Program and Portfolio Management and Information systems

Reading samples

Learning outcomes of the unit

Learnings from your weekly study, experience, this and prior unit readings and assignments

Supporting documentation including any prior learning

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

1. Explain the relevance of systems thinking to the project, program and portfolio manager.

Comparing the reading and the objective of this week, there I learnt that system thinking is helpful in portfolios. Portfolio management is the control, selection and prioritisation of company projects and programs based on the strategic objectives. System management help portfolio in aligning the company strategic objectives, assessing changes or deletions or addition to from the portfolio and the assessment of what went well and what else needs to be improved and why to increase company productivity and capability.

This week I also learnt that programme management is the coordinated management of change in management activities and projects with the intention of achieve beneficial change.

System thinking can help programmes management with definition of the programmer objectives and scope, showing the dependencies between external elements and programme, help in transition planning and assessment of what is running as planned and what needs to be improved and the reason for improvement.

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(Bourque & Fairley, 2014)

(Cummings & Worley, 2014)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

2. Identify different systems thinking tools and techniques to aid project managers solve project problems.

There is a coordinated relationship between the reading sample and the learning outcomes. There are several systems thinking tools highlighted in these readings and these include the use of rich pictures diagram method event and the fishbone diagram. The rich picture show what is happening the trends over time, how different parts are linked, the value and beliefs on the system. Other system thinking tools learned include concept maps, actor maps, causal loop diagrams and trend maps

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(De Marco & Narbaev, 2013)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

3. Assess the relevance of systems engineering to project cases.

According to this week reading the system engineering is presented as a solution to many challenges more so when dealing with large systems. System engineering give potential solution to solve issues. This is a time conscious resource. If I consider the case of BP and the oil spell, I tend to thinking that If the company had well established system, it could deliver better service to and program manager could manage the disaster effectively. The use of system engineering, projects cost and time duration are managed and controlled more effectively through the awareness of project requirements, issues and consequences brought up by any changes.

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(Heizer, Render, & Munson, 2016)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

4. Describe how systems engineering concepts and methodologies can help a project, program and portfolio managers organise a project.

Portfolio management is considered to be the selection, control and prioritisation of organization programs and projects in line with the capacity to deliver and strategic objectives. The concept of system thinking can help portfolio management with defining portfolio governance, alignment with organizational objectives, portfolio relationships and dependencies with external elements, the assessment of project outcome and what should be improved and definition of portfolio relationship in relation with external elements.

Programme management is defined as coordinated management of any project and chance management activities which aim at achieving beneficial change. The system thinking can assist programme management with dependencies between external elements and programme, definition of programme objective and scope, assessment of what went well and any type of improvement which ought to be effected to attain organizational improved productivity and transition planning.

System thinking can help projects. Project management is basically the application of process, skills, methods, experience and processes to attain project objectives. To this end, I learnt that system thinking can assist project management with transition planning, definition of project objectives and scope, showing the linked between external and internal elements and the assessment of what ought to be done to improve organizational productivity and capability.

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(Wasson, 2015)

(Beringer, Jonas, & Georg Gemünden, 2012)

(De Marco & Narbaev, 2013)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

5. Explain the importance of appropriate selection of project management (PM) application systems in regards to meeting the internal and external objectives of a project.

This was an intensive chapter. I learnt there are many project management systems which can be use in relation to both external and internal objectives of a project. Waterfall has been used as mainstay project management application system for long. It is used in software development. Agile is different system approach which was developed for projects which need speed and flexibility like Texas city disaster and the BP oil crisis. Agile is highly interactive for rapid adjustment throughout the project. Agile reduces risk, allows immediate feedback and it’s a repeatable process.

Hybrid is a combination of agile and waterfall and benefits of each approach creates management methodology solution. Critical path methods is a step-by-step methods which list activities by outlining noncritical and critical activities to get the longest path.

The studies in column 1 showed that there are several factors to consider when evaluating methodologies and this include risk, complexity, organization strategic goals and core values, the constraints and stakeholder.

The right project management application software is important to manage any project.

Importance of project management system is to assist in planning. The appropriate system will allow the organization in planning project tasks. Project management application program will also let a company use the tracking application to control and monitor tasks. Moreover, the application system will help company develop project reports and also review percentage of complete task and goals.

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(Mendelssohn, Andersen, & Baltz, 2016)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

6. Describe how the use of project management (PM) application systems can lead to effective PM knowledge management and decision making.

The successful project management facilitates projected-oriented organization and workers with the information needed to make better decision-making. This in return enable considerable cost saving in effort and time. In many cases, successful project completion is based on accumulated knowledge, collective competence and individual. In project the transfer of knowledge is done for recording and reusing structured knowledge. The knowledge from project such as reports can be reused to lower the resources and time needed to produce a new output.

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(De Marco & Narbaev, 2013)

(Cummings & Worley, 2014)

(Mendelssohn, Andersen, & Baltz, 2016)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

7. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of different manual and electronic project, program and portfolio (PPPM) application systems within each PPPM knowledge area over the life cycle of a project, program or portfolio.

The advantages of project management software include

Collaboration with project team member timely. Project management software commonly gives communication tools which help the team in discussing issues in timely manner. The merit of this is that each person can get update quickly.

Software helps in document sharing. For project which need the use of significant documentation, the document sharing tools allow people to update, edit the status and create systems which allow communication

Control of cost is vital in project management. Project management software include tools which can help in managing project costs.

Software have the ability to manage risks, budget and forecasting. The ability to project risks, to create forecasts and tracking budgets are profound advantages of project management software.

Despite this, project management software have several disadvantages

Some of the program are costly and have little ROI. While project management software generally provide solutions, in many occasion these solutions are not custom designed. They can be costly yet difficult to implement.

Project management software tend to complicate simple projects. While many of these software is popular for many organization, many simpler projects need not to have project management software. When the software are used inappropriately it can bring unnecessarily complicate matter.

Execution issues if they rely on alerts are helpful to remind team members that work is due, time is used when time is spend on setting the alert than doing the task.

Main benefits of PPPM software is that it grants visibility into almost all aspect of the PPPM process from evaluated categories to make decision themselves. Many of the PPPM software can standardize the processes and remove discrepancies by giving reliable documentation of all communication, decisions and evaluations which occurs in PPPM life cycle.

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(Cummings & Worley, 2014)

(Beringer, Jonas, & Georg Gemünden, 2012)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

8. Identify how project, program and portfolio (PPPM) application systems can assist project managers to monitor performance and manage changes within a project.

The goals of PPPM is to help organization to make the right and best use of resources. It enables the removal of low value projects from the portfolio. This week study help me learn that PPPM helps all and existing projects to be aligned with the company objectives and mission. Moreover, from the reading it become clear that PPPM can assists manager to monitor performance by producing and maintaining comprehensive listing of all possible projects which organization is undertaking. The PPPM also help in decision making by developing bigger picture view if the project and understanding the project as a whole. Decision making is enhanced by deeper understanding of project through methodology for identifying, prioritising and choosing new projects and ensure balance between balances across various projects.

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(Bourque & Fairley, 2014)

(Beringer, Jonas, & Georg Gemünden, 2012)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

9. Propose appropriate project, program and portfolio (PPPM) application systems to support successful project, program and portfolio execution in different industry domains.

From this week I learned the existing difference between identity and proposal, the impact of considering these difference and the necessities of carrying out a project. Identity is similarities which are needed to perform a project while proposal is plan presented for discussion by people. From the learning, the following elements are important in the execution of the program

· Communicating the progress to people concerned

· Dividing all milestones into task

· Identification of project milestones

· Checking the progress of every member and noting all expenditure

· Acquisition of equipment which are necessary for achieving the targets

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(Heizer, Render, & Munson, 2016)

(Mendelssohn, Andersen, & Baltz, 2016)

Mandatory Readings

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to SEBoK'

· SEBoK: 'Introduction to Systems Engineering';

· SEBoK: Part 7: Systems Engineering Implementation Examples

· Kerzner (2013) Chapters 2.1; 2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;

· AS/NZS 15288:2015 Introduction;

Optional Readings

· AS ISO 21504:2016 Project, programme and portfolio management—Guidance on portfolio management;

10. Discuss contemporary developments in the use of project, program and portfolio (PPPM) application systems.

In this week I learned some development I considered to be appealing to project managers and these are capacity planning, continuous improvement, methodologies on project management and end of phase reviews meetings. I also appreciate the idea that these idea help in realization of successful project right from formation to completion.

PPMP20012 Unit Profile

PPMP20012 Moodle

(Beringer, Jonas, & Georg Gemünden, 2012)

(Cummings & Worley, 2014)

(De Marco & Narbaev, 2013)