APPENDIX A
Project Leadership Assessment: Organizational
This questionnaire contains statements about the characteristics of an organization and how it is supportive and creates a culture that encourages project leadership. Rate each item on a five-point scale indicating whether you agree or disagree with the statement. There are no right or wrong answers. Mark one answer only for each question.
1 Senior management creates an environment and culture that nurtures the growth and development of project leaders and their teams.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
2 Project leaders are encouraged to use vision to guide daily actions and decisions.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
3 Decisions affecting the project are made after long, careful consideration.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
4 There is a good relationship between the project team and senior management.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
5 Risk should be avoided at all costs.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
6 Project team members are treated with dignity and respect.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
7 Environmental influences are monitored and controlled.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
8 Conflict in the project team has a negative influence on successful performance.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
9 Team members are encouraged to take initiative in problem-solving.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
10 Senior management decisions are frequently reversed.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
11 Organizational success is more important than resolving project team issues.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
12 The singular focus of senior management is project results.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
13 Changes in company strategy and project requirements are communicated and explained to team members.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
14 A high degree of trust exists between senior management and project team members.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
15 Leaders are encouraged to find creative solutions to business and project problems.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
16 Teams are recognized and rewarded for good performance.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
17 Project accomplishments are celebrated and shared with other project teams.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
18 Change is a considered a way of life and necessary to organizational success.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
19 Risk and problems are considered to be inherent in projects.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
20 Authorization is a slow process due to complex and lengthy administrative procedures.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
21 Senior management deals well with uncertainty.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
22 Politics and power have a lot to do with project success.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
23 Senior management has a customer satisfaction orientation and not just a profit motive.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
24 Quality is an important factor in a successful project.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
25 Trust and interdependence between all stakeholders are considered critical success factors.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
26 Organizational policies and practices enable the project team to deliver according to plan.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
27 Project mistakes and errors are dealt with in a positive and constructive manner.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
28 Senior management members act as sponsors and champions that support and encourage high levels of project performance.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
29 Concerns on the part of senior management are minimized and dealt with by frequent and open communications.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
30 There is a high degree of trust among all of the stakeholders.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
31 Organizational goals are more important than team or individual goals.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
32 Stakeholders are prepared to take calculated risks.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
33 Changes in the environment are discussed between senior management and project teams before decisions are made.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
34 Senior management gets directly involved with the supervision of the project teams.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
35 The organizational environment encourages creativity and innovation.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
36 Management does not interfere with the decision-making process in project teams.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
37 The organization protects its project teams against external influences.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
38 The process for project management is clearly defined and communicated.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
39 Senior management encourages calculated risk-taking.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
40 Teamwork is important for project success.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
41 Using a formalized project methodology and tools is important for project success.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
42 The success of the organization and the success of the project teams are intertwined.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
43 The project management process supports tracking the accomplishment of deliverables.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
44 Meetings and communications requests increase significantly in times of project crisis.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
45 The organization conducts its business in an ethical manner.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
46 The progress of the projects is carefully and systematically monitored by management.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
47 Project corrective actions are taken proactively and in a positive manner.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
48 Senior management follows a decentralized approach in decision-making.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
49 The organization recognizes the importance of the interpersonal aspects of project leadership.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
50 The organization sets a climate and environment for leadership to flourish by clear policies, guidance, and direction as well as visible and vocal support for the leaders and the projects.
strongly disagree
disagree
neither disagree or agree
agree
strongly agree
Scoring
The scoring for this questionnaire is divided into six groups: Cultural, Teamwork and Interpersonal, Risk, Communications, Decision-making and Problem-solving, and Trust and Interdependence. The scores for these groupings will provide some initial insight into the organizational aspects of project leadership and are to be used as a guide to further analysis and evaluation.
Cultural
This grouping of questions relates to the cultural aspects of leadership or how well the organization supports leaders and the development of leadership skills.
Score questions 1, 7, 18, 23, 24, 26, 28, 35, 37, 41, 43, 46, and 50 on the scale below:
1 = strongly disagree 2 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 4 = agree 5 = strongly agree
Score questions 11, 12, 22, and 31 on the scale below:
5 = strongly disagree 4 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 2 = agree 1 = strongly agree
Add the individual scores for these questions and divide the total score for this group by 17.
Teamwork and Interpersonal
This grouping of questions relates to the aspects of leadership associated with teamwork and the interpersonal aspects of teams and projects.
Score questions 4, 6, 16, 17, 40, and 49 on the scale below:
1 = strongly disagree 2 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 4 = agree 5 = strongly agree
Score question 8 on the scale below:
5 = strongly disagree 4 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 2 = agree 1 = strongly agree
Add the individual scores for these questions and divide the total score for this group by 7.
Risk
This grouping of questions relates to risk and the organization’s willingness to address risk related to projects.
Score questions 19, 21, 32, and 39 on the scale below:
1 = strongly disagree 2 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 4 = agree 5 = strongly agree
Score question 5 on the scale below:
5 = strongly disagree 4 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 2 = agree 1 = strongly agree
Add the individual scores for these questions and divide the total score for this group by 5.
Communications
This grouping of questions relates to communications within organizations, with stakeholders, and between senior management and the project teams.
Score questions 13, 29, and 38 on the scale below:
1 = strongly disagree 2 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 4 = agree 5 = strongly agree
Score question 44 on the scale below:
5 = strongly disagree 4 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 2 = agree 1 = strongly agree
Add the individual scores for these questions and divide the total score for this group by 4.
Decision-making and Problem-solving
This grouping of questions relates to decision-making and problem-solving in the organizations and senior management’s willingness to allow leaders and teams to be involved in these processes.
Score questions 2, 9, 15, 33, 36, and 48 on the scale below:
1 = strongly disagree 2 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 4 = agree 5 = strongly agree
Score questions 3, 10, and 20 on the scale below:
5 = strongly disagree 4 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 2 = agree 1 = strongly agree
Add the individual scores for these questions and divide the total score for this group by 9.
Trust and Interdependence
This grouping of questions relates to trust and interdependence within project teams, within organizations, and between project teams and stakeholders.
Score questions 14, 25, 30, 42, 45, and 47 on the scale below:
1 = strongly disagree 2 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 4 = agree 5 = strongly agree
Score question 34 on the scale below:
5 = strongly disagree 4 = disagree 3 = neither disagree or agree 2 = agree 1 = strongly agree
Add the individual scores for these questions and divide the total score for this group by 7.
Interpretation
The following are average scores for the above groupings:
0.0–3.0 | The organization is not providing a cultural environment that is conducive to effective project leadership. |
3.1–3.9 |
The organization demonstrates some characteristics and attributes that are conducive to effective leadership, but has room for growth and improvement. |
4.0–5.0 |
The organization is providing a cultural atmosphere and professional environment that is encouraging and supportive for effective project leadership. |
© 2002, Warren A. Opfer. Used with permission.