Compare and contrast the approaches that are available for analysing Essay

Compare and contrast the approaches that are available for analysing the project environment. How would a project manager use the outputs of this analysis - Essay Example Identify actors or factors that need special attention Develop strategies for increasing control or influence including formal and informal linkages Develop a plan to cope with potential problems caused by actors and factors Priority must be given to those especially characterized by medium or high dependency, medium or high risk, and medium or low control. The project environment may be defined as "the whole set of institutions, people and natural systems which surround the project and interact with it". The purpose of any analysis of the project environment is primarily to identify a list of factors that may have an impact on the successful conclusion of a project. They be classified contrastingly as follows (Bryant and White, 1982) - Stable/turbulent - Uniform/diverse - Clustered/random - Resource-munificent/resource-scarce Approaches to analyzing the Project Environment Descriptive Model Use of the Descriptive Model is helpful for the Manager who wishes to categorise the range of dimensions within the project environment. An appropriate set of dimensions comprises: - The natural environment - The built environment - The financial environment - The social environment - The political environment It may be seen that these link to the capitals of the sustainable livelihoods framework, though there are also important differences. Hierarchical Model If the analysis has involved making judgments not just about what is important in the project environment but also at what level then the Hierarchical Model is appropriate. This divides the project environment into local, regional and national (or international) factors, each of which may need different responses. Hierarchical models provide a way of examining...It will also help to formulate strategies and to decide whether the strategies devised to control risk are cost-effective. A top priority for any Project Manager will be to make a complete list of the variables that can affect project performance. S/he must then try to anticipate which (if any) may lead to project failure. It is important to understand that these factors may not be clear and/or obvious; careful analysis of the full context within which the project is being undertaken (its "environment") is required. The project environment may be defined as "the whole set of institutions, people and natural systems which surround the project and interact with it". The purpose of any analysis of the project environment is primarily to identify a list of factors that may have an impact on the successful conclusion of a project. If the analysis has involved making judgments not just about what is important in the project environment but also at what level then the Hierarchical Model is appropriate. This divides the project environment into local, regional and national (or international) factors, each of which may need different responses. Hierarchical models provide a way of examining differences across different parameters.