Measuring PMO Performance – Application of the Balanced Scorecard in a Collaborative Research Context

Authors

  • Simon P Philbin LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY United Kingdom
  • Rajneet Kaur IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON United Kingdom Head of Imperial Projects Enterprise Division Imperial College London United Kingdom.

Keywords:

Project Management Office, PMO, Balanced Scorecard, Performance Measurement, University

Abstract

This article provides discussion and analysis of the successful deployment by a university-based project management office (PMO) of the balanced scorecard as a performance measurement tool. The research study builds on a supporting literature review on the balanced scorecard along with background material on collaborative research projects. This is followed by a case study investigation of the design and implementation of the scorecard for a university PMO over a 4-year period. Various managerial insights have been generated that have value to project management professionals engaged in the roll-out of a performance measurement system to support the management of research projects. There is a need to carefully adapt scorecard metrics to the academic requirements in regard to the management of a portfolio of research projects. Furthermore, although data collection is necessary for the sustained use of the scorecard to support team operations, it is also important to consider the people or social dimensions when utilizing the scorecard approach. The article also includes specific details on how scorecard’s key performance indicators have been derived through distilling strategic objectives into operational requirements.

Author Biographies

  • Simon P Philbin, LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY United Kingdom

    Professor Simon P Philbin is Director of the Nathu Puri Institute for Engineering and Enterprise at London South Bank University. The Institute is focused on embedding enterprise into engineering education and industrial practice. Simon joined LSBU in 2018 and previously worked as Director of Programme Management at Imperial College London and Executive Chairman of Imperial College Projects Limited. While at Imperial and over 15 years he held a number of senior roles associated with the development and delivery of a range of multidisciplinary research areas and programmes. Prior to joining Imperial in 2003, he was at the UK Ministry of Defence (DERA) and originally worked in the field of energetic materials. Simon is published across several areas including project management, research & technology management, and chemistry. He has presented at conferences across North America and Asia, and given lectures and seminars at several different universities. Simon holds a BSc (University of Birmingham) and PhD (Brunel University) in chemistry as well as an MBA with distinction (Open University Business School). He has experience of working with different industrial sectors, including defence, oil & gas, nuclear power and healthcare. Also, he has worked as a commercial consultant for major oil and gas companies. Simon currently serves as a Board Member of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM) and has been elected as the President of ASEM for 2019/20. Previous academic roles include Visiting Fellow at Imperial College Business School and Visiting Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and a Fellow of ASEM. Simon has won several academic and best paper awards, served on journal editorial boards and as an external examiner as well as other academic and professional assignments.

  • Rajneet Kaur, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON United Kingdom Head of Imperial Projects Enterprise Division Imperial College London United Kingdom.

    Rajneet Kaur is an Associate Director at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, looking after the delivery of academic-driven commercial projects. Before joining Imperial College London in 2014, Rajneet worked at one of the Imperial's subsidiary companies, Imperial Consultants, in the capacity of HR and Office Manager from 2010. Prior to joining Imperial Consultants, Rajneet has worked in other private and public sector organizations in various HR roles. Rajneet holds a B Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from India, an MSc in Engineering Management from Brunel University, and an MBA from Imperial College London.

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Published

2022-05-20

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 4 (2020): The Journal of Modern Project Management

Section

Articles-JMPM

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Copyright (c) 2022 Simon P Philbin, Rajneet Kaur

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Measuring PMO Performance – Application of the Balanced Scorecard in a Collaborative Research Context. (2022). The Journal of Modern Project Management, 7(4). https://journalmodernpm.com/manuscript/index.php/jmpm/article/view/JMPM02213

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