The Yin-Yang Model of Organizational Project Management Capabilities Illustrating Micro and Macro Perspectives
Authors: Omylska Barbara 
Published: November 2018

Objectives/Scope

Organizational project management (OPM) carries within several professional capabilities. Calabrese and Mastroberardino (2015) viewed the OPM from micro and macro perspectives: institutional framework (the macro-level) and institutional entrepreneurs conducting professional project work (the micro-level) are inextricably intertwined. The paper extends this view, by introducing the novel Yin-Yang OPMC model. It presents fundamental micro and macro organizational capabilities that need to coexist in balance and harmony, for a successful OPM in changing and uncertain market.

Methods, Procedures, Process

The novel Yin-Yang OPMC model is filled with different organizational project management capabilities, which are subjectively grouped into micro (an individual), macro (an institution) and shared perspectives. These OPM capabilities will be discussed, as well as the notion of balance and harmony in the model. The model will be questioned and validated using project management literature. It will also be supported with examples from within and outside the oil and gas industry used as lessons learned.

Results, Observations, Conclusions

The Yin-Yang OPMC model presented in this paper, underlines the importance of being able to look from broad perspective of an organization (represented by governance, processes and systems), as well as from individual perspective/workforce (employees working for an institution, who directly translate the organizational strategy into results), in order for an organization to be sustainable and progressive.

The model consists of the following macro-scale concepts: strategic objectives, strong governance, flexibility with stable processes, incentives, leadership, inter-organizational collaboration, maturity, broad and focused perspective, consistency/integrity, scanning of environment (an organization and market). Shared competences by micro and macro scales are: fit, collaboration/partnership, sustainability, values, ethics, networks, opportunities, balance, compromise, change, adaptation, integration, interactions, and learning. Whereas, the micro scale capabilities are the following: sharing, influence, individual, development, empowerment, fulfillment, innovation, working culture, sociability, and trust. Several examples have been presented in order to illustrate the concepts.

All these capabilities require the skills of balance – just the right amount and the skill of harmony –acceptance within an individual and an organization without losing the competitive edge, in order to reach the win-win status. This is necessary for an organization to thrive in fast paced and uncertain market.

Novel/Additive Information

The novel Yin-Yang OPMC model was built for better understanding of micro (individual focused) and macro (organization focused) capabilities and interactions between them. The OPM capabilities are important for the oil and gas industry to reflect on, in order to thrive in constantly changing and uncertain market, gain maturity, progress and maximize on project investments. The strategic objective is to align all stakeholders to the organizational strategic vision, thereafter everybody looks in the same direction.