If construction is about delivering a built asset that is of high quality and efficiency, wouldn t most companies use all the tools and processes available at the highest organizational level possible? A major assumption is made that Prolog Manager is an effective Project Management Information System. Saying Company X will benefit from more module use with Prolog Manager system is not the same as saying they will suffer from lack of module usage. If a company has already attained success using manual systems it successes may continue. To be as successful as possible, maximum utilization of all modules of Prolog Manager at the unique project type organizational level is necessary, and correlations can be made between higher module usage and greater project successes with this type of company size and structure.

[Truncated abstract] The primary tool for software process control is the project plan, with divergence from the schedule usually being the first indication that there are difficulties. Thus the estimation of the schedule, particularly the effort parameter, is a central element of software engineering management. Regrettably, estimation methods are poorly used within the software industry and accuracy is lacking when compared with other engineering disciplines. There are many reasons for this. However, the need to predict project effort remains, particularly in situations of tendering for contracts. The broad objective of this research is the improvement of project control by means of better estimation. . . The error in the prediction of a project parameter is investigated as the result of the variation in two distinct (estimation and actual development) processes. Improvement depends upon the understanding, control and then reduction of that variation. A strategy for the systematic identification of the sources of greatest variation is developed - so that it may be reduced by appropriate software engineering practices. The key to the success of the approach is the statistical partitioning of the Mean Square Error (of the estimate) in order to identify the weakest area of project control. The concept is proven with a set of student projects, where the estimation error is significantly reduced. The conditions for its transfer to industry are discussed and a systematic reduction in error is demonstrated on five sets of commercial project data. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the linking of the approach to current estimation methods. It should also have implications for the statistical process control of other projects involving small sample sizes and multiple correlated parameters.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2007. / Advisers: Albert P.C. Chan, Daniel W.M. Chan. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1990.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 320-341).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 116-118).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-118). Also available in print.

O gerenciamento de projetos tem sido utilizado pelas organizações como ferramenta para estruturar, organizar e aprimorar suas práticas, bem como para alinhar projetos aos seus objetivos estratégicos. Por sua vez, gerir projetos de design significa planejar a gestão do desenvolvimento de novos produtos e deve envolver conhecimentos sobre gestão, assim como das atividades do design. Com foco no setor industrial, o presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar a gestão de projetos de design na indústria moveleira no Vale do Taquari, segmento produtivo que tem relevante destaque na indústria de transformação nacional. O estudo baseia-se na proposição de Borja de Mozota, que considera que a gestão do design está inserida nos três níveis organizacionais: operacional, tático e estratégico. Utiliza, também, modelos de maturidade em gestão de projetos como evidência para análise adicional da pesquisa, uma vez que pretende verificar como as empresas estudadas lidam com a gestão de projetos. Para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho, realizou-se uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, caracterizada como um estudo de casos, cuja coleta de dados ocorreu em visitas e entrevistas com gestores de duas indústrias de móveis. A relação da gestão de projetos de design e a análise do nível de maturidade em gestão de projetos possibilitaram a identificação de pontos fortes e oportunidades de melhoria das empresas estudadas. Infere-se, nesse sentido, que empresas que conhecem, planejam, gerenciam e controlam seus processos e o desenvolvimento de seus produtos estão, em geral, mais preparadas para a competitividade e a inovação. O resultado deste estudo mostrou que, mesmo sem uma sistematização e conhecimento dos conceitos, as empresas pesquisadas tratam da questão da gestão de projetos de design nos seus níveis organizacionais. / Project management has been used by organizations as a tool to structure, organize and improve their practices as well as projects to align their strategic objectives. In turn, managing design projects, means planning the management of new product development and management should involve knowledge of how the activities of design. Focusing on the industrial sector, this study aims to examine the management of design projects in the furniture industry in Vale do Taquari, a productive segment that has significant prominence in the national process industry. The study was based on the proposition of Borja de Mozota, whereby the design management is inserted in the three organizational levels: operational, tactical and strategic. It is intended to apply also maturity models of project management as further evidence of the research. To develop this work, a research of qualitative study, characterized as a study of cases, whose data was collected in personal interviews with managers from two furniture manufacturers. The relation of project management design and analysis of the level of maturity in project management has enabled the identification of substantial points and improvement opportunities within the companies studied. It is inferred, in this sense, that companies that know, plan, manage and control their processes and the development of their products are, generally more prepared for competition and innovation. The result of this study has showed that, even without a systematization and knowledge of the concepts, the researched companies deal with the issue of management of design projects in their organizational levels.

The aim of this research is to develop a conceptual framework for the establishment and operation of effective PMO in the South African Municipal Environment. In pursuit of this aim, the theory and practice of the PMOs were investigated and analysed from both literature perspective and field work leading to findings being reported in the thesis. In addition, the municipal PMOs were investigated to determine the extent to which their attributes match those of the proposed conceptual framework. A specific research philosophy and approach were adopted by utilising the case study strategy using interviews, document reviews and observation. A questionnaire guideline was developed for the interviews. The sampling frame from which the participants were obtained was from the three municipalities (cases). A total of 27 interviews were conducted. Data was analysed in line with Table 3.6 which prescribes the process for case study analysis using NVIVO 11 software for coding, clustering and pattern matching. The findings confirmed the original expectations of the researcher and all the objectives were sufficiently addressed. The first objective, which was to identify and analyse factors considered in establishing PMOs in the three municipalities, was adequately dealt with by identifying, listing and analysing all the key factors considered in establishing the PMOs. In merging these factors with the best practices outlined through the theory and practice in chapter two, gaps were identified which indicates that the process followed by the department of local government was flawed when developing the MIG guidelines. The identified factors were brought into consideration in building the proposed framework. The second objective was to analyse the level of fitness for purpose of the PMOs in the three selected municipalities. In order to deal with this objective, the adequacy of PMOs to carry out their mandates was scrutinised. This was done through identifying the key drivers of municipal PMO mandates, their achievements and challenges and whether they adhere to project management best practices. Most challenges, failures and negative perceptions that the PMOs faced were as a result of internal disablers that could be dealt with by identifying and dealing with the internal system deficiencies that were a result of procedural wrongs that could be traced from the establishment stage. This analogy or approach assisted in finally formulating a framework that would deal with these system deficiencies. The third objective was to analyse patterns of municipal dependent factors that dictate the type of PMO that is suitable for the municipalities. This was approached in terms of grouping the factors that can be classified as common denominators across municipalities. There were also few internal unique factors in each municipality. The new proposed framework deals with these aspects holistically. Ultimately, the aim which was to develop a conceptual framework for the establishment and operation of PMOs in the South African municipal environment was sufficiently answered through the proposed model and framework as presented in Figure 5.2 and Figure 5.5 respectively. This was achieved by merging the identified gaps and by proposing a conceptual model which ultimately let to the proposed framework that can be used to establish an effective PMO for the municipalities. The main gap that was found was that there is no model and framework for establishing PMOs and therefore the department of local government in developing a guideline, did not have an appropriate foundation from which they could have drawn a relevant model and framework that could have properly guided the formation of these units in the municipalities. It was recommended that a PMO will be more effective as a stand-alone directorate whose mandate should be considered beyond the MIG, in order to gain more authority and improved performance. This is demonstrated by the developed framework which indicates the role of the PMOs and their expected performance outcomes. / Business Management / D.B.L.

The evidence of project management is known for centuries as can be observed from the construction of the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China. In the modern age, project-based approaches are increasingly being adopted in almost all areas of product development. Project management has emerged as a specialised discipline since the importance of completing projects within time, cost and quality constraints is crucial for organisations to continue to survive in the competitive world. Project Management, in general, has been developed under the assumption of economic, political, cultural and social rationality. Little is known about indigenous project management in developing countries. The concepts and principles put forward in Western/European countries have been applied to developing countries without much prior studies. Developing nations are struggling constantly to maintain their projects within the constraints of time, cost and quality. Software development companies have found it difficult to adopt methodologies/models/standards that have shown evidence of success in the developed world. This thesis comprises the study of software project management in developing countries. Mauritius, as an instance of developing countries, with problems related to social, economic, cultural and political conditions are discussed. However, these conditions differ from country to country. It is believed that adjustments are required in a software project management framework to fit the requirements of a country. An evolutionary software project management maturity model is proposed for managing software development in developing countries. This model adopts an evolutionary approach, whereby areas of interest (called key process areas) progressively attain maturity. Three levels of maturity are defined along with key process areas that are applicable over all the maturity levels (called the i continuous process improvement group of KPAs). The model is also applied to two software projects in Mauritius to test its effectiveness. Given the studies carried out and its successful application to the Mauritian context, this model for software project management is expected to contribute towards a higher software project success rate. Notwithstanding the application in the Mauritian context, it is plausible that other developing countries may also customise this model as similar problems occur across these countries. / Computing / D.Phil. (Computer Science)