ASSESSMENT BRIEF
Subject Code and Title PROJ6005 Sustainability in Project Portfolio and Program Management
Assessment Assessment 4: Portfolio Management Implementation Report
Individual/Group Individual
Length No longer than 2500 words (Final report)
Learning Outcomes 1. Critically evaluate the strategic value of project management and project portfolio management, paying particular attention to their potential impact on project management life cycles, project offices, change management, resource management and organisational change.
2. Demonstrate understanding and initiative in the application of project portfolio management tools, techniques and processes to achieve improved business practices and performance and integrate sustainable project outcomes.
3. Develop and defend arguments both for and against the implementation of project portfolio management in a range of organisations.
Submission Final Report - By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday end of Week 1 of Module 6
Weighting Final Report - 40%
Total Marks 40 marks
Context:
Assessment 4 builds upon the second assessment but focuses on the implementation of project portfolio management. This assessment is designed to highlight the skills, methodologies, tools and techniques required in project selection and management of a portfolio in order for an organisation to meet its specific business objectives. As organisations become more multi-faceted, evaluating the performance of their project portfolios becomes more complex and new methods of evaluation must be developed to account for this complexity.
Improving performance is also a key determinant for achieving organisational success which, in turn, is related to the project portfolio management maturity level of the organisation which may vary considerably. During implementation, organisations will be impacted by changes created by project and portfolio management initiatives and the project manager’s response must be cognisant of the corporate culture in which it is taking place and the strategies needed to account for any adverse impacts.
Instructions:
You have been successful in convincing executive management that your organisation should introduce a project portfolio management function and now that all the planning has been completed, you have been given the responsibility for its implementation. However, not everyone in the organisation is convinced that it is the right approach to take and you can already feel the forces of resistance starting to build from those who will be directly affected by its day-to-day operation.
You have determined that the status quo for managing projects in the organisation is not an option and will argue against it at every opportunity. The best way to convince your colleagues of the benefits of implementing project portfolio management is to review the processes and assess whether improvements to project selection, performance and success have been made, greater potential exists for aligning the business operations with strategic objectives, the benefits of enhanced portfolio management and evaluation to meet more complex needs are evident, and whether you think there is the potential for improving the maturity level of the organisation in project portfolio management in the future.
You recognise that during implementation, the changes created by the initiative have caused resistance from colleagues and that your assessment must be cognisant of the corporate culture in the organisation and include strategies to account for different perspectives from key stakeholders and any other adverse impacts this may cause. In responding to this ‘challenge’, you have decided to document your findings in a report that will be presented to executive management as part of the organisation’s annual review process which addresses the following requirements:
Situational Context
• Is the organisation investing in the right projects?
• Is the organisation optimising its capacity?
• How well is the organisation executing?
• Can the organisation absorb all the changes?
• Is the organisation realising the promised benefits?
Portfolio Evaluation
• What method is the organisation using to evaluate its overall project portfolio?
• What is the justification of using the chosen method in comparison to some of the others that are available?
• Are there any challenges that the organisation might face in using the current method if it were to operate in a global environment?
• Is the benefits management lifecycle incorporated in the evaluation process?
• How might benefits management be helpful in successfully meeting the deliverable goals of the organisation’s projects?
Portfolio Management
• How is project portfolio management ensuring that the organisation’s collective projects are aligning with its strategic objectives?
• Has a Project Management Office been introduced into the organisation and, if so, has it played a role in terms of standardising practices and increasing project success rates? If not, why not? What alternative approaches are available?
• What quantitative and qualitative tools and techniques is the organisation currently using to manage its project portfolio and are they effective?
Maturity Levels
• At what maturity level do you believe the organisation is at in terms of its approach to project portfolio management?
• What are the key best practices which can be adopted to improve the maturity level and which model (e.g. PRINCE2, OPM3) do you think would be appropriate?
• How might you go about implementing this change and what assistance from the organisation would you require?
Corporate Culture
• Assess the corporate culture of the organisation and whether it is likely to be different in terms of key internal stakeholder influence and input (e.g. HR Director, Technology Manager, Facilities Manager, Accountant).
• Will any change management initiative in terms of project portfolio management process improvement and benefits realisation need to take into account the different perspectives of these stakeholders and what concerns might each stakeholder express?
• What aspects of the corporate culture do you think would support project portfolio management and its sustainability criteria?
• Are there any challenges involved in getting project portfolio management and its sustainability criteria embraced by the organisation?
In considering these requirements, be mindful of the differing views and staff perspectives on the benefits and potential outcomes and highlight key instances where the implementation of project portfolio management is having both positive and/or negative effects and how they should be addressed.
Outcome to be submitted:
Final report – by end of week 1 of Module 6 Submit your final report to Executive Management.
Learning Resources:
• Resource on APA writing style:
Learning and Academic Skills Unit. (2016). Academic Writing Guide. APA 6th ed. Sydney, Australia: Laureate Australia.
• Resource on business report writing:
Victoria University of Wellington (2013). How to write a business report. School of
Marketing and Internal Business and Student Learning Support Service, Wellington, New Zealand. http://www.victoria.ac.nz/vbs/teaching/publications/VBS-reportwriting-guide-2013-July.pdf
• Refer to the subject planner for learning resources on Modules 4 to 6 to complete Assessment 2.
Assessment Criteria:
Final report
• Knowledge and understanding (10%)
• Analysis and application with synthesis of new knowledge (30%)
• Evaluation of information (30%)
• Correct citation of key resources and evidence (10%)
• Effective communication (20%)
Learning Rubrics – Final report
Assessment Attributes Fail (0-49) Pass (50-64) Credit (65-74) Distinction (75-84) High Distinction (85-100)
Knowledge and understanding
(10%) Limited understanding of required concepts and
knowledge
Key components of the assignment are not addressed. Knowledge or understanding of the field or discipline.
Resembles a recall or summary of key ideas.
Often
conflates/confuses assertion of personal opinion with information substantiated by evidence from the research/course materials. Thorough knowledge or understanding of the field or discipline/s.
Supports personal opinion and information substantiated by evidence from the research/course materials.
Demonstrates a capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts. Highly developed understanding of the field or discipline/s.
Discriminates between
assertion of personal opinion and information substantiated by robust evidence from the research/course materials and extended reading.
Well demonstrated capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts. A sophisticated understanding of the field or discipline/s.
Systematically and critically discriminates between assertion of personal opinion and information substantiated by robust evidence from the research/course materials and extended reading.
Mastery of concepts and application to new situations/further learning.
Evaluation of
information
(30%) Limited understanding of key concepts required to support the pitch.
Confuses logic and emotion. Information taken from Resembles a recall or summary of key ideas.
Often
conflates/confuses Supports personal opinion and information substantiated by evidence from the Discriminates between
assertion of personal opinion and information substantiated by Systematically and critically discriminates between assertion of personal opinion and information
substantiated by robust
reliable sources but without a coherent analysis or synthesis.
Viewpoints of experts are taken as fact with little questioning.
assertion of personal opinion with information substantiated by evidence from the research/course materials.
Analysis and evaluation do not reflect expert judgement, intellectual independence, rigor and adaptability.
research/course materials.
Demonstrates a capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts.
Identify logical flaws.
Questions viewpoints of experts.
robust evidence from the research/course materials and extended reading.
Well demonstrated capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts.
Viewpoint of experts are subject to questioning.
Analysis and evaluation reflect
growing judgement, intellectual independence, rigor and adaptability.
evidence from the research/course materials and extended reading.
Information is taken from sources with a high level of
interpretation/evaluation to develop a comprehensive critical analysis or synthesis.
Identifies gaps in knowledge.
Exhibits intellectual independence, rigor, good judgement and adaptability.
Analysis and application with synthesis of new knowledge
(30%) Limited synthesis and analysis.
Limited
application/recommendations based upon analysis. Demonstrated analysis and synthesis of new knowledge with application.
Well-developed analysis and
synthesis with
application of recommendations Thoroughly developed and creative analysis and synthesis with application of pretested Highly sophisticated and creative analysis, synthesis of new with existing knowledge.
Shows the ability to interpret relevant information and literature. linked to analysis/synthesis. models and / or independently developed
models and
justified
recommendations
linked to analysis/synthesis Strong application by way of pretested models and / or independently developed models. Recommendations are
clearly justified based on the analysis/synthesis. Applying knowledge to new situations/other cases.
Correct citation of key resources
and evidence
(10%) Demonstrates inconsistent use of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas.
There are mistakes in using the APA style.
Demonstrates use of credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas, but these are not always explicit or well developed.
There are no mistakes in using the APA style.
Demonstrates use of high quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas.
There are no mistakes in using the APA style.
Demonstrates use of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and statements. Shows evidence of wide scope within the organisation for
sourcing evidence
There are no mistakes in using the APA style. Demonstrates use of high-quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and position statements. Shows evidence of wide scope within and without the organisation for sourcing
evidence
There are no mistakes in using the APA style.
Effective communication
(20%) Difficult to understand for audience, no logical/clear structure, poor flow of ideas, argument lacks supporting evidence. Information, arguments and evidence are presented in a way Information, arguments and evidence are well presented, mostly Information, arguments and evidence are very well presented, the presentation Expertly presented; the presentation is logical, persuasive, and well supported by evidence, demonstrating a clear
No effort is made to keep audience engaged, audience cannot follow the line of reasoning.
Little use of presentation aids, or the presentation aids and material used are irrelevant. that is not always clear and logical.
Attempts are made to keep the audience engaged, but not always successful. Line of reasoning is often difficult to follow.
Presentation aids are used more for effect than relevance.
clear flow of ideas and arguments.
The audience is mostly engaged, line of reasoning is easy to follow.
Effective use of presentation aids. is logical, clear and well supported by evidence.
Engages the audience,
demonstrates cultural sensitivity.
Carefully and well prepared
presentations aids are used. flow of ideas and arguments.
Engages and sustains audience’s interest in the topic, demonstrates high
levels of cultural sensitivity
Effective use of diverse presentation aids,
including graphics and multi-media.