Project Management Methodologies: Learning Outcomes and Elements

This paper reviews the learning outcomes of the project management methodologies course by highlighting the concepts learnt through the twelve week portfolio. It explains the reasons why organizations adopt project management methodologies, critically analyzes the impact of project management methodologies upon stakeholders, and explains and justifies the major elements of a project management methodology that might meet the needs of an organization.

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES
PPMP20009
Consolidated Portfolio
STUDENT NAME: <insert>
STUDENT ID: <insert>
LECTURER: <insert>
CAMPUS: <insert>
TERM: 1, 2018

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Table of contents
1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................3
2 Course Learning Outcomes...........................................................................................................3
2.1 Learning Outcome 1: Explain reasons why organisations adopt Project Management
Methodologies...................................................................................................................................3
2.2 Learning Outcome 2: Critically analyse the impact of Project Management Methodologies
upon stakeholders..............................................................................................................................5
2.3 Learning outcome 3: Explain and justify the major elements of a Project Management
Methodology that might meet the needs of an organisation...............................................................7
3 Discussion and Conclusion............................................................................................................8
4 References.....................................................................................................................................9
5 Appendix.....................................................................................................................................10
5.1 Portfolio 1............................................................................................................................10
5.2 Portfolio 2............................................................................................................................10
5.3 Portfolio 3............................................................................................................................10
5.4 Portfolio 4............................................................................................................................10
5.5 Portfolio 5............................................................................................................................10
5.6 Portfolio 6............................................................................................................................10
5.7 Portfolio 7............................................................................................................................10
5.8 Portfolio 8............................................................................................................................10
5.9 Portfolio 9............................................................................................................................10
5.10 Portfolio 10..........................................................................................................................10
5.11 Supporting documents.........................................................................................................10

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1 INTRODUCTION
Projects are undertakings that are aimed at creating products or services. They are
conducted in business and daily lives of individuals. For the projects to meet the objectives
they are intended, effective project management strategies are put in place. Project
management involves directing, planning, organising, and controlling organizational
resources for achieving short, medium, and long term objectives of the organization (Charvat
2013, p.23). Project management helps the organization to make good customer relationships
by designing and managing organizational resources and delivering the project within
assumed budget and time. This paper reviews the learning outcomes of the project
management methodologies course by highlighting the concepts learnt through the twelve
week portfolio.
2 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
2.1 Learning Outcome 1: Explain reasons why organisations adopt Project
Management Methodologies
Project management methodology is a system which is a combination of inter-related
phases, activities, task and procedures used for defining project process from initial to
completion stage. They include the Prince2 methodology, BMBoK, Agile, and many other
methodologies. Ozmen (2013) notes that failure by organizations to apply project
management methodologies might lead to failure in effectiveness, repeatability, product or
service quality, comparability, and achievement of future goals. This implies that the
methodologies are beneficial and thus every organization should adopt. The role of the
project manager has changed over the years as projects have also increased in complexity and
increased in technology dependence. This has thus led to the development of methodologies
that guide project management processes.

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Through studying the course and my professional experience, I have come to realize
that project management methodologies are instruments that clarify what actually
organizations have to perform. The organizations are able to achieve project success
characterized by quality on time and within budget deliveries ((Ansari, Shakeri &Raddadi
2014, p.15). The success of projects are not only guaranteed by an experienced team,
adequacy of resources, and proper management. The need for an efficient project
management methodology cannot be assumed because it brings together the resources and
defines how they should be used married together to deliver results. The methodology
provides a common standard and similarity of procedures which enables consistency and
provides an avenue for bench marking.
Consistency in project management is obtained through the use of a standard
methodology supported by proper guidance of experienced project managers. Following a
common method boosts the experience of the stakeholders and thus promoting continuous
service improvement (Ozmen 2013, p.6). This consistency offers the organization a brand
based on its customer satisfying project deliveries. Methodologies also promote knowledge
management within the organization because it would be rational to predict future outcomes
based on past experiences. Organizations can also compare their processes and products with
organizations that use a similar methodology in order to determine their areas of weakness
and strength. This comparison would boost competitiveness since the organization can learn
from the positive processes implemented by similar entities.
Summary
Project management methodologies provide companies with consistency, comparability, and
customer satisfaction. Ozmen (2013) discusses the benefits that organizations accrue from
adopting project management methodologies.

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Evidence
The paper, Project Management Methodology: How can PMM serve organisations today? In
Proceedings of PMI Global Congress EMEA. By Ozmen describes the benefits of a
methodology to an organization in detail.
2.2 Learning Outcome 2: Critically analyse the impact of Project Management
Methodologies upon stakeholders
Project stakeholders are typically individuals or entities impacted by the project. From
experiences and the teachings of the course, I noted that project stakeholders include project
sponsors, the project manager, project team, clients, and end users. Project success is
achieved through an effective collaboration between the stakeholders towards a common goal
(Kerzner 2017, p.26). I believe that effective communication is the main tool that ensures
that all stakeholders perform their roles efficiently in order to achieve the goals of the project.
The project manager for instance should be skilled in communication so as to effectively
mediate and communicate project activities with the team and the sponsors. Previously at the
work place, I witnessed a project manager who strained with communication and thus had a
hard time communicating his views. Therefore, I concur with the teachings of the course that
the project manager should have a set of soft skills including good communication skills in
addition to the technical skills.
Sponsors and project team might resist the adoption of a project management
methodology especially when they are not adequately consulted. Project sponsors are majorly
organization executives and managers who provide leadership and support to the project
manager. They can frustrate the implementation of the methodology either by withdrawing
funds or any other way available to them. Project team on the other hand might resist the
methodology especially when they are unskilled on the methodology (Hornstain 2015, p.38).

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The project manager should therefore select a methodology that the team are conversant with
or involve a team that is conversant with the methodology. Resistance to change is a common
occurrence among people. Therefore, the project manager should be experienced in change
management and group dynamics.
Project managers enjoy an easier management of projects when the methodologies are
used. The methodology outlines the procedures that should be followed and thus it is the duty
of the project manager to ensure that they are aligned to the culture, structure, and strategy of
the organization for them to be more effective. The consistence, and learning derived from
using a common methodology builds the experience if the manager and project team in
undertaking projects and thus making subsequent projects better than their predecessors. This
would promote continuous improvement which is the aim of every prudent individual or
organization (Wells 2012, p.46). The adoption of methodologies makes it possible for
institutions to offer project management methodology certifications and thus spread similar
knowledge. The customers also benefit from higher satisfaction as a result of good project
quality.
Summary
Project stakeholders are those parties that take part in one way or another in project
management process and are affected either positively or negatively by the project.
Evidence
My experience at work together and the course weekly portfolio notes provided knowledge
on project stakeholders,

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2.3 Learning outcome 3: Explain and justify the major elements of a Project
Management Methodology that might meet the needs of an organisation
As noted earlier, there exist several project management methodologies that are
organizations and project managers can select from. The best methodology for a project is
selected based on the basis of project factors and requirements (Kerzner & Kerzner, p.40).
The factors include project type, flexibility, and resources available. Having learnt about the
Prince2, and Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) methodologies in the
course, read about them in books, and used them practically in practice, I choose to present
the elements of the PMBoK approach to project management.
The PMBok approach is a set of widely accepted standards and guidelines that define
how projects, programs, and portfolios should be managed. The Project Management Institute
notes that a consistent use of the methodology in an organization to achieve project success.
The PMBoK project methodology has five process groups as initiation, planning, execution,
control, and closure (PMBoK 2014, p.8). The initiation stage involves the organization
committing to undertake the project. At this phase the organization appreciates that the
project is worthwhile and conforms to organizational objectives. The project is then
forwarded to the planning stage where a workable scheme of how the project would be
undertaken to accomplish the business goal it was established for. Planning of resources in
form of capital and labour is done to ensure that it is conducted economically to yield the
required quality.
Execution is the third process where stakeholders and resources are put in to work as
per the plan. This is the actual part of the project which is followed by monitoring and control
where the progress of the project is reviewed to ensure that they are in line with the plan
(Kerzner 2017, p.32). Abnormal variations are corrected through means of corrective action.

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The final stage is closure, where the phase or whole project is closed after it is acceptance is
formalized. The application of this methodology in an organization for an appropriate project
promote the achievement of project success, promote consistency and continuous
improvement.
Summary
I learnt about the several project management methodologies that companies can choose
from. These include Prince2, and PMBoK approaches. The Prince2 approach consists of
seven elements and processes. PMBoK project management process involve initiation,
planning, execution, monitoring and control, and finally closure.
Evidence
The PMBoK guide outlines the methodology in detail. The course material on week six
portfolio discusses the PMBoK methodology.
3 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Throughout 12 weeks of learning about project management methodologies, I have
understood the fundamental knowledge of effective project management methodologies. On
the first three weeks, I gained knowledge about importance of project management, roles of
project stakeholders, need for planning and impacts of proper project management on
productivity of organizations, importance of effective communication, team work, and
conflict management practices. During the fourth to sixth week, I understood the role of
project management in project development life cycle, organizational change, project
classifications and the roles of various project management stakeholders. I have also horned
great skills in communication plan development, importance of project plan, configuration
management, resource management in project management, and quality management.

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4 REFERENCES
Ansari, R., Shakeri, E. and Raddadi, A., 2014. Framework for aligning project management
with organizational strategies. Journal of Management in Engineering, 31(4), p.04014050.
Charvat, J., 2013. Project management methodologies: selecting, implementing, and
supporting methodologies and processes for projects. John Wiley & Sons.
Guide, P.M.B.O.K., 2004. A guide to the project management body of knowledge. In Project
Management Institute (Vol. 3).
Hornstein, H.A., 2015. The integration of project management and organizational change
management is now a necessity. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2),
pp.291-298.
Kerzner, H., 2017. Project Management Methodologies. Project Management Case Studies,
pp.1-27.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Ozmen, E.S., 2013, March. Project Management Methodology (PMM): How can PMM serve
organisations today? In Proceedings of PMI Global Congress EMEA.
Wells, H., 2012. How effective are project management methodologies? An explorative
evaluation of their benefits in practice. Project Management Journal, 43(6), pp.43-58.

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5 APPENDIX
5.1 Portfolio 1
5.2 Portfolio 2
5.3 Portfolio 3
5.4 Portfolio 4
5.5 Portfolio 5
5.6 Portfolio 6
5.7 Portfolio 7
5.8 Portfolio 8
5.9 Portfolio 9
5.10 Portfolio 10
5.11 Supporting documents