesses need to be innovative and creative to create a niche for their business operations. As competition is ever increasing, survivability of an organisation will depend on how well they respond to these challenges. One possible solution is project management. Good project management practices can help organisations to better plan, organise, manage and control work, which leads to better performance and increased productivity.

The project management methodologies of organisations may vary but nonetheless will have a common project management language and framework across the organisation, often adapted from external standards like those of the PMI. However, management structures are different in every organisation and therefore one project management methodology does not fit all. Selecting a standard methodology that does not fit within the framework of the organisation may not achieve its promised benefits.

Scenario
You are a project management consultancy and have been hired to advise three separate organisations on the best choice of project management methodology for each of their respective organisations. Details of the organisations are provided in assessment information accessible from the Assessment block in the unit Moodle site.

Task
You are to present your recommendations for the most appropriate project methodology for EACH of the three organisations to adopt. The methodologies can be chosen from one of the two most commonly known methodologies (i.e. PMBOK developed by the Project Management Institute or PRINCE2,developed by the Office of Government Commerce in the UK) or any other project management methodology that you think best suits the relevant organisation's needs. Your recommendations must be supported by detailed explanations and must also address the following questions:

- Is implementing a project management methodology considered a management level activity? Who should be involved?

- Should the chosen project management methodology be implemented in its entirety? Please support your decision with an implementation plan.

- What issues might you encounter when implementing the chosen project management methodology?

- What should be done to address the difficulties faced in attempting to implement the methodology?

- What benefits do you attribute to the use of the chosen project management methodology

Your submission should be made using Microsoft Office documents and the essay submitted as a separate 2,500 - 3,000 word Microsoft WORD document. Supporting diagrams / figures may be presented in other formats - Excel, PowerPoint slides, PDF documents, as part of the appendix and will not count towards the essay's word limit. Tables should be placed in the essay and shall be included in the word count. You should describe all of the required parts of your methodology in as complete manner as you deem appropriate. A range of sample methodologies will be identified for you to study during the unit. If you wish to include examples of any parts you may do so in an appendix. You must not include pictures or diagrams in the body of the essay. You must provide an ILLUSTRATION OR DRAWING OF YOUR METHODOLOGY /IES. in the appendix of your essay. Your essay should be a properly constructed academic essay. It should contain an effective introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction should introduce the essay and include your argument. The body should present the evidence you have collected to support your recommendations, provide your assumptions, summarise the evidence and the conclusion should restate your recommendations on a high level. The essay should contain a coherent, but necessarily restricted review of the academic literature on the project management topics in question. The literature review should be integrated into the essay, not a separate section. Do not include an executive summary or an abstract. A reference list formatted in the prescribed Harvard style is compulsory. Do not include a bibliography.

This assessment item involves researching your assigned topic to enhance your understanding of project management concepts and utilisation of academic literature. Whilst you use the recommended textbooks you may also refer to relevant peer reviewed, academic journal articles. You will be expected to present information and cite at least twenty (20) times from relevant course material or other PEER REVIEWED sources.