Project organization and planning

Question 1

What are the most common reasons for failure of projects

Answer 1

• Objectives and requirements are unclear
• Lack of resources
• Insufficient project planning

Question 2

definition of Organization (Institutional)

Answer 2

• concept of organization: Targeted social systems in which people, objects are permanently integrated into a structural connection,

Question 3

what are the two aspects that describe business organization?

Answer 3

-Organizational structure ( line organisation, staff organization, matrix organization) ( °
° °
° ° ° °
)

-Process organization (information, documentation, reporting) ( > > > > > )

Question 4

Aspects of Organizational structure

Answer 4

• Most importantly defines WHAT to do
• Permanently effective
• Divided in units (jobs, departments, equipment)
• Defined relationships between units

Question 5

Aspects of Process organization

Answer 5

• Describes HOW to fulfill the task!
• Describes the dynamic relationship between the processes of task fulfillment.
• Extension of the organizational
  structure by dynamic, spacetime aspects

Question 6

Building blocks of the organization in the company

Answer 6

• Hierarchical order
• Task partitioning
• Coordination
• Competence and responsibility
• Communication structures
• Information structures

Question 7

Forms of organization

Answer 7

• Line organization
• Staff-Line organization
• Matrix organization

Question 8

Basic Questions of Project Organization.

Answer 8

• Organizational design of the project area ( either activity orientated or object orientated)
• Classification of the project area into the organizational structure ( Line, Matrix or Staff organization )

Question 9

Forms of Project organization

Answer 9

• Pure project organization (PO)
• Influence project organization (IPO)
• Mixed influence project organization

Question 10

Pure Project organization

• short description
• pros
• cons

Answer 10

Pure project organization (PO)
• Project manager (PL) formally possesses all the necessary competences
• Employees (EM) working full time for the project
• EM receive instructions only from PL
Pros:
• PL and staff feel responsible
• Technical home port (flexible staff, specialist knowledge)
• Targeted coordination of different interests
Cons:
• Difficulty to reach specialists
• EMs are held back
• Career after the project?
• Lack of incentive systems

Question 11

Influence project organization

• short description
• pros
• cons

Answer 11

Influence project organization (IPO)
• Primary organization remains unchanged
• PL corresponds to a staff unit (no decision-making and instruction
authority), no responsibility
• Pure Controlling
Pros:
• High flexibility of the personnel (different use possible)
• Exchange of experience on different projects easy
• No organizational changes required
Cons:
• Nobody feels responsible.
• Low reaction speed in case of
malfunctions (lines)
• Little need to overcome difficulties together

Question 12

Mixed influence project organization

• short description
• pros
• cons

Answer 12

Mixed influence project organization
• Mixture of pure PO and IPO
• Most common form in practice
• Responsibilities and competences are divided between PL and line
instances according to the project.
• Pros:
• Mixture of pure PO and IPO
• Most common form in practice
• Responsibilities and competences
are divided between PL and line instances according to the project.
Cons:
• Danger of competence conflicts between line and project
• Uncertainty of superiors and employees
• High demands on communication and information readiness
• High quality of the employees

Question 13

Comparison of line to project organization

Answer 13

• line: 20% exceptions ; 80% everyday business

- Project Org: 80% exception; 20% special activities, exceptions

Question 14

what does project planning enable?

Answer 14

• higher likelihood of success of target
achievement
• reduction of project risk
• determination of critical work packages
• targeted use of all project resources
• reliable statements on project progress
• smooth coordination of project participants
• timely acquisition of necessary resources
• ongoing assessment of the project status
• efficient project management

Question 15

what are the general project phases?

Answer 15

• Prior to project : Marketing
  and acquisition, Analysis of
  requests, Proposal phase,
  Completion of contract

-During project: Detailed project planning, project execution, project completion, project wrap-up

Question 16

definition of Milestones

Answer 16

•Important events in
the course of the project
•Defined as the start
or end of key
operations
•Milestone dates and
dependencies result
from the planning
network