The Impact of Decision-Making Processes into the Project Management Context - Research Proposal Example

Paper Title The impact of decision-making processes into the Project Management context Authors Name: ……………………………………………… Organization: …………………………………………….. City: New York, United States Email ……………………………………………… Contents Paper Title 1 Contents 2 ABSTRACT 3 1.INTRODUCTION 4 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 4 Resource Based Decision Making 5 Strategic decision making 6 Individual Based Decision Making 6 Risk based decision making 7 3.PROPSED METHODOLOGY 8 Research Design 8 Sources of Data 8 Sampling Design 8 Data Analysis 9 4.PROPOSED MODEL 9 Conceptual development 9 Conceptual Framework 10 Problem Identification 10 Problem Analysis 10 Relevant Data Collection 11 Alternative Solution Development 11 Best Solution Selection 12 Decision Conversion into Action 12 Ensuring Feedback 12 5.SYNTHESIS 13 6.CONCLUSION 14 7.References 16 ABSTRACT Good Decision making in project management greatly contributes to the success of project planned goals and objectives. Research in the field of project management and decision making have proved that project cannot succeed if project managers do not make appropriate contribution at every project stage. There is need for further research to establish the impact of decision making in project management. Project managers should focus on making the correct decision by considering the various possible alternatives and weighing them based on risks involved resources available, cost, scope and time available. This calls for effective decision making for effective and efficient project management. This study has the sole purpose to provide more insight into the impact of decision making in project management. The researcher will conduct a survey of 75 project management individuals sampled randomly. The results will then be analyzed to establish the impact of decision making on project management. Keywords - 6-8 keywords Decision-making, Project Management, Risk Management, Planning, project Management Teams, Project Manager. 1. INTRODUCTION Project management involves a proper planned and organised attempt to accomplish a project. It is geared towards matching project results to organizational goals and objectives. Project planning involves project goals and objectives definition, task identification, resources quantification, budget determination and timelines determination. It is the role of the project manager to appropriately plan and organize resources in order to achieve organizational goals and objectives. Managers have a role of a decision maker; decision making is therefore primary function and very important feature of modern management. According to Thomas et al (1991) decision making is a process of choosing from various alternatives in order to come up with the best course of action. The researcher will strive to establish the impact of decision making in project management context. The researcher strongly believes that at any point in the project management process, decision making plays a major role. Project management needs rational and timely decision making. Good decision making will ensure projects in organizations are well managed. It will ensure there is good organization of equipment, people and procedures. This will facilitate effective and efficient completion of projects within the set budget and timeframe. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW This is a critical review of literature on project management and decision making. The researcher is looking at these concepts in relation to what has been published previously in order to build on the body of new knowledge in the current study. It is a critical look at the existing research that is significant to the research problem. The chapter will look at the broad field of project management and decision making process. It shall then narrow down to the specific are of the research problem which is the impact of decision making in project management concept. Project management involves a proper planned and organised attempt to accomplish a project. A project in this case refers to a one-time venture that generates a particular result. Project management involves project planning, managing the way plans are implemented and providing control measures to ensure project results meets the expected project outcome. Project management requires prudent decision making. The project managers are always faces with complex and uncertain alternatives that need rapid decision making. Before making any decision, every manager needs to evaluate risk involved, resources available among other technical requirements. Project has parameters; these include time, scope, cost, quality and resources. Project management therefore strives to match the project parameters to accomplish the set project goals and objectives. Poor decision making can cause problems such as poor project planning, poor project tracking and untimely reporting. Decision making process is further influenced by several factors. These have been classified as follows:- Resource Based Decision Making Gilbert and Ebert (2002) observed that availability of resources is a factor that heavily influence the decision making process. Some decisions may involve more work to be done or change of project specifications. These changes may be highly volatile or needs more resources. If the resources are readily available, then the option can be adopted however if the resources are scarce then such an option could be difficult to select. Strategic decision making Drucker (1967) pointed out that garbage-in-garbage out. Therefore if the project is not started with the right goal setting, then the goals may not be achieved but rather the outcome will be something else. Decision making strategies need to be established well in order for projects in organizations to achieve its goals and objectives. According to Krantz and Kunreuther (2007) plan and goal based decision-making model is the best strategy to adopt in project decision making. This model encourages project individual team members to focus on project goals. Project managers are responsible for making strategic decisions concerning policy framework, expenditure, team performance and general management. Projects have specific aims and well defined results. According to Kerzner (2000), project teams must ensure they focus on the project goal and ensure the project outcome and goals are well established and understood. Specific tasks and resources required should be matched to specific goals and outcome to be achieved. When this is done well, each project is then expected to solve a given problem within the organization. Individual Based Decision Making Project teams need to perform in order for the process to achieve its objective. According to Armstrong (2006), Performance Management is a strategic approach to delivering successful results in organizations by improving the performance and developing the capabilities of teams and individuals. The performance of each individual should be regularly monitored to ensure they attain the required standard. Individuals make decisions based on their conceptualization of the problem and the outcome sought. Decision making is therefore more difficult when there is uncertainty, unfamiliarity, rapid change and high risk. According to Sagi and Friedland (2007), past experience influence the way decision are made. This means that decisions made in the past will influence the decisions to be made in future. If the decision result was positive then people tent to repeat the same however negative results make people decide otherwise in order to avoid similar mistakes. Individual difference also has some influence in decision making, de Bruin et al. (2007) pointed out that socioeconomic status and age can influence the decisions to be made. Young people differ with the older people on decision making. As young people may prefer several options to choose from, the old people may need only a few options due to much experience and fear of fatigue. Risk based decision making Gross and Price (1990) observed that project managers must consider project risk. This is very important for successful project management. The risks attached to the project must be identified at the project planning stage. Once the risks are identified, proper ways of mitigating them should be developed in order to reduce the chances of risk occurrence. 3. PROPSED METHODOLOGY This chapter is intends to give the details of the research design that will be used in order to achieve the objectives of the study. The research will be carried out using survey methodology. This will be essential since it shall allow an intensive investigation of the problem of study. The survey will involves gathering of facts, opinions and views of the target population on the effects of decision making in the project management context. Research Design The survey method will give an advantage of having an in depth understanding of the project management teams by obtaining facts from both the management and project team members. Sources of Data Both primary and secondary data shall be used in this study. The study data will be collected using both open ended and closed questionnaires. Secondary data will be obtained from the project management records while questionnaires will be administered to the project team members across the board. Sampling Design The sample size will be 75 individual team members out of the organizations 220 members. The selected individuals will be randomly selected from the project management division. Data Analysis The data analysis will seek to establish the effects and challenges of decision making in project management. After all questionnaires are fully completed and received, they will be checked and verified to ensure consistency, exhaustiveness and completeness in the information expected. The data will then be coded to allow for content analysis and factor analysis. Content analysis is best suited for the kind of data since it avoids subjectivity. Statistical data analysis, using the Statistical Programme for Social Sciences (SPSS), will be done to give frequencies, standard deviations and means. The results will then be interpreted and various inferences made from the findings. 4. PROPOSED MODEL Conceptual development From the literature review, it has been observed that decision making in project management has a great impact and the Determinants are evident. The most outstanding determinants of decision making process in the project management are:- Resources available Individual difference Socioeconomic status Risk attached Project strategies and goals These can be summarized in a conceptual development as follows:- Fig 1. Conceptual development Conceptual Framework Once decision parameters has been set, there is need to establish the decision making process. This is highlighted in the Conceptual Framework. Problem Identification Decision making process should start with problem identification. A problem well defined is like a problem that is half solved. To identify the problem, relevant information is gathered for comprehensive analysis. Problem Analysis Once the problem is defined, decision making process should analyze the gathered information in order to classify and establish the individual to make decision and the recipient of such decision. Relevant Data Collection Immediately the analysis stage is completed, decision making process needs to collect the most relevant data from the information flood in the project. Alternative Solution Development At this stage the project manager needs to identify the available options for the course of action that can solve the identified problem. The project manager should then select only the most realistic options. fig: 2 Conceptual Framework Decision Making Process Best Solution Selection Once the various options have been identified, the best alternative should be chosen. All the alternatives should be evaluated based on the available resources, cope, time, quality and time. The project managers should also evaluate the impact of such decisions, analyze the past decisions if any or look into documented projects with similar specifications for comparison. The chosen option should be the most rational and deem the best is solving the identified problem. This must then be communicated to the individuals affected by the decision. Decision Conversion into Action The selection of best option stage is followed by conversion of decision into effective action. This will ensure the process meets its intended purpose and be meaningful. Ensuring Feedback The last step in decision making process should be feedback. This assists the project manager to continuously test whether the tests are matching the expectations. The project manager can open up the problem for discussion with individual team members as they provide their feedback, observation and even possible solutions. The feedback can either be face to face, email or via meetings. Communication in project management is therefore very important. 5. SYNTHESIS Form the literature review conducted and the model developed in the conceptual development and framework. This study will come up with the best model for the decision making in project management process. The model will strive to provide the impact of decision making in project management. It is clear that every decision must have a process, the project managers need to streamline each project team in order to ensure the project achieve its objectives. As project managers make decision, there is need for proper analysis of various attributes of project management such as scope, time, quality, cost, risks involved and resources available. The model provide project managers with appropriate decision making tools that assist in making decisions that are based on correct specifications , project information, and valid data. Gross and Price (1990) observed that project managers must consider project risk. This concept had assisted in model development where at any stage of project management where decision needs to be made, risk involved is put into consideration. The steps formulated in the model are very important in project management because it ensures all the team members participate in contribution to decision making and also giving feedback on areas affecting them. This ensures project smooth flow and eventual success. The study also points out that project teams should not be made up of one group because it is evident from the study that individuals make decisions based on their past experience, age, knowledge and socioeconomic status. This can compromise decision making or lead to biased decision. The project teams should therefore be composed of various groups of people with different characteristics. Once this is done there will be accurate decision-making. The study clearly shows that decision making process in very important in managing project. This is because projects are complex and management activities need complex strategies to control the whole process. There should be high quality of decision making since irrational decisions are quite risky and dangerous. The study may be limited by resources, the available time and cost of the study may impact the study negatively. Finally, parameters that may be beyond the control of the researcher during the research period, like change in government legislation and regulation may also affect the study. 6. CONCLUSION Project management process is a complex activity and entails several stages. These stages range from planning, organizing, controlling and evaluating project success. At any given stage, the project manager is required to make decision. Decision making involves choosing one option from several possible options. It is a process that is continuous; it is a daily activity for any individual interacting with the universe. Business environment has to take decision making process as a process and a habit as well. Good decision making process brings success to any project management process. However if decision making process is not well managed then it can be disastrous. The decision made must be based on risk involved, available resources, time, quality, scope and cost. Some decisions are prone to bias due to past experience of the manager, socioeconomic status and age. a clear decision making model developed will go a long way in ensuring the most effective decision making process is applied in project management for effective and efficient project management process and project success. 7. References Abraham, C., and Sheeran, P., 2003. Acting on intentions: The role of anticipated regret. British Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 495-511. Armstrong, M., 2003. A Hand Book Of Human Resource Management Practice , Kogan Page Ltd, UK Gilbert, D.T., and Ebert, J.E.J.,2002. Decisions and revisions: The affective forecasting of changeable outcomes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(4), 503-514. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.82.4.503. Gross, R.L. and Price D., 1990. Common Project Management Problems and How They Can be Avoided Through The Use of Self Managing Teams, IEEE International Engineering Management Conference. Kerzner H., 2000. Applied Project Management best practices on implementation. Ed. John Wiley & Sons. USA. Krantz, D.H., and Kunreuther, H.C., 2007. Goals and plans in decision making. Judgment and Decision Making, 2(3), 137-168. Read More