Chapter 15.7: Pure project organizations

Question 1

What is a pure project organization?

Answer 1

A separate organizational structure created specifically to achieve project goals, often operating like its own company with full control over resources and personnel.

Question 2

Who leads a pure project organization?

Answer 2

A pure project manager with formal authority over all project personnel and resources, from start to finish.

Question 3

What are the responsibilities of a pure project manager?

Answer 3

Proposal preparation

Budget and schedule estimates

Resource allocation

Subcontractor coordination

Personnel hiring and negotiation

Question 4

What are the key advantages of pure project organizations?

Answer 4

High project focus and control

Strong team spirit

Fast decision-making

Flexibility

Autonomy from bureaucracy

Question 5

What are the three pure project variations?

Answer 5

Project center – A temporary project “arm” added to the parent company

Partial project – Only critical functions are under project control; others stay with the parent organization

Stand-alone project – A fully independent entity created to deliver a major project (e.g., Big Dig, Three Gorges Dam)

Question 6

What is the main disadvantage of pure project organizations?

Answer 6

High cost, due to duplication of roles, full staffing needs, and limited resource sharing.

Question 7

What problems can arise after a pure project ends?

Answer 7

Difficulty reallocating specialized staff

Loss of in-house expertise development

Uncertainty and morale decline

Need for outplacement support for team members

Question 8

Are pure project organizations permanent?

Answer 8

No, they are strictly temporary and dissolve after the project is completed.