PASSMATE TUTORIALS
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL GUIDE FROM UNISA. THE FRAMEWORK IS
NOT PREPARED NOR APPROVED BY UNISA, RATHER REPRESENTS A POSSIBLE
SOLUTION TO THE TASK CONSISTENT WITH THEORY. THIS ASSIGNMENT IS
INTENDED TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN GETTING STARTED WITH THEIR ASSIGNMENT,
AND IN NO CASE THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD BE USED FOR CHEATING. WE BELIEVE
THIS WILL BE A GOOD STARTING POINT AS IT WAS PREPARED BY OUR TEAM OF
PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE TUTORS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, AND IT WAS
PREPARED USING VARIOUS SOURCES. ANY SIMILARITY WITH ANY EXISTING
THEORY OR DISCUSSION BY OTHER AUTHORS IS EXCUSED. THE AUTHORS
HOWEVER DO NOT CLAIM MONOPOLY TO KNOWLEDGE HENCE MODIFICATION OF
THE ANSWERS CONTAINED IN THIS FRAMEWORK MAY NOT BE PROHIBITED AS IT
CONTRIBUTES TO EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE. FOR ANY FURTHER GUIDELINE
ABOUT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE AND THE MODULE IN GENERAL,
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS.
WE ASSIST WITH OTHER MODULES INCLUDING:
ECSs, FACs, MACs, MNGs, INTs, TRLs, HMEMS, PRMs, PROs, MNBs, DSC, QMI, MNMs,
MNO, MNPs, FIN, PUBs, MNMs, RESEARCH among others.
WE OFFER CLASSES, ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES, EXAMINATION PREPARATION,
RESEARCH AND RESEARCH PROPOSALS, DISSERTATION EDITING etc.
OTHER THAN UNISA, WE ALSO ASSIST STUDENTS AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS
INCLUDING MANCOSA, REGENT, REGEYNESES, BOSTON, STADIO, OLG, UJ, UP etc
For any enquiries the following numbers can be used for calling, SMS, WhatsApp and
telegram
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
, PASSMATE TUTORIALS
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 3
2. DEFINING THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK .................................................... 3
2.1 The Essence of Project Management as a Tactical and Operational Discipline
....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.2 The Evolution Towards Management by Projects as a Strategic Organisational
Philosophy...................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
3. DESCRIPTIVE COMPARISON: PROJECT MANAGEMENT VS. MANAGEMENT
BY PROJECTS .......................................................................................................... 7
3.1 Scope of Application: Project-Wide versus Institution-Wide ................................. 8
3.2 Tactical Application versus Strategic Orientation ................................................. 9
3.3 Resource Management Philosophies ................................................................... 9
3.4 Communication and Support Structures............................................................. 10
4. PRACTICAL APPLICATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ...................................... 11
4.1 Example 1: Infrastructure Development as an Application of Project Management
................................................................................................................................. 11
4.2 Example 2: Provincial Governance Reform as an Application of Management by
Projects .................................................................................................................... 12
5. THE ROLE OF THE PROJECT SUPPORT OFFICE (PSO) IN FACILITATING
MANAGEMENT BY PROJECTS .............................................................................. 12
6. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 13
References ............................................................................................................... 14
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
, PASSMATE TUTORIALS
1. INTRODUCTION
The contemporary public sector operates within an increasingly complex and dynamic
environment characterised by rapid technological change, growing citizen
expectations, fiscal constraints, and increasing demands for accountability and
effective service delivery. In South Africa, these challenges require public institutions
to adopt strategic management approaches that enhance organisational performance
and support the achievement of national developmental priorities (Bryson, Crosby &
Bloomberg, 2024; Van der Waldt & Venter, 2023). Strategic planning provides a
framework through which public institutions can align their activities with broader
governmental objectives. However, the successful implementation of strategic plans
depends on the ability of institutions to translate policy intentions into practical
outcomes. Project-based approaches have therefore become important mechanisms
for implementing change, improving service delivery, and achieving organisational
goals (Kerzner, 2022). Within this context, a distinction must be made between project
management and management by projects. While project management focuses on
the planning and execution of individual projects, management by projects represents
a broader organisational philosophy in which projects serve as the primary means of
achieving strategic objectives and institutional transformation (Van der Waldt & Knipe,
2021). Although the two concepts are closely related, they differ significantly in terms
of scope, strategic orientation, resource management, and organisational application.
This essay provides a detailed descriptive comparison between project management
and management by projects within the public sector. The discussion defines the
conceptual foundations of both approaches, analyses their key differences, and
illustrates their practical application through relevant public sector examples. The role
of the Project Support Office in facilitating effective project-based governance is also
examined.
2. DEFINING THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 The Essence of Project Management as a Tactical and Operational Discipline
Project management refers to the systematic application of specialised knowledge,
skills, methods, tools, and techniques to plan, execute, monitor, and control activities
aimed at achieving specific objectives within predetermined constraints of scope, time,
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL GUIDE FROM UNISA. THE FRAMEWORK IS
NOT PREPARED NOR APPROVED BY UNISA, RATHER REPRESENTS A POSSIBLE
SOLUTION TO THE TASK CONSISTENT WITH THEORY. THIS ASSIGNMENT IS
INTENDED TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN GETTING STARTED WITH THEIR ASSIGNMENT,
AND IN NO CASE THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD BE USED FOR CHEATING. WE BELIEVE
THIS WILL BE A GOOD STARTING POINT AS IT WAS PREPARED BY OUR TEAM OF
PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE TUTORS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, AND IT WAS
PREPARED USING VARIOUS SOURCES. ANY SIMILARITY WITH ANY EXISTING
THEORY OR DISCUSSION BY OTHER AUTHORS IS EXCUSED. THE AUTHORS
HOWEVER DO NOT CLAIM MONOPOLY TO KNOWLEDGE HENCE MODIFICATION OF
THE ANSWERS CONTAINED IN THIS FRAMEWORK MAY NOT BE PROHIBITED AS IT
CONTRIBUTES TO EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE. FOR ANY FURTHER GUIDELINE
ABOUT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE AND THE MODULE IN GENERAL,
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS.
WE ASSIST WITH OTHER MODULES INCLUDING:
ECSs, FACs, MACs, MNGs, INTs, TRLs, HMEMS, PRMs, PROs, MNBs, DSC, QMI, MNMs,
MNO, MNPs, FIN, PUBs, MNMs, RESEARCH among others.
WE OFFER CLASSES, ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES, EXAMINATION PREPARATION,
RESEARCH AND RESEARCH PROPOSALS, DISSERTATION EDITING etc.
OTHER THAN UNISA, WE ALSO ASSIST STUDENTS AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS
INCLUDING MANCOSA, REGENT, REGEYNESES, BOSTON, STADIO, OLG, UJ, UP etc
For any enquiries the following numbers can be used for calling, SMS, WhatsApp and
telegram
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
, PASSMATE TUTORIALS
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 3
2. DEFINING THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK .................................................... 3
2.1 The Essence of Project Management as a Tactical and Operational Discipline
....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.2 The Evolution Towards Management by Projects as a Strategic Organisational
Philosophy...................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
3. DESCRIPTIVE COMPARISON: PROJECT MANAGEMENT VS. MANAGEMENT
BY PROJECTS .......................................................................................................... 7
3.1 Scope of Application: Project-Wide versus Institution-Wide ................................. 8
3.2 Tactical Application versus Strategic Orientation ................................................. 9
3.3 Resource Management Philosophies ................................................................... 9
3.4 Communication and Support Structures............................................................. 10
4. PRACTICAL APPLICATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ...................................... 11
4.1 Example 1: Infrastructure Development as an Application of Project Management
................................................................................................................................. 11
4.2 Example 2: Provincial Governance Reform as an Application of Management by
Projects .................................................................................................................... 12
5. THE ROLE OF THE PROJECT SUPPORT OFFICE (PSO) IN FACILITATING
MANAGEMENT BY PROJECTS .............................................................................. 12
6. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 13
References ............................................................................................................... 14
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
, PASSMATE TUTORIALS
1. INTRODUCTION
The contemporary public sector operates within an increasingly complex and dynamic
environment characterised by rapid technological change, growing citizen
expectations, fiscal constraints, and increasing demands for accountability and
effective service delivery. In South Africa, these challenges require public institutions
to adopt strategic management approaches that enhance organisational performance
and support the achievement of national developmental priorities (Bryson, Crosby &
Bloomberg, 2024; Van der Waldt & Venter, 2023). Strategic planning provides a
framework through which public institutions can align their activities with broader
governmental objectives. However, the successful implementation of strategic plans
depends on the ability of institutions to translate policy intentions into practical
outcomes. Project-based approaches have therefore become important mechanisms
for implementing change, improving service delivery, and achieving organisational
goals (Kerzner, 2022). Within this context, a distinction must be made between project
management and management by projects. While project management focuses on
the planning and execution of individual projects, management by projects represents
a broader organisational philosophy in which projects serve as the primary means of
achieving strategic objectives and institutional transformation (Van der Waldt & Knipe,
2021). Although the two concepts are closely related, they differ significantly in terms
of scope, strategic orientation, resource management, and organisational application.
This essay provides a detailed descriptive comparison between project management
and management by projects within the public sector. The discussion defines the
conceptual foundations of both approaches, analyses their key differences, and
illustrates their practical application through relevant public sector examples. The role
of the Project Support Office in facilitating effective project-based governance is also
examined.
2. DEFINING THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 The Essence of Project Management as a Tactical and Operational Discipline
Project management refers to the systematic application of specialised knowledge,
skills, methods, tools, and techniques to plan, execute, monitor, and control activities
aimed at achieving specific objectives within predetermined constraints of scope, time,
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
