Idea's for Project Management related dissertation topics

[FrogFly]

I'm a full-time IT Project Manager doing my final year of a degree in Information System and Management and am interested in doing a dissertation on the subject of Project Management. I am looking for input from the IT professionals out there on topics which you feel need more focus or ones which are still a major concern / problem or challenge for the Project Managers of today.

I am more interested in the soft skills and/or financial aspects of controlling a project (i.e. time management, commumication in outsourcing, scheduling) but I need some very specific topics to narrow down on.

Basically idea's around all your biggest problems/concerns/developments or area's where improvement is possible or required would be appreciated. Looking forward to your valuable input. Thanks!

 

[PDQBach]

Perhaps the use of the apostrophe in written communication -- no, wait, "commumication"?

 

[MikeLacey]

FrogFly,

Do you have in mind topics which the PM methodologies don't handle adequately or do you mean areas in which projects often encounter difficulties?

In your position I'd be thinking of using an anonymised case study based on one of my own projects - picking out areas of interest where things didn't go as they should and discussing why, and what could be done to avoid issues in those areas.

Mike

The options are: fast, cheap and right - pick any two... &

Want great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at faq219-2884

 

[johnherman]

You could always pick "Why Projects Fail". There are loads of failed projects out there from which to assemble reasons for failure and lessons learned. In fact, you could probably steal one sentence from each article on "Why Projects Fail" and complete your dissertation in weeks instead of months, and without having to pay royalties or facing plagiarism charges.

-------------------------
The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright

 

[MikeLacey]

There are loads of failed projects out there"

I've presided over some of them, as have we all I suspect

Mike

The options are: fast, cheap and right - pick any two... &

Want great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at faq219-2884

 

[JackONeill]

The secret pm:

Prioritization
Monotasking
Critical Chain


A great thing for pm is TOC ... Theory of Constraint...

 

[BNPMike]

I should focus on Agile methods. We all need to get away from this awful structured model that is haemorraghing billions and billions every week. It's fast, enjoyable, cost effective and you can say all sorts of new things.