A systems perspective on project management : interdependencies in the execution of capital projects in the automotive industry

The primary focus of the thesis is the analysis of a project management tool in executing capital-intensive, multi-stakeholder projects. While the example in this thesis is the result of work at General Motors (GM)' Global Casting, Engine and Transmission Center in Pontiac, MI, it is largely applicable to the management of any corporate endeavor with both a large budget and scope. Two aspects of project management are analyzed: project task management and the communication channels by which this is achieved. Using the GM example, this thesis compares the task linkages in the Microsoft (MS) Project file with how often groups meet and what is shared at those meetings. Design Structure Matrix analysis shows that periodic meetings involving all inter-related stakeholders are necessary to preserve effective project-wide information sharing.

Department dc:contributor.department

Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Knight, Victoria M

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Qi D. Van Eikema Hommes and Donald Lessard.

• Engineering Systems Division.
• Sloan School of Management.
• Leaders for Global Operations Program.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/80987

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/80987