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PROJECT MANAGEMENTHM-401

Lec # 1

Introduction to Project ManagementIntroduction to Project Management

INTRODUCTION

PROJECT

A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service, involving

research or design that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.

A project can be considered to be any series of activities and tasks that

� Have a specific objective to be completed within certain specifications

� Have defined start and end dates

� Have funding limits (if applicable)

� Consume human and nonhuman resources (i.e., money, people, equipment)

� Are multifunctional (i.e., cut across several functional lines)

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INTRODUCTION Cont…

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

� The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project

objectives, to meet stakeholder needs and expectations.

� A method for organizing tasks.

� A structured framework to help a group work productively

� Tools to aid in task sequencing, dependency analysis, resource allocation,

scheduling, etc.

� Tools to track progress relative to plan.

On the other hand, involves project planning and monitoring and include items

like

Project planning• Definition of work requirements

• Definition of quantity and quality of work

• Definition of resources needed

Project monitoring

• Tracking progress

• Comparing actual outcome to predicted outcome• Analyzing impact

• Making adjustments

It is needed because…….

Multiple people

Multiple resources (labs, equipment, etc.)

Multiple tasks – some must precede others

Multiple decision points – approvals

Phased expenditure of funds

Matching of people/resources to tasks

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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Project management

Why Projects Fail

� Failure to align project with organizational objectives

� Poor scope

� Unrealistic expectations

� Lack of executive sponsorship

� Lack of project management

� Inability to move beyond individual and personality conflicts

Politics

Project management

Why Projects Succeed

� Project Sponsorship at executive level

� Good project charter

� Strong project management

� The right mix of team players

� Good decision making structure

� Good communication

� Team members are working toward common goals

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Laws of Project management

Projects progress quickly until they are 90% complete. Then they

remain at 90% complete forever.

When things are going well, something will go wrong. When things

just can’t get worse, they will. When things appear to be going

better, you have overlooked something.

If project content is allowed to change freely, the rate of change will

exceed the rate of progress.

Project teams detest progress reporting because it manifests their

lack of progress.

Benefits of project management

• Project management was developed to save time by properly planning a project and considering all relevant factors which may affect its outcome

• The benefits have been proven - it saves time and money - and generates a more successful outcome …. if guidelines are followed

Even though project management gives the set of tools to schedule and organize, there are many factors that need to be considered if projects are to be successful. It is not a magical solutionProject management does not do the work for person, but helps to be specific and organized without losing the overview of what to do and why.

Importance of project managementWith limited resources, project management can be very important by:

Increasing productivityBoosting efficiencyMaking the most of every resource Making sure that deadlines are met

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How does project management benefit you?

• Your resources will be coordinated

• Your risks will be identified and managed

• You will increase the possibilities of time savings

• You will increase the possibilities of cost savings

• You will increase the possibilities of achieving the agreed outcome

• You will increase the possibilities to deliver projects successfully

Improved quality

• Decision-making routes and processes are

clearly defined

• Deadlines, costs and resources are

controlled systematically – All processes in the project management activity chain

are coordinated to ensure they remain in harmony with

one another

• The result will help you to get:– more speed

– greater flexibility

– improved quality

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What project management helps you to achieve

• Plan tasks in project

• Avoid dependencies problems

• Reduce risks

• Track progress accurately

• Organize project process and timeline

• Improve stakeholder - staff communication

• Improve management of stakeholders’expectations

• Complete within budget and on time

The triple constraint

Quality

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Role of a project manager

• The role of a project manager is affected by the one-shot nature of the project

• The role of a project manager is difficult when team members are still linked to their permanent work areas

– Members may be assigned to several projects

simultaneously

• Managers must rely on their communication skills and powers of persuasion

Project manager attributes

• Leader & manager

• Facilitator, coordinator

• Communicator

• Credibility: Technical/

Administrative

• Work under pressure

• Goal-oriented

• Innovator

• Versatilist

• Knowledgeable about the

organization

• Political sensitivity

• Conflict: sense, confront,

resolve

• Can deal with stress,

chaos, ambiguity

• Planning and follow-

through

• Ethical dilemmas

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Project manager duties

• Reports to senior management

• Communicates with users

• Plans and schedules

• Obtains and allocates resources

• Controls risks

• Manages people

• Coordinates

• Implements quality assurance

• Controls the budget

• Delivers results

Project teams

• Diversity of knowledge needed

• Cross-functional

• Self-directed

• Often ad-hoc or temporary

• Often distributed (geographically)

• Start and end dates

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Project personnel skills

• Technical

• Political

• Problem-oriented – (vs. discipline-oriented)

• Goal-oriented

• Flexibility, adaptability

• High self-esteem– can handle failure, risk, uncertainty,

unexpected

– can share blame and credit

Project management methodology scope

• What is a methodology

– The way we do things around here !

– Communication, consistency, understanding,

accountability

• Project management vs. other activities

• This way project management uses the same approach for all situations

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The End