Foundations for Software Project Management in Classic and Agile Environments

2.2.1 Purpose and Goals of Organizational Structure

Ideally, the responsibilities and their relationships within the project are offi- cially defined as part of the organizational set-up of the project. Basically, we are talking about defining an organizational chart, sometimes referred to as organ- igram. The organigram displays the responsibility and rights of the individuals and organizational entities that are involved in the project, as well as their relationships. The specific structural organization of a project should not be confused with the structural organization of a company or institution, which we call “parent organiza- tion” to keep it simple. (Another synonym for “parent organization” is called “line organization”). Usually, new projects require the definition of a suitable structural organization that integrates into the existing parent organization of that company or institution. After all, each project is a unique endeavor, with a defined span of time, which does not necessarily fit into the “normal” structures and processes of
a company.
An individually designed structural project organization enables us to perform projects effectively and in an efficient way, especially in the case of medium and large-scale projects. It enables us to reach three essential goals: ....