Validating the core problem of project portfolio management in a multi-project environment

Abstract

The project portfolio management process is characterised by a series of stages and gates where a project needs to pass the set criteria at that given point in order to continue to the next phase of the process. In this paper it is postulated that project portfolio management, in a multi-project environment, suffers from a core problem referred to as the release-problem. The release-problem serves as the catalyst that causes seven undesirable effects to occur within the project portfolio management environment. These undesirable effects lead to delays that hamper the rate of work the system is able to complete, complicates managerial decision-making and jeopardises the four desired outcomes of project portfolio management.