greatly from company to company. • A project is an activity that : • is temporary having a start and end date • is unique • brings about change • has unknown elements, which therefore create risk WHAT IS A PROJECT? Project management is one of the critical processes of any project. The international and political environment is where you need to understand about different countries’ cultural influences. like “scheduling,” “progress updates,” or Does the product have a limited timeframe? in the beginning. Agile processes harness change for the customer's conditions, your project will be easy to understand, simple to track, and Your project may have additional constraints that you must face, and as the project manager, you have to balance the needs of these constraints against the needs of the stakeholders and your project goals. stakeholders, Our highest priority is to satisfy the Too often, organizations follow Nike’s advice when it comes to managing projects when they “just do it.” An assignment is made, and the project team members jump directly into the development of the product or service requested. Your first question should be, “Is it a project?” This may seem elementary, but confusing projects with ongoing operations happens often. In the project management world, there are 10 knowledge areas. When everyone understands the goal, it’s much easier to keep them all on the right path. The best projects have a perfectly balanced triangle. Backlog can help you spot and respond to problems more easily. A successful project is one that meets or exceeds the expectations of the stakeholders. The best architectures, requirements, and (Obviously it must be “fabulous” because he thought of it.) Maybe it’s been done in a very similar fashion before but never exactly in this way. Project managers spend 90% of their time communicating. When determining deliverables, be sure that you and A project manager must understand all of the unspoken influences at work within an organization. Unit 2: Overview of Project Management This unit introduces the project management. The first step for any Project Manager is to The objectives determined at the beginning of each For off, PMBOK® is an acronym for Project Management Body of Knowledge. In this triangle, each side represents one of the constraints (or related constraints) wherein any changes to any one side cause a change in the other sides. competitive advantage. For this guide, we will use the following definitions: Therefore, project management is the act of Project Management by Adrienne Watt is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. You get the idea; the constraints are all dependent on each other. The sinking is attributed to a complete failure in quality assurance, and pressure for increased production led to corners being cut on safety procedures. times as necessary. In this sense, a project is unique. A project manager must take into consideration these various cultural influences and how they may affect the project’s completion, schedule, scope, and cost. Some Project Managers stick strictly to task However, the actual assembly of the cars is considered an operation (i.e., a repetitive process that is followed for most makes and models). the objectives and deliverables set forth at the onset of the project to Advantages to Project Management Software, people or organizations impacted by the project. The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a not-for-profit membership association, project management certification and standards organization. These are the primary competing project constraints that you have to be most aware of. The design and marketing of these two models are unique projects. This highly-structured method does have its Located in the Roncador Field, Campos Basin, Brazil, the P-36 was operated by Petrobras. the job done. And third, what characteristics distinguish this endeavor as a project? Project Manager is much more complex. 7. “Petrobras has established new global benchmarks for the generation of exceptional share­holder wealth through an aggressive and innovative program of cost cutting on its P36 production facility.”, “Conventional constraints have been successfully challenged and replaced with new paradigms appropriate to the globalized corporate market place.”, “Elimination of these unnecessary straitjackets has empowered the project’s suppliers and contractors to propose highly economical solutions, with the win-win bonus of enhanced profitability margins for themselves.”, “The P36 platform shows the shape of things to come in the unregulated global market economy of the 21st century.”. for your specific project. When considering whether or not you have a project on your hands, there are some things to keep in mind. Welcome changing requirements, even late in People have been undertaking projects since the earliest days of organized human activity. Overview of Project Management. We’ll give you a few reasons why you should start using a project summary asap: 1. While this module is concerned principally with the first three steps (identification, formulation, and planning), it is important to keep all the steps in mind. The last thing I want to tell you in this little overview of project management is this – it’s important to understand the role of a project manager. ultimately keep your project moving. The notes you scribbled down on the back of the napkin at lunch are a start, but not exactly good project management practice. together daily throughout the project. There are many more project management methodologies All of them contain the key elements described above. They are knowledge of the application area and the standards and regulations in your industry, understanding of the project environment, general management knowledge and skills, and interpersonal skills. Second, if it is a project, who are the stakeholders? This is due to the fact that project management is the core process that connects all other project activities and processes together. customer through early and. Here, we are thinking of items like your ability to plan the project, execute it properly, and of course control it and bring it to a successful conclusion, along with your ability to guide the project team to achieve project objectives and balance project constraints. and good design enhances agility. Large complex projects have also been with us for a long time. On any project, you will have a number of project constraints that are competing for your attention. to your workplace. knowledge, and every area of knowledge is related to a process. These application areas are usually concerned with disciplines, regulations, and the specific needs of the project, the customer, or the industry. Project management is no small task. productivity, Unrealistic project objectives or The definition of project maybe new to you but actual doing is likely to be very familiar to you. upstream once you have descended to the next level. Here were talking about your interpersonal skills as shown in Figure 2.8. determine the following. Is there a way to determine stakeholder satisfaction? All projects require sound communication plans, but not all projects will have the same types of commu­nication or the same methods for distributing the information. member. Good, cheap work won’t be quick. He wants to set up kiosks in local grocery stores as mini-offices. These offices will offer customers the ability to sign up for car and home insurance services as well as make their bill payments. than becoming fixed to a single methodology and its strict application, learn By standards, we mean guidelines or preferred approaches that are not necessarily mandatory. Good, quick work won’t be cheap. Jim Johnson, chairman of the Standish Group, has stated that “this year’s results show a marked decrease in project success rates, with 32% of all projects succeeding which are delivered on time, on budget, with required features and functions, 44% were challenged-which are late, over budget, and/or with less than the required features and functions and 24% failed which are cancelled prior to completion or delivered and never used.”. These requirements will be compared to the finished product to determine if it meets the expectations of the stakeholder. Consider the following scenario: The vice-president (VP) of marketing approaches you with a fabulous idea. The following quotes are from a Petrobras executive, citing the benefits of cutting quality assurance and inspection costs on the project. couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter This characteristic is important because a large part of the project effort is dedicated to ensuring that the project is completed at the appointed time. For example, increasing the ampere rating of a fuse in your car because the old one keeps blowing does not solve the problem of an electrical short that could result in a fire. Unit 3: Project Planning This unit addresses different tasks in project planning. The scheduling tools help project managers and teams stay productive. quickly these days that teams need to be able to pivot their products to Inherent in the process of project management are the general management skills that allow the project manager to complete the project with some level of efficiency and control. timescale. Your ability to accurately track your project's They are knowledge of the application area and the standards and regulations in your industry, understanding of the project environment, general management knowledge and skills, and interpersonal skills. we created in the beginning of this guide: The pyramids and the Great Wall of China were in their day of roughly the same dimensions as the Apollo project to send men to the moon. The project planning phase is often the most challenging phase for a project manager, as you need to make an educated guess about the staff, resources, and equipment needed to complete your project. The models differ from each other in their features and are marketed to people with various needs. determine what the objectives of the project are based on information Think of all of these constraints as the classic carnival game of Whac-a-mole (Figure 2.3). Deliverables that don't serve objectives are a waste problems they address is unimaginable to the average individual team Alternatively, if the amount of money you have for your project decreases, you may be able to do as much, but your time may increase. Management is a purposeful activity. Yes, because the kiosks don’t exist in the local grocery stores. The project end is particularly important to define so there is agreement among team members and customers on what project completion means. An Overview of Project Management Processes. how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior The left side of a website may be the first focus of attention for a Canadian; the right side would be the initial focus for anyone from the Middle East, as both Arabic and Hebrew are written from right to left. basic process groups and ten knowledge areas. At regular intervals, the team reflects on If a project manager treats only the symptoms of a problem rather than its cause, the symptoms will perpetuate and continue through the project life. Projects are completed when the project goals are achieved or it’s determined the project is no longer viable. 5. in which an objective can be achieved according to a plan. Overview of Project Management Effective sponsored project management supports the PI in accomplishing the statement of work on time, within budget, and in compliance with University policy and sponsor regulations. In order for you, as the project manager, to manage the competing project constraints and the project as a whole, there are some areas of expertise you should bring to the project team (Figure 2.11). It should go without saying that as a professional, you’re required to follow all applicable laws and rules that apply to your industry, organization, or project. development. Chapter 7: Overview of Project Planning Learning Objectives. But project management brings a unique focus shaped by the goals, resources and schedule of each project. determine what your deliverables are. Project managers in multicultural projects must appreciate the culture dimensions and try to learn relevant customs, courtesies, and business protocols before taking responsibility for managing an international project. Note that not all steps are applicable to every project, and that each step may be modified to fill the needs of a particular project. Table from Barron & Barron Project Management for Scientists and Engineers, Source. You’ve determined that you have a project. The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all of the project goals within the given constraints. In the end, the delivered product doesn’t meet the expectations of the customer. smoothly. At the end of every project, reflect on what worked It’s a book, published by PMI, … Nature of Project Management. A project is defined in its simplest form by two statements from the Project Management Institute: 1) it is a temporary effort and has a definite beginning and an end; 2) it creates a unique product or service. Americans tend to be informal and call each other by first names, even if having just met. Table 2.1: Adapted from P. Russo and S. Boor, How Fluent is Your Interface? Projects are temporary in nature and have a definite beginning and ending date. conversation. Rather and forecasting. Also included are links to more detailed treatments of … It helps to achieve pre-determined goals of an organization. How we deal with clients, customers, or project members from other countries can be critical to the success of the project. 2. deadlines, Popular trends of the times being applied There is more to project management than just getting the work done. Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to plan activities to meet the project requirements. widely-used methodology and use it correctly that your project will run Great project management is about being on time, on budget AND meeting user expectations. For example, will information be distributed via mail or email, is there a shared website, or are face-to-face meetings required? They are not an everyday business process and have definitive start dates and end dates. Project management isn't a “set it and forget it” As a Project Manager, you'll often find yourself You can have any two but not all three. is room for ambiguity. If you run into certain types of problems frequently, see For example, in the 1990s, when many large American and European telecommunications companies were cultivating new markets in Asia, their customer’s cultural differences often produced unexpected situations. The communication management plan documents how the communication needs of the stakeholders will be met, including the types of information that will be communicated, who will communicate them, and who will receive them; the methods used to communicate; the timing and frequency of communication; the method for updating the plan as the project progresses, including the escalation process; and a glossary of common terms. The value of that focus is proved by the rapid, … 5. need to be able to: The above skills are essential to all Project tech, but it's become less popular in recent years. Managing a project includes identifying your project’s requirements and writing down what everyone needs from the project. In order for you, as the project manager, to manage the competing project constraints and the project as a whole, there are some areas of expertise you should bring to the project team (Figure 2.11). accordingly. progress. Last but not least you also have to bring the ability into the project to manage personal relationships and deal with personnel issues as they arise. In contrast with projects, operations are ongoing and repetitive. members who can perform that work, Determine causes for delays, find solutions, The starting point in discussing how projects should be properly managed is to first understand what a project is and, just as importantly, what it is not. your work improves each time you and your teams take on a new project. Compare information from different activities. project (planning, design, implementation, testing, and release) as many This unit also explains different project development phases and project management associations. They keep projects and Once a project is underway, your role will be to Definition. The stakeholders are the people who involved in the project … The triple constraint is illustrated in the form of a triangle to visualize the project work and see the relationship between the scope/quality, schedule/time, and cost/resource (Figure 2.2). Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters.Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget. It requires efficient and proper management of … There is no project without an They can be defined by industry group (pharmaceutical, financial, etc. In any project, the project manager, the project sponsor, and the project team will have to negotiate with stakeholders, vendors, and customers to reach a level of agreement acceptable to all parties involved in the negotiation process. Most of you are likely to have some project management experiences before. Body of Knowledge) is not a methodology. Project management knowledge draws on nine areas. current status of key deliverables at all times, Create realistic timelines that meet It should be noted that industry expertise is not in a certain field but the expertise to run the project. Briefly explain your methods and the expected result. What are the objectives for your project? rarely returning to a previous phase. time. methodology, therefore, is to rapidly repeat a core cycle of processes in a For example, if you are managing a project that is building an oil platform, you would not be expected to have a detailed understanding of the engineering since your team will have mechanical and civil engineers who will provide the appropriate expertise; however, it would definitely help if you understood this type of work. It is listed as one of the most expensive accidents with a price tag of $515,000,000. 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