Pg 72 Discussion Questions

1. The systems view refers to looking at the project as a whole while stressing the interdependence of the separate components. The system view involves four components, the system philosophy, the systems themselves, the systems analysis, and finally systems management. The systems approach is integral to successful project management as it helps management relate the project to their organization, as well as identify problem areas within a project especially those that affect the stakeholders.

2. There are four frames of organization, the first is the structural frame, which is how the organization is organized; how resources are allocated and control over said resources. The human resources frame is there to bridge the gap between workers and an organization’s management. The political frame refers to the personal power struggle among organizations that are often tied to the allocation of resources. Finally the symbolic frame refers to the unspoken meaning behind actions, or lack-there-of. These frames help the project manager know his place in the organization, the people working under him, the companies’ hierarchy of power, and finally the subtle meanings behind actions taken.

3. The functional organizational structure refers to managers/vice presidents report to the CEO and serve as an intermediary between their specialized staff and the CEO. This model helps the CEO better understand the specialized workings of the staff. The project organizational structure is similar to the functional structure, though program managers replace the VPs, and their staff consists of a team of workers of various skills, it is less specialized though it enables management to be more flexible. The matrix structure is a mix between the functional and project structures as it features both project managers and vice presidents. Workers in this structure often work on several projects at one time and report to both their manager and VP.

4. The organizational culture is...