A review of critical project management techniques to enhance construction SMEs project performance

Abstract: Performance is linked with implementation of project management techniques. Literature suggests that problems such as inefficiency, poor budgetary issues, improper planning, scheduling and control in projects execution are associated with inadequate implementation of the essential techniques for meeting project deliverables. These shortcomings are prevalent among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the developing countries including South Africa. Hence, the primary objective of this paper is to review the critical project management techniques for the improvement of construction project performance especially among SMEs in South Africa. The study is based on previous literature on construction SMEs project performance as well as project management techniques implementation. The literature review centered on both international and South African context. The study revealed that critical path method, work breakdown structure, and earned value management analysis were the most occurring project management techniques from the sampled literature. Findings from this study are envisaged to be beneficial to construction stakeholders in developing relevant project management techniques to improve the performance of SMEs

Human resource allocation management in multiple projects using sociometric techniques

This article describes a new application of key psychological concepts in the area of Sociometry for the selection of workers within organizations in which projects are developed. The project manager can use a new procedure to determine which individuals should be chosen from a given pool of resources and how to combine them into one or several simultaneous groups/projects in order to assure the highest possible overall work efficiency from the standpoint of social interaction. The optimization process was carried out by means of matrix calculations performed using a computer or even manually, and based on a number of new ratios generated ad-hoc and composed on the basis of indices frequently used in Sociometry

Project Management Practices at Portuguese Startups

Nowadays, due to the continuous changes in technology and markets, com-panies need to use the best project management practices to effectively man-age their projects. The use of these practices however will not have the same results in different types of projects and in different organizations. The prac-tices used by larger companies may have different results if used by smaller companies. With this in mind and focused on project management practices used by Portuguese startups, this study explores the value that project man-agement represents for this type of companies. The study also focused on scale-ups, which are startups that have already undergone an initial phase of maturation and have more complex structures and processes, thus allowing us to see how the project management practices change with the evolution of the organization. This way, it was possible to observe that project manage-ment is seen as an essential factor within this type of organizations. These organizations seem to opt for a more agile approach to project management, thus taking advantage of the flexibility typically offered by such approaches. This type of approach seems to continue as startups mature, where there is only an increase in the formalization and complexity of project management practices and tools.FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/201