This master thesis deals with the issue of managing a group of projects from the perspective of an outsourcing provider. The goals of this master thesis are to define the area of multi-project environment in outsourcing, describe features of a real example of such environment, identify characteristic features in them and design a set of recommendations for its efficient management. In the first part, the area and conditions of multi-project environment in outsourcing are defined. Subsequently, the theoretical knowledge in literature is analyzed. The second part focuses on practical research in a real organization dealing with this kind of project management. First, the methodology of the research is defined, then the results are described in detail. Using the previously collected knowledge the third part identifies features which are typical for multi-project environment in outsourcing. This means those areas which require attention and can be generalized in this field of project management. Based on the previous knowledge, the fourth part sets recommendations for efficient management of multi-project environment in outsourcing within identified characteristics. The original contribution of this master thesis is the definition of multi-project environment in outsourcing, identification of its characteristic features and set of recommendations for its efficient management.

This thesis describes a domain of interdependencies emerging in within the projects as well as between them, in situations, when these projects are about to reach the same objective using their shared deliverables or resources. In the IT projects area are such project interdependencies rather identified in majority of all ongoing projects - due to this reason, the theoretical part of this thesis describes relationship of areas of project, program and portfolio management as well as managing projects in the multi-project environment and dependency management. Based on the results of the theoretical part and acquired knowledge, the tools and techniques for managing such project interdependencies are presented in the practical part of this work. The aim of the theoretical part is to introduce the issue of management of interrelated projects and to identify the areas, in which the formation of dependencies and linkages occurs and is followed by the subsequent need of their management - then the practical part is focused on the exploration and presentation of the functionality of available tools and methods that can be used to manage projects interdependencies. When selecting the specific tools and methods, the practical part of this thesis further develops the results theoretical part and extends mapping and assignment of specific tools and methods in different areas of interdependencies and management levels. Due to this systematic approach to the interdependencies topic, which is firstly described on a theoretical level, and then extended with the practically - oriented attitude, the thesis points out where the interdependencies are, who is responsible for managing them and which tools and methods can be used to identify, describe control and work with them. A useful overview of this quite unknown area is provided by this thesis.

This thesis focuses on creating an testing useful methodology for small business with multiproject environment in practice using principles of theory of constraints and potential for improvement. Small firms have their specific characteristics, therefore aplication of any methodology blindly is not appropriate -- it is necessary to adjust chosen methodology to suit needs of small business. For the small business it is ideal to apply theory of improving performance on the basis of improvement potential, which is based on theory of constraints (TOC) and use theory of constraints (as such) as complement. First of all, it is necessary to analyze chosen firm (for this thesis it will be typical firm) then apply methodology for such firm (on the basis of learning common characteristics, that are common to all small firms of this type) and verify the results afterwards. This thesis describes proper procedure that utilizes both potential for improvement (with emphasis on real potential for improvement) and general. The procedure (or let us say methodology) is verified and its effect on effectiveness of small business management is confirmed in. Thesis also focuses on assigning criteria for evaluation of metodology application succesfulness, and on evaluating results of application of this metodology in typical firm (using above mentioned evaluation kriteria).

This thesis deals with project management competence center in Software Quality Assurance, which operates the University of Economics in Prague. The first part of this thesis is focused on basic terminology management projects and projects aimed at testing. The second part focuses on project management competence center in Software Quality Assurance, which describes a modified project life cycle according to the PMBOK and project life cycle testing. All phases of the lifecycle contain sub-activities and the person responsible for the activity. The last part of this thesis is focused on management competency center Software Quality Assurance tool available for cooperation IBM Connections, which is available for students and staff of the University of Economics in Prague. The thesis is a complex material intended primarily for manager competency center, its teams and includes guides on how to manage the very center and its projects.