Synopsis

Today’s business climate is characterised by unprecedented changes in technology and globalisation, as well as by complex business relationships and the unrelenting drive for competitive success. In this highly stressful environment, it is essential for project managers to think and act strategically. How does an organisation formulate a strategy to achieve competitive success? How do projects contribute to the implementation of the organisation’s strategy? How should a project manager develop a project strategy that supports organisational strategic and business goals?

Aligning Project Management with Organisational Strategy gives you an in-depth analysis of the process leading from business strategy formation to portfolio development to the project and project manager’s role. Learn how to link your project to the business strategy, apply and maintain alignment of the project strategy, and manage the expectations and interests of those who have a stake in the project outcome. Thought-provoking discussions and stimulating exercises highlight this dynamic, timely course.

You'll learn how to use a project ranking tool that can be used within your organisation to prioritise strategic projects. This tool can help you, the project manager, ask the questions to understand how your project fits into your organisation’s strategic initiatives.

Learn

• Support top-level strategy formulation
• Link organisational strategy from business strategy to portfolio development to project implementation
• Ensure project credibility by aligning your project with your organisation’s goals, objectives and strategies
• Create and implement an appropriate strategy for your project
• Communicate your strategy to the project team, the customer, and other project stakeholders
• Manage stakeholder expectations to maintain portfolio/project alignment

This course utilises digital materials.

Topics

• Organisational Strategy: Approaches and Techniques

  Strategy as a key to organisational success

  Elements of a successful strategy

  The relationship between strategy and achievability

  Strategy assessments

  Classic approaches and techniques for level-setting strategic thinking

  Toward setting up a culture of strategic thinking

• Organisational Strategy in Context

  Strategy defined

  Strategy as a way to achieve organisational success

  Paradigm shifts and their impact—how change influences strategy

  Forces for business change

  The impact of organisational constraints on strategy

• Portfolio Management Strategic Context

  Defining a portfolio

  Identifying projects included in a portfolio

  The impact of portfolio management on strategy

  Challenges and benefits of portfolio management

  Influential roles in portfolio management

• Portfolio Set-Up and Maintenance

  Setting up a successful project portfolio

  Organisational influences of portfolios

  Generating potential portfolio projects

  Steps in selecting portfolio projects

  Integrating new projects into an existing portfolio

  Project performance and project gateway reviews

  The project filtering process

• Strategic Project Management

  Strategic vs. classic project management

  Aligning projects with strategy

  The role of the project team

  The importance of managing change that affects strategic projects

  Anticipating and managing stakeholder expectations and resistance