Project Portfolio Management in Philanthropic Organizations

Thèse de Master , 2011 , 141 Pages , Note: B

Gestion d'entreprise - Direction d'entreprise, Management, Organisation

It may be said that we are now in a golden age of philanthropy; due to the unprecedented amount of money received by the non-profit sector. However, most philanthropic organizations are lacking in strong strategic plans and established procedures that can
support sound project or portfolio selection decisions. Moreover, the combination of weak strategic plans and increased scale of giving is likely to cause unwise selection of projects and portfolios. These projects would not be able to achieve the maximum social impact desired by their organizations. The purpose of this research is to identify the most appropriate portfolio management approach for philanthropic settings. The study is exploratory in nature; since direct literature on the topic was almost non-existent. The research process uses mixed qualitative and quantitative methods to attain comprehensive results. It includes a review of the current literature, followed by the data collection
methods used: exploratory study and survey method. The major findings indicate that the current portfolio management approaches do not match the nature of the philanthropic sector; there is need for development of a revised approach capable of selecting portfolios
of maximum social impact. Moreover, recommendations for effective portfolio management in philanthropic organizations are provided, future challenges identified and suggestions made for future research.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
  • 1.1 Introduction
  • 1.2 Background Information
  • 1.3 Problem Statement and Synopsis
  • 1.4. Aim, objectives and research questions
  • 1.5. Structure of the Research
  • 1.6. Research Limitations
• Understanding Project Portfolio Management
  • 2.1 Related Definitions
  • 2.2 Need for Portfolio Management
  • 2.3 Alignment with Organization Strategy
  • 2.4 PPM Goals
  • 2.5 History of PPM
  • 2.6 PPM Process
  • 2.7 Factors affecting the PPM Process
  • 2.8 Project Portfolio Selection approaches
  • 2.9. Project Portfolio Selection Models
  • 2.10 Challenges faced by the PPM process
• Project Portfolio Management in Philanthropic Organizations
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 The Philanthropic Sector
  • 3.3 The Need for PPM in Philanthropic Organizations
  • 3.4 Challenges of PPM in Philanthropic Organizations
  • 3.5. The Role of Strategic Planning in PPM
  • 3.6. The Role of Risk Management in PPM
  • 3.7. The Role of Communication in PPM
  • 3.8. The Role of Monitoring and Evaluation in PPM
  • 3.9. The Role of Technology in PPM
  • 3.10. The Role of Stakeholders in PPM
  • 3.11. The Role of Culture in PPM
• Research Methodology
  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.2 Research Design
  • 4.3 Data Collection Methods
  • 4.4 Data Analysis Methods
  • 4.5 Ethical Considerations
• Findings and Analysis
  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 Findings from the Literature Review
  • 5.3 Findings from the Exploratory Study
  • 5.4 Findings from the Survey
  • 5.5 Analysis of Findings
• Discussion
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 Discussion of Findings
  • 6.3 Implications for Practice
  • 6.4 Limitations of the Study
  • 6.5 Recommendations for Future Research
• Conclusion (Fazit)
• Bibliography (Literaturverzeichnis)

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation aims to explore the application of project portfolio management (PPM) in philanthropic organizations. It investigates the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing PPM in this unique sector, where social impact and resource allocation are paramount. The research seeks to identify the most appropriate PPM approach for philanthropic settings and provide recommendations for effective implementation.

• The need for PPM in philanthropic organizations
• Challenges of implementing PPM in philanthropic organizations
• The role of strategic planning, risk management, communication, monitoring and evaluation, technology, stakeholders, and culture in PPM
• The most appropriate PPM approach for philanthropic settings
• Recommendations for effective PPM implementation in philanthropic organizations

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter provides an introduction to the research, outlining the background information, problem statement, research questions, and structure of the study. It also discusses the limitations of the research.

Chapter two delves into the concept of project portfolio management, exploring its definitions, need, alignment with organizational strategy, goals, history, process, factors affecting the process, selection approaches, and models. It also examines the challenges faced by the PPM process.

Chapter three focuses on the application of PPM in philanthropic organizations. It examines the unique characteristics of the philanthropic sector, the need for PPM in this context, and the challenges associated with its implementation. The chapter also explores the role of various factors, including strategic planning, risk management, communication, monitoring and evaluation, technology, stakeholders, and culture, in the successful implementation of PPM in philanthropic organizations.

Chapter four outlines the research methodology employed in the study. It describes the research design, data collection methods, data analysis methods, and ethical considerations.

Chapter five presents the findings of the research, drawing on the literature review, exploratory study, and survey. It analyzes the findings and discusses their implications for practice.

Chapter six provides a discussion of the findings, highlighting their implications for practice, limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The keywords and focus themes of the text include project portfolio management, philanthropy, non-profit organizations, social impact, strategic planning, risk management, communication, monitoring and evaluation, technology, stakeholders, and culture. The research explores the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing project portfolio management in philanthropic organizations, aiming to identify the most appropriate approach and provide recommendations for effective implementation.

• Université: British University in Dubai
• Cours: Master in Project Management
• Note: B
• Auteur: Nojoud Ibrahim (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2011
• Pages: 141
• N° de catalogue: V181131
• ISBN (ebook): 9783656040958
• ISBN (Livre): 9783656041436
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: project, portfolio, management, philanthropic, organizations