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:

Score questions 11, 12, 22, and 31 on the scale below:

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:

Score question 8 on the scale below:

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:

Score question 5 on the scale below:

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:

Score question 44 on the scale below:

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:

Score questions 3, 10, and 20 on the scale below:

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:

Score question 34 on the scale below:

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: