Corporate Culture and Project Management - Literature review Example

The paper "Corporate Culture and Project Management" is a good example of a literature review on business. This present paper provides a discussion on two questions that relate to the case study presented in chapter two of the reading titled “Creating a Methodology.” The case study focused on the issue of introducing an enterprise project management methodology through the project management office, for the sole purpose of competitive applying for tenders.

Discuss factors about the corporate culture that were at play, and suggest central reasons why the executive staff waited as long as they had to consider the development of an enterprise project management methodology (EPM)
According to Applegate et al. (2008), corporate culture is the behaviors and even the beliefs that an organization adheres to. Corporate culture guides on how the management and the employees indulge in matters that span beyond the formal business transactions.
The general corporate culture at the company clearly demonstrated that the executive staffs were not ready to initiate an enterprise project management (EPM) system anytime soon. The power shifts and great cut of responsibilities are the primary reasons that contributed to the overall stalling by the project management office on the implementation of project management methodology. For instance, whoever controls the project management office (PMO) is bound to be more powerful than how other executives are.
According to Stanford (2011), the most likely scenario in the case study could be the fact that some senior executives were posed to lose certain powers to the holder of the project management office after the implementation of the methodology. The fear of losing power denotes that having the power within the company came with added advantages and perhaps loss of the aforementioned powers placed the executives at a disadvantageous position.
Stanford (2011) stated that the reluctance to handover or shed some responsibilities and powers could signal the fact the officeholders have been using their position in an unethical manner and hence, retaining power could the best option for protecting their self-interests.

Recommend to both the senior executives and John Compton whether the project management office (PMO) should report to the chief information officer (CIO) or to someone else. Justify the response.
According to Kerzner (2013), the primary function of a company’s chief information officer is to handle the company’s computer systems and information technology, which supports the company’s mission and objectives. Therefore, it is not a strategic approach for the project management office to report to the chief information officer.
The best strategic approach would have been for the project management office to report its findings directly to the President of the company, Mr. John Compton who has the deepest passion for seeing the company use its own project management methodology while submitting their Request for Proposals. By reporting to the company’s President, it would give him an immediate control over company’s enterprise project management system and therefore, there will be no shift of massive powers to one single executive. Moreover, the Company’s President will retain the exclusive powers that are originally bestowed on him. In addition, reporting to the company’s President will ensure that all executives keenly adhere to all the guidelines stipulated under the methodology.