Minimising the effects of dysfunctional corporate culture in estimation and evaluation processes: a constructively simple approach
Minimising the effects of dysfunctional corporate culture in estimation and evaluation processes: a constructively simple approach
This paper explores connections between subjective judgements about uncertainty and corporate culture which are relevant to everyone interested in estimating project parameters or interpreting estimates prepared by others. The basis of the discussion is a simple example, drawn from an actual case. It involves estimating the uncertain duration of a project activity in an organisation with two common cultural conditions: a ‘conspiracy of optimism’, and ‘irrational objectivity’. After considering some conventional approaches, the paper goes on to suggest a ‘constructively simple’ approach to estimation which is responsive to the emerging analysis and which also incorporates end-user adjustments to counter culturally driven uncertainties and bias.
culture, estimates, models, probabilities, uncertainty, project risk management, optimistic bias adjustments, subjectivity and objectivity
106-115
Chapman, C.B.
a4f4805b-b67d-4c4c-856b-78e01a2c89a0
Ward, S.C.
ac1bf683-4186-44e7-9f5e-4193ee4d03cd
Harwood, I.A.
8f945742-3e33-445e-9665-0f613f35fc5b
2006
Chapman, C.B.
a4f4805b-b67d-4c4c-856b-78e01a2c89a0
Ward, S.C.
ac1bf683-4186-44e7-9f5e-4193ee4d03cd
Harwood, I.A.
8f945742-3e33-445e-9665-0f613f35fc5b
Chapman, C.B., Ward, S.C. and Harwood, I.A.
(2006)
Minimising the effects of dysfunctional corporate culture in estimation and evaluation processes: a constructively simple approach.
International Journal of Project Management, 24 (2), .
(doi:10.1016/j.ijproman.2005.08.004).
Abstract
This paper explores connections between subjective judgements about uncertainty and corporate culture which are relevant to everyone interested in estimating project parameters or interpreting estimates prepared by others. The basis of the discussion is a simple example, drawn from an actual case. It involves estimating the uncertain duration of a project activity in an organisation with two common cultural conditions: a ‘conspiracy of optimism’, and ‘irrational objectivity’. After considering some conventional approaches, the paper goes on to suggest a ‘constructively simple’ approach to estimation which is responsive to the emerging analysis and which also incorporates end-user adjustments to counter culturally driven uncertainties and bias.
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Published date: 2006
Keywords:
culture, estimates, models, probabilities, uncertainty, project risk management, optimistic bias adjustments, subjectivity and objectivity
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Local EPrints ID: 36409
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/36409
ISSN: 0263-7863
PURE UUID: fd775a7f-ee68-4734-ac5b-f287bc493f02
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Date deposited: 23 May 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:18
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Author:
S.C. Ward
Author:
I.A. Harwood
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