Project

What is a Project? Definitions put a clear emphasis on the projects being a planned activity. Another key aspect of a project is that the undertaking is non-routine: a job which is repeated a number of times is not a project. Defi: A Project is a sequence of unique, complex, and connected activities having one goal or purpose and must be completed within time, budget and as per specs

Project
A project is a sequence of tasks with a beginning and an end that is bound by time, resources, and desired results
A project has A specific desired outcome A deadline or target date And a budget

PMI
A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or services

Project Characteristics
Key characteristics that distinguish projects: Non-routine tasks are involved; Planning is required; Specific objectives to be met or a specified product be created; has a predetermined time span (absolute or relative); Work is carried out for someone other than yourself; Work involves several specialisms; Work is carried out in several phases; Resources availability are constrained; The project is large or complex. involves uncertainty.
scope goal

Triple Constraint: Every project is constrained in

different ways by its scope, time goals, and cost goals Scope: What is to be accomplished? What unique product or service expected Time: How long should it take to complete and what is schedule? Cost: What should it cost
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Precisely:
A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.

Projects are Temporary

Temporary means that every project has a definite beginning and a definite end. Temporary does not necessarily mean short in duration: many projects last for several years The duration of a project is finite: projects are not ongoing efforts. The end is reached: When the projects objectives have been achieved, or When it becomes clear that the project objectives will not or cannot be met and the project is terminated.

The Product and activities of a Project are Unique

Unique means that the product or service is different in some distinguishing way from all similar products or services. A product or service may be unique even if the category it belongs to is large: many thousands of office buildings have been developed, but each individual facility is unique different owner, different design, different location, different contractors, and so on. Project never happened before and will not happen again under same conditions. Because of the unique nature, the characteristics that distinguish the product or service must be progressively elaborated. Progressively means proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments Elaborated means worked out with care and detail developed thoroughly

Projects and Operations

(1) Distinguish between projects and operations operations are ongoing and repetitive projects are temporary and unique (2) Projects are usually performed by teams clearly defined team and individual roles open and effective communications visible rewards for good performance, pressure to improve poor performance

Operations and Project

Operations and projects share many characteristics: Performed by people. Constrained by limited resources. Planned, executed, and controlled. Operations may include activities such as: Financial management and control Continuous manufacturing Product distribution Projects may include activities such as: Developing a new product or service. Effecting a change in structure, staffing, or style of an organization. Developing or acquiring a new or modified information system.
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Six features shared by all projects

1. A project has a defined beginning and end; typically involves a definable sequence of steps or activities Project use resources that have been specifically allocated to the work of the project Resources are the time, people, money, equipment, and facilities used to complete a project Every project produces a unique outcome. Projects (hopefully) follow a planned, organized approach to meet their objectives A project usually involves a team of people to get it done Projects always have a unique set of stakeholders. Stakeholders almost always bring different expectations about end results to the project.

2.

3. 4. 5. 6.

What is Project Management?

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet or exceed stakeholder needs and expectations from a project Meeting stakeholder needs and expectations involves balancing competing demands among: Scope, time, cost, and quality. Stakeholders with differing needs and expectations. Identified requirements (needs) and unidentified requirements (expectations). Project Management Knowledge and Practice General Management Knowledge and Practice Application Area Knowledge and Practice
PM Knowledge and Practice

General Manag Knowledge and Practice

Appln Area Knowledge and Practice

Outcomes of Project Management

As a result of successful implementation of the process: the scope of the work for the project will be defined; the feasibility of achieving the goals of the project with available resources and constraints will be evaluated; the tasks and resources necessary to complete the work will be sized and estimated; interfaces between elements in the project, and with other projects and organizational units, will be identified and monitored; plans for execution of the project will be developed and implemented; progress of the project will be monitored and reported; actions to correct deviations from the plan and to prevent recurrence of problems identified in the project, will be taken when project targets are not achieved
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Management
The group of individuals who make decisions about how a business is run. A stream of decisions and actions to achieve goal(s) efficiently and effectively. Management is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together in groups, efficiently [and effectively] accomplish selected aims.

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Management
Management process in general
the real world

process of setting objectives for a system and monitoring the system to see what its true performance is.

data collection
data

actions

define objectives

data processing
information

making decisions/plans Modeling decisions implementation

Project control cycle

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Five Functions
Planning Organizing Staffing Leading Controlling
Involves selecting missions and objectives and the actions to achieve them Requires decisions making i.e, choosing future courses of action from alternatives

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Five Functions

Planning Organizing Staffing Leading Controlling

People working together in groups to achieve some goal; must have roles to play Organizing involves establishing an intentional structure of roles for people to fill in an organization. intentional in the sense of making sure that all the tasks necessary to accomplish goals are assigned.

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Five Functions

Planning Organizing Staffing Leading Controlling

Involves filling, and keeping filled the positions in the organization structure. This is done by identifying work-force requirements, inventorying the people available; and Recruiting, selecting, placing, promoting, appraising, planning the careers of, compensating, and training or otherwise developing both candidates and current jobholders so that tasks are accomplished effectively and efficiently

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Five Functions
Planning Organizing Staffing Leading Controlling
Influencing people so that they will contribute to organization and group goals Predominantly with the interpersonal aspect of managing. Deals with problems arising from peoples desires and attitudes. Their behavior as individuals and in groups Involves motivation/leadership styles and approaches, and communication

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Five Functions
Planning Organizing Staffing Leading Controlling
Measuring and correcting individual and organizational performance to ensure that events conform to plans Involves measuring performance against goals and plans, showing where deviations from standard exist, and helping to correct them

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What is management?

Management involves the following activities:

Planning deciding what is to be done; organizing making arrangements; staffing selecting the right people for the job, for example; directing giving instructions; monitoring checking on progress; controlling taking action to remedy hold-ups; innovating coming up with new solutions; representing liaising with users etc.

Looking at the management through the challenges faced by the managers.

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10)
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coping with deadlines (85%); coping with resource constraints (83%); communicating effectively among task groups (80%); gaining commitment from team members (74%); establishing measurable milestones (70%); coping with changes (60%); working out project plan agreement with their team (57%); gaining commitment from management (45%); dealing with conflict (42%); managing vendors and sub-contractors (38%)