It may be said that we are now in a golden age of philanthropy; due to the unprecedented amount of money received by the non-profit sector. However, most philanthropic organizations are lacking in strong strategic plans and established procedures that can
support sound project or portfolio selection decisions. Moreover, the combination of weak strategic plans and increased scale of giving is likely to cause unwise selection of projects and portfolios. These projects would not be able to achieve the maximum social impact desired by their organizations. The purpose of this research is to identify the most appropriate portfolio management approach for philanthropic settings. The study is exploratory in nature; since direct literature on the topic was almost non-existent. The research process uses mixed qualitative and quantitative methods to attain comprehensive results. It includes a review of the current literature, followed by the data collection
methods used: exploratory study and survey method. The major findings indicate that the current portfolio management approaches do not match the nature of the philanthropic sector; there is need for development of a revised approach capable of selecting portfolios
of maximum social impact. Moreover, recommendations for effective portfolio management in philanthropic organizations are provided, future challenges identified and suggestions made for future research.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background Information
1.3 Problem Statement and Synopsis
1.4. Aim, objectives and research questions
1.5. Structure of the Research
1.6. Research Limitations
Chapter 2 Understanding Project Portfolio Management
2.1 Related Definitions
2.2 Need for Portfolio Management
2.3 Alignment with Organization Strategy
2.4 PPM Goals
2.5 History of PPM
2.6 PPM Process
2.7 Factors affecting the PPM Process
2.8 Project Portfolio Selection approaches
2.9. Project Portfolio Selection Models
2.10 Challenges faced by the PPM process
Chapter 3 Towards effective Philanthropy
3.1 Related Definitions
3.2 Origin and “Golden age” of philanthropy
3.3 Comparison between sector: profit & non-profit
3.4 Factors that affect Philanthropic goals or decisions
3.5 Challenges to Philanthropic work
3.6 General Characteristics of successful philanthropy
Chapter 4 Research Methodology
4.1 Introduction to Research Methodology
4.2 Research Approach
4.3. Research Purpose and Process
4.4. Data Analysis Tool
4.5. Limitations of the Research Design
4.6 Alternative Approaches to the Research Problem
Chapter 5 Data Collection
5.1. Exploratory study
5.2. Survey Results
Chapter 6 Data Analysis
6.1. Exploratory Study Analysis
6.2. Survey Analysis
Chapter 7 Discussion
Discussion of the research findings
Chapter 8 Recommendations and Conclusion
8.1. Recommendations
8.2. Suggestions for future research
8.3. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
The primary aim of this research is to identify the most appropriate project portfolio management (PPM) approach for philanthropic organizations. The study investigates the current status of PPM in the sector, analyzes existing challenges, and provides recommendations to enhance decision-making processes for achieving maximum social impact.
- Analysis of the unique nature and attributes of philanthropic work.
- Evaluation of current project portfolio management practices in philanthropic settings.
- Investigation into factors influencing project selection decisions beyond charitable intentions.
- Assessment of barriers to implementing effective PPM processes.
- Development of recommendations for integrating strategic portfolio management in non-profit environments.
Excerpt from the Book
2.10 Challenges faced by the PPM process:
The literature review discussed various challenges to selecting right project portfolios, below is a listing of the main challenges and the proposed courses of action to tackle them
High number of proposed projects: Levine (2005) indicated that one of the problems with selection of projects for the portfolio lies in that too many projects are proposed that shouldn’t be. Since most proposals are instigated for various reasons without prior thought to costs, schedules, alignment with strategies or any of the important business requirements or factors.
Unfortunately this puts demand on the project management office and the government council, since it requires them to evaluate all those proposed projects prior to rejecting them for any deficiencies found.
Levine (2005) proposed a process for project prequalification, which would help reduce the submittal of proposals for bad projects. Moreover, project sponsors will seek to improve their proposed projects value and alignment with company strategy short before submitting the proposed project, once they recognize that the proposal does not support the selection criteria.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: Introduction: Outlines the research topic, its drivers, objectives, and the limitations encountered during the exploratory study.
Chapter 2: Understanding Project Portfolio Management: Reviews theoretical concepts of PPM, including its history, standard processes, selection models, and common implementation challenges.
Chapter 3: Towards effective Philanthropy: Details the characteristics of the philanthropic sector, examining how it differs from the for-profit sector and the specific factors influencing its decision-making.
Chapter 4: Research Methodology: Explains the mixed-methods approach, combining exploratory semi-structured interviews with a broader survey of philanthropic organizations.
Chapter 5: Data Collection: Presents the primary feedback gathered from both the initial interviews and the survey conducted among philanthropic organizations.
Chapter 6: Data Analysis: Analyzes the collected data using statistical methods to address the research questions regarding PPM status and challenges in the sector.
Chapter 7: Discussion: Discusses the research findings, linking them to the literature on philanthropic strategies and portfolio management challenges.
Chapter 8: Recommendations and Conclusion: Summarizes the study's conclusions and offers practical recommendations for philanthropic organizations and future research directions.
Keywords
Project Portfolio Management, Philanthropic Organizations, Non-profit Sector, Strategic Alignment, Social Impact, Project Selection, Resource Allocation, Data Analysis, Exploratory Research, Philanthropy, Accountability, Sustainability, Strategic Planning, Portfolio Models, Organizational Strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental goal of this dissertation?
The research aims to identify a suitable project portfolio management (PPM) approach for philanthropic organizations to enhance their decision-making processes and ensure that projects align with strategic goals for maximum social impact.
What are the core research themes?
The core themes include analyzing the nature of philanthropic work, assessing existing PPM practices, identifying barriers like resource constraints and lack of strategy, and proposing a revised approach for the sector.
How was the research conducted?
The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, which included a review of existing literature, an exploratory study through semi-structured interviews, and a survey distributed to 15 philanthropic organizations.
What is the primary scientific method applied?
The research uses both qualitative data from interviews and quantitative data from surveys, analyzed using statistical software (SPSS) to find correlations between organizational practices and project outcomes.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers theoretical frameworks of PPM, the unique characteristics and challenges of the philanthropic sector, data collection results, and a detailed analysis of factors influencing project selection.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Project Portfolio Management, Philanthropic Organizations, Social Impact, Strategic Alignment, and Organizational Strategy.
Why are charitable reasons not the only factor in project selection?
The research highlights that factors such as government policy, budget limitations, local needs, and organizational strategy play a significant, sometimes larger role than purely charitable inclinations in project decision-making.
What role does the 'golden age' of philanthropy play in this study?
It contextualizes the unprecedented increase in funding within the non-profit sector, which creates a critical need for rigorous management and portfolio approaches to prevent unwise resource distribution.
What are the major barriers to effective PPM in this sector?
Identified barriers include a lack of reliable data, inconsistent funding, work fragmentation, limited management expertise, and a lack of accountability frameworks.
- Quote paper
- Nojoud Ibrahim (Author), 2011, Project Portfolio Management in Philanthropic Organizations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/181131
