MULTI-CRITERIA PROJECT PRIORITIZATION IN A PROFESSIONAL MASTER'S PROGRAM

Abstract

Results of assessments bring changes to the organizational behavior and management of Higher Learning Institutions (HLI) and may or may not alter their institutional structure. Assessments have enabled HLI to rethink and redesign processes. As a result, institutions are becoming increasingly similar to each other, which is a phenomenon called coercive isomorphism. To propose a distinctive and positive element in the decision-making process, this study examined empirically how the AHP method (Analytic Hierarchic Process) can contribute to project prioritization in the Professional Master's Program in Business – Project Management of the University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). This research was developed based on a case study from a theoretical-conceptual structure. This structure comprised the basis to develop and implement a structured questionnaire to build the multi-criteria hierarchical structure of the AHP method and obtain project prioritization and requirements of the assessment system developed by CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, a government agency linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Education in charge of promoting high standards for post-graduate courses in Brazil). The results suggest that this approach can assist the coordinating committee of the Professional Master's Program of UNINOVE to prioritize projects and contribute to its performance improvement in the CAPES assessment system.