Advanced Project Management for University of Cambridge

This study material covers project selection, portfolio management, organizational context, and project governance for University of Cambridge. It suggests using analytical hierarchy for project selection, project portfolio matrix for project management, hierarchical organization structure for organizational context, and management team model for project governance. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is recommended as a governance institution. References are also provided.

Advanced project Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Project Selection and portfolio management..........................................................................2
B. Organizational context............................................................................................................3
C. Project governance..................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

A. Project Selection and portfolio management
The strategic goals and direction of University of Cambridge is to contribute to society by
offering best education, learning and goals. Further, the University also trying to meet changing
era due to pandemic by offering online and virtual training, exams etc. Therefore, there are any
projects required by the University in order to comply with times which are as mentioned below:
 In order to establish online classes till Spring, 2021, there is a need to focused upon the
advance technology through which the quoted University can set up an application for the
same.
 Proper training should be provided to their teachers in order to adjust themselves
regarding online classes so that there will be no issues.
 Due to increase of overall digital literacy that include adoption of software for online
teaching, effective activities should be conducted to engage their students till 2021. This
helps to improve the academic performance of student’s year by year.
Through the above, it can be stated that there are different project and to select the same
screening module must be used. As, there are many project selection modules which include
checklist, simplified scoring, analytical hierarchy, profile (Jena and Satpathy, 2017). Among all,
it is suggested to use analytical hierarchy because it is based upon process where different
alternative methods have also included in order to justify the choices. However, it has been
critically analyzed that it is used for only specific cases, but helps in decomposing the problem
into constituent parts as well. That is why, the method has chosen over other project selection
modules.
In order to manage a project effectively, it is suggested to use Project portfolio matrix
that assist to centralized the management’s process, methods, technologies etc on which the
project is based upon.
Technical
success
Bread and Butter
 Online classes
Pearl
 Hiring expertise
White element
 Comply with advance
technique like AI
Oyster
 Implementation of advance
technique
Low
High

Reward (NPV)
In accordance with the above framework, it has been identified that to manage the project
effectively, there is a need to hire expertise who can handle the issues of University and also
provide them effective solution that helps to minimize negative impact over brand. Also,
University can develop strategy that helps to manage portfolio effectively and ensure about the
alignment otherwise it causes adverse impact over migration towards online classes.
B. Organizational context
In order to link to University’s strategic choices, TWOS analysis can be used where
internal performance can be measured which are as mentioned below:
Strength Weaknesses
Opportunities  Having a brand image will
help University to expand
business (Larsson,
Eriksson and Pesämaa,
2018).
 Effective research and
development department
assist to adopt advance
technology like online
classes.
 Poor operational structure
might affect the overall
performance of a company, but
implementing strategies over
this might be beneficial.
Threats  Changing market situation,
will affect the brand image
of a University like
pandemic.
 Increased competition in the
field of education and poor
operational strategy affect the
overall performance in adverse
manner.
Throughout the above analysis, it can be stated that University must comply with advance
technologies and for smooth functioning, it is necessary to use hierarchical organization
structure. In this, all the task will be delegated to their respective person so that the chances of
miscommunication can minimized. Also, it has been also evaluated by Andersen and Grude
High

(2018) that using hierarchical organization structure, clear lines of authority and reporting within
business can provided that helps to make decision at different level. Similarly, in the context of
Cambridge University, opting hierarchical organization structure, University can clear career
paths and development prospects which further motivate teachers to perform their work
effectively. On critically note, it has been examined that complicated chain of command also
slow down the decision-making process (Shah, Gochtovtt and Baldini, 2019). This might lead to
increase the inconsistencies in management at different level that further contribute to miss-
communication. Overall, it will be better to use chosen organizational structure in order to
maintain strong relationship within staff members.
C. Project governance
Advantage and disadvantage of two project management governance framework
Advantages Disadvantages
Advisory model  It helps in generating the
profit.
 Assist to boost the credibility
and generate strong
connections.
 Provide little direction
regarding decision
making.
 Can handle by
professionals only.
Management team
model
 Assist to make decision
according to hierarchy.
 Allow people to focused upon
the skills and make decision
better (Project management
governance framework,
2020).
 It increases the chances
of conflict and thus
create a negative impact
over group.
 Might lead to less
contact with other
functions.
Recommending from these
From both project management governance framework, it is to be suggested to use
management team model because it helps to develop skills among teachers so that effectively
adopt the new teaching habit i.e. online classes. Also, as per the advantage mentioned above,
University can easily focus upon their skills and make decision accordingly. Jena and Satpathy
(2017) also examined in their study that with the help of effective management, any entity can
perform the work and delegate the roles and responsibility with an aim to improve the business
performance. Similarly, in the context of University of Cambridge, it can be stated that through

this governance framework re-skilling of lectures can be performed that helps to enhance the
overall brand image.
Suggestion for which governance institution have to create to manage project.
Among all, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as a governance institution
can be used in order to make project more effective. It is so because the institution working with
further and higher education provider for students. For that, they support University to comply
with the changes in the market. So, in the context of present scenario, it will be beneficial to use,
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as a governance institution in order to improve
the skills and adopt changes as per the market requirement. Currently, to change the teaching
pattern into online, the institution assists to implement the strategy so that it will effectively help
in future developments.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Andersen, E. S. and Grude, K. V., 2018. Our tribute to Rodney–and the importance of goal
directed project management. International Journal of Project Management. 36(1). pp.227-
230.
Jena, A. and Satpathy, S. S., 2017. Importance of soft skills in project
management. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management. 5(7). pp.6173-
6180.
Larsson, J., Eriksson, P. E. and Pesämaa, O., 2018. The importance of hard project management
and team motivation for construction project performance. International Journal of
Managing Projects in Business.
Shah, S., Gochtovtt, A. and Baldini, G., 2019. Importance of project management in business
analytics: academia and real world. In Aligning Business Strategies and Analytics (pp. 81-
94). Springer, Cham.
Online
Project management governance framework. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://processpa.com/ExecutiveMatters/the-four-models-of-governance >.