Thursday, January 27, 2011
What is project Management?
Project Management is “the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements” (PMBOK® Guide, Fourth Edition, 2008, p. 6)
When starting a new project a project manager strive to meet specific scope, time cost and quality goals of the project. This is usually describing Tripe Constraint. (Figure 1-1) Project managers must also facilitate the whole process to meet the needs and expectations of the people involved in or affected by the project activities. An example of someone that could be affected and or involved in the project would the stakeholders.
Stakeholders included:
• The project sponsor
• The project manager
• The project team
• Support staff
• Customers
• Users
• Suppliers
• Opponents to the project
Project management knowledge areas describe the key competencies that project managers must develop. (PMBOK® Guide, Fourth Edition, 2008, p. 12) There are nine knowledge areas of a project but, there four that are consider as the core of knowledge areas. These core knowledge areas lead to specific project objectives They include:
• Project scope
• Time
• Cost
• Quality Management
Project Management Tools and Techniques assist project managers and their team carry out work in all nine knowledge areas. There are programs that have been developed specifically for managing a project start to finish. Some of the programs have the ability to develop:
• Project charter, scope statement, and WBS (scope)
• Gantt charts, network diagrams, critical path analysis, critical chain scheduling (time)
• Cost estimates and earned value management (cost)
At the end of a project the manager would need to determine the success of the project and there are several ways that it could be defined:
• The project met scope, time, and cost goals
• The project satisfied the customer/sponsor
• The results of the project met its main objective, such as making or saving a certain amount of money, providing a good return on investment, or simply making the sponsors happy
Depending on your company and project any one of these examples can be determined as a success.
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Real project management is not about touting your smarts, but managing risks, structuring the scope and designing a perfect plan to execute the projects in the most efficient way.
ReplyDeleteThanks by online project management system team.
DeleteTag: PM201A57. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it
1. Plan your day using time management techniques
As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.
If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.
Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager
2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations
While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.
Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.
Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.
3. Regularly communicate with your team
Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.
For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.
4. Anticipate project setbacks
Even the best-laid plans often go awry.
Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.
Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.
Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.
Related post: 92 free project management templates
5. Stay focused on the details
A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.
Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.
And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs
With online project management system, you’ll know precisely when each task or project will be completed without the need to waste your time updating due dates whenever there are changes to your project. This online project management system gives you the skill to manage your daily work schedule easily without losing superiority and accuracy.
ReplyDeleteWonderful article.But recently if you are looking for a new project management job or if you might have asked for a promotion with in your company then you might have heard about PMP credentials!!. It is true that Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is one of the most sought certifications by employers and employees alike.For its detail information about a PMP certifications you can go through Pmstudy website
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