consolidated portfolios

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

· Part 1: SEBoK Introduction - 'Introduction to SE Transformation';

· Part 1: SEBoK Introduction - 'SEBoK Users and Uses';

· Part 6: Related Disciplines - 'Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management'

· 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;

Case Study

· Chief Counsel's Report - Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

(7th question)

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.

It is important for any business organization to implement either manual or electronic application systems for project, program or portfolio management in order to store and manage the organizational information whether it is a small, medium or large scaled organization. It is a widely known fact that many of the small-scale business organizations implement the manual systems while many of the large organization are involved in using the electronic or the computerized system for accessing the organizational information in the olden days. But, in the current generation, even few of the small-scale organizations are affording to use the electronic systems as the cost of the electronic systems have reduced to a significant extent with the enhancement of the technological and computerized aspects all over the world. Both the manual and the electronic systems will perform the same kind of operations while the mechanics of both the manual and the electronic system applications differ in their mechanics and those are discussed in the below sections.

· Speediness

Speediness is considered as one of the major differentiating factors for the manual and electronic systems. The information in the electronic systems can be accessed much faster than the information in manual systems. Even the calculations are done at the faster rate in the electronic systems than that of the manual systems.

· Cost

Cost is another significant differentiating factor in the electronic systems and the manual systems. Apart from reducing the cost of the electronic systems because of the increase in the technological standards, still the manual systems are much cheaper compared to the electronic systems.

· Backup

The electronic systems have the greater ease of backup when compared with the manual system applications. Taking a backup will help the organization in case of the data losses and taking backup is only possible in the electronic systems and is not possible in the manual systems.

Sheila Shanker (2015)