Resource Management System for Successful Project Management - Research Paper Example

DEVELOPING A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT MANAGEMENT Research Proposal [Of author] 2017 Table of Contents 1.0.Introduction 3 2.0.Problem Statement 4 3.0.Preliminary Literature Review 5 4.0.Research Objectives 7 5.0.Research Questions 8 6.0.Research Hypothesis 9 7.0.Research Variables 9 8.0.Research Methodology 10 9.0.Data Sampling 11 1.0. Introduction Success of any project needs a well-developed system that monitors activities from start-up to completion. Additionally, there is need for an understanding that every project is unique and has often had operating timelines, environment and sets of technical issues. Due to these concerns, there have been general consensuses among studies that development of a resource management system is essential in ensuring that projects are not only completed successfully but they meet minimum required standards of operations and sustainability (Pohl 2010; Hwang and Ng 2013). This proposal further considers that the process of executing a project will always be subject to different constraints that may limit the commencement and progression of different aspects of the project including overall performance. Based on the understanding from research such as Heldman (2015), the research will develop Resource Workflow System (RWS) aimed at successful management of different projects. For understanding of the design process, the system will be denoted as RWS. The aim of the system is to ensure successful completion of projects. Based on this position, we consider project constraints as a factor that limits what this study will consider as ‘successful project completion.’ To ensure this aspect is met, we design a system that identify and manage constraints through master planning and constraint identification and control. The focus of the system will be to come up with a system that drives project management consistency and reinforcing optimised and streamlined project management processes through automated workflows. The baseline of generating the idea is to have a system that increases general transparency and accountability in project management processes via timely and accurate reporting thus creating a successful project management. While the master schedule in the system will be intending to provide a global view of project scheduling, running and completion, the architectural design of the project will be to have a system in place which monitors and directs project managers within a relatively short time window. Premising on studies from scholars such as Emmer and Evertson (2016), the research process will provide an overview of the system in addition to proposing a conceptual framework for management of project. 2.0. Problem Statement The importance of developing a resource management system for successful management of projects has long been recognized by project managers and industry. However, there are concerns that different projects are still dealing with cost overruns, delays and constraints which according to studies such as Coombs (2015), can be traced to ineffective project systems that can identify and treat problems inherent in project management processes. To begin, we note that if project management processes has to be successful, there will be need to systematically identify different challenges inherent in scheduling, start-ups and project completions. We recognize the fact that contemporary projects are becoming more and more complex technically and logistically thus exposing project management operations to even more complex constraints. Secondly, this research is alive to the fact that traditionally used approaches for monitoring and scheduling projects, such as Critical Path Methods (CPM) and bar charts continue to limit projects’ ability not only in monitoring and ensuring project successes but with regard to resolving project overruns and modeling. Taking case studies from scholars that have examined failures of different projects, traditionally methods of ensuring project successes have been blamed for their challenges and limitations as far as commuting schedules and modeling is concerned (Cleland and Ireland 2006; Highsmith 2013). As a result, a successful project means developing a system that has the ability to deal with non-time connected precedence challenges and difficulty so as to evaluate and communicate issues such as inter-dependence especially at the level of field operations. In summary, we recognize the need to have a project management system that understands resource workflow and a structured approach when it comes to identification and modeling projects processes. 3.0. Preliminary Literature Review Preliminary literatures have indicated that previous systems that have been designed to ensure smooth operations of project management have focused modeling rather than system workflow (Baron et al. 2016; Gentleman et al. 2004; Joore and Brezet 2015). While researches such as Joore and Brezet (2015) have dealt with issues such as contractual, spatial and constraints in their systems, key issues that still lack in these systems is a system that provide a framework for developing activities, negotiating, eliciting and documenting project tasks and management of project requirements so that professionals such as project management software architects and systems analysts can function with the system effectively. An understanding that can be drawn from these researchers is that there have been limited progresses made on project initiation and completion. To be specific, studies from Kerzner (2013) indicate that there has little progress on project classification, understanding constraints and resolutions of project problems in a comprehensive manner. Integrating these views, this research will adopt models proposed by Joore and Brezet (2015) which suggested that a comprehensive resource management system should be able to create one-way interface system that initiates work related actions and population of data fields linked to operations and data exchanges. Additionally, the result point out increased enhancement and use of information technology in the process of project management; position echoed by Cleland and Ireland (2006) in their finding. Davis and Venkatesh (2004) cited differences in the role of a resource management system towards the success of project management. According to the authors, some of the functions of a resource management system platform are the pay, cost scheduling, and task structure. It therefore means that there is need for a system that increases general transparency and accountability in project management processes via timely and accurate reporting thus creating a successful project management. Currently, there is agreement from studies such as Davis and Venkatesh (2004) that many CPM-based designs or methodologies have been applied when dealing with time related project issues. On the other hand, there have period of knowledge-based systems that have been used to automate project works (Bryde et al. 2013). Recently, project managers have been introduced to network-based optimization algorithms that specifically work on project scheduling but studies agree that visualization and databases have been developed to provide a resolution as far as project scheduling is concerned (Davis and Venkatesh 2004; Bryde et al. 2013). Virtual Reality (VR), 3D and 4D have also been proposed as a tool for communicating and visualization of project processes however, there is still lack of a comprehensive as well as structured method in managing projects to completion. This study thus proposes a functional model of a system for project management and scheduling based on Primavera. Accordingly, the system will integrate different aspects of project and project management including estimation of costs, project documentation, procurements, budgeting and costs. 4.0. Research Objectives The long term objective of this research is to develop a resource management system that ensures successful completion of project. Successful project management in this case is defined as a process where the system will be able to identify, classify, schedule, model and resolve problems that have been associated with project management processes. On the other hand, immediate objective of the research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of industrial practices and a review of literatures regarding a resource management system developed after which, a conceptual framework for successful project management will be undertaken. The two objectives have been chosen since they are the broad point about what the research hopes to accomplish and the desired outcome from the process of researching. Since the proposal considers a resource management system as a tool that checks project constraints the two objectives introduce what is missing from the literatures reviewed thus identifying the gap in knowledge. The gaps in knowledge as identified in the literature reviewed will thus provide the linkage or concordance between the identified objective and parts of other research questions as mentioned in the next section. Additionally, the objectives have been chosen to help in having research plan, choosing the system model and shaping the questions that will be asked during data collection. Generally, the study will be essential to the industry practitioners and project managers as well as software designers in developing a system that fits project management processes. To conclude, the research develops the following sub-objectives: 1. To outline framework of the system that conceptualise total project management processes 2. To review current challenges concerning projects and constraint modelling 3. Provide detailed review of characteristics and sources of challenges typically inherent in projects 4. To develop projects processes and classification method for easier projects identification, processes and modelling 5.0. Research Questions The following research questions have been identified with an aim of concretizing and solving research problems: 1. What are the primary challenges found in various projects success processes? 2. To what extent do a resource management system helps in project management success? 3. What are the model and design of resource management systems in dealing with project management? These research questions challenge assumptions and theories that have been used in development of resource management systems. That is, they test the validity and conformity of the assumptions and theoretical models that other studies have adopted in assessing the connection between a resource management system and success of project management. In such connection, the questions have been developed to be able to examine what the proposal considers as the scope, scalability, size and sustainability of the research topic. In so doing, the independent variable (one which we are going to manipulate to determine the value of our dependent variable) which is development of a resource management system becomes the main focus of this proposal. On the other hand, the questions bring the dependent variable (successful project management) which is the causal factor that tends to influence the problem of the research. 6.0. Research Hypothesis HOS 1: Automated workflows correlate with the success in project management. The hypothesis is directional where the research attempts to predict the expected outcome with regard to data collection and analysis tools that have been used. Secondly, the hypothesis has been adopted to test the relationship between the two variables. There is need to gain better comprehension of a resource management system within the context of project scheduling. Since the system will be aligned to develop a resource management system for a successful project management, the hypothesis of the research will be creation of success in the processes of project management. As such, the hypothesis (HOS 1) is directional to the processes of system design in the sense that it attempts to predict the expected outcome of the functionality of the system with regard to tools that will be used. In addition to this, the hypothesis relates automated workflows to success in project management, thus providing connectedness between the two variables (workflows and success in project management). As is it stands, studies such as Davis and Venkatesh (2004) have argued that there is need to have a project plan that captures objectives of the design process and satisfaction of success criteria set. 7.0. Research Variables i. Independent Variable: A Resource Management System The research will manipulate this variable to see if it makes the dependent variable change. In so doing, the dependent variable becomes the main focus of this proposal. i. Dependent Variable: A Successful Project Management Independent variables as stated include approaches that will be used as interventions and subject characteristics that directly influence dependent variables. Therefore data collection sub-section also describes how each variable will be measured. 8.0. Research Methodology The primary research methodology applied in this research is case analyses and researches reviewed regarding previously developed resource management systems. However, we seek to use model of a system for project management and scheduling based on Primavera. We recognise that from previous systems developed, there is need to develop a project success identification and classification through a structured approach. Using Primavera in data analysis and coding, we assess whether the domains of these systems can help in attaining the success of project management if it is developed using combinations of project management practices. Based on the aspect mentioned, the research methodology is based on the following project management systems: Resource Workflow System (RWS) for successful management of projects Project management system for control Project management system for performance Project management system for project monitoring Project management system of project scheduling and completion Project management system for project manager involvement Based on the six subsections above, we will adopt Primavera in classification and categorisation of project management issues for the purpose of project modelling. In the second stage of the system development there will be a review of previous studies, previously developed systems and current industry practices that will inform the extent to which the system will conform to specific requirements of modern projects. 9.0. Data Sampling Data collection and sampling will concentrate on previously developed systems that have been developed for project management. On the other hand, data collection will concentrated on 40 project managers who at the moment or at one point have used a developed project management systems to undertake project management and 40 project managers who did not use a developed project management system but still completed the project. The aim of the study group will be to help in creating a system that acts as a standardized way where project management processes will be able to track and report resource management and project management related activities. Data sampling approach will be applied to enable the model of the system to capture and apply the design structure matrix that integrates different tasks so that project planners will be able to decrease lead time and overlap in activities which have been contentious in successful completion of projects. References Baron, J., Bittman, S., Black, R., Sheibley, R., Compton, J., Snyder, C., & Wise, D. (2016). Canadian-US Project towards an International Nitrogen Management System. Bryde, D., Broquetas, M. and Volm, J.M., 2013. The project benefits of building information modelling (BIM). International journal of project management, 31(7), pp.971-980. Cleland, D. L., & Ireland, L. R. (2006). Project management. McGraw-Hill Professional. Coombs, C.R., 2015, ‘When planned IS/IT project benefits are not realized: a study of inhibitors and facilitators to benefits realization’, International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), pp.363-379. Davis, F.D. and Venkatesh, V., 2004, Toward preprototype user acceptance testing of new information systems: implications for software project management, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 51(1), pp.31-46. Emmer, E. T., & Evertson, C. M. (2016). Classroom management for middle and high school teachers. Pearson. Gentleman, R.C., Carey, V.J., Bates, D.M., Bolstad, B., Dettling, M., Dudoit, S., Ellis, B., Gautier, L., Ge, Y., Gentry, J. and Hornik, K., 2004. Bioconductor: open software development for computational biology and bioinformatics. Genome biology, 5(10), p.R80. Heldman, K., 2015. PMP Project Management Professional Exam Deluxe Study Guide: Updated for the 2015 Exam. John Wiley & Sons. Highsmith, J., 2013. Adaptive software development: a collaborative approach to managing complex systems. Addison-Wesley. Hwang, B.G. and Ng, W.J., 2013. Project management knowledge and skills for green construction: Overcoming challenges. 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