Enugu State University of Science and Technology Business School

Project Portfolio Management (EPMT 800)

ASSIGNMENT:

Examine, the role of organization’s top management in achieving timely implementation of a

critical project portfolio in Nigeria. Using a case of any project within your disposal.

By

GROUP E;

1. OGELEKA NKECHI BENEDICTA (PG/EMSC/2018/6279)

2. STEPHEN, EMMANUEL NSE (PG/EMBA/2018/6168)
3. IZEIN CLAUDIUS IDUMOM (PG/EMSC/2018/6239)

Department of Quantity Surveying

Faculty of Environmental Science

Enugu State University of Science and Technology Business School, Enugu

Abstract
Top management support is considered to be an area that has high impact on project
success. Companies are increasingly using top management directives, for effective
and prompt execution of critical project portfolio in Nigeria. However, previous
studies have also stated that effective top management support practices may vary
across industries. This paper focuses on the roles of top management in the timely
execution of the construction of a 10-storey building Office Complex in Port
Harcourt. The objective of this study is to identify those top management roles and
support processes that had the greatest impact on construction project successes and
to compare these critical processes with the actual type of support provided by
organizations.
INTRODUCTION
Project portfolio is a term that refers to an organization's group of projects and the
process in which they are selected and managed. The project portfolio is strategically
selected to advance the corporation's organizational goals.
Project portfolio management refers to the centralized management of one or more
project portfolios to achieve strategic objectives. It is a way to bridge the gap
between strategy and implementation, and ensures that an organization can leverage
its project selection and execution success.

PORTFOLIO

PROGRAM

LEVELS
MANAGEMENT

PROJECT PROJECT PROJECT

ELECTRICAL CIVIL/STRUCTURAL MECHANICAL

WORKS WORKS WORKS

Fig 1 – A typical Project Portfolio showing various projects and program.

Who are the top management in your organisation?

The term "top management" refers to a relatively small group of people include
president, chief executive officer, vice president, and executive vice president.
Because the insights of these executives play such a critical role, a number of writers
have stressed the importance of matching the characteristics of these executives with
the firm's strategies. They are responsible for controlling and overseeing the entire
organization. They develop goals, strategic plans, company policies, and make
decisions on the direction of the business.
These studies show that top management support is considered to be among project
management critical success factors (CSFs). This means that the more top
management processes are practiced in organisations, the higher the level of project
success is. However, with executive limited time and resources, it is also important
to identify the most effective support processes for different project scenarios.

ROLES OF TOP MANAGEMENT IN PROJECT PORTFOLIO

MANAGEMENT

Set Goals
One of the major roles of top management are to set goals for Managers, project
managers that each of the employees should reach within a certain period of time.
This could be a number of products that each worker has to produce on a daily basis,
orders that everyone can finish every day, new clients that the employees can get,
etc.
With set objectives and goals, the employees will be challenged and motivated to
work harder. And if everyone will be able to get good results and reach their goals
daily, they will have a sense of fulfillment.

Regular Trainings.
initial

Effective Communication
The goals and vision of the company guide the work that is completed by the
employees. To reach higher achievements for the company, top management first
needs to make sure everyone in the company knows what the company's overall
goals and strategy are. It's not enough to know their own goals. They need to
understand the direction the company is headed and what management wants to
achieve so they can see where their efforts fit into the overall strategy.
Next, top management needs to direct front-line managers to establish goals for each
employee. These should be achievable but challenging so they push each employee
to grow. The goals must take into consideration the company's current situation and
its overall strategy and direction. Above all, each employee's goals should be
measurable so it's clear when they have been achieved.

Motivations
Top management are there not only to be a ‘boss’ for the employees, but also to be
a friend. If you are friendly and approachable, then it will be a lot easier for you to
motivate people and mold them into a more productive staff.
The top management of a company leads by example and affects the motivation felt
by the employees. A management team that takes a sincere interest and connects
with the staff is more likely to inspire the employees to achieve. Transparency from
the management team about the company's future aids in motivating the staff
because it gives them a better idea of the reasons for their work duties.

Appraisal of Staff.

Conflict Management.

Corporate Policies
The corporate policies and acceptable behaviors generally start at the top level of
management. The leaders of the company establish procedures and expectations
through those policies. The way the company is run day to day, based on those
policies, helps establish the corporate culture.
A culture that encourages creativity, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking is likely
to result in a company that is successful and continually comes up with new ideas.
A stifling corporate culture limits the efforts of the employees, making it difficult
for the company to advance. When employees know they have the top management
team's support, they contribute without holding back.

Financial Decisions
A company's financial decisions typically come from the top level of management.
This includes each department's budget for the fiscal year. In many cases, the
purchase of equipment and other assets must be approved by top management. It's
important that top management has confidence in mid-level managers to know what
their employees need, and to procure it while keeping within their departments'
budgets.
If the employees don't have access to the equipment and resources necessary to
complete their jobs, the company's achievement suffers. A management team that
supports the staff and has a sense of what they need is better equipped to lead the
company to success. Don't let the lack of essential tools for the job hinder the
company's success.

Prompt Reaction to Issue

Conclusion
The success of every project is a result of positive supports enjoyed from top
management influence on the project. Indeed, executives in the construction sector
spend much effort in supporting projects in numerous ways.
Top management is responsible for the performance of the entire organization
through the middle managers. Unlike other managers, the top managers are
accountable to none other than the owners of the resources used by the organization.
Of course, the top-level manager is dependent on the work of all, of his or her
subordinates to accomplish the organization’s goals and mission.
Top management needs to also make sure the line of communication and
transparency continues throughout the company as well. Make it a company policy
that managers meet regularly with each of their employees-weekly, for example-to
discuss their progress. Weekly staff meetings are good for keeping everyone
informed of coming activities, but they're not a substitute for meeting one-on-one,
where each employee has the opportunity to express problems, issues and concerns.

References
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