How to deal with ethics and sustainability in a project
13-January-2025
How to run an international project
13-January-2025
11 – ORGANISATION AND APPROACHES
The shape of an organisation, and the delivery approach will have a big influence on project success. The challenge is how to get the best organisation and approach for a project. Different types of project call for different forms of organisation and different approaches.
In contemplating a project the organisation has to consider whether it should carry it out independently, or find some other route.
There are also choices to make about how the project should be organised and the type of setting in which it is carried out.
Choosing the right project organisation
11.1 – Types of organisation
Learn about different ways to organise project work such as the functional project, virtual or matrix arrangements depending on the needs of the project. See how the Apollo 11 programme [Story: project structure and approach] adopted a matrix organisation because that made most sense.
You will learn:
- What is the best way to organise a project.
- What are factors to consider in organising a project.
- What are the types of project organisation.
- What is a functional organisation.
- What is a project organisation.
- What is a matrix organisation.
- What is weight in a matrix organisation.
- What is a single project organisation.
- What is a virtual project organisation.
Choosing the right project approach
11.2 – Who should do the project?
In contemplating a project, the organisation has to consider whether it should carry it out independently, or find some other route. Learn what project firms are, and how they carry out projects for other organisations. Arup, Bechtel and Wipro are good examples.
The story of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank headquarters illustrates how project firms worked together to create an outstanding building.
You will learn:
- What is the best way to run a project.
- When a project should not be run in-house.
- What are project firms.
- What kind of work project firms do.
- How project firms win work.
- What is a customer project.
- What is the role of a customer project.
- What is a supplier alliance.
What is the best way to do the project?
11.3 – Which project approach to take?
See how approaches like waterfall, agile and hybrid are options for how to actually carry out the work.
You will learn:
- What is the waterfall approach.
- What are the pros and cons of the waterfall project approach.
- What is the agile project approach.
- What are the pros and cons of the agile project approach.
- How to choose the right project approach.
- What is the hybrid project approach.
Maybe an unconventional approach would be better
11.4 – Unconventional approaches
Examine other possibilities, such as a special project unit like the Lockheed Skunk Works or a Wow! project.
You will learn:
- What is a “Wow!” project.
- What is a special project unit.
- How can crowdsourcing be used in a project.
- How organisational culture can affect the project approach.
What is the best place to do the project work?
11.5 – The work environment
Discover various choices around the environment in which project effort will take place. Pixar’s headquarters in California is deliberately designed to foster highly creative work.
You will learn:
- What is the best working environment for a project.
- What are the problems of dispersed teams.
- What is a dedicated project room.
- What is an innovation hub.
- How to run a project close to the users.
- How to make workspaces effective.
- What are the drawbacks of innovative workspaces.