Robert A Hunt

Project portfolio management for product innovation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to create a benchmark and identify best practices for Project Portfolio Management (PPM) for both tangible product‐based and service product‐based development project portfolios.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was developed to gather data to compare the PPM methods used, PPM performance, PPM challenges, and resulting new product success measures in 60 Australian organisations in a diverse range of service and manufacturing industries.Findings – The paper finds that PPM practices are shown to be very similar for service product development project portfolios and tangible product development project portfolios. New product success rates show strong correlation with measures of PPM performance and the use of some PPM methods is correlated with specific PPM performance outcomes.Research limitations/implications – The findings in this paper are based on a survey of a diverse sample of 60 Australian organisations. The results are strengthened by comparisons w...

Strategic planning using QFD

Purpose – This paper outlines the use of quality function deployment (QFD) for strategic planning. QFD provides a comprehensive process for defining the issues facing an organisation in terms of customer and stakeholder outcomes, natural segments and key strategic opportunities.Design/methodology/approach – An explanation and overview of the two core stages of strategic planning using QFD are followed by three case examples.Findings – Strategic QFD avoids complex matrix analysis and instead moves directly to concept generation and evaluation. One of the main benefits of strategic QFD is the level of commitment and support for the resulting strategy throughout the organisation. This paper also shows how strategic QFD can be used to identify and optimise internal capabilities and to find and address specific customer opportunities.Practical implications – Strategic planners will find that QFD‐based philosophy and methods are useful tools for the creation of a customer‐driven strategy.Originality/value – Thi...

Learning investments and organizational capabilities: Case studies on the development of project portfolio management capabilities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to improve understanding and provide guidance for investments in organizational learning mechanisms for the establishment and evolution of organizational capabilities such as project portfolio management (PPM) and project management capabilities.Design/methodology/approach – A multiple‐case study research project investigates the development of PPM capabilities in six successful organizations across diverse industries.Findings – The research indicates that PPM and organizational learning are dynamic capabilities that enhance an organizations ability to achieve and maintain competitive advantage in dynamic environments. PPM capabilities are shown to co‐evolve through a combination of tacit experience accumulation, explicit knowledge articulation and explicit knowledge codification learning mechanisms. Although all three learning mechanisms are important throughout the establishment and evolution of PPM capability development, the research indicates that the developme...

Dynamic capability through project portfolio management in service and manufacturing industries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to summarise a recent doctoral thesis on the relationship between project portfolio management (PPM) and competitive advantage in service and manufacturing organisations.Design/methodology/approach – This two‐phase mixed method study comprises a quantitative questionnaire‐based survey and a qualitative multiple‐case study to address the “what” and the “how” of the research questions.Findings – This paper adopts a “dynamic capabilities” perspective, drawing on organisational learning theory to explain the path‐dependent nature of PPM capability development and how PPM capabilities work with the resource base to enhance competitive advantage. Findings support prior PPM studies and suggest a positive relationship between structured PPM capabilities and improved outcomes. The research compares service and manufacturing environments; future challenges are likely to result from the increasing blurring of the boundaries between service and manufacturing industries.Practical...

Managing the New Product Development Project Portfolio: A Review of the Literature and Empirical Evidence

Literature on project portfolio management (PPM) has been escalating as interest has intensified. The surge of interest has been attributed to the increased importance of technological innovation and the recognition that successful innovation depends upon effective selection and management of the new product development (NPD) project portfolio. PPM processes are responsible for the alignment of projects with the innovation strategy, maintaining a balance of project types, and ensuring that the project portfolio fits with resource capability so that the organization can gain the maximum value from the investment in NPD. This is the first comprehensive review of the literature on NPD PPM to be published and reveals a wide range of considerations from a variety of sources across several disciplines. The growing importance of NPD PPM is highlighted, and interest in PPM is shown to have stimulated a field of research that is beginning to offer empirical findings to help clarify the relationships between PPM methods and NPD outcomes. Findings reported in the empirical literature are compared with the common beliefs and assertions presented in other published sources. The empirical findings show support for some assertions, and challenge others, while some proposed relationships remain untested.

The leading edge in strategic QFD

Introduced to the West from Japan, Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a powerful approach to customer‐focused product development. In recent years, many practitioners and academics have recognized the potential of these methods and applied them to strategic formulation and decision making as well. Earlier reviews of the documented accounts of QFD‐based approaches to strategy have been presented at the 7th International Symposium on QFD in Tokyo in 2001, and at the 8th International Symposium on QFD in Munich in 2002. This paper updates these reviews, identifying the parallels and contrasts evident in these cases with the techniques of hoshin kanri (also known as policy deployment). The paper then briefly describes a case study of the application of a comprehensive QFD‐based methodology. Leveraging these insights, the paper seeks to address the future direction of the development of this promising field of strategic methodology.

Robust project portfolio management: capability evolution and maturity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of project portfolio management (PPM) capability evolution, in order to guide the implementation and ongoing development of robust capabilities.Design/methodology/approach – This research adopts a dynamic capabilities perspective and draws on organizational learning theory to investigate the path‐dependent nature of PPM implementation and development. It employs a multiple‐case study of six organizations.Findings – Each of the case organizations reported a high level of evolution and change within their PPM capabilities, both purposeful and unintended. Potential “fragilities” are identified, such as the emergence of a “success trap” that inhibits explorative innovation and difficulties in stopping poor projects to reallocate resources. Based on findings from the literature and the multiple‐case study, a capability maturity model is proposed to assist in the development of robust PPM capabilities that will continue to evolve and stay relevant...

Future directions for logistics in Australia

The practice of logistics management has changed from an operational concern with the elemental activities to a strategic interest in how effective logistics management can help reach corporate objectives. Recent Australian government policy has emphasized world competitiveness and Australia′s place in the Asian trade bloc. Management rubric advocates strategic alliances with customers, suppliers and even competitors. Surveys a group of 86 practising logistics managers to establish the issues which they think will be important for the future direction of their logistics operations. Examines the impact of environmental pressures, changing power relationships in the logistics channel, the use of technology, the global marketplace, uses of outsourcing and the reduction in the cycle time to market. The result is a rather inward‐looking orientation – a focus on the strategy and activities of their own organization operating in the domestic market.

New product development projects and project manager skill sets in the telecommunications industry

Purpose – This paper summarises a doctoral research study. The purpose is to provide a summary of the scope, literature review, main issues raised in the thesis, the application of case study research methodology, key research findings and potential areas for future research.Design/methodology/approach – Research reported here is based on a case study methodology for a better understanding of new product development (NPD) projects in the Australian Telecommunications service provider (Telco) industry, and what makes their project managers successful. Theoretical conclusions from the literature review were tested using empirical data from one‐on‐one interview with experienced project management professionals and major stakeholders (i.e. unit of data collection). Sample projects (i.e. units of analysis) were analysed to gain a better understanding of Telco NPD projects and the skill sets required for their success.Findings – A theoretical skill set framework of technical, leadership, managerial and administ...

Strategic alliances for world competitiveness

Strategic alliances and business networks can provide organisations with the capability and flexibility to compete with the world. This paper demonstrates the principles of alliances and networks, outlines some government initiatives in this area, and finishes with a case study of General Power Controls (GPC), an Australian manufacturer who successfully competes with other manufacturers throughout the world.