The Impact of the Project Manager in the Process of Project Initiation
Assignment Brief:
Write an academic paper on the topic of " The impact of the project manager in the process of project initiation."
Students should read and reference at least seven (7) peer reviewed publications to find at least 3 (max 5) concepts that are discussed in the literature as impacting the project manager's role in the process of project initiation. These concepts can be wanted or unwanted personal attributes, managerial or technical skills, types of knowledge, organisational structures or anything else that is discussed as impacting the project manager's role in the process of project initiation.
Your paper should be written as a thematic literature review. That is, a review of your cited literature discussing the topic, organised around what those publications say about the concepts you have chosen. These are the themes of your literature review and your writing should provide a focused overview and critical analysis of how these themes are discussed in the cited publications. Doing a thematic analysis requires you to summarise what your cited literature says about the chosen topic and gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your narrative writing skills in an academic context. A good thematic literature review not only summarises what the cited authors have said about the topic, covering where they have agreed or disagreed on particular points, it does so clearly, concisely and effectively. It tells a story.
For this assignment, you will be required to utilise your academic research skills to find peer reviewed academic literature (i.e. academic conference and/or journals papers and industry white papers, standards, etc.) on the assignment topic, as well as to evaluate and critically appraise this literature for what it says about the topics of interest.
Cited publications are best sourced from refereed journal articles obtainable through the University of Sydney electronic library. The three main refereed journals in the discipline of project management are:
- International Journal of Project Management
- Project Management Journal
- International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
In addition, many of the general management journals contain papers and articles relevant to project management. The advantage of using journal papers as a source for your learning is that:
1. They are generally more current than many text books.
2. They are generally more comprehensive than many textbooks because the entire paper is focused on a given topic.
3. They are generally very useful for follow-on references, publications in their reference list that may provide a path to follow for more information.
4. They provide a good model for you to develop your academic style of writing and to provide you with an appreciation of the rigour, expected level of details and requirements for academic writing.
5. They provide hints and tips on research methods and approaches.
This assessment is designed as an assessment for learning. As such, upon completion of this assignment, in addition to acquiring knowledge regarding the impact of the project Manager in the process of project initiation, you should gain confidence in the learning process - that is, you would have "learned how to learn".
Word limit: 2000 (+/- 10% excluding references)
Format: Times New Roman 12-point font, double lines spaced, left justified. Submitted in pdf, doc, or docx on Canvas
Include your name, student ID, and email on separate a front page in your submission. Abstracts or tables of contents are not required. The first paragraph should be an introduction explaining the topics chosen and the themes identified.
Your submission should end with a reference list.
Referencing Style: APA 7th (please double-check before downloading references through Endnote)
The Impact of the Project Manager in the Process of Project Initiation
Student's Name
College/University
Course
Professor's Name
Due Date
Introduction
Projects are essential in any organization or industry as they are crucial for introducing changes and fostering growth. They are distinct endeavors with time-bound characteristics that bring substantial value and strategic transformations to the organization. Each project follows a lifecycle, typically comprising initiation, planning, execution, monitoring/control, and closure stages, with monitoring/control overlapping execution (Jiang, 2020). Project initiation occurs when an organization or entity identifies a strategic motive for achieving a specific outcome or alteration. Typically, key stakeholders, including senior management, the core team, and project recipients, participate in the decision-making process during project initiation (Castro et al., 2022). The initiation phase is pivotal within the project lifecycle as it clearly defines the project's scope, success criteria, sponsor strategy, objectives, and expectations transparently and traceably (Söderberg, 2020). While the initiation phase might involve a few project tasks and is sometimes undervalued, it significantly impacts the project's success. However, a review of existing literature reveals that factors like personal attributes, organizational processes, project team culture, and competencies significantly impact the role of project managers in initiation decision-making. This literature review highlights project managers' influence on the project initiation process, especially when they encounter challenges that they encounter in making the best initiation decisions.
The Role of the Project Manager in Initiating Projects
During the initial phase of a project, project managers assume the crucial role of setting the groundwork for project success. A spectrum of proficiencies pertinent to project initiation is requisite for project managers hence their significance in launching projects. Responsibilities encompass discerning and evaluating project prerequisites, delineating project scope and objectives, formulating a project charter, identifying stakeholders, and executing feasibility assessments (Castro et al., 2022). Numerous sources in various literature highlight the substantial contribution of project managers to the attainment of successful project initiation. Zheng and Qiang (2022) posit that project managers exhibiting robust leadership, communication, and problem-solving acumen substantially enhance the effectiveness of project initiation endeavors. Project managers with elevated technical expertise in their respective domains are better poised to oversee the initiation phase by accurately identifying project nuances. In their investigation, Zheng and Qiang (2022) determined that the project manager's competence in delineating the project scope during the early phase is critical in ensuring project triumph, with a well-defined project scope increasing the likelihood of adhering to budgetary constraints.
Organizational Culture
In organizational dynamics, the concept of organizational culture emerges as a pivotal thread that weaves its influence across every facet of an enterprise. This dynamic interplay of shared values, social ideals, and beliefs among its members possesses the innate ability to be a catalyst or a constraint, shaping commitment levels and performance outcomes. The cultural framework extends its reach even into project management, where its impact on project initiation becomes undeniable. A positive organizational culture propels project efficiency to new heights by fostering an environment that champions collaboration and communication, empowering project stakeholders and teams to collaborate into a harmonious force (Rogo et al., 2020). Against this backdrop, the role of a project manager in deciphering and navigating this cultural landscape becomes pivotal. Armed with sensitivity and adeptness, project managers must understand and adapt to various corporate cultures, employing this insight to craft project kickoff strategies that resonate with the organization's core values. Such insights are invaluable in the project initiation phase, facilitating a clear grasp of initial project objectives, risk identification, and the formulation of strategic initiation plans. As project managers harness the profound impact of organizational culture, they initiate projects successfully and cultivate an environment where innovation flourishes, trust prevails, and cohesive teamwork defines the trajectory.
The most crucial start of a project for project managers is effectively tapping into the organizational culture; therefore, aligning project management strategies with the organizational culture of the project is an added advantage. Different organizational cultures embody distinct values and norms, impacting project management approaches. As a result, project managers should tailor initiation plans and delivery methods to align with the prevailing organizational culture (Rogo et al., 2020). This underscores the importance of understanding corporate culture and values before devising strategies. On the other hand, despite its significance, organizational culture poses challenges. For instance, the tolerance for risk among key stakeholders toward project management approaches can vary; this variance might lead to a need for more support for new project plans from stakeholders. A bias towards traditional or familiar management methods can hinder project managers' implementation of best practices, thus affecting project success and initiation (Söderberg, 2020). In such situations, project managers must use practical communication skills to convince stakeholders to embrace more suitable plans and tools during the initial project stages.
Soft Skills
Soft skills are increasingly recognized as indispensable art for project managers that complement the technical proficiency essential for success in today's project landscape. The "soft skills" include attributes like emotional intelligence, communication, leadership, trust-building, and conflict resolution, which are important in establishing robust connections with teams and stakeholders (Abdelmasseh et al., 2022). Effective project managers aiming for success need to strike a balance between technical prowess and these soft skills. As highlighted by Castro et al. (2022), emotional intelligence is critical, and high emotional intelligence fosters stronger team and stakeholder relationships. Emotionally intelligent project managers excel in stakeholder negotiations, aligning with Rogo et al. (2020) discourse. Such managers are more inclined to communicate effectively, fostering harmonized teamwork and improved project performance. Moreover, their emotional intelligence contributes positively to team dynamics, increasing job satisfaction and bolstering active participation.
Effective communication is vital, as poor communication during projects leads to failure. Project managers must closely engage with teams and stakeholders during project initiation to establish agreed-upon success criteria and eliminate information gaps (Ijaola et al., 2020). Practical communication skills are paramount for fostering team cohesion and stakeholder engagement, ensuring a successful project launch. According to Zheng and Qiang (2022), trust-building is an essential soft skill that enables project managers to build rapport with their teams, engender mutual trust, and practical problem-solving. Additionally, project management's achievement hinges on the quality of leadership. Effective project managers exhibit strong leadership, guiding teams, allocating resources, making decisions, addressing challenges, and d...