This means a clear definition of mission and system are given at the beginning (to reduce uncertainty), and subsequent execution in periods with selection gates. It contrasts with the strategy used in the seminal endeavors which are credited with creating the basis of the discipline in the 1940s and 1950s. Those projects started out with assignments that were beyond the now potential; any solutions had to emerge over time.
Even though the success of these approaches was well recorded and clarified by scientific study in the 1950s, today they appear to fly in the face of recognized professional standards, making managers uncomfortable when they are encountered. The project management area has been relegated to an "order taker market"-the engineering execution of rather innovative jobs using a clear assignment. As a result, it has been prevented from taking center stage in the crucial strategic change initiatives facing many organizations today. The discipline of project management should be diversified so as to create greater value for organizations whose portfolios comprise endeavors that were dubious and novel.
PUBLICATION DATE: November 01, 2010 PRODUCT #: CMR469-HCB-ENG
This is just an excerpt. This case is about STRATEGY & EXECUTION