Strategic Project Management: Cambridge University Online Transition

This report provides an analysis of Cambridge University's strategic goals and project management approaches, particularly focusing on its transition to online teaching. It employs a SWOT analysis to evaluate the university's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, considering factors like staffing, internal processes, and competition. The report also discusses different organizational structures and their impact on project effectiveness, recommending the PRINCE2 methodology for project governance. Furthermore, it assesses various project screening models, emphasizing the importance of decision-making frameworks to ensure project success and feasibility. The analysis includes considerations for digital literacy, risk management, and the overall impact of the pandemic on the university's operations. Desklib offers a platform to access this and other solved assignments for students.

ADVANCED PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART A...........................................................................................................................................3
Strategic goals and direction.......................................................................................................3
Screening module........................................................................................................................4
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................4
PART B............................................................................................................................................4
The Organizational Context........................................................................................................4
Using of SWOT analysis to discuss the various factors of Cambridge university..........................4
Weaknesses:.....................................................................................................................................5
PART C............................................................................................................................................6
Project management governance.................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Chosen scenario- Scenario 3, university of Cambridge moves to online teaching
This report shows various explanation of strategic goals and direction of Cambridge university
and the project the university should opt for there are various screening methods and why should
the Cambridge university should choose one of the following for their projects. Also
recommending the university how to manage their project portfolios. there are uses of various
analytical framework that are relevant and would support the answers.it also showcases various
organisational structure that a company should adopt to increase the effectiveness of their
projects. With the relevant academic literature, the report will show the advantages and
disadvantages and impact on the project. It also advises the best way of making decision within
the projects.
PART A
Strategic goals and direction
University of Cambridge is known to be a research institute and is one of the most Global
universities. Performance set is widely accepted that has indicators of excellence. There are
students from various countries while covering a wide range of subjects along with various areas
specialised in research. Due to the pandemic ad its restrictions, had to conduct their classes and
other activities on online mode. All the students are receiving their lectures online where there
are small teaching groups. With social distancing, the university is bound to adapt changes and
emerge their operation even during the time of pandemic (Lock, 2017). This is because face to
face lectures were not an option or a possibility during that time. Setting up these online channels
for the students and teachers is a new and different project started by University of Cambridge.
The aim and purpose for this project is to help their students gain digital literacy by making use
of online software while conducting the exams on the same platform. These type of projects to
create an online channels that the students and teachers of the University can access easily. It
helps them in making it easy for the students to learn and study about the area of specialisation
while being present at any part of the globe.

Screening module
Such models helps in encompasses of various techniques that helps n making simplified
assumptions. It helps the organisation in generating useful form of information regarding the
choices and thus, helping in making optimal choices from various different alternatives.
Checklist is one such model that will the University of Cambridge in providing a simple method
for the purpose of project screening along with developing. This list helps in generating a
criterion that will help in pertaining the choices within this online software project. Checklist
helps in developing schedule for events within the project and implementing it in a structured
format.
Recommendations
From this framework, University of Cambridge can make this ongoing project work in a smooth
way. It helps in classifying and quantifying the range with regards to its success and the
feasibility of teachers and students. It determines the target point for the project and simplifies
any risks coming in the way of project completion.
PART B
The Organizational Context
Using of SWOT analysis to discuss the various factors of Cambridge university
STRENGTH :
 It should be affordable
 Should have proper offerings of programs
 Have the best faculties and management team

 Best equipment and technology for various projects.
 Student support services
Weaknesses:
 University is understaffed
 Have complex internal process
 STC culture
 Lacking in public relations
Opportunities :
 Various partnerships
 Student placements in top firms
 High funding
 High range of popularity
 Building the brand name
Threats :
 Competing institute or the university
 False perception
 High cut off
The swot analysis is an evaluation of internal as well as external factors impacting the
institute as whole (GURL, E., 2017).
For selecting the organizational structure which is functional in nature. It is the type of
organizational structure that groups the employees on the basis of their skills, speciality, or the
roles. Business will usually operate under this type organisational structure because it groups
people with similar knowledge but when it is used in team environment company can achieve
their desired goals and objectives. There are various strengths and weaknesses of this style the
strengths are specialization, where the company hire people who are specialised in certain
functional area. Another one is productivity, whereas specialization lead to efficiency in
operational and the specialized employees will obviously have better productivity rate than the
employees who have developing skills. The disadvantages of this style are the management
issues which are rigid and have degree of formalizations. This will further help in making the

decision. And another disadvantage is unit coordination because the level of the coordination
every unit or team has to show should be very high and may be sometime territorial. And might
be unwilling to cooperate (Auchter, A.M., and et.al 2018)
.
PART C
Project management governance
Project governance is associated with the infrastructure while dealing with the
responsibility as well as accountability related with the project. This framework helps in making
decisions that are important and crucial for the project (Tereso and et.al., 2019). Various
frameworks include, the PRINCE2 methodology, that helps in describing the elements of project
in a detailed manner. While on the other hand, there is lean methodology that work towards
improving the process while working with tight budgets and deadlines. PRINCE2 helps in
clarifying every step while having the responsibilities in a properly order. This framework is
important to address various parameters that might lead to making this project a failure. This is
done with the help of following a detailed way in keeping the project organised in easy manner.
It assists in structuring each step involved in project. Thus, this framework is better suited for
University of Cambridge.
CONCLUSION
This project report comprises of strategic goals and planning of Cambridge university it
shows how the university should filter its project while taking some. Filtering of project can be
done by various screening method. There is use of analytical framework which include Swot
analysis which will indicate the strength weakness opportunities and threat of the university it is
basically used in micro level. The display of organizational structure that a company should
adopt so that their effectiveness increases in the project. The report has shown some best ways
that can be used in decision making in the project. It also shows some advantages and
disadvantages of the various methods used in the report.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Lock, D., 2017. The essentials of project management. Routledge.
Tereso and et.al., 2019. Project management practices in private organizations. Project
Management Journal, 50(1), pp.6-22.
GURL, E., 2017. SWOT analysis: A theoretical review.
Auchter, A.M., and et.al 2018. A description of the ABCD organizational structure and
communication framework. Developmental cognitive neuroscience, 32, pp.8-15.
Bai, W. and et.al 2017. Organizational structure, cross-functional integration and performance of
new product development team. Procedia engineering, 174, pp.621-629.
(Bai, W. and et.al 2017)
Online
Project management methodologies and frameworks explained, 2021. [Online]. Available
through: <https://kissflow.com/project/project-management-methodologies-and-
frameworks/>