The Project Strategy Matrix: Systematizing the Design and Management of an Explicit Project Strategy

Abstract

The notion of project strategy, i.e., the strategy of an individual project, remains an open field of investigation. Despite the significance of the topic, a few works in the literature examine the subject in a systematic way. Likewise, project strategy has not yet become a first-class, widely used construct, and an integral element of current project management practices. Moreover, most of the existing ideas around project strategy focus on business and management aspects, such as the alignment of projects with corporate strategy and project success factors. Consequently, limited support is provided with respect to the implementation aspects of project strategy. The main goal of this article is to bridge this gap. Specifically, to achieve this goal, we first discuss and exemplify the significance of an explicit project strategy. Subsequently, following a relevant literature review, we put forward a methodological means, called the project strategy matrix, which can be applied to design, capture, communicate, and manage the concrete strategy of a project. Such means capitalize on and adapt Rumelt's seminal work on business strategy, in a more problem-solving-oriented approach that puts emphasis on the key challenges and constraints of projects. We employ a real-world scenario of an Information Technology project to illustrate the case, to support our argumentation and to exemplify the project strategy matrix. Moreover, based on practical experience in a number of projects using a collaborative practice research approach, we report relevant findings and provide insights on the way the project strategy matrix can be applied in the real world. Finally, we call for an intensification of research on the topic of project strategy and make concrete recommendations in this regard.