Introduction Project Management

Projects A unique process, consisting of a set of coordinated and controlled activities with start and finish dates, undertaken to achieve an objective conforming to specific requirements including constraints of time, cost and resources. (1) unique (2) specific objectives (the project product) (3) constraints (especially: limited time frame)

Notes 1.Projects may form parts of a larger project 2.Project objectives and scope are updated and defined progressively as the project proceeds. 3.Project product: it is defined in the project scope. One or more units, tangible or intangible. 4.The project’s organisation is normally temporary. 5.Complexity and interactions among project activities.

Projects are connected to change management Usual business of the firm Projects Changes (uncertainty) Routines & regular tasks

Common project elements Product specification Project plan Time frame Budget Cost plan Statemet of quality required Identification of areas of uncertainty Risk management: evaluation & responses

Collecting information Real time Facilities needed to analyse the collected data

The project triangle

Project management Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives. It is possible (and sometimes very efficient) to manage non-project processes as projects.

The project cycle 4 phases: Conception (definition) Development (planning) Realisation (implementation) Termination (closing)

Conception Idea of a new project –Internal –External Desirability (Does it fit the strategy and the mission?) Feasibility (costs, resources, schedule) Documentation: project (work) statement End of phase: formal authorization

Feasibility study Capability to deliver the project product in time Final price of the product Project budget Specification of the product Ability to support the capital outlay Availability of the items and services needed Acceptability of geographical and ecological Acceptability of any further contract conditions

Development phase Appointment of the project manager and the project management team. From now on the project manager is in control. A first phase Project Management Plan (PMP). It contains all plans for the project, but it is continuously changing.

Realisation phase Turning the plans into reality. The project development and an appropriate reporting (monitoring) system are running simultaneously with the implementation process. A project log is needed.

The project termination Closing the project and its activities Knowledge management tasks: –Success of methods used –Project team performance –Reliability of suppliers Disposing the residual capital and equipment.

Project management maturity Project management development is an evolutionary process: every firm goes through nearly the same, step-by-step development process in their use of PM techniques. Different organizations are on different levels of sophistication in their best practices for managing projects.

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