This paper was originally published as The Strategy of Running Temporary Projects, Innovation, 1971. Although published over thirty years ago, we believe that its perceptive insights are just as valid today.

Thanks to Bob Youker, World Bank (Retired), for bringing this paper to our attention. The paper has since been edited for web presentation, Editor

Copyright: Lawrence Bennigson, MA, 02108. Email: lbennigson@hbs.ed.
Published here August 2004.

PART 1 | Introduction | Project Integration
The Need for Visibility | Personal and Professional Security
Tradeoffs are the Hallmark of the Strategic Approach
Success Criteria for Our Air Pollution Abatement Program 
Selection of Key Management Positions | In Summary ...

Personal and Professional Security

A further element of CPMS success concerns the need of project participants for personal and professional security. For some people a project experience can be a welcome relief from the more routine aspects of their permanent duties. For others it can represent an opportunity for career growth. But for still others a project can pose a severe threat to the stability and security of their work life.

Projects involve new, challenging tasks, and the concomitant uncertainty of these challenges. Projects end, and so may the jobs of individuals on the project team. The design of a CPMS can satisfy security needs in a number of ways.

Where a functional organizational approach is taken, the functional leaders assign people to project tasks, so the fact that routine relationships are maintained may forestall insecurity. Where autonomous organizations are created for each project and streams of projects are conducted as a matter of course in the parent company, security needs may be satisfied by perceived opportunities to work on subsequent projects.

However, if projects are seldom undertaken within the parent organization, it may be necessary to select project people who would view the assignment as a career opportunity. This can be achieved by promising them a chance to move to another permanent job when the project is completed.

The Need for Visibility  The Need for Visibility

Home | Issacons | PM Glossary | Papers & Books | Max's Musings
Guest Articles | Contact Info | Search My Site | Site Map | Top of Page