Approach Organizational Projects: Selecting Development Approach Based on Organizational V…

PMBOK v8 Definition

The development approach for organizational projects is influenced by organizational variables such as structure, culture, capability, project team size, and location. Adaptive or agile approaches may benefit from teams with strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Interdependencies—a reliance on other projects, departments, or functions for decisions, components, or resources—may be a decision factor for delivering projects with an iterative approach.

Why It Matters for the Exam

This concept appears frequently in situational questions where the PMI exam tests your ability to determine which development approach (predictive, adaptive, or hybrid) fits a given organizational context. Questions often present specific organizational conditions and ask you to select the most appropriate approach based on the variables described.

Key Points to Remember (for the exam)

• Organizational Structure: The reporting hierarchy and authority distribution influence whether predictive or adaptive approaches are feasible. Predictive fits structured, hierarchical organizations; adaptive suits flatter, decentralized structures.

• Organizational Culture: Predictive approaches fit cultures that manage and direct, plan work, and measure against baselines. Adaptive approaches fit cultures that embrace uncertainty, emphasize self-managed teams, flexible thinking, and innovation.

• Organizational Capability: Policies, ways of working, reporting structures, and attitudes must align with the chosen delivery method. Established project management processes influence reliability and predictability.

• Project Team Size and Location: Adaptive approaches often work better with smaller project teams. Larger, distributed teams may require more predictive elements.

• Interdependencies: When projects rely heavily on other projects, departments, or functions for decisions, components, or resources, iterative approaches may be more suitable.

• Team Experience and Skills: Adaptive approaches benefit from teams with strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

• Financing Uncertainty: Projects in environments of financing uncertainty may generate more value using adaptive or iterative approaches.

Typical PMI Exam Example

A project manager is assigned to a complex project with evolving requirements in an organization that values innovation and self-managed teams. The project has a small, co-located team with strong collaboration skills. What development approach should the project manager recommend?

Answer: Adaptive or agile approach, because the organizational culture embraces uncertainty, the team is small and co-located, and the requirements are evolving.

PMI Exam Traps

• Trap: Confusing organizational culture with organizational structure

  • Reality: Culture is about values, attitudes, and willingness to embrace uncertainty; structure is about reporting lines and authority distribution

• Trap: Assuming large projects always require predictive approaches

  • Reality: More flexible approaches are more suitable for larger, complex projects with evolving requirements

• Trap: Thinking adaptive approaches work in any organizational culture

  • Reality: Adaptive approaches require a culture that embraces uncertainty, self-managed teams, flexible thinking, and innovation

• Trap: Confusing project team size with team location

  • Reality: Size influences approach choice (adaptive fits smaller teams); location (co-located vs. distributed) affects coordination methods

Important PMI Connections

Quick Review Questions

1. A project operates in an organization with a culture of managing and directing, where work is planned out and progress is measured against baselines. Which development approach is likely a better fit?

2. What organizational variables influence the choice of development approach according to PMBOK v8?

3. When a project has strong interdependencies with other departments for decisions and resources, which approach should the team consider?

4. A project team is small, co-located, and has strong communication and collaboration skills. Which development approach is most appropriate?

5. What is the relationship between financing uncertainty and the choice of development approach?

PMBOK v8 Reference

Section 4.3.3 – Organization (Organizational variables influencing development approach selection)