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on Project, Program and Portfolio Management |
| By: | Chika Yoshida (Bunkyo University) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this research is to confirm the possibility of personnel participation in a software development project remotely. Modern system development projects require secure specialist personnel with a wide range of technical capabilities to satisfy the diversified customer needs and the remarkable technological advancement. Nevertheless, many Japanese companies are oriented toward centralized development. There are limited people in the organization with the latest technology, and their work orientation is not uniform, making it difficult to realize intensive development. These trends are not limited to the IT industry. At the same time, the Japanese government recommends that companies adopt teleworking in order to provide flexibility to their employees and improve their quality of life. In research, teleworking has become a trend in current software development environments, confirming the possibility of distributed software development in the IT industry. Here, we propose a teleworking system configuration for such distributed development. |
| Keywords: | Revising Workflow, Software Distributed Development, Personnel, Remote Participation, Telework |
| JEL: | L86 D39 |
| Date: | 2018–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:ibmpro:6810210&r=ppm |
| By: | Glenn P. Jenkins (Department of Economics, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada and Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus); Saule Baurzhan (Department of Economics, Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus); Author-Name:Godwin O. Olasehinde-Williams (Department of Economics,Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus) |
| Abstract: | One solution to the global energy challenge is the intensification of investment in hydropower projects that provide clean, reliable and affordable energy (IEA, 2012). Advocates of hydropower projects site their numerous benefits such as reduction in fossil fuel consumption, provision for water for irrigation and other uses, flood control and inland water transport. However, a common challenge often faced by hydropower projects is the issue of cost and time overruns. This study builds on the earlier work of Awojobi and Jenkins (2015) which examined the net economic benefits of 58 WBG financed hydropower projects between 1975 and 2005. It is thus important to evaluate the net benefits attached to hydropower projects constructed post-2005. This study extends the sample size by 10 more to cover 68 WBG financed hydropower projects and re-computes the results for the previous 58 hydro dams using a consistent set of data and assumptions. This extended sample will enable one to evaluate changes that might have taken place in project design and appraisal over time. Acknowledgments This project is a World Bank Group assisted project under the contract Number: 1476474. The assistance of all World Bank Group officials to enhance the completion of this project is greatly appreciated. under the contract Number: 1476474. The assistance of all World Bank Group officials to enhance the completion of this project is greatly appreciated. |
| Keywords: | : hydropower, electricity, cost overrun, time overview, economic benefits |
| JEL: | D61 L94 O22 Q4 |
| Date: | 2018–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qed:dpaper:405&r=ppm |
| By: | Maximilian Goethner (FSU Jena); Sebastian Luettig (FSU Jena); Tobias Regner (FSU Jena) |
| Abstract: | Crowdinvesting emerged recently as an alternative way of funding for start-up projects. Our dataset consists of all pledges made at Companisto, one of the largest crowdinvesting platforms in Europe. Using cluster analysis based on individual investment histories, we find that crowdinvestors differ in their investment strategies and motivations. We can distinguish three types of crowdinvestors that vary in their response to project quality signals of entrepreneurs, project-related information reducing the degree of uncertainty and social influence by fellow investors: Casual Investors, Crowd Enthusiasts, and Sophisticated Investors. We conclude that crowdinvestors are anything but a homogeneous group. Instead, they are motivated by different factors and respond to different signals when making investment decisions. |
| Keywords: | Crowdinvesting, Entrepreneurial finance, New ventures, Cluster analysis, Social influence, Signaling |
| JEL: | G23 L26 |
| Date: | 2018–11–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2018-018&r=ppm |
| By: | Anandajayasekeram, P. |
| Abstract: | A good understanding of the scaling up process and a framework for analysing scalability is critical for informed decision making. In this paper a six step process is proposed to assess the scalability of an intervention/project. The approach was used to assess the scalability of the electronic voucher systems of Zambia and the Super Seeds Project in Zimbabwe. Estimated scalability indexes for these two projects were 77 and 85 respectively indicating the high potential for scaling up. The numerical score should not be viewed as carrying mathematical precision, because the scoring is based on subjective assessments. Through a validation process it was established that the approach is logically consistent and technically sound .The methodology also allows for a careful and methodological diagnosis of constraints to scaling-up. Key requirements to perform this analysis are a good understanding of the scaling up process in the local setting: effective participation and engagement of the key stakeholders, and external facilitator with no vested interest in the outcome. However mechanical application of the approach or superficial comparison of scalability indexes of different projects is likely to result in misleading conclusions. The model should be tested more broadly to assess its robustness and wider applicability. Acknowledgement : This paper is based on a research project originally commissioned by Vuna, a regional Climate Smart Agriculture Programme (operating from 2015 - 2018), and funded by the British Government s Department for International Development (DFID) as part of the United Kingdom s aid programme. However, the views and recommendations contained in this report are those of the author, and DFID is not responsible for, or bound by the recommendations made. |
| Keywords: | Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276970&r=ppm |
| By: | Juan-José Ganuza (Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Barcelona GSE); Gerard Llobet (CEMFI, Centro de Estudios Monetarios y Financieros) |
| Abstract: | This paper shows that the concession model discourages firms from acquiring information about the future profitability of a project. Uniformed contractors carry out good and bad projects because they are profitable in expected terms even though it would have been optimal to invest in screening them out according to their value. White elephants are identified as avoidable negative net present-value projects that are nevertheless undertaken. Institutional arrangements that limit the losses that firms can bear exacerbate this distortion. We characterize the optimal concession contract which fosters the acquisition of information and achieves the first best by conditioning the duration of the concession to the realization of the demand and includes payments for not carrying out some projects. |
| Keywords: | Concession contracts, information acquisition, flexible-term concessions. |
| JEL: | D82 D86 H21 L51 |
| Date: | 2017–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cmf:wpaper:wp2018_1701&r=ppm |
| By: | Andrea Potgieter (University of Johannesburg); Kagiso Mabe (University of Johannesburg) |
| Abstract: | Technological innovation has led to disruptions in the global economy. In South Africa, one such disruption has been the shift towards the digitisation of resources that were previously only available in hard copy. Institutions most notably affected by the digitisation drive, have been libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs), which serve as important cultural heritage organizations. Considering the significant financial implications of a digitisation project, this paper explores the possible benefits and challenges that are faced when LAMs collaborate with each other, when digitising content. This qualitative, cross sectional study compared results from the data of 21 interview transcripts, which were first analysed through thematic coding in ATLAS.ti, and then analysed in Leximancer, a software tool which applies natural language processing to text. The results discuss relevant themes and concepts, revealed during the interviews with digitising-focused employees, at various LAMs in South Africa. This paper aimed to illuminate which user-generated perceptions of concerns and opportunities should be noted when an organization considers a collaborative technological intervention, specifically in the context of LAMs in South Africa. Findings showed that the sharing of technology, skills and knowledge was prevalent when considering potential benefits of a collaborative digitisation project, while access to resources and the inefficient use of resources, were identified as significant challenges in collaborative digitisation projects. The novelty of this discussion lies within the triangulation of results by using different analysis tools, and the value of the research is the unique view given of the challenges and opportunities which arise when a collaborative digitisation project is deployed. |
| Keywords: | Knowledge management, Knowledge sharing; Libraries, archives & museums, digitisation, collaboration, South Africa |
| JEL: | D83 L31 D80 |
| Date: | 2018–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:ibmpro:6809039&r=ppm |
| By: | Glenn P. Jenkins (Department of Economics, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada and Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus); Mikhail Miklyaev (JDINT’L Executive Programs Department of Economics, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and Senior Associate/ Economist Cambridge Resources International Inc.); Shahryar Afra (Financial Analyst /Economist Cambridge Resource International Inc.); Chun-Yan Kuo (Senior Fellow, JDINT’L Executive Programs Department of Economics, Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L3N6, and Senior Associate/ Economist Cambridge Resources International Inc.) |
| Abstract: | In this project, the National Parameters which includes the Economic Opportunity Cost of Capital (EOCK), the Foreign Exchange Premium (FEP) and the Premium for Non- Tradable Outlays (NTP) were estimated for the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of the Republic of Uganda (MoFPED), the commodity – specific conversion factors for Uganda was estimated and a database for the Republic of Uganda for the national parameters and commodity – specific conversion factors was created. After conducting a sensitivity analysis for the key parameters used in this study to ensure the robustness of estimate, the simulation results for the economic opportunity cost of capital (EOCK) shows that 11% is the net value. Values obtained for the foreign exchange premium (FEP) is 7.25%, and 1% for the premium on Non – tradable outlays (NTP). The national parameters and commodity–specific conversion factors (CSCF) could be found on http://national-parameters.ug. Acknowledgement The assistance and advice of Dr. Kemal Bagzibagli during the completion of this study is greatly appreciated. |
| Keywords: | : Uganda, project evaluation cost- benefit analysis, national parameters, discount rate, foreign exchange. |
| JEL: | H43 O22 |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qed:dpaper:403&r=ppm |
| By: | Kelum Gamage (University of Glasgow); Sajjad Hussain (University of Glasgow); Qammer H. Abbasi (University of Glasgow) |
| Abstract: | Final year project allocations become a challenging task, particularly, in the case of a large number of undergraduate students enthusiast to get a project of their interest and/or to work with a supervisor of their choice. The problem is challenging as the interest of all the students should be matched while keeping the staff workload in balance. It becomes a matching problem with the constraints of staff workload, student preferences, and staff skillset. Particularly, in the Transnational Education (TNE) programs, the physical availability (or lack of it) of the staff plays an important part in the student project selections which gives an additional challenge to the allocation problem. Authors provide a review of different final year project allocation methods currently in practice and discuss their strengths and weaknesses with respect to the constraints highlighted. Authors finally conclude by discussing an algorithm which can work effectively and efficiently in the context of project allocations for TNE progragrams. |
| Keywords: | Transnational Education (TNE), Final year projects, Matching problem, project allocations, staff workload |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:itepro:8010450&r=ppm |