What are the main motivation factors and tools at work?

 The pure project organization represents a form of project organization in which the employees involved in the project are completely separated from the previous organizational structure for the project period and a separate organizational structure is created for the project in question, learn more about Organizational structure

In this chapter you will learn what the pure project organization is, what advantages and disadvantages it offers and why it is important. We also compare the different forms of project organization and provide you with exercises that you can use to prepare for the exam.

Why is pure project organization important?

The use of pure project organization is particularly useful for very extensive, complex and company-relevant projects. On the one hand, a potential conflict between the project manager and the line manager regarding the use of the available resources is avoided .

This allows the project's goals to be achieved more quickly , as they are not in direct conflict with the departments' goals. On the other hand, the identification of the employees involved with the project and thus their work motivation increases.

What is pure project organization?

While in other forms of project organization the employees concerned remain in their previous line function, in the context of pure project organization they are completely excluded from their previous functions so that they only have to fulfill the project tasks.

You are therefore fully subordinate to the project manager, who has full decision-making authority and can issue technical and disciplinary instructions. He thus has unrestricted access to the available resources and employees and does not have to coordinate with the line manager.

The project employees also withdraw from day to day business and are therefore fully available for the fulfillment of the project goals.

The project itself thus becomes its own organizational unit in the organizational structure of the company :

Comparison of different forms of project organization

In addition to the purpose of a project, it is always important to consider those involved in the project. Depending on the nature of the project, these differ greatly depending on the company, but in general the following roles are important:

• Client : initiates the project and requests a report on the progress and achievement of the project
• Steering Committee :eventual intermediary and coordinator between project manager and client
• Project manager :responsible for the planning, control and implementation of the project as well as its success
• Project staff :convert the tasks to be completed in project planning into actions

In order to organize projects, different organizational forms can be chosen. We take a closer look at the most commonly used ones below.

Pure project organization

Synonym : autonomous project organization

By completely separating the project employees from the existing organizational structure , they can focus entirely on fulfilling the project tasks. You will only receive disciplinary and technical instructions from the project manager, which considerably simplifies communication and coordination.

By creating a separate organizational unit, the tasks and responsibilities are clearly regulated and the project organization can work largely autonomously.

However, there are dangers due to possible idle times of the employees and possible conflicts when the employees involved in the project are reintegrated into the previous line affiliation after it has been completed.

Matrix project organization

With the matrix project organization , an additional parallel instance is created in the form of the project manager, while the employees remain organizationally in their previous line organization.

The project employees now report to both the line manager and the project manager. The line manager retains disciplinary leadership, while the project manager receives technical authority to a certain extent, depending on the nature of the project.

Due to this duplication of superiors, increased communication and coordination effort is necessary. In addition, conflicts can arise between project and line managers, which can be resolved by setting up a steering committee.

Project organization staff lines

In the project organization staff line, the existing line organization does not change and is only supplemented by a staff position in the form of the project manager. As a result, he has no authority to issue instructions and only takes on advisory and coordinating tasks within the framework of the project. The decision-making authority remains with the relevant department head.

The effort required to adapt the organizational structure is therefore very low. Conflicts over the distribution of resources are also avoided. However, this form of project organization requires a high level of acceptance by the project manager from the department head, otherwise the project goals will take a back seat and may only be implemented with a delay or not at all. Employee identification with the project is not very high, which can have a negative impact on morale.

Advantages and disadvantages of pure project organization

Advantages :

• The project manager's full authority to make decisions and issue instructions enables the focus to be placed on the realization of the project goals
• extensive projects can be carried out with own resources
• Tasks and responsibilities are unambiguously and clearly distributed
• high identification of the project staff with the project

Disadvantages :

• high effort in redesigning the organization
• Resources must be provided exclusively for the project
• possible problems with the return of the project staff to the previous organizational structure after the end of the project period.

practice questions

#1. What is pure project organization?

In the case of pure project organization, the employees involved in the project will be completely removed from the previous organizational structure for the project period and a separate organizational structure will be created for the project in question.

In pure project organization, the employees of a project report not only to their line manager, but also to the project manager. You can therefore receive instructions from two higher-level bodies.

In the case of pure project organization, the project employees remain in their previous organizational units, while the project management is only integrated into the organization as a staff unit.

#2. What are the advantages of pure project organization?

The reintegration of the project staff after the end of the project is particularly easy.

The project manager has no authority to issue directives and is therefore not responsible for goals or results.

The project manager's full authority to make decisions and issue instructions enables the focus to be placed on the realization of the project goals.

#3. What are the disadvantages of pure project organization?

The decision-making and instructional powers as well as the responsibilities are not clearly regulated.

Possible problems can arise when returning the project staff to the previous organizational structure after the end of the project.

To use the resources for the project, the project manager must always coordinate with the relevant line manager.

#4. "Pure project organization is particularly suitable for complex and complex projects that are of great importance to the company." – This statement is:

Right

#5. "In the case of pure project organization, the project manager has no disciplinary and technical authority to issue instructions to the project staff." – this statement is:

Right