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Management: Achieving
Competitive Advantage, 6e
Project Management: Achieving
Competitive Advantage
Competitive Advanta Sixth Edition
Jeffrey Pinto
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, CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
Why Project Management?
Chapter Outline
PROJECT PROFILE
Case—Reimagining a Decaying Airport as a Futuristic City
1.1 THE NEED FOR PROJECTS
1.2 WHAT IS A PROJECT?
General Project Characteristics
PROJECT PROFILE
Dueling Spaceships: SpaceX vs. Boeing
1.3 WHY ARE PROJECTS IMPORTANT?
PROJECT PROFILE
London’s Elizabeth Line: Concluding Europe’s Largest Construction Project
1.4 PROJECT LIFE CYCLES
PROJECT MANAGERS IN PRACTICE
Vilma Shu, Smeal College of Business, Penn State University
1.5 DETERMINANTS OF PROJECT SUCCESS
1.6 DEVELOPING PROJECT MANAGEMENT MATURITY
1.7 EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
1.8 AI CONNECTIONS
1.9 PROJECT ELEMENTS AND TEXT ORGANIZATION
News and Updates
Summary
Key Terms
Discussion Questions
Case Study 1.1 MegaTech, Inc.
Case Study 1.2 The IT Department at Hamelin Hospital
Case Study 1.3 Disney’s Expedition Everest
Case Study 1.4 The Most Expensive VA Hospital in History: The $2 Billion Dollar Scandal in
Aurora, Colorado
Internet Exercises
AI Engagement Exercises
PMP Certification Sample Questions
Notes
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, DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.1 What are some of the principal reasons why project management has become such a popular
business tool in recent years?
In today’s market, the length of product life cycles is shortening. This means businesses are
under pressure to produce new or improved products at an increasingly rapid pace. Growing
global markets, consumer tastes, and competition demand that products constantly be improved
to be better, faster, and sleeker and offer more features. Most organizations are planning their
next product or product improvement as their latest innovation is just on its way out the door.
Under conventional business practices, keeping up with this demand for innovation can be
difficult. Project management provides organizations with a toolkit with which to enhance
innovation and accelerate product development.
1.2 What do you see as the primary challenges to introducing a project management philosophy
to most organizations? That is, why is it difficult to shift to a project-based approach in many
companies?
Many companies face resistance to change, which can make implementing a new approach, such
as a project-based structure, very difficult. Employees must be trained in new processes and learn
how to integrate them into their existing roles. Often, resistance arises because employees are
hesitant to embrace major changes in established practices due to uncertainty about potential
outcome.
1.3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of using project management?
Advantages:
Innovative, produce new ideas and new products
Geared toward accomplishing a specific goal
Aimed at customer satisfaction
Disadvantages:
Inaccurate cost estimates during initial stages may cause project to fail due to lack of
resources
Low success rate in some industries
Requires heavy commitment by staff
1.4 What key characteristics do all projects possess?
Projects:
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