Project Selection and Portfolio Management Case: Cambridge University

This report delves into the project selection and portfolio management strategies employed by the University of Cambridge during its transition to online education. It examines the goals of Cambridge University, focusing on improving online teaching, re-skilling lecturers and students, and enhancing digital literacy. The report suggests project types the university should pursue, emphasizing the benefits of online learning, such as flexibility, cost reduction, and improved student engagement. It recommends the Checklist method as a screening module for project selection and advocates for the Project Portfolio Matrix to enhance strategic planning and implementation. The report also discusses the TOWS matrix for organizational context and highlights key factors like Bread-and-Butter, Pearl, Oyster, and White Elephant within the portfolio matrix framework, providing a comprehensive analysis of Cambridge University's project management approach.

Advanced Project
Management

Introduction
The technique of supervising a team's efforts to accomplish all strategic goals while maintaining
within budget constraints is known as process management. This study is usually included in the
project paperwork, which also is created at the outset of the building phase. The three key
constraints are range, schedule, &funding. The majority of investors have 5 phases: start,
characterization, &plan, budgeting, executing, monitoring, &closure. Each of them has certain
tasks that will aid you in meeting their study goal (Afonin, 2019). Project management's purpose
is to structure &administer a project in such a way that its gain a broader &objectives are
fulfilled. It demands the detection &control of threats, as well as careful strategic planning, smart
finance, &open communication across a diverse group of people &department. Project team
involves a variety of components, including Project Plan, Project Schedule, Cost Of the project,
Scope Of work, Team Skill Set, Team working, Team Dynamic, &Management. There are a few
scenarios in the project; it is required to choose one. We will address project selection,
organizational context, project leadership, administration, advance planning &scheduling,
&developing &leading transformation based on the present scenario of the selected company.
The current report comprises of a discussion about the Project Selection &Portfolio Management
along with the type of projects that would expect the company to pursue &provide reasons why.
Along with this, Screening Module suggestions for the project Selection and Project portfolio
matrix together with the TOWS matrix has been also included in current project. Finally, a
recommendation of the organizational Structure and Project governance frameworks is also
made in current report.
A. Project Selection &Portfolio Management
About chosen scenario
The University of Cambridge is considered as the collegiate research university located in
Cambridge, UK. This University founded in the year 1209 & granted a royal charter by Henry 3
in the year 1231, Cambridge is ranked among the most prestigious universities in the world. It is

analysed that Cambridge is the 2nd -oldest university in the world & the world's 4th -oldest
surviving university.
The University of Cambridge, including other UK universities, unexpectedly relocated all
undergraduate and post-graduate education online in the spring of 2020 because to the Covid-19
epidemic. In the summer of 2020, the University of Cambridge announced that all presentations
would be perpetually available on the web until the spring of 2021. This move to distance
courses demands a considerable change in programme format and content, along with
rehabilitation of students and teachers. It also includes an increase in average digital literacy,
tools for online teaching and evaluations, and a reimagining of the student community. This is
one of the most important projects the University of Cambridge has undertaken in current history
(Albinovic, 2021).
Goals of the Cambridge Universality
 Cambridge University announced that all the sessions & lectures will be permanently
online until the summer of 2021.
 To improve the online teaching &initiate big change in the programs & modules structure
& also material.
 To take initiative in order to a re-skilling of all the lecturers & students
 an increase of overall digital literacy including the adoption of software for online
teaching &online exams & a re-thinking of the students’ experience
Directions
In order to improve the online teaching, it is necessary for the Cambridge University to follow
some factors which can provide the right direction in this project –
 Utilize specific &variety of the technology options
 Prepare to work with technology
 Improve the technical skills of the students
 Provide them training
 Connect to students individually
 Online assignment

 Online fee payment
 Consider new learning methods
 Provide collaboration & socialization opportunities
Type of projects you would expect the company to pursue &provide reasons why.
Cambridge Universality is looking forward to pay more attention on the Online learning &also
provide the virtual platform to their students & faculty members so that they can work
effectively &smoothly. The online teaching type of project is mainly considered by the
University so that University can shape &improve the career of their students during the Covid –
Pandemic time period. There are various advantages of online teaching are considered which are
given below -
It is more convenient and flexible to educate online. Teaching online is shown to
provide educators with even more possibilities for participation in learning programmes.
Educating throughout non-traditional class hours is easier for online professors. They also could
educate from anyplace they have Internet connection. Teaching via residence while or going to a
workshop are two instances (Anholon &Sano, 2016). Students' understanding is also improved
through online instruction. Students can engage in course exercises & conversations more
comfortably in an online environment.
This broadens the group of individuals, enhances the chance of diverse viewpoints, and enriches
the course conversation. Simultaneously, the online environment draws identity individuals who
are much more inclined to begin dialogues, ask questions, and communicate with their
classmates and teacher. And, because every learner is obliged to respond to the discussion site,
the instructor has a good idea of how well his or her pupils grasp the content.
The growth of online instruction is also due to its convenience and flexibility. Online instructors
have additional opportunities to participate in teaching programs. For online educators, learning
throughout quasi-class moments is simpler. They may also lecture from anywhere with an
Internet connection. Two examples include teaching via home or attending a conference (Datta,
K, 2020).

It can helpful to way to get to know students on a more personal level. It is analyzed that through
online teaching, Shy students will feel more at ease participating in course activities
&discussions in an online environment. This broadens the pool for attendees, enhances the
chance of diverse viewpoints, &enriches the course conversation. Simultaneously, the online
environment draws self-motivated students who are more inclined to initiate dialogues, ask
questions, &communicate with their classmates &instructor. Furthermore, because each student
is required to provide a response,
 Flexibility & also adaptability
 Decrease the costs & time
 Network related Opportunities
 Online education can cost less due to a variety of reasons.
 Documentation
 Encourage Instructor - Student Time.
 Access to Expertise
 E-learning can helpful to saves time & money.
 With online learning, learners can access content anywhere & anytime.
 E-learning leads to better retention.
 E-learning is consistent.
 E-learning is scalable.
 E-learning offers personalization.
Screening Module suggestions for the project Selection
The main motive of this project is to pay more attention on the online teaching &also
improve the virtual education in the University so that all the students of Cambridge University
can get excellent education without any roadblock. It is necessary for the management &high
authorities of the University to take &appropriate steps &collect all the resources which can
useful to full fill the requirements of this project. In order to maintain the requirements of the
projects, it is mandatory to take care about those factors which can provide the positive aspects
to the project management of the University. The main reason behind in formation of this project
is that this project will helpful to maintain the flow of education even in the pandemic time

period. With the help of this project, University can improve the competencies of their staff
members &also improve the adaptability &knowledge &understanding of the students. After
allocating of all the resources including technological, manpower, administrative &many other
resources, it is necessary for the University management department to follow an appropriate
screening method which can useful to identify the current status &significance of the project.
There are various Screening module are available which can helpful to improve the
screening process such as checklist, simplified scoring, analytical hierarchy, profile. All these
methods are helpful &maintain the effectiveness of the organisation but in con text of the current
situation of the University, Checklist method is suggested. It is determined that Check list
method is beneficial for the development of the project management process &also useful to
provide the fair outcomes. It is analysed that Checklist is considered as the experience-based
strategies which is aid in various way. This method is draw on the inspector's knowledge to
determine the much more critical sections of a system, such as those that are so often used by
customers &those that are highly prone to failure. They draw on the tester's previous experience
with faults discovered when testing comparable technologies (Dimitriadis &Psychogios, 2016).
Recommendation about the Framework
On the basis of the project management scenario, Project Portfolio Matrix is mainly
recommended for the University of Cambridge. The explanation about the Project Portfolio
Matrix is given below -
Project portfolio matrix
This is considered as the most appropriate matrix which can helpful to improve the strategic
planning &implementation of the project. Through this matrix, it is identified that how an
organisation can maintain the strategic planning process &also takes appropriate steps to
maintain their market growth rate &market share. Management department of the University of
Cambridge can utilise this model in order to maintain the project management process. This
project portfolio matrix can helpful to maintain the strategic planning system as a beginning
point for pursuing or rejecting objectives and/or initiatives. The matrix makes it easier to see

&analyse different risk &project kinds. This matrix is mainly recommended for the University
because this matrix is helpful to manage the project portfolio &enhance the project management
operations in an appropriate manner (Dumke &Abran, 2016). A high-level description of the
Boston matrix in relation to the Project Portfolio matrix is discussed below -
 Bread-and-Butter – This is considered as the most effective factor which represents the
“Stars” category. This factor highest the NPV but also mainly consume the large
amounts of cash because of the innovative technology
 Pearl – This factor demonstrate the “Question mark” category, which can potentially be
determined the “problem child” because of amount of cash required to support
appropriate opportunities in order to become a star
 Oyster – This factor mainly represent the “Cash Cow” category which mainly focus on
the Innovative breakthroughs with more effective &high payoff
 White Elephant – This factor mainly concerned about the “Dogs “ category which can
reflecting promise at one time period but has little future potential
Figure 1Project Portfolio Management, 2020

An application of the Project portfolio matrix in context of the Management department
of the University of Cambridge can be made that includes bread-and-Butter which is considered
as the most effective factor and supports the consume the large amounts of cash because of the
innovative technology. Further, an implication about the Pearl factor can be made that comprise
of the Question mark that aim at the determined amount of cash required to support appropriate
opportunities in order to become a star. Further, it has been reviewed that the Oyster factor
represent the “Cash Cow” category that lead and brings to the Innovative breakthroughs which
tend to be more effective &high payoff for Management department of the University of
Cambridge. Finally, the application of the White Elephant can also be made that tend to
reflecting promise at one time period but has little future potential that is effective to predict
potential problems, review progress towards operational goals, manage budgets, and address
stakeholder concerns.
All these four factors are highlight four different prospective which can helpful to maintain the
project portfolio of the University of Cambridge. It is determined that a portfolio matrix is a
graph that is used to identify requirements in terms including both market expansion &particular
market share. The graph's vertical axis represents product demand, while the horizontal axis
represents the market share of a branded commodity within the same industry. Manage
department of the University need to focus on the Bread-and-Butter factor which is mainly
represent the “Start” category in which the technical feasibility &net present value are
demonstrate the high growth rate &high market share (Fachini &et. al., 2018).

B. The Organisational Context
TOWS matrix
This is considered as the most effective matrix &it is determined that TOWS, which was first
outlined by the Heinz Weihrich in 1999. It mixes impact of different factors to generate useful
suggestions as to how to best use the data. The main motive of TOWS is to decrease the dangers
&take advantage of the opportunities, maximize on strengths, & eliminate weaknesses.
University of Cambridge need to utilise this model in order to maintain the effectiveness also &
focus on all these strategies to consider about the strategy of whole organisation , a department,
or a team by examining the external reality (threats & opportunities) &the internal factors
(weaknesses & strengths) (Falcone &et. al., 2018).

Proper utilization of this matrix is helpful in strengthen the strategies of the University in context
of the project portfolio. This model will make sure the success of the project portfolio. All the
strategies of TOWS matrix are needed to consider by the management department of the
University so that University can create the specific link between the success of the project
portfolio &strategies. The main goal of the project is to improve the effectiveness of the online
teaching so that all the students can get good education continuously (Hamzeh, Samad
&Emdanat, 2019).
A TOWS matrix is one method for mapping out an organisation's overall options (or
TOWS analysis). Managers can concentrate on the following important strategies to follow
depending on the conditions by combining the external atmosphere's opportunities and threats
with the benefits and limitations of the internal organisation:

WT situation: Mini-Mini strategy -
This plan indicated that the company had a slim possibility of expanding. It operates in a
challenging environment with few changing options. It lacks significant traits that might enable it
to withstand challenges. According to the findings, the Mini-Mini technique is primarily
intended to eliminate both threats and risks. Mini-Mini strategy is a combination of pessimistic
scenarios, such as an institution's failure, and optimistic scenarios, such as an organization's
survival by merging with that other company.
WO situation: Mini-Maxi strategy -
In context of this strategy, it is analysed that organisation has more vulnerability &weaknesses in
this circumstance, but its environment affords various opportunity in order to address them.
Main aim of Mini-Maxi method is to reduce vulnerabilities while maximising possibilities. This
method is helpful in exploiting these possibilities while lowering or correcting organisational
shortcomings should be part of the plan.
ST situation: Maxi-Mini strategy -
The basic purpose of the Maxi-Mini approach is to enhance a company ’s strengths and
weaknesses while minimising the risks that such competencies represent. A company with strong
money management skills and premium ability may lower its prices to push away rivals.
SO situation: Maxi-Maxi strategy -
In case of this strategy, it is analysed that if any organisation really wants to be in a situation
where its strengths & prospects may be fully used. Such an organisation may lead from its own
strengths, leveraging its abilities to respond to market possibilities. This strategy can helpful to
increase income; organizations within those conditions should consider expanding globally or
diversifying their product offering (Jamshidi, Ait-Kadi &Ruiz, 2017).