He, Hailong (2017) Exploring the combined impact of project portfolio construction and steering on project portfolio performance. PhD thesis, University of Gloucestershire, UK.
Abstract
In recent years, project portfolio management (PPM) has received increased attention from both academics and practitioners. However, the development of the discipline is still in its infancy stage, and many aspects of PPM are still less understood. One particularly intriguing and important stream of research is concerned with the critical performance factors and the way in which they influence the overall project portfolio performance. Empirical evidence suggests that both the periodic project portfolio construction (PPC) and the continuous project portfolio steering (PPS) are positively associated with project portfolio performance (PPP). Nevertheless, the question of 'how' has yet to be answered. To address this gap, this study set out to explore the way in which PPC and PPS could contribute to the PPP at an operationalised level. This study is dedicated to theory development by adopting the social constructionist approach. An investigation through the lens of General Systems Theory was carried out in the form of a single in-depth case study within a German construction machinery OEM. Qualitative data was collected and subsequently analysed by using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that the four performance dimensions could be influenced by the eight essential elements of PPC and PPS. Their collaborative contributions to PPP appear to be indirect and mediated through an additional theoretical construct, i.e., project portfolio management capability. Based on the findings, the conceptualisation of the four theoretical constructs are determined and integrated into one visual framework to illustrate the associations at an operationalised level. This study has partially addressed the identified gaps in the existing body of knowledge. The contribution is multi-fold. It contributes to the existing knowledge by providing a more complete and comprehensive framework that incorporates both the periodic and continuous notion of project portfolio management. The contribution to practice lies in its practical relevance, which offers the organisations a structured framework that could be used to systematically identify the gaps in their portfolio performance, determine the possible areas of improvement, and develop courses of action in related areas.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | evidence, practitioner, thematic analysis, stream, systems theory, body of knowledge, case study, portfolio management, investigation, PPC, dimension |
| Subjects: | methods and analysis, water management, health monitoring assessment and metrics, data collection methods, theoretical framing, economic analysis, knowledge management, standard forms of contract, evaluation and assessment methods, practitioner |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Roles and Professions, Health and Safety, Procurement, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here