Overview of Project Management Process

Transcription

1 What is a project? Webster's Dictionary defines the word project as "That which is projected or designed; something intended or devised; a scheme; a design; a plan." In the Information Technology arena, most work is completed through projects from implementing small change requests to converting a network to rolling out a large enterprise system. Projects are completed by following two general processes: the project management process and the product development process. What is project management? The Project Management Institute defines project management as "The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements" (A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 2000). It involves the activities around planning understanding the purpose, time line, and budget of a project, as well as the execution getting the work done according to the plan. Project management is both a science and an art. It involves "hard" techniques, such as scheduling and estimating, and "soft" techniques, like building consensus and managing conflict. No matter how you look at it, project management is all about getting work done in an efficient, effective manner. How is project management done? Project management objectives are met by following a comprehensive process. The Project Management Institute (PMI) provides a framework that is applicable to many types of projects, and is documented in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). The framework is divided into five phases, or process groups: 1. The project manager will Initiate the project, recognizing that a project should begin and committing to do so. 2. The Plan phase sees the project manager define the scope of the project and prepare for the project to begin. 3. In the Execute phase, the project manager will coordinate people and resources to carry out the plan. 4. The Control phase has the project manager ensuring that project objectives are met. 5. In the Close phase, the project manager verifies that the 1

2 expected product has been delivered and closes the details of the project. Phase Objectives Initiate: Recognize that a project or phase should begin, and commit to do so. Plan: Define the scope of the project. Prepare: Prepare for the project to begin. Execute: Coordinate people and other resources to carry out the plan. Control: Ensure that project objectives are met. Close: Verify project delivered the expected product. Close: Close out the project. PMBOK further breaks down the project management process into knowledge areas. There are nine knowledge areas that are crucial for the project manager to understand. 1. Integration management has the objective of coordinating the different aspects of the project. The related PMI processes are project plan development. project plan execution. integrated change control. 2. Scope management coordinates the scope (the breadth and depth) of the project. The related PMI processes are initiation scope planning. scope definition. scope verification. scope change control. 3. Time management keeps the project progressing in a timely manner. The related processes are activity definition. 2

3 activity sequencing. activity duration estimation. schedule development. schedule control. 4. Cost management keeps the project progressing within the established budget. Related processes include resource planning. cost estimation. cost budgeting. cost control. 5. Quality management ensures the project achieves the desired goals. Processes here include quality planning. quality assurance. quality control. 6. Human resource management utilizes team members in the most efficient and effective manner. Processes include organizational planning. staff acquisition. team development. 7. Communications management is the area in which the project manager gathers, generates and shares information in a timely, efficient, and effective manner. Related processes are communications planning. information distribution. performance reporting. administrative closure. 8. Risk management is the area in which project managers recognize and respond to risks. Related processes are 3

4 risk management planning. risk identification. qualitative risk analysis. risk response planning. risk monitoring and control. 9. Procurement management is the area in which the project manager efficiently acquires anything needed to complete the project from outside the organization. Related PMI processes are procurement planning. solicitation planning. solicitation. source selection. contract administration. contract closeout. PMI Knowledge Area Objective Related PMI Processes Integration: Coordinate the different aspects of the project. Project plan development Project plan execution Integrated change control Scope: Coordinate the scope (or breadth and depth) of the project. Initiation Scope planning Scope definition Scope verification Scope change control Time: Keep the project progressing in a timely manner. Activity definition Activity sequencing Activity duration estimation Schedule development 4

5 Schedule control Cost: Keep the project progressing within the established budget. Resource planning Cost estimation Cost budgeting Cost control Quality: Ensure the project achieves the desired goals. Quality planning Quality assurance Quality control Human resource: Utilize team members in the most efficient and effective manner. Organizational planning Staff acquisition Team development Communications: Gather, generate, and share information in a timely, efficient, and effective way. Communications planning Information distribution Performance reporting Administrative closure Risk: Recognize and respond to risks. Risk management planning Risk identification Qualitative risk analysis Risk response planning Risk monitoring and control Procurement: Efficiently acquire anything needed from outside the 5

6 organization. Reference Procurement planning Solicitation planning Solicitation Source selection Contract administration Contract closeout A Guide to the project management body of knowledge. (2000). Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute. 6