Dr. Bower confirmed that earned value management (EVM) is not widely adopted, and that many project managers see the methodology as being overly complex and difficult to implement. He identified several serious challenges associated with conventional EVM.and addressed the first issue by creating a new theoretical concept called Assured Value Analysis (AVA). This add-in process provides two new measures, permitting improvements to EVM that take into account the added certainty provided through procurement. Assured Value (AV) represents the budget for a future signed contract, and Expected Cost (EC) represents the agreed cost of that contract. Those measures permit the calculation of a Total Cost Variance that includes not only cost deviations to date, but also future ones to which the project team is already committed. AVA also allows conventional EVM formulae to take into account the Assured Value and Expected Cost of future signed agreements. A simple notional project is used to demonstrate the implementation of AVA. He resolved the remaining challenges and issues through realising that the isolation of project phases would provide a simplified but more dependable methodology, one that also provides features not found in conventional EVM. Significant milestones are normally planned to occur at the end of a project phase. By assessing project performance only at the end of each completed phase, performance calculations are significantly simplified.. His new technique, Phase Earned Value Analysis (PEVA) simplifies the calculation of PV, EV and AC, and also provides benefits that are not possible with EVM. Since the planned and actual phase completion dates are known, an intuitively simple but accurate time-based schedule variance and schedule performance index (i.e. SVP and SPIP) can be measured. PEVA also permits the forecasting of future phase end cost figures and phase completion dates using the phase CPI and SPI ratios. Since PEVA employs data points having specific x axis and y-axis values, those can be readily plotted and trend lines identified with standard spreadsheet functions. This is a powerful feature, as it allows key project stakeholders to visualise emerging project performance trends as each phase is completed. Finally, he successfully combined the AVA and PEVA concepts, resulting in a new EVM methodology - Phase Assured Value Analysis (PAVA) - which takes into account the assurance provided by procurement, simplifies the calculation of earned value through phases, and provides powerful forecasting and charting features. He validated this new combined approach in multiple respects. The new AVA and PEVA formulae were rigorously established and confirmed through standard algebraic procedures. The formulae were tested in sample project situations, to clearly demonstrate their functions. He argues that the PAVA approach conforms to the 32 criteria established in the United States for full EVM compliance. He presented AVA and PEVA to critical audiences at major project management conferences in North America and the UK, as well as several gaining expert criticism from organisations and practitioners. Finally, he used archived cost and schedule records to retrospectively test the combined PAVA methodology on a significant office facilities and technology program.

The diploma thesis focuses on the project of SAP system implementation in the company. It clarifies the basic problems and methods of project management and further describes the application of this knowledge in practice. The outcome is feasibility study, which takes into account the factors and risks of the project.

Despite their recognized significance for project success and innovation, the management of the early project phases is still an under-researched area in project management. For organizations to secure a continuous stream of innovation, the utilization of capabilities is crucial for managing the early phases of R&D projects. The purpose of this dissertation is to advance the understanding of the management of the early project phases in hypercompetitive environments. The thesis addresses the research question of how organizations manage the early project phases of R&D in hypercompetitive environments for frequent innovation by taking a dynamic capabilities perspective. The first conceptual study reviews the literature covering organizational change in hypercompetitive environments with a focus on projects as the vehicle to create the necessary flexibility. The study found that organizational aspects and capabilities have to go hand in hand as enabler and facilitator for a successful emergent change process. The second qualitative study investigates how organizations organize the early project phases of R&D in the pharmaceutical industry for an outcome of frequent innovation. The findings show that an optimization of combinative capabilities that balances dynamic, project and multi-project capabilities can be used as a powerful leverage to boost the outcome of frequent innovation. The third study investigates the philosophical stances and related methodologies used within the last 15 years of project management research at the example of IRNOP conferences. The findings show that ontological subjectivism and epistemological interpretivism are dominating. Moreover, case studies and qualitative methods were the most common methods, whereas mixed method studies were lacking despite their value for developing an increasingly complex research field. The final mixed method study explores how absorptive, innovative and adaptive capabilities within the early phases of pharmaceutical R&D affect project and portfolio performance. Based on the results of quantitative study, the set of capabilities has an overall effect on the set of performance outcomes and thus confirms the results of the qualitative study that a distinct capability mix is needed in the pharmaceutical R&D process. To conclude, the dissertation has comprehensively explored the management of the early project phases through four studies and by applying a multitude of methodologies.

The master’s thesis deals with project management issues with a focus on the specifics of the construction of new and modernisation of old fossil-fuel and nuclear power plants belonging to ČEZ, a.s. It summarizes the project management methodology and standards and integrates them into a unified information system, thus creating a sound platform that supports all company projects in all stages of their individual life cycles. This thesis analyses the current status of the application support and proposes extensions to the information system, which significantly increase its value.

The diploma thesis focuses on project management – managing of software development activities. It explains a basic terms of given issue and it also deals with advantages and disadvantages of some known practices and methods which are often followed when developing software. The practical part includes an analysis and evaluation of concrete project. This project is then the base for designing an optimization of software development methodology. Designed optimization will be able to help manage similar projects in future.

Syfte – Ett IT-projekt påverkas av faktorer som i olika faser på olika sätt leder till positiva eller negativa konsekvenser. Dessa faktorer bör identifieras, analyseras och hanteras för att skapa ett lyckat IT-projekt. Därmed är studiens syfte: Undersöka viktiga aspekter som påverkar ett IT-projekt. Metod – En fallstudie med intervjuer på ett utvalt fallföretag har genomförts. Intervjuerna har analyserats med hjälp av det teoretiska ramverket för att därefter besvara studiens två frågeställningar och uppnå syftet med studien. Resultat – Resultatet från fallstudien visar på 16 faktorer som påverkar ett IT-projekt: strategi, ledarskap, stöd, team, management, plan, extern, kultur, förändring, process, kommunikation, teknik, utbildning, användare och egenmakt. Faktorerna ledarskap, stöd, kompetens, kultur och kommunikation är betydelsefulla i alla projektets faser medan de övriga faktorerna visar sig har mer eller mindre påverkan beroende på vilken fas projektet befinner sig i. Faktorernas betydelse på projektet och faserna varierar även beroende på projektmedlemmarnas roll. Resultatet från fallstudien redogör för de tre viktigaste faktorerna som bidrar till om ett projekt blir lyckat eller ej vilka är: kommunikation, ledarskap och egenmakt. Implikationer – Studien ger en generell bild över hur påverkansfaktorer i ett IT-projekt bör hanteras. De viktigaste faktorerna i olika faser belyses, därmed kan studiens resultat finnas som en vägledning för verksamheter som arbetar med IT-projekt. Studien kan finnas som stöd för verksamheter genom att identifiera de faktorer som avgör om projektet blir lyckat eller ej. Begränsningar – Denna studie har genomförts på ett fallföretag. Om fler fallföretag blivit studerade hade reliabiliteten blivit större. / Purpose – An IT project is affected by factors in different phases that in different ways lead to positive or negative consequences. These factors should be identified, analyzed and managed to create a successful IT project. The purpose of the study is thus to: Investigate important aspects that affect an IT project. Method – A case study with interviews at a selected case company has been conducted. The interviews were analyzed using the theoretical framework in order to answer the study's two questions and achieve the purpose of the study. Findings – The result from the case study shows 16 factors that affect an IT project: strategy, leadership, support, team, management, plan, external, culture, change, process, communication, technology, education, users and empowerment. The factors of leadership, support, competence, culture and communication are important in all phases of the project, while the other factors appear to have more or less influence depending on the phase of the project. The results from the case study describe the three most important factors that contribute to whether or not a project is successful: communication, leadership and empowerment. Implications – The study provides a general picture of how impacting factors in an IT project should be managed. The most important factors in different phases are highlighted, thus the study's results can serve as a guide for businesses working on IT projects. The study can be used to support businesses by identifying the factors that determine whether the project is successful or not. Limitations – This study was conducted at one company. If more case companies had been studied, reliability would have been greater.

Digitalization as a driving force in the AEC industry is no longer a new subject when talking about accelerating innovation and solving environmental challenges. Traditional approaches can limit some of these outcomes and typically imply that many issues that could have been predicted with early involvement of stakeholders, are recognized in much later stages of the project at great expense. In a long run outlook, the operational phase of a building is notably the most demanding if accounting the lifecycle perspective of a building. Still, why is O&M lagging in adopting integrated models? This thesis approaches this subject from the assumption that Information Management plays a strategic role to oversee the different demands, urgencies and use from both sides.  The first theoretical framework used was Lean Management’s main premise that value is created through the identification of waste in a continuous improvement process. The second theoretical framework presented was to analyze the findings with the intention to simulate an optimal context for information flow and understand where the biggest bottlenecks are. The findings show that the perceived value on the information added is low from actors actually feeding the model, a bit higher from project managers but an essential part of information managers responsibility. Main issues related to digitalization were directly linked to the lack of communication between teams, lack of standards across different teams as well as difficulty in finding effective and accurate information. Practical issues with high information models related by the industry also demonstrate a necessity of more roles focused on information management. A model based on the five principles of Lean Management is in equivalence to Information Management is presented and then inserted as enablers for a continuous improvement cycle. Based on the findings, further research can evaluate in more detail the view from operational teams towards information management roles. / Digitalisering som en drivande kraft i AEC-industrin är inte längre ett nytt ämne när man talar om att påskynda innovation och lösa miljöutmaningar. Traditionella tillvägagångssätt kan begränsa vissa delar av resultatet och många frågeställningar som kunde ha besvarats genom ett tidigt engagemang av intressenter, blir lösta i mycket senare skeden av projektet, till stora kostnader. På lång sikt är driftsfasen i ett byggprojekt den mest krävande när man tittar på livscykeln av en byggnad. Så varför ingår inte O&M i integrerade modeller? Denna uppsats tar sig an detta ämne utifrån antagandet att informationshantering spelar en strategisk roll för att övervaka de olika kraven, hur brådskande det kan vara och användningen från båda sidor. Den första teoretiska utgångspunkten som användes var Lean Managements huvudsakliga premiss att värde skapas genom identifiering av avfall i en kontinuerlig förbättringsprocess. Den andra teoretiska utgångspunkten som användes var för att analysera resultaten med avsikten att simulera ett optimalt sammanhang för informationsflöde och förstå var de största flaskhalsarna låg. Resultaten visar att det upplevda värdet på den tillagda informationen är lågt från aktörer som faktiskt matar modellen, lite högre för projektledare men en viktig del av informationschefernas ansvar. Problemen relaterade till digitalisering var direkt kopplade till bristen på kommunikation mellan team, brist på standarder mellan olika team samt svårigheter att hitta effektiv och korrekt information. Praktiska problem med informationsmodeller relaterade till branschen visar också att det behövs fler roller som fokuserar på informationshantering. En modell baserad på Lean Management fem olika principer är i likhet med Information Management-praxis och presenteras och infogas sedan som möjliggörare för en kontinuerlig förbättringscykel. Baserat på resultaten kan vidare forskning utvärdera mer detaljerat synen från operativa team mot informationshanteringsroller.

This work deals with the data migration during the process of mergers and acquisitions. The first, theoretical part, defines the general terms concerning mergers and acquisitions, further mentions motives that may lead to it, and the basic stages of the implementation process of mergers and acquisitions. This section also presents brief information on selected methodologies of project management, of which principles are used in the next part, dealing with data migration projects. The aim of this work is to develop a methodology for project management of data migration in mergers and acquisitions process, which may serve as a guide for merging companies and data migration teams. In the methodology there are specified activities and defined procedures to be followed in the various stages of the project life cycle. To each activity the way and necessary prerequisites for carrying out are specified. The methodology also describes common problems with which the data migration project in carrying out the action may be faced and which could threaten the success of the project or its part. For each potential problem a possible way to eliminate it is added, or solutions.

The purpose of this work is to design and implement software support for Project Definition of LFM (Logical Frame Method). The first part is about project management and about necessity to use it for solving projects. There is description of phases of project and detailed description of logical frame method. In the second part there is system requirements analysis, description of the application via UML and implementation of application which was created in development environment Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 in C# language. There is a short summary, possible extensions and comparing with existing applications in the end of the work.

Bakgrund: För att förbättra kommunikationen mellan aktörer i byggprojekt under produktionsskedet finns stor potential i att implementera nya information- och kommunikationsteknologier. I litteraturen förklaras implementeringar av dessa teknologier utifrån flera olika aspekter. En aspekt vars inverkan dock inte studerats i stor utsträckning är hur den tidpunkt som byggprojektet befinner sig i påverkar implementeringen, trots att tidsaspekten är en av projektet som organisationsforms viktigaste särdrag. Syfte: Studien syftar till att utforska förutsättningarna för implementering av informations- och kommunikationsteknologier i byggproduktion under olika faser av produktionsskedet. Metod: Studien utgår från teorier kring innovationsprocessen, implementering av innovation och teknologi tillsammans med teorier kring projektbaserat arbete och spårbundenhet i organisationer. Studien är genomförd som en fallstudie på byggbolaget Skanska där två byggprojekt undersöks i dess produktionsskede. Intervjuer genomfördes där faktorer bakom implementeringsprocessen av informations- och kommunikationsteknologier och förändringar av förutsättningar för denna process mellan två tidpunkter, produktionsstarten och mitt i produktionsskedet, kunde visas. Slutsatser: Studien visar att förutsättningarna för implementering av teknologier i byggproduktion förändras under produktionsskedet. Två huvudsakliga skillnader i förutsättningar identifierades, större tillgänglighet av tidsresurser och förekomst av aktiviteter som formar normen vid produktionsstarten jämfört med mitt i produktionsskedet. Studien visar även att dessa förutsättningar har en stor inverkan på implementeringen av teknologier vilket hindrar implementering av teknologier efter produktionsstarten. / Background: To improve communication between actors in construction projects during production phase there is great potential of new information and communication technologies. The literature explains the implementations of these technologies from several aspects. One aspect, which needs further research, is how the period which a construction project is in impacts the implementation, since the time aspect is one of the most important characteristics of a project. Purpose: This study aims to explore the prerequisites for implementing new information and communication technologies in production during different periods of the production phase of a construction project. Methodology: This study is based on theories on the innovation process, implementation process of innovation and technology together with theories on project management and path dependency in organizations. The study was conducted as a case study at the construction company Skanska, where two construction projects were investigated in their respective production phase. Interviews were conducted where factors behind the implementation process of information and communication technologies were shown. Changed prerequisites for this process between two of the project’s phases, the production start and the middle of production phase, were also revealed. Conclusions: This study shows that the prerequisites for implementing technologies in construction change during the construction phase. Two major differences were identified; greater availability of time resources and the presence of activities that form the norm, at the start of production compared to the middle of the production phase. This study also shows that these prerequisites have a major impact on the implementation of technologies, which result in difficulties in implementing the technologies after the start of the production.