Critical Chain Project Management Case Study in a Multi-Project Environment

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the customer delivery project management in Catalyst Systems, Wärtsilä Finland Oy. The purpose of the thesis research is to discover whether the Critical Chain Project Management method should be implemented in the Catalyst Systems delivery projects. The thesis research is a case study with a deductive research approach.

The literature review consisted of three sections. Firstly, the framework and operating environment of the Catalyst Systems customer delivery projects, and the basic terminology of CCPM were clarified. In the second section the unwanted effects commonly occurring in project management were reviewed. Lastly, the CCPM implementation critical success factors relevant in the Catalyst Systems project environment were studied.

The research data was gathered via personal semi-structured interviews. The data grouping, analysis, ranking, and interpretation methods commonly used in Wärtsilä were leveraged. The literature review and the interview data analysis combined provided the answers to the research questions. The research revealed that Wärtsilä Catalysts Systems delivery project management would likely benefit from implementing Critical Chain Project Management, and the implementation was thus strongly recommended.