WOW !! MUCH LOVE ! SO WORLD PEACE !
Fond bitcoin pour l'amélioration du site: 1memzGeKS7CB3ECNkzSn2qHwxU6NZoJ8o
  Dogecoin (tips/pourboires): DCLoo9Dd4qECqpMLurdgGnaoqbftj16Nvp


Home | Publier un mémoire | Une page au hasard

 > 

Project selection and management in international development organisations

( Télécharger le fichier original )
par Landry Iragi Mugaruka
University of Hertfordshire - MSc. Project Management 2014
  

précédent sommaire

Bitcoin is a swarm of cyber hornets serving the goddess of wisdom, feeding on the fire of truth, exponentially growing ever smarter, faster, and stronger behind a wall of encrypted energy

7.1 Referred Reports

ActionAid Strategy (2012 - 2017), ?People's Action to End Poverty?. [Accessed on:

1st of August 2014] Available at:

http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/peoplesactiontoendpoverty28pp.p df

ChristianAid (2012), ?How Christian Aid assesses Value for Money in its programmes?. [Accessed on: 3rd of August 2014] Available at: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/images/value-for-money.pdf

ChristianAid (2012), ?Partnership for Change: The Power to End Poverty?. [Accessed on: 5th August 2014] Available at:

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/Images/2012strategy.pdf

OXFAM Annual Progress Report (2013), ?My Right, My Voice?. [Accessed on: 8th of August 2014]

Available at: http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/my-rights-my-voice-annual-progress-report-2013-317556

OXFAM Strategic Plan (2013 - 2017), ?The Power of People Against Poverty?. [Accessed on: 11th August 2014] Available at:

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

58

http://www.oxfam.org/en/countries/oxfam-strategic-plan-2013-2019-power-people-against-poverty

Plan International (2009), ?Programme Accountability and Learning System (PALS)». [Accessed on: 15th August 2014] Available at: https://plan-international.org/about-plan/how-we-work/effectiveness/approach-programming-effectiveness/pals/

Plan International (2010), ?Promoting Child Rights to End Poverty?. [Accessed on: 17th August 2014] Available at: https://plan-international.org/about-plan/resources/publications/about-plans-work/promoting-child-rights-to-end-child-poverty-1/

Plan Worldwide Annual Review (2013). [Accessed on: 22nd August 2014] Available at: https://plan-international.org/where-we-work/americas/publications/plan-worldwide-annual-review-2013

Water Aid (2012), [Accessed on: 24th August 2014] ?Sustainability Framework. [Accessed on: 16th June 2014] Available at: http://www.wateraid.org/uk/google-search?query=framework

Water Aid (2009 - 2015), ?Global Strategy?. [Accessed on: 24th June 2014] Available at: http://www.wateraid.org/uk/who-we-are/annual-reports#/annual-reports

7.2 Reports Not Used

Action Against Hunger (2013), ?Aid for Nutrition? http://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk/resource-centre/online-library/detail/media/aid-for-nutrition-2013/

Common Wealth Secretariat (2013), ?Report of the Common Wealth Secretariat? http://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/page/documents/Report%20of%20the %20Commonwealth%20Secretary-General%202011-2013%20Low%20Res.pdf

Health Poverty Action (2012), ?Annual Review?

http://www.healthpovertyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Annual-Review-2012-13-web.pdf

International Development Institute (2013), ?Striving towards 2015 - IDS Annual Report? http://www.ids.ac.uk/publication/striving-towards-2015-ids-annual-report

59

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

International HIV/Aids Alliance (2014), ?Annual Report? http://www.aidsalliance.org/resources/240-2013-report-and-accounts

International Rescue Committee (2013), ?Annual Report?

http://www.savethechildren.net/sites/default/files/SCIAR2013Interactive.pdf

Malaria Consortium (2012), ?Annual Review?

http://www.malariaconsortium.org/pages/annual review 2011 2012.htm

Save the Children (2013), ?Annual Review?

http://www.savethechildren.net/sites/default/files/SCIAR2013Interactive.pdf

War Child UK (2013), ?Annual Report?

http://www.warchild.org.uk/about/publications/war-child-annual-report-2013

World Vision (2011), ?World Vision Strategy 2011 - 2015? http://www.worldvision.org.uk/who-we-are/strategy/

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

60

8. Personal Reflection

Looking back at what I have experienced when writing my dissertation, I have realised that it was very enjoyable with many eye opening moments. Having worked in the Development Sector for two years prior to coming to England for my masters, I already knew that my research topic would be centred on International Development Organisations in Africa and what can be done to improve their project selection processes. My initial idea was to focus on a single case study, the organisation I had been working for in Kenya for two years but this quickly changed after conducting my literature review. I started my research by conducting a literature review on project portfolio management and international development projects in general. The literature review on project portfolio management allowed me to understand what portfolio management was about much more than when it was discussed in the classroom and also introduced me to the three major frameworks associated with project portfolio management and their different processes. The review of literature on international development organisations introduced me to two frameworks I had never heard about before, the Logical Framework Approach (LFA) and the Project Management for Development Professionals (PMD Pro) with the LFA being the blueprint used by development organisations when they design their own programme selection frameworks. Designing my literature review in this manner would later turn out to be beneficial for the remaining sections of my dissertation. My initial plan was to use a single case study but following the advice of my supervisor, I decided to focus on international development organisations in the United Kingdom with the aim of getting information about how they select their programmes and projects then use this information to develop a framework that could be used by development organisations in Africa. However, due to conflicting schedules and the responses I got after contacting the fifteen organisations whose managers I wanted to interview, my supervisor and I agreed that the collection of information would be done in the form of a documentary analysis. I was sceptical at first because I did not believe that I would get enough information from the annual reports and strategic plans of these organisations but to my big surprise, they were really explicit about their project selection processes. Out of the fifteen organisations I had contacted, I decided to focus on five of them which gave a good representation of the sectors in which most development organisations are involved in. cutting down the number of organisations to study, simplified the analysis phase of my dissertation because even though the

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

61

information I needed could be found in the different reports and strategic plans, it took a lot of time to collect it and make sense out of it. Going through those different documents helped me find links between what I presented in the literature review on international development organisations and the content of the reports and strategic plans I had reviewed for the analysis section of my dissertation. The Logical Framework approach, the success factors for development projects and the lack of a project management tools specifically designed for development projects were the topics that were mostly discussed. These links allowed me to develop a framework built around my experience in the development sector, the literature on project portfolio management and the findings of my analysis.

The biggest challenge I faced throughout the process of writing this dissertation was time management especially during the term time. It wasn't easy for me to start working on my dissertation as it was outlined in the Gantt chart I had submitted with my proposal, juggling between assignment deadlines, preparing for exams, getting my Ethics Form approved and planning interviews was not easy. One of the things I would differently would be to contact the organisations I wanted to interview In January therefore giving them enough time to schedule the interviews because even though the information I got from the reports was relevant, interviewing project managers would have added more to this research in terms of scope.

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

62

Appendix 1 APPLICATION FOR ETHICAL APPROVAL OF A STUDY INVOLVING HUMAN PARTICIPANTS

FORM EC1:

Relevant ECDA:

Science & Technology

Health & Human Sciences

OFFICE USE ONLY

Protocol Number:

 

Office Use only Date Received by Clerk:

Expedited Review

Approved by Reviewer 1 (sign & date)

Approved by Reviewer 2 (sign & date)

Further Action: (tick appropriate box and provide details)

Request Further Information

 

Details:

Refer for Substantive Review

 
 

Refer for Full review

 

Reject

 

Substantive Review

Approved by Reviewer 1 (sign & date)

Approved by Reviewer 2 (sign & date)

Approved by Reviewer 3 (sign & date)

Approved by Reviewer 4 (sign & date)

Further Action: (tick appropriate box and provide details)

Request Further Information

 

Details:

Refer for Full review

 
 

Reject

 

Full Review

Request Further Information

 

Details:

 

Reject

 

CONFIRMATION OF APPROVAL

[To be completed by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the relevant ECDA, or by the Chairman of the University Ethics Committee - (see GN 2.1.4)]

I confirm that this application has been approved by or on behalf of the committee named below.

Name/Sign Date

Name of committee

63

DECLARATIONS

DECLARATION BY APPLICANT (See GN 2.1.3)

DECLARATION BY SUPERVISOR (see GN 2.1.3)

(Signature) (Name in BLOCK CAPITALS and

position within the School)

Enter your name here....LANDRY IRAGI MUGARUKA...Date...

If you are a member of staff, please obtain the signature of your line manager to indicate their agreement to this application:

Enter your name here...Date...

Where the participant is a minor or is otherwise unable, for any reason, to give full consent on their own, references here to participants being given an explanation or information, or being asked to give their consent, are to be understood as referring to the person giving consent on their behalf. (See Q 19 above; also GN Pt. 3, and especially 3.6 & 3.7)

I confirm that the proposed study has been appropriately vetted within the School in respect of its aims and methods as a piece of research; that I have discussed this application for Ethics Committee approval with the applicant and approve its submission; and that I accept responsibility for guiding the applicant so as to ensure compliance with the terms of the protocol and with any applicable ethical code(s).

(i) I undertake, to the best of my ability, to abide by accepted ethical principles in carrying out the study.

(iii) I undertake to explain the nature of the study and all possible risks to potential participants, to the extent required to comply with both the letter and the spirit of my replies to the foregoing questions (including information contained in Appendices 1 & 2).

(v) Data relating to participants will be handled with great care. No data relating to named or identifiable participants will be passed on to others without the written consent of the participants concerned, unless they have already consented to such sharing of data when they agreed to take part in the study.

(vii) All participants will be informed (a) that they are not obliged to take part in the study, and (b) that they may withdraw at any time without disadvantage or having to give a reason.

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

64

Instructions for Applicants

Applicants are advised to read the Guidance Notes before completing this form. Use of this form is mandatory [see UPR RE01, SS 7.1 to 7.3]. Your School may choose to add additional School specific questions in a separate appendix to the Form EC1. Please clarify with your Supervisor whether your School has chosen to append any extra questions.

Approval must be sought and granted before any investigation involving human participants begins [UPR RE01, S 4.4(iii)].

Abbreviations

GN=Guidance Notes

UPR=University Policies & Regulations

Q=Question

S=Section

SS=Sections

Pt =Part

PLEASE NOTE: Where alternative answers are offered, put a cross in the appropriate box.

For example: X YES

Where a «write in» answer is requested, begin in the space provided below the question and continue as necessary. All questions must be answered. Please answer in BLACK.

65

1. THE STUDY

Q1. Please give the title (or provisional title) of the proposed study. (NB - you will be asked for further details later)

Project Selection and Management in International Development Organisations

2. THE APPLICANT

Status:

X

Q2. Please answer either Q2.1 or Q2.2 by providing the information requested. Q2.1 should be answered by individual applicants, both staff and students, who require protocol approval for work which they themselves intend to carry out. Q2.2 should be answered by academic staff requiring approval for standard protocols governing classroom practical work (or equivalent work) to be carried out by a specified group of students. (See GN 2.2.1 & 2.2.19)

Q2.1. Name of applicant/(principal) investigator

Programme of study or award (e.g. BA/MSc/PhD/Staff research)

MSc.

E-mail address

landrymugaruka@gmail.com

Name of supervisor

Mike Herman

Supervisor's contact details (email, extension number)

m.j.herman@herts.ac.uk

EXT: 5474

School/Department

(a) undergraduate

(b) postgraduate (taught/research)

(c) academic staff

(d) other - please give details here

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

66

Please note: Risk Assessment Form EC5 is mandatory for all Class Protocol Applications and must accompany this application.

Q2.2. Class Protocol Applications Only.

Name of applicant/(principal) investigator (member of staff)

School/Department

Programme of study or award (e.g. BSc/MA) Module Title

Year/group to be governed by the protocol

Number of students conducting the study Programme Tutor (if different from the applicant) E-mail address

3. DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED STUDY

Q3. (a) Is it likely that your application will require NHS approval? (See GN 2.2.2)

(b) Please confirm whether your research involves any of the following:

NHS Patients

Clinical trial of an investigational product

X

YES NO

(If YES, please answer (b) & (c)) (If NO, please continue on to Q4)

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

67

If your study is likely to require NHS approval or is a Clinical Trial of Investigational Medical Products or Devices, DO NOT complete this form any further and submit it to your relevant ECDA at this stage. All NHS applications must be made on an IRAS form. If your study is a Clinical Trial of Investigational Medical Products or Devices involving one of the above specified categories, you will be contacted by the relevant ECDA with information on the next steps. Please note, you will be issues with a UH Protocol Number but this will not be valid until you have sent your relevant ECDA a copy of your NHS approval.

The aim of my dissertation is to find out how project selection and management principles of Project Portfolio Management can be applied in International Development

Organisation. My study's objective is to compare theory with practice by analysing which techniques are commonly used in the portfolio selection process in International Development Organisations, the impact that the strategic objectives of these organisations have on their selection process and the other factors that have an influence on the selection process. The findings will be compared and contrasted to the project portfolio management theory leading to the development of a framework that can be used by International Development Organisations. The human participants involved in this study

Q4. Please give a short synopsis of your proposed study; stating its aims and highlighting, if appropriate, where these aims relate to the use of human participants. (See GN 2.2.3) Please enter details here.

(c) Please confirm whether this study is considered to be a Clinical Trial of Investigational Medical Products (CTIMP) or Clinical Trial of Investigational Medical Devices. (See GN 2.2.2)

If YES, please indicate if the study involves any of the following categories:

Adults who lack the capacity to consent

Pregnant women

A group of more than 5,000 people

Study would be undertaken overseas

Clinical trial of a medical device Exposure to any ionising radiation

Children under 5

Human Tissue

YES

X

NO

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

68

will be the project managers involved in the selection of projects in their respective organisations.

Q5. Please give a brief explanation of the design of the study and the methods and procedures used, highlighting in particular where these involve the use of human participants. You should clearly state the nature of the involvement the human participants will have in your proposed study and the extent of their commitment. Thus you must complete and attach the Form EC6 (Participant Information Sheet) (see Appendix 2). Be sure to provide sufficient detail for the Committee to be clear what is involved in the proposed study, particularly in relation to the human participants. (See GN 2.2.4)

The study will be divided in two parts: the first part will be a review of literature on Project Portfolio selection and management and the second will be a study of the techniques used and other factors that have a direct influence on project selection in UK based International development organisations. The human participants' views will be captured through written and oral interviews (Skype, telephone) and the findings will be summarized and used to develop a project selection framework for International Development Organisations.

Q7. Please give the starting date and finishing date. (For meaning of «starting date» and «finishing date», see GN 2.2.5)

Q9. Where will the study take place? (If this is on UH Campus, who will permission be obtained from e.g. your Module Leader, Programme Tutor, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Student Experience) or the Dean of Students. If this is NOT on UH Campus, please attach a copy of the written permission, given by the proprietor, manager or other person with such authority over the premises, to use the premises for the purposes of carrying out this research (see Appendix 2)) (See GN 2.2.6)

Please enter details here.

Telephone/ Skype/ Written all from my home. I do not intend to visit other locations.

Q10. If the location is off campus, have you considered whether a risk assessment is necessary for the proposed location? (in respect of hazards/risks affecting both the participants and researchers) Please see Form EC5 (see Appendix 2, which is an example of a risk assessment form.) Please use this example if a risk assessment is necessary, and you have not been provided with a subject specific risk assessment form by your School or Supervisor. (See GN 2.2.7)

Q12. (a) Will anyone other than yourself and the participants be present with you when conducting this study? (See GN 2.2.8)

Starting Date 01/05/2014

Finishing Date: 22/09/2014, the day before the final submission

N/A

YES

X

NO

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

69

If YES, please state the relationship between anyone else who is present other than the applicant and/or participants? (e.g. health professional, parent/guardian)

(b) Will the proposed study be conducted in confidence? If NOT, what steps will be taken to ensure confidentiality of the participants' information. (See GN 2.2.8)

4. HARMS, HAZARDS & RISKS

Note: You are advised to read GN 2.2.10, 2.2.11, 2.2.12 & 2.2.13 carefully before you answer the following questions.

Q10. Will this study involve invasive procedures on the human participants? (See GN 2.2.9)

Q11, Q12, Q13 & Q14 - NON INVASIVE STUDIES ONLY

Q12. Are there potential hazards to participant(s) and/or investigator(s) from the proposed study? (See 2.2.10)

If YES,

(a) Indicate their nature here.

(c) Indicate here what precautions will be taken to avoid or minimise any adverse effects.

Yes

(If YES, please fill out Appendix 1 - (If NO, answer Q11, Q12, Q13

Increased Hazards and Risks. & Q14)

Once this is complete, move on to Q15)

YES

X

X

No

NO

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

70

X

NO

YES

YES

NO

X

Q13. Will or could medical or other aftercare and/or support be needed by participants and/or investigator(s) as a result of the study? (See GN 2.2.12)

Q15. (a) If you have answered `YES' to Q11, Q12 & Q13, please state here the previous experience (and/or any relevant training) of the supervisor (or academic member of staff applying for a standard protocol) of investigations involving the hazards, risks, discomfort or distress detailed in those answers. (See GN 2.2.13)

(a) Indicate its nature here.

(c) Indicate here what precautions will be taken to avoid or minimise such adverse effects.

(b) Please describe in appropriate detail what you would do should the adverse effects or events which you believe could arise from your study, and which you have mentioned in your replies to the previous questions, occur.

(See UPR RE01, S 2.3 (ii) and GN 2.2.13)

Q12. Will or could the study cause discomfort or distress of a mental or emotional character to participants and/or investigator(s)? (See NG 2.2.11)

If YES,

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

71

5. ABOUT YOUR PARTICIPANTS

Q15. Please give a brief description of the kind of people you hope/intend to have as participants, for instance, a sample of the general population, University students, people affected by a particular medical condition, children aged 5 to 7, employees of a particular firm, people who support a particular political party.

Q17. Please state here approximately how many participants you hope will participate in your study.

I intend to send a questionnaire to different project/programme managers in UK based

International Development Organisations. The UK based International Development

Organisations identified are:

- Bond for International Development

- World Development Movement

- Hope International Development Agency

- OXFAM UK

- Action Aid UK

- Adam Smith International

- British Council

- Christian Aid

- Common Wealth Secretariat

- Crown Agents

- CDC Group

- Save the Children UK

- GRM International

- Help Age International

- Garfield Weston Foundation

- Tree Aid

- Charities Aid Foundation

- Department for International Development

- UK Trade and Investment

- The Overseas Development Institute

- Action Against Hunger

- Health Poverty Action

- International Development Institute

- International HIV/Aids Alliance

- International Rescue Committee

- Malaria Consortium

- War Child UK

My ongoing research may establish contact with similar IDOS.

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

72

Initial contact will be made via email to present the research topic and inquire about the willingness of the project/programme managers to take part in the study. Since I have worked for the Centre for the Development of Entreprise (CDE), I already have credibility and contacts in the International Development community. The second part will be giving an explanation of how their views on the practices they used to select projects will be gathered through the written interview and if possible a telephone or Skype interview. Information on the confidentiality of the study will also be given to the participants.

Q17. By completing this form, you are indicating that you are reasonably sure that you will be successful in obtaining the number of participants which you hope/intend to recruit. Please outline here how you intend to recruit them. (See GN 2.2.14)

My target is10 to 12 participants but I will attempt to contact about twice this number.

6. CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONSENT

Q18. Is it intended to seek informed consent from the participants?

Q20. If the participant is a minor (under 18 years of age), or is otherwise unable for any reason to give full consent on their own, state here whose consent will be obtained and how? (See especially GN 3.6 & 3.7)

[For guidance on issues relating to consent, see GN 2.2.15 & Pt. 3.]

N/A

(See UPR RE01, S 2.3 & 2.4 and GN 3.1)

If NO, please explain why it is considered unnecessary or impossible or otherwise inappropriate to seek informed consent.

If YES, please attach a copy of the Consent Form to be used (See Form EC3 & EC4 for reference and GN 3.2), or describe here how consent is to be obtained and recorded. The information you give must be sufficient to enable the Committee to understand exactly what it is that prospective participants are being asked to agree to.

X

YES NO

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

73

All the data will be encrypted and stored on my password protected laptop.

Q20. Are personal data of any sort (such as name, age, gender, occupation, contact details or images) to be obtained from or in respect of any participant? (See GN 2.2.16)

The data will be stored on my password protected laptop during the project until the dissertation has been marked, moderated and the final assessment verified by the University.

Q22. Is it intended (or possible) that data might be used beyond the present study? (See GN 2.2.16)

Name, occupation, contact details and employer's name. The information will be stored in my password protected laptop and encrypted on my personal storage devices.

(c) Indicate here what assurances will be given to participants about the security of, and access to, personal data.

If YES,

(a) Give details here of personal data to be gathered, and indicate how it will be stored.

(c) State here what steps will be taken to prevent or regulate access to personal data beyond the immediate investigative team?

(d) State here, as far as you are able to do so, how long personal data collected during the study will be retained, and what arrangements have been made for its secure storage.

If YES, please give here an indication of the kind of further use that is intended (or which may be possible).

X

YES

YES

X

NO

NO

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

74

If a satisfactory CRB Disclosure is required, a copy of this must be attached to Appendix 2 in order for reviewers to be able to consider your application.

Q22. If your study involves work with children and/or vulnerable adults you will require a satisfactory Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure. (See GN 2.2.17) Please indicate as appropriate:

If NO, will the data be kept for a set period and then destroyed under secure conditions?

If NO, please explain here why not.

X

(a) CRB Disclosure not required

(c) CRB Disclosure required and obtained

YES

NO

7. REWARDS

Q23. (a) Are you receiving any financial or other reward connected with this study? (See UPR RE01, 2.3)

(b) Are participants going to receive any financial or other reward connected with the study?

If YES, give details here.

If YES, give details here.

YES

YES

X

X

NO

NO

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

75

(c) Will anybody else (including any other members of the investigative team) receive any financial or other reward connected with this study?

If YES, give details here.

YES

X

NO

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

8. OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS

Q24. Enter here anything else you want to say in support of your application, or which you believe may assist the Committee in reaching its decision.

(e) Indicate here what precautions will be taken to avoid or minimise any adverse effects.

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

76

APPENDIX 1 - INCREASED HAZARDS AND RISKS

This section is to be completed if your answer to Q10 affirms the USE OF INVASIVE PROCEDURES in your study.

Note: You are advised to read GN 2.2.10, 2.2.11, 2.2.12, 2.2.13 & 2.2.18 carefully before you answer the following questions.

QA1. Please give details of the procedures to be used (e.g. injection of a substance, insertion of a catheter, taking of a blood or saliva sample), and any harm, discomfort or distress that their use may cause to participants and/or investigator(s). (See GN 2.2.10)

 

(a) Indicate here what precautions will be taken to avoid or minimise any adverse effects.

QA2. Will the study involve the administration of any substance(s)? (See GN 2.2.10)

X

YES NO

If YES,

(a) Give details here of the substance(s), the dose or amount to be given, likely effects (including duration) and any potential hazards to participant(s) and/or investigator(s).

77

QA3. Are there any potential hazards to participant(s) and/or investigator(s) arising from the use of the proposed invasive procedures? (See GN 2.2.10)

QA5. Will or could the study cause discomfort or distress of a mental or emotional character to participants and/or investigator(s)? (See GN 2.2.11)

(a) Indicate their nature here.

(c) Indicate here what precautions will be taken to avoid or minimise any adverse effects.

If YES,

(a) Indicate its nature here

(c) Indicate here what precautions will be taken to avoid or minimise such adverse effects.

If YES,

YES

YES

X

NO

X

NO

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

78

QA5. Medical or other aftercare and/or support must be made available for participants and/or investigator(s) who require it where invasive procedures have been used in the study. Please detail what aftercare and/or support will be available and in what circumstances it is intended to be used. (See UPR RE01, S 2.3 (ii) and GN 2.2.12)

QA7. (a) Please state here previous experience (and/or any relevant training) of the supervisor (or academic member of staff applying for a standard protocol) of investigations involving hazards, risks, discomfort or distress as specified. (See GN 2.2.13)

QA9. In the event that the study reveals that a participant has a pre-existing medical condition (of which they may or may not be aware), and which could affect their present or future health or that of others, they should be informed of this in an appropriate manner and advised of follow-up action that they should take. (See GN 2.2.18) Advice should be sought as to whether information should be passed to their GP and a decision taken whether they should be allowed to continue to take part in the study. If a potential participant is not willing to agree to such action being taken in these circumstances, they should not be allowed to take part in the study. Please indicate here what arrangements have been made for complying with these requirements.

(b) Please describe in appropriate detail what you would do should the adverse effects or events which you believe could arise from your study, and which you have mentioned in your replies to the previous questions, occur.

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

79

Please revert to Q15.

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

80

Appendix 2 Dissertation Proposal

Background

The aim of my dissertation is to find out how the Project Selection and Management principles of Project Portfolio Management can be applied in International Development Organisation. I am interested in the selection of projects and their management in International Development Organisations because of the two years I spent working in a Private Sector Development Organization in East Africa. Project Selection was one our biggest challenge because of the strategic objective of the organisation which was to develop the private sector in East Africa by making local private companies more competitive regionally and also making it possible for them to access new markets. The only way through which we could make it possible for these companies to benefit from our support (both technical and financial) was through the implementation of projects. The projects were proposed by the local companies and our job was to select the right projects for our portfolios. Using a Balanced Scorecard method, we were able to rank and prioritise projects and decide how our budget will be spread amongst them. This method however, did not guarantee that the projects would be completed within the agreed cost, scope and time and that the projects deliverables were still in line with our strategic objectives. This led me to conclude that something must have been wrong with our selection process and the way we monitored the progress of our projects once they were given the green light. Different studies demonstrate that many organizations have been trying to implement projects that support or are closely tied to their goals and strategy (Meredith & Mantel, 2010; Gardiner, 2005) and it has also been proven that projects under implementation in most cases have little or no apparent link to the Organisation's strategy and goals (Englund & Graham, 1999). These observations make my research relevant in that I am trying to come up with a way of implementing the principles of project selection and management embedded in Project Portfolio Management in International Development Organizations to ensure that the right projects are selected and that they are managed the right way.

Project Portfolio Management is the management of project pipeline so as to make project contribute to the overall organisation success by bridging the gap between

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

81

operations management and project management (Levine, 2005). LaBrosse (2010) argues that Project Portfolio Management is a way for organizations to analyse and manage in a coordinated way a group projects to reap benefits not available if they were managed individually with the goal of finding the best mix and timing of current projects to achieve the organization's overall goals. My intention is to focus on two main aspects of Portfolio Management: the selection of projects and the monitoring and control of projects. I will aim to find out what is being proposed by different authors and practitioners in the Project Portfolio Management field about the selection of projects and the alignment of the project selection process with strategic objectives and how it can be used to control the progress of projects while at the same time making sure that criteria tested during the selection process are still viable throughout the implementation phase. My research will look at how the principles of Project Portfolio Management can be applied by International Development Organizations to ensure that the right projects are selected and to facilitate proper project progress monitoring and control.

Research Questions

- to understand how project portfolio selections can applied within an organisation

- to understand the nature of International Development Organisations as

opposed to traditional project-based organisations, and

- to propose a framework for the selection and management of programmes

and projects in International Development Organisations

-

Method

Using an interpretive philosophical perspective, I will review the literature on Project Portfolio Management to understand how it can be applied in an organization and the benefits it presents. I will also review the literature on International development projects to understand their nature, what makes them different from other types of projects and their critical success factors. Fifteen UK-based Development organisations will be contacted for this research with the aim of understanding how the way they select programmes and projects for their portfolios. The data will be collected in the form of written questionnaires that will be sent to the project managers and members of the project selection committees of the selected

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

82

organisations. Using multiple case studies will help me compare and contrast the project selection process of these organisations and also spot any differences between project selection theory and practice if they exist.

Timescale

The first milestone of my Dissertation is the submission of the Draft Proposal and the First Information Form on the 3rd of February 2014. Following the submission of the Draft and FIF, the final research design will be submitted on the 28th of February 2014. I have allocated myself 21 days to conduct a thorough review of literature on Project Portfolio Management from the 3rd of March to the 31st of March 2014 to come up with a Draft literature review. Twenty days have also been allocated for the analysis of secondary data on Project Selection in International Development Organisations and to get a feedback on the written interview that will be sent to the selected International Development Organisations from 1st of April to the 30th of April 2014. The dissertation draft preparation will take forty four days giving me enough time to put together the information collected under the supervision of my assigned research supervisor from the 1st of May to the 1st of July 2014. The submission of the first dissertation draft will be done during the month of August 2014 leading to the submission of the Final Dissertation on the 23rd of September.

83

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

Activities

Januar

y

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

Preparation of FIF

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Submission of FIF
and Research
Proposal

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Submission of Draft
Research Design

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Review of Literature
& Preparation of
Draft

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Analysis of Primary
Data

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dissertation Draft
Preparation

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Submission of Final
Dissertation Draft

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Review of work

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Submission of
Dissertation

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

84

Potential Problems/Limitations

Literature on International Development Organisations is limited with many authors on focussing on the skills and attribute of project managers in the development sector and not the programme selection process which might lead to having the same authors cited repeatedly throughout the dissertation. Not getting enough responses from the organisations selected might have an impact on the whole research because the aim of the research is to compare and contrast the project selection processes of these organisations then propose a framework that they can apply when selecting programmes and projects.

References

Englund, R. L. & Graham, R. J. (1999). From Experience: Linking Projects to Strategy.. Journal of Production and Innovation Management. 16 (1), 52-64. Gardiner, P. D. (2005). Project Management: A Strategic Planning Approach. UK: Palgrave Macmillan. p81

LaBrosse, Michelle. (2010). Project-portfolio management. Employment relations today 37.2 : p75-79.

Meredith, Jack R. and Mantel, Samuel J. (2010). Project Management: A Managerial Approach. 7th ed. Asia: John Wiley & Sons. p37-106.

Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2012) Research methods for business students 6th edn. Pearson

85

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

Actual Timescale

Activities

Januar

y

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

Preparation of FIF

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Submission of FIF
and Research
Proposal

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Submission of Draft
Research Design

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Completion of
Chapter 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Review of Literature
& Preparation of
Draft

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Drafting the
Methodology

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Drafting the Finding
and Analysis
Section

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Submission of Final
Dissertation Draft

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

86

The actual timeline I followed differs from the one I had planned when submitting my proposal because of two main reasons:

- Preparation of Semester B exams - The change in research scope

These changes in schedule had an impact on the Literature Review, Methodology and the Findings and Analysis section of the dissertation in terms of completion time and draft preparation. The change of scope was initiated in the month of April when the project managers contacted for the interviews, due to conflicting schedules, redirected me to the different Annual Reports and Strategic Plans. The impact of this change is that I now had to find these documents and read them to find out if they contained the information I required. The month of May was split between preparing for Semester B's final exams and working on the Literature Review for which I produced a draft on the 23rd of May. In the month of June, I started to work on the Methodology section and I also started to extract the information I needed from the different reports in order to compare the sampled organisations. The draft was completed on the 22nd of June and was refined throughout the month of July. I started to work on my Findings in that same month and by mid-August, I had already produced a draft of the Findings and Analysis Section which was later on refined in early September.

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

87

Appendix 3 Dissertation Log

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

88

University Of Hertfordshire (2014)

89

Meeting 4

Date of Meeting

 

t 2J G C- i

t- 4

 

Progress Made

tL _

1Y1e

QeUr{'er., J ( Îr1)

c f' 4

ie cz on c

Agreed Action

r I

Li-P-e

+utd_Lf

I

 

Student Signature

L-

Signature

 
 

ji

 

Supervisor's

Meeting 5

Date of Meeting

 
 

,a2 1 06 r o / 1

Progress Made

 
 
 

Agreed Action

_--1-.04

4

,~-~ (p_ e ,DL er r

Student Signature

 
 
 

Supervisor's Signature

 
 

-»_.4-1

Meeting 6

Date of Meeting

r) I 1Q.014-1

Progress Made

8 egicOeI v "IT

Agreed Action

Tsepcose ''n Q 4 j op w _in

Student Signature

 

< -----

1E, f Ale

7,1+0 /,

Supervisor's Signature

Postgraduate Dissertation Guideline - Hertfordshire Business School Page 1 26

précédent sommaire






Bitcoin is a swarm of cyber hornets serving the goddess of wisdom, feeding on the fire of truth, exponentially growing ever smarter, faster, and stronger behind a wall of encrypted energy








"Le don sans la technique n'est qu'une maladie"