Abstract
In a time of economic uncertainties and a decline in revenue, companies tend to restructure an organisation to try and limit the negative effect on the company. But how does this affect an organisation whose main focus is project execution? The research aimed to determine an optimal project organisational structure to enable the project department to complete successful projects. A comprehensive literature review was done on the main types of project organisational structures available, with their respective advantages and disadvantages. In the literature review the characteristics and principles of a project organisational structure were considered and how they impact on project success. A case study was done within a single organisation with the unit of analysis being completed projects within the organisation. A questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, which was then compared to the literature review to derive conclusions. The case study findings suggest that in practice the relevant characteristics and principles aligned with a project organisational structure are not used as the literature suggests. Rather, a combination of structures, characteristics and principles are applied. There is therefore no optimal project organisational structure to enable the project department to complete projects successfully...
M.Phil. (Engineering Management)