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Week 7: Optimal Capacity Utilization and Emerging Project Management Approaches - Discussion

The UCP Model and The NCTP Model (graded)

Shenhar and Dvir discuss two frameworks used to classify projects: the UCP model and the NCTP model. Define each model. How do these models differ? How does the knowledge of these models help/hinder an organization?

Responses Response The UPC Model and the NCTP Model The UPC Model and the NCTP Model: In your organization or one w here you have w orked previously, w hich model w ould you use? Why? Regards, Susan Author Professor Orr Date/Time 6/15/2013 1:56:03 PM

RE: The UPC Model and the NCTP Model Modified:6/17/2013 8:49 PM

Dw ayne Grant

6/16/2013 10:52:15 PM

Just from the readings and previous experience my recommendation would be the UCP method. It has all the essentials of some of the project management fundamentals, and some of these tasks have been done at various organizations without the understanding of the project management relationship. The NTCP seems like it can only be used for technical and highly complex projects, and that would make its broad based use in functional projects not practical.

RE: The UPC Model and the NCTP Model Modified:6/19/2013 6:00 AM

Sydney William s

6/17/2013 7:27:51 AM

At my current organization now I would say we use the UCP model. Pretty much you take the elements of environment, product, and task then use Uncertainty, Complexity, and Pace to come up with your Project Management Style. As to which model I would use, I am going to use the project management favorite words "it depends". I would use the UCP style in portfolio management as a top manager. If I need more dimensions, I would use the NCTP model. This would be used to select project management style- leader, team, structure, and processes.

RE: The UPC Model and the NCTP Model

Em re Karakus

6/17/2013 9:52:33 PM

I w ould like to participate NCTP model w hich is mostly fit to a technology company. Softw are Companies must find a balance betw een novelty, technology, pace and complexity to have successful projects and sustainable products.If these four parameters placed on a chart it show s the successful project definition. How ever companies has methods for revising plans during development process to keep it in balance. the most important components of NCTP model are technology and novelty. These tw o components must be put forw ard w hile planning programs.
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RE: The UPC Model and the NCTP Model

Jennifer Gherardini

6/18/2013 1:50:19 PM

I previously w orked at an Oak Furniture company. While they had some products that w ere pre-made for sale, most products w ere made from customized orders. They w ould do w hole rooms, such as kitchen, up to w hole houses. Each employee had a different part of the production of the order. I w ould recommend using the UPC model. They had to test out a few different things sometimes before getting the design that the customer asked for just like they w anted. There w as an uncertainty to how long that w ould take and depending on the size of the project they may need more oak than they have on stock. The complexity of course depends on the customization that the customer orders and w ho has w hich job. The pace is pretty easy to determine after they get the exact details w anted dow n. It w ill take about the same for the rest of the project. This kind of model is easy to follow and falls right in line w ith the kind of business they run. Morris, P. & Pinto, J. (2007). The wiley guide to project program & portfolio management. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

RE: The UPC Model and the NCTP Model

Catherine Nderitu

6/18/2013 6:09:37 PM

In my opinion, i w ould say it depends w ith the projects involved. UPC model is somehow basic so i w ould opt for that for simple projects. How ever, if projects are a bit complex then i w ould use the NCTP model because it involves an covers more dimensions.

RE: The UPC Model and the NCTP Isaac Oyan Model

6/18/2013 11:58:35 PM

In my opinion, I w ill recommend, UCP Model because it deals immediately w ith the Uncertainty at the inception/initiation of the project, Also, it is used to determine the complexity of the project in terms of # of elements and variety of factors and the interconnectivity that is involved in the project, coupled w ith the Pace issue w hich deals w ith the available time frame for the project to be completed. UCP is very direct and straight in dealing w ith how the project is going to be carried out.

RE: The UPC Model and the NCTP Model

Derek Am berson

6/19/2013 1:36:54 PM

The model w e are using is NCTP. This is because w e are doing test an development. These projects are very complex, have a high degree of tech involved and w ill evolve over time as different tests are performed, data is evaluated and decisions for next steps is determined. The UPC model just does not allow for the large degree of precise decisions that these projects require. To achieve our goals w e have to use the complex one. As the text stated the Boeing company used this model for the development of the 777, just as w e are using it for the development of the TCAS/S band upgrade.

RE: The UPC Model and the NCTP Model Modified:6/19/2013 1:47 PM

Mary Hart

6/19/2013 1:46:23 PM

I have experience w orking for an Alumina Production Plant, most of the projects developed here are internal operational projects as maintenance, improvement and problem solving. I w ould consider these projects framew orks w ithin the UCP model as they deal more w ith Uncertainty, Complexity and Pase. Novelty and technology, of the NCTP model, w ere scarce / null in these types of projects.
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Usefulness of the Framew orks What are the framew orks useful for? Regards, Susan

Professor Orr

6/17/2013 6:15:12 AM

RE: Usefulness of the Framew orks

Dw ayne Grant

6/17/2013 9:14:17 PM

Frameworks are for distinguishing between different projects, and each framework uses different dimensions for project classification. The frameworks are used by different management levels for different managerial reasons. Plus, each framework also provides guidelines for how management should handle the different projects.

RE: Usefulness of the Framew orks

Sydney Williams

6/18/2013 5:50:12 AM

A Project Management Framework (PMF) is a tool that will help you plan/monitor the progress of your project. It is a statement of all the required tasks that need to be undertaken, as well as a timeline for each task and who is responsible for its implementation. A PMF is used to assist in tracking, evaluating and communicating the progress of a project. The importance for the framework is that the Project Manager knows what stage the project is at, at any given time. A PMF is a useful tool to assist in keeping the project on track and determining how long it will take to complete the project. If you have any kind of variations of your project, you should also update your PMF.

RE: Usefulness of the Framew orks Modified:6/18/2013 8:06 PM

Mary Hart

6/18/2013 8:04:58 PM

The frameworks are useful in grouping projects by classifying them within selected dimensions and final user needs. The frameworks are also useful in guiding project managers as follow: -Selecting project management style. -Recruiting team members. - Determining structure and processes. -Choosing the right tools.

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Reference :Morris, P. & Pinto, J. (2007). The Wiley Guide to Project Program & Portfolio Management. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

RE: Usefulness of the Framew orks

Isaac Oyan

6/19/2013 1:30:04 AM

The usefulness of the Framew orks can not be over-emphasized because each of the framew ork address many area of concerns about the projects w hich includes the follow ings:

Technology: The framew ork address w hat type or level of technology needs to be involved in carrying out the projects, is it going to be High tech. or low technology? Complexity: This is an area w here the framew ork tried to analyze various elements of the project and how these elements w ere interconnected, and give a solution how to deal w ith such complexity to more the project forw ard. Novelty: This is also an advantage of the framew ork because it addresses how new the products/services are to be introduced to the customers/users, their reactions, and how the products/services w ill breakthrough after the completion of the products/services. Pace: What is the time frame of individual activities/tasks in the project, it show s how critical the time frame is, in the life of a project. Therefore, Framew orks help in determine how the project could be completed successfully w ithin time and budget.

RE: Usefulness of the Fram ew orks

Em re Karakus

6/19/2013 6:01:50 PM

Frameworks are useful for rapid development and consistency. Projects can be extended in time and it is required a controller. Frameworks are controllers which draws the limit of project. Types and conventions are protected which also gives the advantage of easy learning to the next users. Frameworks also gives simulating and testing functionality to projects. Frameworks enables creating generic models, Generic models are time saving methods and increases re usability.

RE: Usefulness of the Framew orks

Huyen Bui

6/22/2013 11:48:12 AM

A project management framework that defines the scope and boundaries of managing projects, as well as the method to be adopted and applied to each project undertaken. The framework and supporting method should be integrated with the program management processes.

Areas the Framew orks Do Not Cover What areas do the framew orks not cover? Regards, Susan

Professor Orr

6/18/2013 7:33:09 AM

RE: Areas the Fram ew orks Do Not Cover

Sydney William s

6/19/2013 6:13:45 AM

One area framework does not cover is Agile. Agile is not about project management. Agile is a
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strategy for executing the product development of a project, not a project framework. Being a project manager for a project using the agile method is quite different from being the project manager on a traditional project. An agile project manager is more of a visionary. The project manager has to guide the workflow and make sure the project team has the resources and materials it needs, but under the agile process, it's the team who is actually driving the schedule. In fact, it has been recognized that the people involved in the work need to be the ones scheduling the work because they, in fact, know how long each process is going to take. This is a deviation from the traditional project, where the project manager enters all of the durations in Microsoft Project and computes when tasks should start, stop, or be delayed.

RE: Areas the Fram ew orks Do Not Cover Modified:6/20/2013 8:46 PM

Mary Hart

6/20/2013 8:46:06 PM

I find that in the the UCP and the NCTP model the financial area is not covered. These models consider the complexity aspects of the project, however in a further classification stage the financial area may be taken in account as it is a crucial factor in decision making.Group

RE: Areas the Fram ew orks Do Not Cover

Em re Karakus

6/22/2013 10:33:07 PM

Project scope, activities, risk management and human resource and performance evaluation, activities which can be included under communication and budgeting information and costs which can be included under financial information are not covered in frameworks.

Trends in Project Management

Professor Orr

6/19/2013 8:19:33 AM

What trends do you see in your organization or in an organization you have previously w orked for? Regards, Susan

RE: Trends in Project Management

Dw ayne Grant

6/19/2013 4:04:16 PM

One trend that is worth mentioning is that other professions are starting to use concepts derived from project management fundamentals. I mean that even the field of education is trying to adopt concepts, and they are doing it in a form called primary learned centers. It has concepts that are similar to a project management team, and this is a change in education because educators have earned the reputation of working alone on an island. The second trend is globalization, and this presents unique challenges. I want to give you an example just to frame the discussion, and it involves business opportunities. Just suppose you own and operate a business in Houston Texas and you are thinking about expanding to Skokie, Illinois. You would have to learn the business dynamic is Skokie Illinois. The same challenge is magnified if you are trying to start a business overseas. You would have to learn the laws customs and business etiquette. So, globalization is the next great business challenge.

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RE: Trends in Project Managem ent

Catherine Nderitu

6/19/2013 5:27:05 PM

Now adays, most organizations are defining project success as the delivery of perceived customer value as opposed to the traditional completion w ithin/under cost/resource schedule/time scope/quality. As per our class discussion in value management, project stakeholders are the main contributor to w hat 'value' actually means. Organizations w ill therefore measure project success on how w ell it matches customers expectations.

RE: Trends in Project Managem ent

Desm ond Callow ay

6/20/2013 6:28:31 AM

The trend that I have notice in the w ork place that I find very interesting the the move for lean resource pool management. Take for instance the data center that I w ork in. When building out for the new vault area, the customer has specific needs that must be met aside from using our normal tiles and and joists. Watch the process myself, the project team order the items that w ere specific to the needs of the customer and found a w ay to reallocate some resources that w ere not in immediate need in already completed projects or in future projects, w here they can be replaced easily. The equipment, once reallocated, made it easy for us to go back and build in the structured cabling and pow er w ith as little interference and impact to the resource pool (w orker) as possible.

RE: Trends in Project Management

Huyen Bui

6/22/2013 11:49:57 AM

The technical aspects of managing projects are undeniable, however; PM are increasingly asked to lead the organization in transformative ways. Since project managers often interact across the entire spectrum of departments within corporations, they are often exposed to emerging trends within the industry that other or departmental managers are not. Among the trends are an increased emphasis on project management soft skills, the project management office (PMO) being viewed as a potential profit center (vs. a cost center), sustainability aggressively planned into projects, and an increased emphasis on corporate social responsibility.

RE: Trends in Project Managem ent

Derek Am berson

6/22/2013 8:27:35 PM

Prior to going back to w ork w ith the DOD, I w orked for a Coca-Cola production facility briefly. The company w as just learning the concepts of project management. They w ere beginning to try to understand these concepts and it w as a little painful to see that this company that had been around for over 150 years w as so far behind the times. They w ere very interested in the process and w orked tow ard achieving a success in each project that they ran. The issue w as w ith the program office. They w ere just beginning in the system and even though they had very know ledgeable individuals, they w ere hampered by senior leadership that did not understand the concepts and w ere used to doing things one w ay, so changing their directions w as a little hard.

RE: Trends in Project Managem ent

Em re Karakus

6/23/2013 7:11:52 PM

I was working for software companies where project management tools and technologies were important for management. They were using software development tools to bring software development time and difficulty in standards. If any member of a project team has left the company, development time/quality is not changed. it means human resource based risk minimization. The other important technique they were using is standard programming libraries. Core development team of the company had developed a tool which makes front end programming easier. It is called rapid development technology. Programmers can able to develop on project
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after a few training courses. Rapid development and risk minimization are techniques of sacrum and agile which has key role in project management.

Trends and Emerging Methodologies

Professor Orr

6/20/2013 9:22:49 AM

After researching the trends and emerging methodologies, share other trends or emerging methodologies that you discovered. Regards, Susan

RE: Trends and Emerging Methodologies

Kelser Mcmiller

6/20/2013 3:02:49 PM

According to Project Times, Leadership skills w ill become a Critical Success Factor in new projects and programs. This means not only having the experience in hours and projects, but also having the background of leadership positions. Basically a PM w ill also have to know how to communicate w ell, react in social situations, and think critically w hen dealing w ith changes and conflict. http://w w w .projecttimes.com/articles/top-10-project-management-trends-for-2011.html

RE: Trends and Em erging Methodologies

Isaac Oyan

6/21/2013 12:25:34 AM

It has been observed that the Project Management style to be used/adopted depends on three key factors/parameters which includes (a) Environment, (b) Product and (c) Task. The three factors has to be considered before any PM styles could be chosen. Environment in the context of this premise is dealing with the external factors like customer, industry, competitors even market/ general economic scales. Product on the other hand is about the end result of the project, what type of product, the requirement/specification of the product while Task is the totality of the deliverables at every level in order to achieve the goal of the project. Therefore, the consideration of Uncertainty, complexity nature of all the three factors and the Pace/time it takes to accomplish this project has to be considered in deciding what PM style to put in place for such a project.

RE: Trends and Em erging Methodologies

Jennifer Gherardini

6/21/2013 6:51:46 PM

I think leadership skills are extremely important and glad to hear that they are becoming a requirement. Poor leadership can derail any team. Not only in improper managing of a team on a project, such as not integrating team members or teams properly and managing conflicts, but also in building team morale. A leader that contributes to poor morale instead of trying to build good morale w ill have a team that is unmotivated and unhappy w ith their jobs. This can also be a result of not managing conflict properly. Or even if they are just a pushover can contribute to team failure.
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RE: Trends and Em erging Methodologies

Desm ond Callow ay

6/22/2013 11:04:12 PM

One trend that is gaining more ground as time goes is the use of the automated project dashboard. This allow s the project managers the ability to perform all tasks for the project and keep track of all of the progress being made by all actors. The project itself w ill benefit greatly from using this tool. But the best part of this is the implementation of the dashboard w hen looking at the progression of each project for the program managers and each program for the portfolio managers. The projects and programs in the portfolio can be managed much in the same fashion as they w ould independently. This information is important to large firms as the planning commences for budget and the fiscal reporting. I w ould recommend all project and program managers learn to use this tool as they progress in their careers. The dashboard w ould allow the ultimate level of efficiency for all involved.

RE: Trends and Em erging Methodologies

Em re Karakus

6/23/2013 7:18:49 PM

There are project for carrying know ledge in global. Projects are standardized so project management and project experience is important to prevent failure. There are projects, developed for cloud and accessible globally. It is important to know English for everybody all around the w orld. Also Google has a project to bring internet on each ground of the w orld w ith antennas. It w ill be easy to access it as a radio starting in 2014. These tw o projects w ill help better project and portfolio managements. We can see a project portfolio has participants all around the w orld.

The Future of Project Management

Professor Orr

6/21/2013 9:53:13 AM

What do you think the future looks like for the profession of project management? What are your predictions? Regards, Susan

RE: The Future of Project Managem ent

Jennifer Gherardini

6/22/2013 2:58:51 PM

The more I learn about project management the more I w onder w hy every business doesn't incorporate the practices into all of their projects. By definition there are plenty of projects that businesses undertake and I really think they could benefit from at least some of them. The organizing of projects in the very least from start to finish is a great start. I think the biggest is the documentation and lessons learned aspects. From the very start of the thoughts about the project until it's finished and maybe even further to keep taking notes on how some things have helped w ith other things.

RE: The Future of Project Managem ent

Catherine Nderitu

6/22/2013 8:47:49 PM

I believe it w ill continue to grow and become more recognized and adopted by most organizations. They w ill understand it is a specialized skill and not everybody can lead a project. More advanced technology w ill be incorporated into the process to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

RE: The Future of Project Managem ent

Kelser Mcm iller

6/22/2013 9:07:12 PM

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I believe that the future of project management w ill require managers to have more than just a technical know ledge of project managing. They w ill also have to develop successful leadership skills and a know ledge of overall operations. The managing of projects instead of departments w ill develop so as to lessen the risk of committing to permanent ideas for an organization.

RE: The Future of Project Managem ent

Derek Am berson

6/23/2013 5:20:11 PM

Well seeing w hat I see now , I w ould say that the future is more w ith less. There is so much coming out in terms of technology that it might be that teams w ill never meet. These teams w ill input data into one system and it w ill auto calculate the completions, notify the next task ow ner that they may begin and deliver the appropriate information to them.

RE: The Future of Project Managem ent

Em re Karakus

6/23/2013 7:21:25 PM

Project managers role w ill become more important and standardized in future because of the productivity is better in project based business models. In softw are programming terminology there is a motto for each objects: "thing every structure in class", w e w ill say think every event as project.

Most Valuable Lessons Learned in PROJ587 Hi Everyone,

Professor Orr

6/22/2013 3:48:58 PM

What are your most valuable Lessons Learned in PROJ587? Regards, Susan

RE: Most Valuable Lessons Learned in PROJ587

Isaac Oyan

6/22/2013 7:49:22 PM

There w ere a lot of lesson learned in this course, one of them is the Project Manager Professional Code of ethics w hich includes, the Responsibility, Respect, fairness and Honesty, The code of ethics serves as a guidelines and valuable matters w hich every Project managers needs to embrace and utilize every times, Whenever, every of these four core values are displayed, then integrity is uphold and respect is earned. Also, a lot of models w ere clearly explained w hich every project managers need to know and utilize as time permit so as to achieve our aim of having a successful project at the end of the day. It needs to be mentioned here that this course is more of research base.

RE: Most Valuable Lessons Learned in PROJ587

Desm ond Callow ay

6/23/2013 6:15:28 PM

This course has proven to be most interesting. I have never been in a class w here the structure of the course is to develop all aspects of the final project each session. One of the most vital lessons for this session w ould have to be that there is such a thing as too much planning. When w e undertook the projects that w e endeavored to be graded on this session, w e each made plans w ith our teams that helped to shape how each team functioned. Even w ith the best laid plans, teams w ere changed and even lost members due to unforeseeable circumstances. The collaboration w ith other teams built on the character of the students in the class and created an environment w here the teams w ere each able to produce their best products, even w hile learning more from their colleagues. If it w ere not for this environment of collaboration and communication, this w ould not have been possible. This is not alw ays
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the case as w e all know . The development of the projects w e w ork on professionally w ill depend on this culture of cooperation and communication. Building this culture far exceeds the scope of simply planning the project from the planning phase to the implementation phase. The best plans that can be produced can be flaw ed in the exacting nature of the plans themselves. There must be room for error and renegotiation of resources. There must me a index of allow ance given for the flexibility of the project to be sound. That is the lesson that w ill stick w ith me from now on.

RE: Most Valuable Lessons Learned in PROJ587

Em re Karakus

6/23/2013 7:23:39 PM

Framew orks and value management classes w ere really valuable for me i have learned many thing w hich w ill be helpful for my future plans. Also team w ork changed my mind about it can be better if it is done by team.

UCP UCP (Uncertainty, Com plexity, Pace):

Joseph Miller

6/22/2013 8:20:40 PM

* Uncertainty process premise is to reduce uncertainties. * Com plexity scope determines project intricacy. The more complex a project determines organizational applied sciences of PM and formality * Pace various time constraints and projects w / high priories w ill determine pace

(Morris & Pinto, 2007, pg 180)

NCTP

Joseph Miller

6/23/2013 9:34:15 AM

NCTP Novelty, Com plexity, Technology, Pace): * Novelty 3 dimensions (derivative: improved product, platform: new gen in existing product line, breakthrough: first of its kind). * Com plexity scope determines project intricacy. The more complex a project determines organizational applied sciences of PM and formality (system scope) * Technology or Technological Uncertainty (Type A: low -tech existing successful projects, Type B: med-tech new capabilities implemented in to previous projects, Type C: high-tech new but existing technologies are utilized w /in the project, Type D: super high-tech first of its kind technologies ) * Pace various time constraints and projects w / high priories w ill determine pace (regular, fast-competitive, blitz-critical)

(Morris & Pinto, 2007, pgs. 183-192)

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