Organizational Structure in Project Management

Organizational structure is an enterprise environmental factor which can affect the availability of resources and influence how projects are conducted. Organizational structures range from functional to projectized, with a variety of matrix structures between them. The table below shows key project-related characteristics of the major types of organizational structures.



1. Functional organization, is a hierarchy where each employee has one clear superior. Staff members are grouped by specialty, such as production, marketing, engineering, and accounting at the top level. Specialties may be further subdivided into functional organizations, such as mechanical and electrical engineering. Each department in a functional organization will do its project work independent of other departments.

2. Matrix organization, is a blend of functional and projectized characteristics.

• Weak matrices maintain many of the characteristics of a functional organization, and the project manager role is more of a coordinator or expediter than that of a true project manager. 
• Strong matrices have many of the characteristics of the projectized organization, and can have full-time project managers with considerable authority and full-time project administrative staff. 
• Balanced matrix organization recognizes the need for a project manager, it does not provide the project manager with the full authority over the project and project funding.

3. Projectized organization, is a hierarchy where team members are often co-located, most of the organization's resources are involved in project work, and project managers have a great deal of independence and authority. Projectized organizations often have organizational units called departments, but these groups either report directly to the project manager or provide support services to the various projects.

Many organizations involve all these structures at various levels. For example, even a fundamentally functional organization may create a special project team to handle a critical project. Such a team may have many of the characteristics of a project team in a projectized organization. The team may include full-time staff from different functional departments, may develop its own set of operating procedures, and may operate outside the standard, formalized reporting structure.

Source: Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)

Professional Development Units (PDUs)

Professional Development Units (PDUs) is a way to maintain your certificate credential(s). If you hold the PMP^®, PgMP^®, PMI-SP^®, or PMI-RMP^® credential(s), you are required to adhere to the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program, which supports ongoing professional development through education and giving back to the profession.

Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to earn professional development units (PDUs) toward maintaining your credential(s).

While courses and seminars are ideal ways to stay up-to-date with project management best practices, many other activities occurring in your daily professional life may count toward PDUs, too.

Continue Your Education

1. Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) Courses : There are more than 1,100 PMI R.E.P.s worldwide who offer courses that are pre-approved for PDUs.
2. E-Learning : PMI’s e-Learning offerings allow you to increase your understanding of project management and apply real-world knowledge through simulations at your own pace. These include our eSeminarsWorld^SM courses and our Publication Quizzes.
3. PMI Community Offerings : PMI chapters and communities of practice hold events, meetings, webinars and educational sessions. PMI members can join these communities and take advantage of their offerings.
4. PMI^® Global Congresses and Regional Events : Attend a congress or regional event and learn, network and get inspired.
5. SeminarsWorld : Held throughout the year, SeminarsWorld events provide in-depth coverage of a single topic for beginning, mid-level and experienced project professionals.
6. Self-Directed Learning: PMI will recognize activities that involve personally conducted research or study, including discussions or coaching sessions with colleagues or clients. Such activities should make use of informational materials like CD-ROMs, articles, books, videos or instructional manuals.
7. Educational Programs by Outside Providers: PMI recognizes relevant educational activities or programs offered by organizations not registered with PMI.

Give Back to the Profession

8. Creating new content. Write project management-related books and articles for professional print or electronic publications, including PMI’s numerous publications or PMI Knowledge Shelf. If you’re web savvy, write a blog for your company or organization, or present a podcast or webinar. Check out PMI’s Voices on Project Management blog.
9. Volunteer Service: Earn PDUs for providing your professional services to an organization or group outside of your employer; this includes any elected offices you hold for a project management organization. PMI also has many volunteer opportunities.
10. Doing Your Job: When you practice project (project scheduling, risk, or program) management professionally, you can claim PDUs. If you work every day as a project manager, this counts toward credential maintenance.

All activities must be related to project management topics that are substantially consistent with the knowledge areas and processes outlined in the latest edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^®Guide) and involve appropriate expert resources.

Source: Project Management Institute (PMI)