Describe one of the project selection methods and provide some benefits or value of using this method for Project Portfolio Management (PPM).
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Key Project Selection Method for Project Portfolio Management
Introduction
Project Portfolio Management (PPM) is a strategic approach that helps organizations select and prioritize projects to align with their business objectives and maximize value. Among the various project selection methods available, cost-benefit analysis stands out as a fundamental tool for evaluating project feasibility and determining the potential return on investment. In this essay, we will explore the concept of cost-benefit analysis as a project selection method and discuss its benefits in the context of PPM.
Thesis Statement
Cost-benefit analysis is a critical project selection method in Project Portfolio Management, providing organizations with a systematic approach to assess project viability, prioritize investments, and optimize resource allocation for maximum value creation.
Understanding Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost-benefit analysis is a quantitative technique used to compare the costs and benefits of a project or investment decision to determine its economic feasibility and potential return. By estimating the expected costs and benefits associated with a project over its lifecycle, organizations can make informed decisions about whether to proceed with the project, prioritize it within the portfolio, or seek alternative opportunities.
Benefits of Cost-Benefit Analysis in PPM
1. Objective Decision-Making: Cost-benefit analysis provides a structured framework for evaluating projects based on quantifiable metrics, reducing subjective biases and ensuring objective decision-making. By weighing the costs against the projected benefits, organizations can make data-driven choices that align with their strategic objectives.
2. Resource Optimization: Cost-benefit analysis helps organizations optimize resource allocation by identifying projects that offer the highest return on investment relative to their costs. By prioritizing projects with positive net benefits, organizations can allocate resources efficiently and focus on initiatives that deliver the most value to the business.
3. Risk Management: Through cost-benefit analysis, organizations can assess the risks associated with each project and evaluate whether the potential benefits outweigh the anticipated costs. This risk-aware approach enables organizations to make informed decisions about risk mitigation strategies, project prioritization, and portfolio diversification to minimize exposure to uncertainties.
4. Performance Measurement: Cost-benefit analysis serves as a basis for measuring project performance against expected outcomes and identifying deviations from initial projections. By monitoring actual costs and benefits throughout the project lifecycle, organizations can make timely adjustments, reallocate resources, and optimize portfolio performance to achieve desired results.
Conclusion
Cost-benefit analysis is a valuable project selection method for Project Portfolio Management, offering organizations a systematic approach to assess project viability, prioritize investments, and optimize resource allocation for maximum value creation. By leveraging cost-benefit analysis in PPM practices, organizations can make informed decisions, mitigate risks, allocate resources effectively, and measure performance accurately to drive business success and achieve strategic goals in a competitive environment.
