Reaction Paper: Bringing Discipline to Project Management (CS 345)

This report is a reaction paper analyzing the article "Bringing Discipline to Project Management" by Jeffrey Elton and Justin Roe. The paper delves into the background of project management discipline, emphasizing the need for structured rules and regulations, especially concerning constraints and leadership. The author explores the theory of constraints, the importance of managing projects as portfolios, and the differences between project and process management. The report presents the authors' opinions, highlighting the scarcity of effective leaders and the importance of understanding project performance beyond mere constraint evaluation. New information learned includes the evolution of project management as a recognized profession, the significance of fostering collaboration, and the need for project managers to possess both technical and political skills. The paper concludes by emphasizing that project performance is more a matter of personal expertise and leadership than just understanding constraints. The author's analysis also emphasizes the importance of leadership in project management, and the need for project managers to be able to perceive future customer requirements. The report is a comprehensive overview of the article and its relevance to the field of project management.

Running head: BRINGING DISCIPLINE TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Bringing Discipline to Project Management
Name of the student:
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Author Note

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Discussion on Bringing Discipline to Project Management:
Article name: Bringing Discipline to Project Management
Author names: Jeffrey Elton and Justin Roe
Discussion on the background of the topic and its connection to the content of course:
As far as project management is concerned, the word disciplines indicates to the area of work
and sector of focus where particular knowledge bank is needed. Apart from that, particular area of
task need unalterable and unique rule sets and regulations. This is regarding the necessary conduct
that should be adhered within the steps to complete the tasks in active manner. Few of the instances
of particular kinds of work could be considered to be disciplined are the various mechanical
functions, computer programming and financial functions and many more.
Firstly, the focusing on constraints is understood. Here, the theory of constraints
demonstrates the way of boosting performances of any process including series of various
interdependent steps. Maximum managers has been tending to pay minute attention to the necessities
of the entire project. Rather, they have been staring off having series of the dysfunctional
negotiations. Further, the measurements must induce the parts to perform that is good for the entire
project. Maximum of delays for individual projects comes out of issues at level of senior
management. Next, the project is to be managed as the portfolio. Besides, it is also understood that
flexibility is to be put here that counts. Further, the ultimate constraint is to be found out. At last, the
parallel present between project and process management provide the stapes towards primary
differences. Thus the process management searches for eradicating the variability. On the other
hand, project management should be accepting variability due to the fact that every project is

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different. Again, it is also understood that project performance is less a matter of evaluate constraints
and is more the function of personal expertise.
Opinions and Perspective:
As per the authors, the effective amount of those leaders at most of the companies are limited
in number. At many times it is less than 10. The critical chain begins with the set of driven and
talented project managers and assuming resource constraints are within the task of the project and
never in the leadership. The leadership in truth is greater constraint. It is essential to understand how
many projects in the business come on time and budget. As one is like maximum senior managers,
the response is likely none. Apart from that, rather than utilizing plethora of the tools of project
management software, process management system of data management, programs of team-training
and the sorted best practices. All managers have the excuse regarding why any specific project turn
out to be poor. This attest to plan ahead for permitting the unintended issues that succeed rarely.
There is an argument whether the complexities inescapable. Eli Goldratt, the business thinker can
say no is the originator of theory of constraints. As per the introduction to the popularly read novel
named The Goal, the theory is to deliver the persuasive solution for the factors to struggle with the
delays of production and less amount of revenues. Further, Goldratt in the third novel Critical Chain
implements the framework of managing development of attest products and additional projects.
New Information Learned:
It is known that from the time people first worked to develop shelter and cultivate crop,
project management ad projects has been there. The above study helps in understanding that
developing the discipline of project management lends the insights to the role of the current world.
The project management area has been still evolving from the skill set which is unacknowledged to a
popular profession. This is complete with effective certifications and academic degrees. It is

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important to foster the needed collaboration. Hence, there are project managers who are able to
control political and technical side of their projects. However, as one asks about the executive to
provide the name of everyone at their companies, who are qualified has been serving as managers
for the further important project, one is been fortunate enough to get the list of three. The project
performance is commonly the less concern to understand project constraints and more an activity of
personal capabilities and skills of effective leaders who are present. Here, the skill to lead the team
around various unknowns as per the inherent and acquired abilities. Different managers of projects
of project development also require distinct skills of leadership like capability of perceiving the
future requirements of customers prior the customers can articulate the as-yet-unrealized necessities.

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References:
Bringing Discipline to Project Management. (2020). Retrieved 26 February 2020, from
https://hbr.org/1998/03/bringing-discipline-to-project-management