Management control of uncertainty - A case study of product portfolio management across industries
(2019) BUSN79 20191Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- Title: Management control of uncertainty - A case study of product portfolio management across industries
Seminar date: 2019-06-05
Course: BUSN79 Business Administration: Degree Project in Accounting and Finance, 15 ECTS
Authors: Linn Lind, Vincent Warrings
Advisor: Anders Anell
Key words: Product portfolio management, uncertainty, management control, levers of control, ambidexterity, innovation
Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to research by applying a management control framework to the context of portfolio management. The thesis aims to contribute to contingency theory by studying how portfolio management differs between companies that are facing different types and degrees of uncertainty. An... (More) - Title: Management control of uncertainty - A case study of product portfolio management across industries
Seminar date: 2019-06-05
Course: BUSN79 Business Administration: Degree Project in Accounting and Finance, 15 ECTS
Authors: Linn Lind, Vincent Warrings
Advisor: Anders Anell
Key words: Product portfolio management, uncertainty, management control, levers of control, ambidexterity, innovation
Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to research by applying a management control framework to the context of portfolio management. The thesis aims to contribute to contingency theory by studying how portfolio management differs between companies that are facing different types and degrees of uncertainty. An additional aim is to observe how portfolio management is used to facilitate innovation.
Methodology: A multiple-case study has been conducted, based on semi-structured interviews with key informants in portfolio management. The data collection covered eight companies operating in four industries. Collected data has been thematically analyzed to derive meaning behind the use of management control.
Theoretical perspectives: The thesis analyses how Simons’ (1994) levers of control are utilized in portfolio management. Diagnostic controls, boundary systems, interactive control systems as well as belief systems are specified in the field of portfolio management by relying on Simons’ original definitions and complementing the framework with research from the area of portfolio management, such as stage-gate theory.
Empirical foundation: It is described and analyzed how companies in the study are using the stage-gate process in portfolio management and which type and level of uncertainty that is faced. It is also explained how the four levers are applied in the portfolio management.
Conclusions: Simons’ levers of control are applicable to describe management control in portfolio management. It is found that organizations facing technology-related uncertainty use of interactive controls to a higher extent, whereas companies facing market-related and project scope-related uncertainty rather rely on boundary systems and diagnostic controls. Companies facilitate innovation in the form of exploration by turning diagnostic and boundaries interactive. Innovation in the form of exploitation is enhanced by using diagnostic controls and strict boundaries. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8988838
- author
- Lind, Linn LU and Warrings, Vincent LU
- supervisor
-
- Anders Anell LU
- organization
- course
- BUSN79 20191
- year
- 2019
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 8988838
- date added to LUP
- 2019-09-30 14:15:06
- date last changed
- 2019-09-30 14:15:06
@misc{8988838,
abstract = {{Title: Management control of uncertainty - A case study of product portfolio management across industries
Seminar date: 2019-06-05
Course: BUSN79 Business Administration: Degree Project in Accounting and Finance, 15 ECTS
Authors: Linn Lind, Vincent Warrings
Advisor: Anders Anell
Key words: Product portfolio management, uncertainty, management control, levers of control, ambidexterity, innovation
Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to research by applying a management control framework to the context of portfolio management. The thesis aims to contribute to contingency theory by studying how portfolio management differs between companies that are facing different types and degrees of uncertainty. An additional aim is to observe how portfolio management is used to facilitate innovation.
Methodology: A multiple-case study has been conducted, based on semi-structured interviews with key informants in portfolio management. The data collection covered eight companies operating in four industries. Collected data has been thematically analyzed to derive meaning behind the use of management control.
Theoretical perspectives: The thesis analyses how Simons’ (1994) levers of control are utilized in portfolio management. Diagnostic controls, boundary systems, interactive control systems as well as belief systems are specified in the field of portfolio management by relying on Simons’ original definitions and complementing the framework with research from the area of portfolio management, such as stage-gate theory.
Empirical foundation: It is described and analyzed how companies in the study are using the stage-gate process in portfolio management and which type and level of uncertainty that is faced. It is also explained how the four levers are applied in the portfolio management.
Conclusions: Simons’ levers of control are applicable to describe management control in portfolio management. It is found that organizations facing technology-related uncertainty use of interactive controls to a higher extent, whereas companies facing market-related and project scope-related uncertainty rather rely on boundary systems and diagnostic controls. Companies facilitate innovation in the form of exploration by turning diagnostic and boundaries interactive. Innovation in the form of exploitation is enhanced by using diagnostic controls and strict boundaries.}},
author = {{Lind, Linn and Warrings, Vincent}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Management control of uncertainty - A case study of product portfolio management across industries}},
year = {{2019}},
}