Individual Review and Reflection: Strategic Project Delivery Articles

This assignment comprises a student's detailed review and reflection on four articles related to strategic project delivery, program management, and project portfolio management. The review covers key concepts, ideas, and contradictions presented in each article, along with relevant quotes and their implications for the student's past, current, and potential future work roles and academic assignments. The articles explore topics such as program management complexity, empowering project portfolio managers, measuring program success, and integrated PPM processes. The student analyzes the relevance of these articles to understanding project success, the role of managers, and the impact of program implementation on business strategies. The assignment highlights the evolving landscape of project management and its importance in modern organizations.

Running head: STRATEGIC PROJECT DELIVERY
Strategic Project Delivery
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Article 1: Program Management Complexity
1.1 Ideas that were completely new to me
The idea of reductionism was completely new to me. After reading the article, I learnt
about the concept of reductionism and gained an in-depth knowledge about the same. I learnt
that in order to have a clear understanding of something, I need to break it down into smaller
components. If I understand that part, I shall be understanding the whole thing. With the
same, I have also learnt about the complexity theory which helps us in understanding the
different social behaviours of the networks of the individuals surrounding the project (Ward
and Levin 2016). This idea could be applied equally in the in-house projects as well as in the
large and complicated projects. To this regard, the complexity could not be regarded as a
synonym for “large” and “complicated’.
1.2 Ideas that reinforced my prior understanding of this topic
I would like to state that this article has briefly examined the different underlying
ideas and philosophies that I have made in the current project management along with some
emerging ideas such as that of the projects being “temporary knowledge organisations”
(Ward and Levin 2016). With the same, this paper has helped me in creating a wide range of
practical recommendations for enhancing and amplifying my knowledge and learning
regarding the effectiveness of both the risk management practise as well as the
communication practise within the projects depending on the knowledge of the complexity
theory that are used to the project environment.
1.3 Ideas that contradicted my prior understanding of this topic
I used to believe that the project managers could resolve any conflict and complexities
related to project management. But this article has provided me clear insight of why the case
is not so. Many of the project managers excel at resolving conflicts but that does not mean

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that they could resolve each and every conflict. The project managers often have to approach
the sponsors for assisting in conflict resolution which involve team members, the involved
stakeholders as well as the project manager himself (Ward and Levin 2016). I have realised
that conflict resolution needs a willingness by all the parties for resolving the issues and if all
the parties are not willingly doing so, the project managers simply could not work like
miracles.
1.4 Quotes (including page number) that are worthwhile noting for possible future citation
Quotation 1: “Interdependency can encompass the linkage or interconnections between tasks,
within a network of tasks, between teams, or between different technologies.” Page no- 06.
Quotation 2: “Program management remains in its infancy as a profession as compared to
project management.” Page no- 193.
Quotation 3: “Because of global competition and technological obsolescence, as well as the
natural tendency for stakeholders to change their ideas on priorities, program managers must
continually make changes and show they are willing to embrace change.” Page no- 193.
1.5 The relevance of this reading to my past/current/potential future work role/s
This reading has helped me to assess the different complexities that one could face
while handling project management cases. In my future career, I shall be implementing this to
a great extent. It would help me in understanding what complexities I could face while
managing a project prior to facing them and hence, I could also take proper measures in order
to overcome them and make the project a success.
1.6 The relevance of this reading to my past/current academic assignments
In my past academic assignments, I have studied and analysed several readings
related to project management. I have also learnt several challenges that project managers

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face while managing projects. In my previous assignments, I have learnt that with the
increase in the level of complexity, the potential of the program managers along with their
team in delivering the stated benefits and advantages too gets negatively impacted. In this
study as well, I have found the same.
Article 2: “Empowering project portfolio managers: How management involvement
impacts project portfolio management performance”
2.1. Ideas that were completely new to me
By reviewing this article, I have gained the idea that effective project portfolio
management could be a significant competence for organizations dealing with several
projects at equal pace or manner. I have realized the fact that a project management
altogether can compete for deficiency of resources as well as usually can be performed under
the sponsorship or the management of a particular business. This article provides a new and
unique framework for success which consists of roles, tasks and success. The framework
particularly indicates the fact that the role may include the existing management role
definition and involvement and when it comes to tasks, the degree of project portfolio
management should be measured and covered (Jonas 2010). Eventually, success is gained
from Project portfolio management system.
2.2 Ideas that reinforced my prior understanding of this topic
A significant fact which I found in this article helping to reinforce my idea is there is
always a requirement for a comprehensive success model which holds the capability to cover
and control the system as a whole and in addition considers that changes made within a
management style might take a stipulated amount of time to have significant effect. I have
also understood the fact that for a business’s long term and future success, financial measures
to assess the corporate achievements and success are inadequate and insufficient.

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2.3 Ideas that contradicted my prior understanding of this topic
When reading this article, I found a contradictory view that a process based
framework have association and impact on project portfolio management tasks. I have learnt
about a perspective that managerial task. According to this new perspective, the managerial
activities that are performed by management team considered to be inseparably mingled with
their management role elements such as clarity and competencies. My previous
understanding about the role of portfolio manager seems to be superficial as I have found the
idea that project manager plays a significant role in managing the project entirely. Thereby,
project manager is often known as the owner of the project. Another contradictory
perspective I found is a management role is undefinable by its managerial activities and thus,
to understand more detail about the role of management, one should understand the clarity
and significance of formal role definition of project portfolio manager.
2.4 Quotes (including page number) that are worthwhile noting for possible future citation
Quotation 1: “the interplay between the three roles of project portfolio manager, line
manager and senior manager is considered to be significant for the project portfolio
management technique”, p.824
Quotation 1: Traditional understanding of line management in a matrix environment, for a
project-based organization the role of delivering capacity and competencies is supposed to
change towards a competence coach function which is particularly directed towards handing
ling the challenges that come along with projectification”
2.5 The relevance of this reading to my past/current/potential future work role/s

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The major relevance that I found when reading this article is that the article helps me
to learn about several roles of managers in project management. The studies I have
previously read did not mention about how and what role a manger could play in project
portfolio management
2.6 The relevance of this reading to my past/current academic assignments
I also find the relevance of this article to my coming project where I have to design a
conceptual framework of project portfolio management with role of ah personnel involved in
the project. The impact of management in project portfolio management which I have read in
this article, can use to shape my future project.
Article 3: Measuring Program Success
3.1 Ideas that were completely new to me;
I have existing knowledge about the programs and its implementation but there are
several revisions of program and its developments that often come with multiple varied
concepts and process. A significant trend which has now become usual in every business is
implementation of program to lead business growth. This idea of implementing programs to
maximize and lead business growth in a desirable way is new to me. This article helps to
realize the fact that due to development of technology and its persistent advancement has
made bossiness to follow and implement integrated process, where all business transactions
can be performed and the entire operation always remains under control.
3.2 Ideas that reinforced my prior understanding of this topic;
Apart from multiple set of ideas given in the article, there are certain ones which have
influenced my understanding is the newly evolved characteristics. For example, I did not
have adequate understanding regarding how program efficiency is measured; I have learnt
that the effectiveness of a program is reflected on the delivery and time frame. This means

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when a project is delivered on time or within a given time frame and it is delivered within the
given budgets. There are many projects that after the completion are not able to meet or
satisfy the requirements but the efficiency can only be noted when a project is able to meet all
functional requirements. By reviewing this article, I have also understood the fact that impact
of program implementation can be found in the satisfaction level of employees and
improvement in special areas and level of fluctuation. This means if the level of fluctuation is
low, the program implementation often prove to be effective.
3. 3 Ideas that contradicted my prior understanding of this topic;
My previous understanding about program was the integration and its
implementation. This particular paper opposes my understanding by stating the fact that there
is a dynamic cultural, political as well as business environment under which the program
runs. My understanding opposes the fact that effective program management approaches need
to be adaptable to dynamic context. Thereby, program directors and managers should
undertake the responsibility of developing a context program and project (Shao, Müller and
Turner 2012).
3.4 Quotes (including page number) that are worthwhile noting for possible future citation
Quotation 1: “Delivery capability measures program success from the perspective of
successfully delivering what the program is supposed to deliver, whether the stakeholders are
satisfied with the deliverables, whether the expected business results are achieved, and so
forth”, page no.41
3.5 The relevance of this reading to my past/current/potential future work role/s;
My understanding has evolved with the fact that programs provide a transformational
ways to integrate business projects and business strategies and these integrated ways and
strategies are vastly used by businesses today. The development in the use of programs have

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led to an emerging need to effectively understand the phenomenon of program success.
Furthermore, my insight about programs lack as there is hardly a relevant research has been
performed on program success. Now, I have understood that program success basically
remains at the core of conceptual level. Another significant idea which I have found in this
article is the success school of Thought in Project management has associated with the facts
found in nine school of project management. Moreover, there are significant characteristics
associated with program such as stability, harmony, support and adaptability and each of
these elements have further sub-characteristics.
3.6 The relevance of this reading to my past/current academic assignments
The major relevance that I found in this reading is that my previous understanding
was about the growing use of program in contemporary businesses. I did not have much ideas
about the impact that project implementation might have on the areas such as customer
satisfaction, effective and timely delivery and low fluctuation rate. The relevancy lies in the
fact of implementing programs to monitor employee satisfaction level and effectiveness in
deliveries and integrated process that control the overall business operation.
Article 4: Integrated PPM Process: Scale Development and Validation
4.1 Ideas that were completely new to me
In the field of project management, a significant fact that I found is that today’s contemporary
organizational environment is specified by greater complexity. This means that business
environment has become more reliant on number of projects, growing level of uncertainties
and aspects involving and dissemination of information in a global platform. Another
significant fact that I found is that the majority of project management might affect intensity
of the involvement of internal stakeholders and the accomplishment of project. Another
significant which is new to me is the knowledge about a complete organizational context as

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well as external organizational context that are supposed to be used in strategic planning
process. Optimization model associated with the PPM framework has the ability to consider
or check on the resource constraints as the barrier in the analysis of which and how many
project a business could approve for a particular time period (Padovani and Carvalho 2016).
4. 2 Ideas that reinforced my prior understanding of this topic
I have strengthened my understanding by knowing the fact that assessment of the
project should be done individually in product life cycle. Thus, at the time of choosing
techniques and prioritizing projects, there should be an uninterrupted availability of
information about the ongoing projects that are not significant in the investigation.
4. 3 Ideas that contradicted my prior understanding of this topic
There are certain ideas that I have found in this article are not similar to my existing
understanding such as existence of a proper Information Technology infrastructure to support
project and portfolio activities in the field of project as well as portfolio management need to
be considered adequately. I was not aware of the fact that Information Technology could
affect the completion and success of projects in negative and positive manner.
4.4 Quotes (including page number) that are worthwhile noting for possible future
citation;
Quotation 1: “For structure to work properly and for organizations to evolve in their
stage of maturity in project management, it is essential that organization has the overall and
personnel capabilities and technical competencies required in this area”, p.630
4.5 The relevance of this reading to my past/current/potential future work role/s
In the previous papers, I did not have proper idea that there is a significant difference
of designs associated with project management. However, the conceptual framework for

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project portfolio management, which helps me to find the relevancy that there are several
areas which can be derived from PPM for developing a suitable operation. The relevancy lies
in the fact that with the help of this project portfolio management, any business can find the
link between stakeholder expectation, organizational strategy as well as limited capability
uncertainties. No paper previously has mentioned the fact that when a business is able to
classify the project, they could be balanced; thereby, the business has a portfolio which
effectively meets its short medium and future needs by considering different views and
perspectives.
4.6 The relevance of this reading to my past/current academic assignments
I have worked on several project portfolio management but I never reviewed and used
the fact of Information technology with the implementation of project management.
Moreover, this review of article is relevant to my proposed project which is also on project
management, where I can utilize the fact that project portfolio management is certain to affect
performance in several levels in project-based organization.

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References
Jonas, D., 2010. Empowering project portfolio managers: How management involvement
impacts project portfolio management performance. International Journal of Project
Management, 28(8), pp.818-831.
Padovani, M. and Carvalho, M.M., 2016. Integrated PPM process: Scale development and
validation. International Journal of Project Management, 34(4), pp.627-642.
Shao, J., Müller, R. and Turner, J.R., 2012. Measuring program success. Project Management
Journal, 43(1), pp.37-49.
Ward, J.L. and Levin, G., 2016. Program management complexity: A competency model.
Auerbach Publications.
Bibliography
Kopmann, J., Kock, A., Killen, C.P. and Gemünden, H.G., 2017. The role of project portfolio
management in fostering both deliberate and emergent strategy. International Journal of
Project Management, 35(4), pp.557-570.