The Importance of A Project Management Office Essay Example for Free

The Importance of A Project Management Office Essay Project management can be a tedious job especially if the personnel or department in charge is already loaded with tons of work. It may be hard to cope up with the schedule, time pressure, workload, and other factors. In line with this, the task of handling such tasks must be assigned to a specialized department known as Project Management Office. What is a Project Management Office? A Project Management Office is a unit or department functioning within a business, company, or agency that is charged with defining and maintaining project management standards within the company. The main objective of this office is to achieve beneficial gains from setting uniform policies, processes, and methods in managing projects(Search CIO. com, n. d). The Project Management Office will provide direction, metrics connected with practices concerning project management and implementation. The principles, methods, and practices of managing a project are based from Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) or Project in Controlled Environment (PRINCE2). These models complies with the specifications related to ISO9000 as well as in government regulation specifications(Search CIO. om, n. d). Essentially, the job of the Project Management Office is to perform related to a certain project and to work for the completion of the project. The PMO may from time to time update management regarding the status and problems of the project so that they can come up with decisions which are congruent to the goals and objectives of the firm(Search CIO. com, n. d). The Kinds of Project Management Office There are three varieties of project management offices that are suitable for organizations in various phases of developing a project. Each of them have their own pros and cons. Here is a brief explanation of the different kinds of project management offices(Billows, 2006). The Weather Station With this kind of PMO, the person-in-charge of the project is aware of what is going on with the project but does not make any action to influence it. The project officer just disseminates information without bothering the flow of work(Billows, 2006). This kind of office is most suitable in organizations that have just started in project management. The job of this kind of office is usually limited because the various line managers usually experience difficulties in incorporating various projects into their management duties(Billows, 2006). The Control Tower In contrast to the first variety, this kind of PMO provides the guidance that the project managers might need. Although they are still doing their tasks, the project managers are being instructed by the project officer. They are liable for any glitch that will happen to the project(Billows, 2006). The Squadron Commander Just like in the Control Tower, the Squadron Commander provides guidance to the project managers. However, the SC closely supervises all the people handling the project. There might be instances of successes and shortcomings but the Squadron Commander is held resposible for the general performance of the department(Billows, 2006). The disadvantage of this kind of office is that the personnel who have the technical know how as well as the most credible managers are doing multiple tasks aside from their main job. Aside from that, the job of allocating resources and prioritizing projects can go out of hand. Another problem that Squadron Commanders is that management may be hesitant in injecting company-wide standards related to project tracking and approval(Billows, 2006). History of Project Management Office The concept of modern project management can be traced to only a few decades back. During the 1960s, businesses and other firms discovered the advantages of organizing project tasks. Most companies developed an understanding on how crucial it is for their staff to establish communication and collaboration while incorporating their jobs with several departments and professions, and in certain instances, with several industries(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). The Early Years During the later years of the 19th century, at a time when businesses were becoming complicated, the corporate world began to see the evolution of project handling from simple management principles. Wide-scale government initiatives became the foundation for project management processes and principles. During the time that the United States was constructing the transcontinental railroad during the 1860s, business leaders were faced with the tough task of coordinating with workers who will engage in manual labor as well as in producing and processing of a large number of raw materials(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). Into The Twentieth Century Frederick Taylor started to made further studies of work. Using scientific reasoning, he proved that labor can be evaluated and enhanced by concentrating on its basic elements. Taylor applied this view in various jobs found in steel mills, such as shoveling and lifting and transporting parts. At that time, the only method of increasing productivity is through hard work and extended working hours. Taylor believed that productivity can be improved through efficient work instead of exerting more effort and work extension(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). Henry Gantt, an associate of Taylor, extensively studied the sequence of operations in work. His research delved on navy ship manufacturing during World War I. He developed the Gantt Charts, which comes with task bars and milestone markers, as a tool for outlining the order and extent of all tasks in a prcess. These illustrations proved to be a powerful aid for managers that there were no modifications for almost a century. In the early part of the 1990s, Microsoft Corporation introduced MS Project which included connector lines to the tasks bars, showing a more accurate relationship between the differen tasks. Over the years, Microsoft Office became an even more powerful tool(Microsoft Office Online, n. ). His contribution merited Gantt with a patent from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In the years leading to the Second World War, new approaches to marketing, human relations, and industrial psychology, became vital components of project management(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). Middle 20th Century The Second World War necessitated the need for new organizational patterns. Complicated network illustrations, like PERT charts and critical path method were developed, providing managers with greater control over complicated projects. As the demand for new management techniqes increased, these tools extended to various industries. General system theories were applied by businesses in their business dealings during the early part of the 1960s(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). New Trends In Project Management In the last decade, project management continued to develop. At present, there are two trends evolving namely bottom-up planning and top-down planning and reviewing(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). Bottom-up planning, also called agile project management, involves basic project designs, shorter project chain, efficient cooperation between members of the team, solid involvement of team members in the decision process. Common methos used in this trend are Scrum, Unified Process, Extreme Programming, Crystal, to name just a few(Microsoft Office Online, n. d). In top-down planning and reviewing, the entire organization is involved in making decisions concerning the various projects of the organization(Microsoft Office Online, n. d).

Economics: Keynes vs. Hayek Essay -- Keynes vs. Hayek, 2014

The past few years the United States has seen some rough economic times.   The unemployment rate is extremely high and many people have lost their homes and businesses.   Because there are so many factors in an economy, it is hard to find the right people to blame.   The protest group â€Å"Occupy Wall Street† has come to the conclusion that corporations are making us poor through taking advantage of us and the governmental system.  Ã‚   The share of income going to the top one percent of Americans has increased dramatically over the past few years and â€Å"Occupy Wall Street† is outraged.   They are calling for increased governmental regulation so that the lower quintile Americans can gain some equality (Cesca).     I wonder who is actually at fault.   Is it actually this top one percent who have been hurting us or some other factor?   Maybe the government has created the problem. A good way to approach it is to take a step back and look at the philosophy of economics.   From learning about classical economic theory, modern dilemmas, specifically â€Å"Occupy Wall Street,† may be easier to solve.   There are two main theories on economics and how a society should run.   The classical theory is that of the British economist, John Maynard Keynes.  Ã‚   The other, less popular theory is from the Austrian economist, Friedrich August Hayek.   These two highly respected economists did most of their important work in the mid-20th  century. (Cochran and Glahe 69). John Maynard Keynes classical approach to economics and the business cycle has dominated society, especially the United States.   His idea was that government intervention was necessary in a properly functioning economy.   Ã‚  One economic author, John Edward King, claimed of the theory that: Keynes believed tha... ...itical Economy  26.1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (1994): 69-94. Print.    Papola, John. â€Å"Fight of the Century: Keynes vs. Hayek Round Two† – YouTube.  YouTube –   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Broadcast Yourself.  Web. 29 Oct. 2011.    Friedman, Milton.  Capitalism and Freedom.  [Chicago]: University of Chicago, 1962.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Print    King, J. E. â€Å"Keynes and ‘Psychology’.†Ã‚  Economic Papers: A Journal of Applied   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Economics and Policy  29.1 (2010): 1-12. Print.    Maiello, Michael. â€Å"Keynes vs. Hayek Debate Rages With OWS and Tea Party.†Ã‚  The Daily Beast. 29 Oct. 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2011    Roberts, Russ. â€Å"Occupy Wall Street and Washington’s History of Financial Bailouts | Foreign   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Affairs.†Ã‚  Home | Foreign Affairs. 21 Oct. 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2011.      Rosenberg, Alex. â€Å"Rosenberg on the Nature of Economics.† Interview. Audio blog post.  EconTalk. ITunes, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.

My Time of the Year Essay

People have their favorite season whether it is winter, spring, summer, or autumn. Out of those four seasons my favorite season is summer. Even though the temperatures can be outrageously ridiculous hot, I still enjoy the hot sun. Going to the beach is one of my favorite thing to do during the summer. After looking for parking at Huntington Beach for about an hour, I try to find the perfect spot through the crowded beach to lay my towel down. â€Å"I found the spot. † The tan-gray sand is somewhat dry but also a little damp. I throw my blue-green towel on the sand. I bend down to sit on the towel, but before I lay down I put sun-tanning spray all over my body so I can sunbathe. As soon as I finish putting on the sun-tanning spray, I lie down and put on my sunglasses. But now I think to myself â€Å"Should I put on my earphones? Or should I listen to the crashing waves, the seagulls squawking and the people complaining that there is sand on their sandwiches. I think that I will listen to my iPod instead. Now that I have decided to listen to my iPod, I put the headphones in my ear and choose the music I want to listen to. I am in the mood to listen to Kutless, a Christian rock band. While I lay on the beach, I can feel the Vitamin E being soaked into my skin. I feel my body getting hotter than usual, similar to a turkey getting out of the oven on Thanksgiving Day. The heat is telling my body that one side is being done of tanning. Once my front side is done tanning I turn to my backside and I do the same thing I did with my front side. When I feel my backside is getting hot as well, I am done sunbathing. Before I leave the beach I dust off my towel, roll it up and pick up anything that got thrown on the sand. I pack up my suntan spray, my towel, my iPod, and my sunglasses. I try to remember where I parked. Once I found my car I put my things in the back seat, get in the driver’s side, put my seatbelt on, turn on the car, turn the radio up, and drive home. Summer may not be a lot of people’s favorite time of the year, but I know that it is my time of the year.

Essay on Enough Immigration - 1520 Words

Enough Immigration Why should the United State’s allow any more immigrants to come in? There are enough people here as is; we don’t need the waste of other countries coming into ours to take up our space and use up all of our resources. We as American’s have rights to our land; the privilege to be an American is losing its sense of worthiness with the increased number of immigrants becoming Americans. The borders of the United States are too open, the U.S. should enforce a lot more security and responsibility in order to help keep the borders closed. The numbers of immigrants is too high. The borders should be closed so that no more immigrants are allowed to come in to take our land and resources from us. As history†¦show more content†¦The president then knew that immigrants were problem, why can’t today’s president realize that? In early New York, many complaints about immigrants because they were regularly found penniless in the streets; they constantly begged for employment; they were found in the alms-houses, and in hospitals. They were found in bars of criminal tribunals, penitentiaries and our state prisons. Immigrants have imposed a huge burden the United States and still do. They are coming in by the hundreds of thousands and even millions a year. In the first decade of the century, the volume of immigrants was at its greatest; the numbers of immigrants often surpassed one million and brought in 10 immigrants per 1000 in most years. In Recent years, there has been a rough average of 800,000 immigrants entering the United States; bringing the ratio of immigrants to 3 to 1000 Americans. Even though the overall rational growth of immigrants has slowed down, in comparison to the first decade of the century. There are still a substantial number of immigrants entering the United State’s everyday. 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