Compare and Contrast PM Tools and Techniques, Leadership Styles and Organisation Structures

This document compares and contrasts project management tools and techniques, leadership styles, and organizational structures. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different tools and techniques, and the flexibility and effectiveness of different leadership styles and organizational structures.

Running head: PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
Compare and Contrast PM Tools and Techniques, Leadership Styles and Organisation Structures
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

1
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
Table of Contents
Question 1.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
Question 2.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Question 3.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Question 4...................................................................................................................................................................................................................10
References..................................................................................................................................................................................................................12

2
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
Question 1
Comparison and Contrast of PM tools
The comparison and contrast of few project management tools are as follows:
Key Features Gantt Charts Critical Path
Analysis
Logic Network PERT Product
Breakdown
Structure
Work Breakdown
Structure
1. Definition It is a horizontal bar
chart that provides
graphical
illustration of
schedule, which
helps in planning,
coordinating and
tracking of
specified tasks in
It is a mathematical
network analysis
technique that helps to
plan complex working
processes in reference
to critical path of
every alternative
system (Kerzner and
Kerzner 2017).
It is a virtual
network
representation,
which appears to
be completely
separate and
self-contained
network in a
project.
Project evaluation
and review
technique is a
statistical tool that
helps in analysing
and representing
tasks in a project
(Burke 2013).
It is a
hierarchical
structure of
things, which
project would
be delivering
to the user. It
is completely
different from
WBS is a project
deliverable, which
organizes team
work to manageable
sections. It is a
deliverable oriented
hierarchical
decomposition of
work.

3
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
any project. WBS.
2. Advantages i) Creates
complexity picture.
ii) Helps in setting
realistic time
frames.
iii) Helps in easy
organization of
tasks.
i) Makes
dependencies visible
within project
activities.
ii) Helps in organizing
larger and complex
project (Heagney
2016).
iii) Helps in reduction
of project duration.
i) Better
planning of
project in
respect to other
tools.
ii) Helps in
solving issues of
project.
i) Provides
project
visualization.
ii) Creates
timelines and
paths for reaching
the project.
i) Helps in
assessing,
planning and
displaying
project
outcomes.
ii) Breaks
product
components.
i) Boosts
productivity.
ii) Helps in risk
identification.
iii) Helps in
breaking the
activities (Leach
2014).
3.
Disadvantage
s
i) Can become
extremely
complicated.
ii) Size of bar does
not provide work
i) Complicated
network diagram.
ii) Time consuming in
comparison to other
PM tools.
i) Highly time
consuming.
ii) Incurs higher
costs.
i) Dependent on
data quality.
ii) Provides
emphasis on
critical path.
i) Unlike
WBS, it does
not break
project
activities.
i) It does not break
product
components.
ii) Follows
sequential

4
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
amount. ii) Unlike
WBS, it does
not identify
risks.
approach.

5
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
Question 2
Comparison and Contrast of PM Techniques
The comparison and contrast of few project management techniques are as follows:
Key
Factor
s
Waterfall Critical Path
Method
PMBOK Agile
Methodolog
y
Extreme
Programmi
ng
Adaptive
Project
Framewo
rk
PRINCE2 Lean
Project
Managem
ent
Six
Sigma
1.
Numbe
r of
phases
There are
seven
phases,
which are
conception
, initiation,
analysis,
design,
Five steps:
specification of
activities,
determination of
activity
sequence,
network
diagram,
Five phases:
conception
and initiation,
planning,
execution,
performance
or monitoring
and closure
Six phases:
analysis,
projecting,
realization,
testing,
implementati
on and
support.
Four
phases:
designing,
coding,
testing and
listening
(Burke
2013).
Five
phases:
version
scope,
cycle
planning,
cycle
building,
Seven
phases:
starting up,
initiation,
direction,
controlling,
managing
product
Five
phases:
initiation,
planning,
execution,
monitorin
g or
control
Five
phases:
definition
,
measurin
g,
analysis,
improve

6
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
constructi
on,
testing,
implement
ation and
maintenan
ce.
estimation of
completion time,
identification of
critical path and
updating CPM
diagram.
(Kerzner and
Kerzner
2017).
client
checkpoint
and post
version
review.
delivery,
management
of stage
boundary and
project
closure.
and
closure.
ment and
control.
2. Cost
Effectiv
eness
Lack of
cost
effectiven
ess.
Highly cost
effective.
Cost effective Highly cost
effective.
Highly cost
effective.
Cost
effective.
Cost
effective.
Highly
cost
effective.
Cost
effective.
3. Time
Manag
ement
Extremely
time
consuming
and incurs
huge time.
Does not incur
huge time in
respect to other
techniques.
Has the
ability to plan
as well as
finish a
project in
Provides
project easier
than
traditional
PM
Takes up
time than
other
techniques
(Leach
Time
effective
as it
follows
structured
Extremely
time
effective.
Lack of
time
manageme
nt.
Lack of
effective
time
managem
ent.

7
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
timely
manner.
techniques. 2014). manner.

8
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
Question 3
Comparison and Contrast of Leadership Styles
The comparison and contrast of few leadership styles are as follows:
Key
Factors
Laissez-Faire Democratic
Leadership
Autocratic
Leadership
Bureaucratic
Leadership
Transformational
Leadership
Transactional
Leadership
Charismatic
Leadership
1.
Definition
In this
leadership
style, the
leader
provides
complete
freedom to his
subordinates
for acting on
their own
In this
leadership,
the
individuals,
who are
considered
unequal by
hierarchal
standards,
comprise of
In this type
of leadership
style, a
person can
control every
decision and
can even take
lesser inputs
from the
other team
This type of
leadership is
completely based
on the fixed official
duties under the
hierarchy of
authority and hence
applying a basic
system of rules for
decision making
It can be defined as
a basic leadership
approach, which
causes major
changes within
social systems and
individuals. It even
creates positive and
valuable change
within the
In this
leadership style,
the leaders could
promote
compliance by
the followers
either by
punishments or
by rewards
(Nanjundeswara
This type of
leadership style
is the
methodology by
way of force of
personality,
persuasion and
eloquent
communication.

9
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
(Giltinane
2013).
shared power
to take
decisions.
members. and management. followers with the
end objective to
develop followers
to leaders.
swamy and
Swamy 2014).
2.
Efficiency
and
Popularit
y
It is extremely
effective and
is quite
popular for all
types of teams
(Giltinane
2013).
It is one of
the most
efficient
leadership
style and
leads in high
productivity.
Lesser
efficient than
democratic
leadership;
however
provides
clear vision
of the team.
It is less
popular.
High efficient than
other styles and is
extremely popular.
Quite efficient
since provides self-
motivation to the
team members and
is popular for all
teams.
Efficient and
popular for the
team, where
cultural
diversification is
present
(Nanjundeswara
swamy and
Swamy 2014).
Efficient since
focuses on
communication
and positive
body language
and less popular
in comparison to
others.

10
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
Question 4
Comparison and Contrast of Organizational Structures
The comparison and contrast of three organizational structures are as follows:
Key Factors Project Based Organizational
Structure
Matrix Based Organizational
Structure
Functional Based Organizational
Structure
1. Structure and
Definition
This project based organizational
structure borrows from those on the
basis of operations, functions and
hierarchies. The employees are
assigned to major projects and then
report to the respective project
manager (Ashkenas et al. 2015).
Employee loyalty is improved for
project goals. However, there is a
major issue of resource duplication
Matrix based organizational structure
is the proper combination of two
distinct organizational structures,
which are project based organizational
structure and functional based
organizational structure. Although, the
two above mentioned types of project
based and functional based structures
are extreme points, matrix structure
provides a proper balance.
Functional based organizational
structure is a hierarchical
organizational structure, in which
individuals are grouped according to
their specialization area. The
members are being supervised by
functional manager with proper
expertise in similar field (Van der
Voet 2014). Hence, skills of the
employees are effectively utilized

11
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
and excess usage of resources. without any complexity and business
objectives are achieved eventually.
2. Flexibility This organizational structure is
quite flexible since the entire
project is executed effectively.
It is the most flexible structure as it
provides a proper balance between the
two other structures.
It is less flexible in respect to matrix
since the business is dependent on
employee skills.

12
PM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
References
Ashkenas, R., Ulrich, D., Jick, T. and Kerr, S., 2015. The boundaryless organization: Breaking the chains of organizational structure. John
Wiley & Sons.
Burke, R., 2013. Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey, USA.
Giltinane, C.L., 2013. Leadership styles and theories. Nursing Standard, 27(41).
Heagney, J., 2016. Fundamentals of project management. Amacom.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Leach, L.P., 2014. Critical chain project management. Artech House.
Nanjundeswaraswamy, T.S. and Swamy, D.R., 2014. Leadership styles. Advances in management, 7(2), p.57.
Van der Voet, J., 2014. The effectiveness and specificity of change management in a public organization: Transformational leadership and a
bureaucratic organizational structure. European Management Journal, 32(3), pp.373-382.