PA Consulting Group

About: PA Consulting Group is a company organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Project management & Project management triangle. The organization has 239 authors who have published 224 publications receiving 5106 citations.

Power supply systems for electrical devices

Abstract: An electrically powered portable device, the device being other than a toothbrush, the device including means for providing a function to be performed by the device, an electrical power supply which incorporates at least one capacitor for storing electrical charge to power the device, electronic control circuitry to control electrical power drawn from the electrical power supply for driving the function providing means, and a recharge interface for recharging the electrical power supply, the recharge interface being arranged to be electrically connectable to a charging device.

Many-Objective optimization: an engineering design perspective

Abstract: Evolutionary multicriteria optimization has traditionally concentrated on problems comprising 2 or 3 objectives. While engineering design problems can often be conveniently formulated as multiobjective optimization problems, these often comprise a relatively large number of objectives. Such problems pose new challenges for algorithm design, visualisation and implementation. Each of these three topics is addressed. Progressive articulation of design preferences is demonstrated to assist in reducing the region of interest for the search and, thereby, simplified the problem. Parallel coordinates have proved a useful tool for visualising many objectives in a two-dimensional graph and the computational grid and wireless Personal Digital Assistants offer technological solutions to implementation difficulties arising in complex system design.

Strategic management of complex projects: a case study using system dynamics

Abstract: System dynamics models have been used extensively over the last 20 years on complex development projects and have proven their value in contributing to significantly improved project performance. System dynamics models facilitate the strategic management of projects, including planning the project (setting the initial schedule and budget, the organization structure, process model, etc.), determining measurement and reward systems, evaluating risks, and learning from past projects. The use of system dynamics for strategic project management is illustrated with a case study of the Peace Shield Air Defense System. On this project, the model was used to support the project bid, to identify and manage risks, and to assess the benefit of several process and organization changes which were implemented on the project. Upon completion, the project results were systematically compared to an earlier project to assess the management lessons—what worked and what did not, and what was the benefit. These lessons were systematized in a management learning system. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Putting Core Competency Thinking into Practice

Abstract: OVERVIEW:Core competency thinking is a powerful and widely promoted approach to focus and mobilize an organization's resources. As a result, RD unfortunately, they often fail to come up with convincing answers. This is not surprising, as the best methods of employing the thinking in organizations have not been elucidated. What is needed is a method and tools for carrying out a core competency assessment. The method described here is applicable to almost all core competencies, whether they are technical or non-technical in nature and whether they are currently available to the company or will need to be developed in the future. It will allow many organizations to put core competency thinking into practice—to great competitive advantage—without unnecessary struggle and disruption to business activities.