Journal article of PM –

Generic or Contextual
SYNDICATES 2

Astie Kurniati – 29322439

Asty Firdausya – 29322474
Claudhia Aprilia Kusuma – 29322464
Christy Chang – 29321542
Devita Putri Saraswati – 29322492
Dias Natrasuari – 29322493
Source: What Is Project Management? www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk-JwtScIlw.
 Q1: From the basic principles of project management, is it in practice
“generic” or “contextual”?

In the literature review, there are different identification for Project Management. Land to two
different perspectives

Project Management identifies Project Management identifies

as Generic Practice as Contextual Practice

According to Vieira, Context is what underlies the characterization of entities enabling to understand and
differentiate situations of a project (2007). While Generic is a common pattern of practice across the
project management community.
Source: Vieira, V., Brézillon, P., Salgado, A. C., & Tedesco, P. (2007). Towards a generic contextual elements model to support context management. MRC 2007,
 Q1: From the basic principles of project management, is it in practice
“generic” or “contextual”?

Framework of the research:

Data collections Data Analysis

Questionnaire Rank-Ordered
to investigate actual use of 70 tools using to identified usage of tools which are that use the most
5-point Likert Scale and least from entire sample and sub-populations

Respondent Data Reliability

753 practitioners from different industries to identify statistically significant between different
sub-populations (using T-test and chi square)

The results will be the fundamentals to analyze is project management practice generic or specific

If the Pattern of practice observed similar from the entire population and Project Management identifies
across differing contexts and different types of projects as Generic Practice

If statistically different usages will be found when comparing across Project Management identifies
contexts and project types. as Contextual Practice
 Q1: From the basic principles of project management, is it in practice
“generic” or “contextual”?

Similarity Difference

Based on the rank-ordered
from two splitting samples
(contextual variables or
project characteristics) are
similar.
There are two greatest differences which are:
● Maturity Level → The test of the differences in the mean use revealed
statistically significant differences for all of the tools, all tools being
used more often on projects in the context of a mature organization
than in less mature organizations.
● Project Size → Larger projects using tools more often than smaller
projects in all cases

Conclusion:
Based on the basic principles project management practices is generic.

However, since the journal based on the usage of tools then it falls into generic and contextual because it
depend on project size, internal or external customers, the level uncertainty, project familiarity and
similarity, and from differences across product type. Some areas tend to have a generic approach in their
project management practices, such as project size where it has the same overlying pattern of generic
practice. On the other side, some areas tend to have a contextual approach, such as project across
product types where it has comparisons that identified statistically significant differences in use for
several tools.
Q2: What could be concluded about the use of tools in those 3 types of
industry?

The article observed significant differences in tools usage across three types of industries which are
Engineering and Construction (E&C), IT Projects, and Business Services Projects (BuS). Before we see
the distinction, the overall tools in table 7 have been grouped according to the purpose it serves in
managing project such as:

Scope & Requirement Organizing

Definition
Scope Statement, Requirement
Analysis, Project Charter, Cost /
Benefit Analysis, Stakeholders
analysis
Communication Plan, Project
Contract Award
Communication Room, Project
Bid Documents, Bidders
Website, Kick-off Meeting,
Conferences, Bid/Seller
Responsibility Assignment Matrix,
Evaluation
Self Directed Work Teams, Team
Building Event

Planning & Control

Metrics Risk
Financial Measurement Tools, Design
Risk Management Documents,
Estimating Cost, Planning Quality Function Deployment,
Contingency Plans, Ranking of
(Scheduling, Resource Leveling, Value Analysis
Risks
etc), Control (Progress Report,
S-Curve, Control Chart, etc)
Q2: What could be concluded about the use of tools in those 3 types of
industry?

The distinct tool usage patterns in each industry:

1. Engineering and Construction (E&C) Projects

The projects in E&C industry are tend to have a long period of time and normally it’s for external
customers. Hence, the industry emphasis on the bidding and contract, cost management, tangible
deliverables and risk management to effectively execute project in this domain.

Contract Award Planning and Control Design

Financial measures, database

E&C projects heavily rely on As E&C often involve tangible
for cost estimating, earned
bidding processes and products, such as physical
value and trend charts are
contracts because it provides infrastructure or construction
used more often in E&C
a mechanism for coordinating projects. tools like value
projects. This reflects the
project activities as well as the analysis and quality
importance of managing
collaboration between function deployment are
project cost and monitoring
customers. used more frequently.
progress against budget
targets.
Cont'd - Q2: What could be concluded about the use of tools in those 3 types
of industry?
1. Engineering and Construction (E&S) Projects
2. IT Projects

The projects in IT industry are tend to have a short period of time. Hence, IT projects have specific
needs and characteristic that influence the selection and utilization of project management tools.
The tools used reflecting the unique challenges and requirement of IT project management.

Scope and Requirements Organizing Planning and Control Risk

IT projects often involve IT projects rely on IT Projects focus more It projects face various
gathering and managing communication plans, on scheduling and risks including technical,
requirements from responsibility resource allocation security, and operational
stakeholders. Tools such assignment matrix and compared to cost risks.Therefore IT
as requirement analysis kickoff meetings to management because of projects demonstrate a
help indocumenting, ensure coordination and the short execution time. greater use of tools and
tracking, and manage complexity. Project management techniques for risk
communicating These tools used more software, database for management
requirements throughout extensively in IT projects monitoring schedule
the project lifecycle. compared to the other are more commonly
two types. used in IT.
Cont'd - Q2: What could be concluded about the use of tools in those 3 types
of industry?
1.
3. Business Service Projects (BuS)

Generally, projects in BuS industry are for internal customers. Therefore, the overall business
service projects make less use of project management planning and control tools compared to
E&C and IT. This suggest that the project management practices in business services projects
differ from the other two types.
Scope and Requirements Organizing

Stakeholder Analysis Cost-benefit Analysis The team-building activities are

also given more importance in
A tool that is more commonly Another tool that is more business service projects. This
used in business services frequently used in business suggest that fostering
projects compared to E&C and IT services projects is cost- collaboration and teamwork is a
projects. This indicates that benefit analysis. This aligns key aspect of managing business
business service projects with the increased focus on service projects
prioritize the analysis of complex financial measures.
organizational environment and
stakeholder involvement.
Cont'd - Q2: What could be concluded about the use of tools in those 3 types
of industry?
The comparison among the three domains show that
it is not a simple case of one type of project using a
tool more or less than the other. The difference in
tool usage highlight important distinctions and
variation in project management practices among
different project types.
In conclusion, each industry has its own
specific tool preferences and requirements
based on the nature of the project involved.
E&C projects prioritize tools for cost
estimation, contracts, and bidding, reflecting
the unique and tangible demand of
construction project. IT Projects focus on tools
for requirements analysis, communication
planning, and project management software to
manage complex system. BuS projects on the
other hand, have fewer specific tool needs,
indicating a more generalized approach to
project management.
Tabel No. 7 Overview
 Q3: How do you comment the results of table no. 7?

Table no.7 states the frequently use of tools with “more*” / “more” / “less”
or even blank in some part. The frequent notes doesn’t mean that tools
are not be used in those industries but rather it showed the gap
between tools usage in each industry. Overall, the tools can be used in
each industry but the table only define the comparison between tools
usage across the industries.
Q3: How do you comment the results of table no. 7?

In addition, the significant differences in the usage of project management tools and techniques across
E&C (Engineering and Construction), IT (Information Technology), and BuS (Business Service) projects can
be attributed to several factors. Here are some considerations:

● Domain-Specific Tools
Different industries and project types requires specialized tools and techniques

E&C IT BuS

Often involves tools for IT project may utilize project A BuS Project may leverage tools
scheduling, cost estimation, and management software, version for project portfolio
resource management specific control system, and management, business process
construction, such as building development framework specific modelling and change
information management (BIM) to software development management.
software. lifecycles.
Q3: How do you comment the results of table no. 7? (Cont…)
● Complexity and Scope
The complexity and scope of projects can vary across domains. The different complexities and
scopes influence the selection and application of project management tools and techniques.

E&C IT BuS

E&C projects often involve IT projects may focus on BuS projects can encompass a
managing physical software development, system wide range of initiatives such as
infrastructure, coordinating integration, and managing mergers and acquisitions,
multiple stakeholders, and technical dependencies. process improvements, or
dealing with complex logistics. strategic planning.

● Collaboration and Communication Requirements

Effective collaboration and communication are crucial in project management. .

E&C IT BuS

E&C projects typically involve IT projects often emphasize BuS projects may require tools
extensive coordination among collaboration through tools like for stakeholder engagement,
various parties, including architects, project management software executive reporting, and team
contractors, and subcontractors. This
with task assignments, virtual collaboration.
may necessitate tools for document
collaboration platforms, and
sharing, real-time communication,
and issue tracking. communication tools
Q3: How do you comment the results of table no. 7? (Cont…)
● Risk Management Approaches
Risk management practices can differ across domains due to varying risk profiles

E&C IT BuS

E&C projects face risks related to
safety, environmental impact, and
resource availability, and may require
tools for risk assessment, safety
management, and quality control.
IT projects face risks such as system
failures, cybersecurity threats, and
data breaches, and may require tools
for risk analysis, vulnerability
scanning, and contingency
planning.
BuS projects may focus on risks
related to market dynamics, financial
considerations, and organizational
change, necessitating tools for
market analysis, financial modeling,
and change management.

● Industry Standards and Regulations

Different industries have their own project management standards, regulations, and methodologies.
Compliance with industry-specific standards and regulations influences the selection and usage of project
management tools and techniques.

E&C IT BuS

E&C projects may adhere to IT projects may align with Agile BuS projects may adopt business
standards set by organizations or Waterfall methodologies and frameworks like Lean Six Sigma
like the Project Management adhere to software development or follow project portfolio
Institute (PMI) or best practices. management standards.
construction-specific
standards.