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Harrison-Keyes Problem Solution

Problem Solution: Harrison-Keyes Inc.

Harrison-Keyes (HK) Publishing, Incorporated has some decisions to make concerning the future of e-publishing that could affect the entire corporation’s future. The new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has given the e-publishing Project Manager 30 days to change his mind about the future of e-publishing at HK. The rest of this report details what the Project Manager needs to do to gain the CEO’s approval and complete backing for the project.

Describe the Situation
Issue and Opportunity Identification
Organizational mission, project management structure, and organizational culture are the major issues facing Harrison-Keyes. Organizational culture is a key building block towards an organization with the ability to build the proper structures to implement projects. Organizational culture refers to a system of shared norms, beliefs, values, and assumptions that binds people together, thereby creating shared meanings. This system maintains customs, norms, and habits that exemplify the values and beliefs of the organization (Gray & Larson, p. 73).
Mission statements identify the scope of the organization in terms of its product or service. A written mission statement provides focus for decision making when shared by organizational managers and employees (Gray & Larson, p. 24). No mission statement is available in the Harrison-Keyes scenario leading to the belief that a strong statement is not in place. Preparing a strong mission statement with a focus on people and culture is an opportunity for improvement.
The Project Management Structure of Harrison-Keyes is set along the lines of the Functional Organization approach where projects management is from within the existing functional hierarchy. Once a project is decided upon, the different functional units are delegated the various segments (Gray & Larson, p. 56). Disadvantages of projects organized along functional lines include lack of focus, poor integration, slowness, and...