Project Management Module 1 Script
Project Management Module 1 Script
Topics:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. What is a project? What is project management? Popular Project Management methodologies / standards The Project Life cycle Nine knowledge areas, starting with the 4 core Nine knowledge areas continued: the four facilitating areas and Integrating. Five Management Process Groups Main project constraints Benefits of Project Management Quick Summary of Module 1.
What is a project? Most work we do fits into being either project work or ongoing operations o So what is a project? Projects are: one-off, creating something unique, are temporary have specific start and end dates, have limited resources, involve uncertainty, and implement change.
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o o o o o
ongoing, repeat tasks staff are already familiar with, have resources permanently assigned to them and are the day to day duties of a workplace.
An example of both would be the building of a prototype for a new product to be mass produced by an organisation. The project would be conceiving, developing and creating the prototype which, if accepted in the closure phase as delivering a product that would benefit the organisation by being produced, could then transition from a project into the ongoing operation of mass producing it. Doesnt mean once transitioned from project to ongoing operations, it will stay in ongoing operations. Development of a new version of the product will be a project. The Apple iPad is an example of this: o o o o transition from invention -> prototype (a project) Mass production of first release(Ongoing operations ) Update of iPad to iPad 2 release (a project) back to ongoing operations of mass production.
Evidence of projects being run goes back centuries. The Pyramids, the Roman aqueducts, the Great Wall of China. In the last century projects like the Hoover Dam, the Panama Canal, the English Channel Tunnel and the International Space Station are all famous examples. However projects arent just about building things. A project always creates something unique that is why projects implement change, but that something isnt just a product such as a building, a roadway, a tunnel or a computer. Projects can create: a product / an ability to perform a service / or a result. Examples of project outcomes that are not products include: o o o o o o o Apollo program getting a man on the moon <result> sending the first email between geographically separate computers (seen by some as the birth of the Internet) <service> creating and getting legislation passed <result> establishing safety and health procedures for an organisation <service> running a research project <result> gaining ISO 9001:2008 Quality management systems accreditation <result and service> writing a thesis<result>
Many of us relate to projects not only because we become involved with them at work, but because we can associate major life events as projects. Some examples could be: o o o Gaining a qualification <result> Organising and getting married <result tho some may call a service> Planning and going on a holiday e.g. driving around Australia <result>
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Building or renovating a home <product> Renovating a car <product> Have distinct start and end dates meaning that they are temporary endeavours Create something unique that implements change: Your degree which enables new career / job / remuneration choices, your holiday experience, increasing your life experience your home, providing a new plan to live your renovated car which provides a new mode for travelling.
Involve uncertainty as each project is unique and so you cannot know beforehand everything that will happen and be required (though project planning helps you to try and think of everything you can) Use limited resources (funds, people, materials)
Commonly the successful completion of a project will then be associated with the deliverable requiring ongoing operations to maintain it, though this is not always true. However, with the personal goals above: o We will need to continue learning in the field of our qualification to make it meaningful, maintaining and updating our knowledge (commonly known as Professional Development). On an ongoing basis we will need to maintain and clean our home if we want to maintain its value and keep it habitable. Our newly renovated car will also need maintaining if we want it to stay at its newly renovated condition and keep it roadworthy. The only example not requiring ongoing operations is our holiday driving around Australia in its closure phase there may be a caravan to be sold and journals made up to document the journey and reflect on your experiences, but there is no specific deliverable that needs maintenance (unless you count maintaining your travel bug). will implement change, involve uncertainty, require limited resources, have a finite start and end and create something unique whether it is a new product, a new service or a result.
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You can also accurately say that many of the most exciting things that happen in both your working life and your personal life are projects; so learning about project management can give you useful information you can apply to and improve all areas of your life with! Just because you or your organisation has made a decision to initiate a project does not necessarily mean that effective management of the project will follow. In our own
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personal projects too often we just plunge in without careful thought, definition and planning. Not surprisingly the same can be said of many organisations projects! So in the next topic we will discuss what managing a project effectively is about. o Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. The You tube video of 40 years of great projects is especially worth looking at for inspiration. Post into the Forum information about a Project you have been involved in.
Useful Links
VIDEO: WEB: Project Management Institute (PMI) - the largest organisation of Project Management professionals in the world, formed in 1969 and publishers of the PMBOK guide. Max's Project Management Wisdom - Max Wideman was the author of the first PMBOK guide and has dedicated a lot of his time and effort to creating a wealth of information about Project Management, accessible for free from this site. Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) - the Australian organisation representing Project Management professionals in Australia, formed in 1976. Projects at Work - American resource for Project Managers, founded 2001 and "The online destination for leading-edge approaches and perspectives in program, portfolio, and project management (their description)". Project Smart - British resource, free site launched 2000, with many Project Management resources. http://www.maxwideman.com/pm_101/intro.htm is an easy to read overview by Max Wideman about projects and project management. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IQK4QN-NqgM (40 years of great projects) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrJiDIvE-8s (2011 PMI Project of the Year winner, a water supply project)
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o o o
If we keep to the short definition of Project Management being the managing of a project from its start to a successful outcome, obviously there will be a whole range of considerations to make, and processes, tools and techniques to apply to achieve this. Considerations are: o Once an initial concept has been approved as being worth pursuing a clear description must be formed of what the project outcome will be, that is agreed to by the key stakeholders such as the Project Sponsor, Project Manager and Project Customer or Client (if not also the Sponsor), also called the key stakeholders. This clear description forms what is called the Project Scope. Think of it as a description of the end deliverable or the goal of the project.
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There needs to be a clear allocation of resources, time and budget to enable the project to be planned and executed. There also needs to be a clear line of authority / responsibility that enables these to be managed appropriately. Without clear allocation of authority it is impossible to effectively manage a project. The document that is used to define this information and assign authority is commonly called the Project Charter. A Project Management Plan must be written that outlines what will be built (scope) in which sequence and time durations (time) using what resources (cost and procurement) and by whom (human resources), to defined standards (quality). It should also consider assumptions and constraints that may affect the project (helping to identify potential project risks).The plan must be constructed to enable execution to run smoothly, be managed effectively and provide a means for measuring project progress against once the project moves to the execution phase. Throughout the project a balance needs to be continuously maintained between key constraints: scope, time, cost, resources and risk and quality, all of which can affect each other and significantly impact the projects success. Good communication must be maintained throughout the project to enable stakeholders to have their requirements, concerns and expectations listened to and addressed in ways that allow the project to progress as initially agreed. Note that Stakeholders can be defined as anyone impacted by the running of the project and its outcome (or who have a vested interest in the project outcome). Some stakeholders are defined as being key and should include the Project Sponsor, Client and end users, Project Manager and his or her team. Monitoring and controlling are important throughout execution to check the execution of the project against the plans early agreed to. At the end there needs to be closing processes to make sure all work on the project has been completed, the deliverables formally verified and handed over, lessons learned documented and all documentation archived for use and reference by future projects. Because projects involve uncertainty and are better understood as they progress, it needs to be anticipated and planned for that changes will be required so that changes can be requested, considered and implemented in the most efficient ways. The continuous improvement of knowledge and information regarding the project, and the resulting refinements to the plans are referred to as Progressive Elaboration. This is achieved by having in place an Integrated Change Control system to manage requested changes.
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PMBoK advocates that for a Project to be properly managed the Project Manager must understand nine key knowledge management areas which are: o Integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, Human Resources, Communications, Risk, Procurement. We will look at these in greater detail in Topics 5 and 6. Processes: Having a clear project scope and objectives Using good project management processes Planning well and then tracking and reporting progress well
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People: Having well trained, experienced Project Managers Having Stakeholder & management support Involving end users at the concept and planning stages Realistic expectations Communicating well Emotional Maturity
Attitude:
Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. I particularly recommend exploring the Max Wideman website and reading his explanation of projects and how to manage them. Make a post about stories of where you have experienced or seen project management processes poorly used.
Useful Links
VIDEO: WEB: Project Management Institute (PMI) - the largest organisation of Project Management professionals in the world, formed in 1969 and publishers of the PMBOK guide. Max's Project Management Wisdom - Max Wideman was the author of the first PMBOK guide and has dedicated a lot of his time and effort to creating a wealth of information about Project Management, accessible for free from this site. Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) - the Australian organisation representing Project Management professionals in Australia, formed in 1976. Projects at Work - American resource for Project Managers, founded 2001 and "The online destination for leading-edge approaches and perspectives in program, portfolio, and project management. (their description)". Project Smart - British resource, free site launched 2000, with many Project Management resources. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_project_management_topics http://www.maxwideman.com/pm_101/intro.htm is an easy to read overview by Max Wideman about projects and project management. http://www.maxwideman.com/papers/framework/intro.htm is a more sophisticated explanation of project management by Mr Wideman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n0kVSxV8-8 (What is Project Management in simple outline) https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=r5qFLd1u0XQ (An Idiots Guide to Project Management) The basics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcR-wpSzr4Y A simple 5 step process example of how to manage a project: why, what, how, who, tracking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LSnINglkQA Simple, cartoon overview of Project Management.
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PMBoK by PMI o o
PRINCE2 o o
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and so was released in 1996 as a generic project management methodology called PRINCE2 which was widely adopted. o o o o o The latest version was released as PRINCE2:2009 Refresh in 2009 with significant changes made to adapt it to newer business environments. It is a process driven management method that uses 4 integrated elements: 7 principles, 7 themes, 7 processes and project environment. The 7 processes are applied across a life cycle of pre-project, initiating, delivery, and final delivery stage. The 7 processes are starting, initiating, directing, controlling, managing stage boundaries and product delivery as well as closing the project. The 7 principles are continued business justification, learn from experience, defined roles and responsibilities, manage by stages, manage by exception, focus on products, and tailor to suit project environment. The 7 themes are business case, organisation, quality, plans, risk, change and progress. Widely used in the UK, Western Europe and Australia. Developed by Dr Eli Goldratt and first described in his 1997 Theory of Constraints book. Provides a method of planning and managing projects rather than providing a whole of life-cycle guide. Developed as a response to the number of projects suffering from poor performance. Described as a methodology for planning, executing and managing projects in single and multi-project environments GOLDRATT UK (2007) Reverses the traditional method of project planning by emphasising estimating of durations and task sequencing to instead place emphasis on resource estimation and planning. Works by calculating a critical chain for the project, which is the longest chain [not path] of dependant resources GOLDRATT UK(2007) as opposed to the Critical Path which is the longest path through the project work packages, that if any were to run late, would push the project end date out. Uses a system of safety buffers for the project (at its end), feeding buffers and resource buffers to allow for change and absorb variations or uncertainties allowing teams to attempt to achieve work in the shortest possible times but allowing padding to reduce the risk of overruns. Can be adopted by organisations already using other project management methodologies with the intention of further improving performance by shortening time taken to run projects. ISO 21500:2012, Guidance on project management is a new standard published on the 3rd September 2012 that has been worked on since 2007. The standard was built with a desire to produce a universal interpretation (and terminology) of project management that would suite any size or type of project in any organisation, recognising that previously there has been a number of methodologies that have become popular in different geographic regions.
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ISO 21500:2012 o
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The Chair of the ISO project committee that developed the new standard, Miles Shepherd says: ISO 21500 enables people in any organization to understand how the discipline fits into a business environment. It is also intended to be used as a basic guide, aimed at the informed reader without an in-depth knowledge of project management. Benefits listed by ISO include encouraging transfer of project knowledge between projects and organisations to improve delivery, assisting efficient tendering processes by using consistent terminology, enabling greater flexibility for project management employees allowing them to work on international projects and providing universal principles and processes. There is a close alignment with PMBOK, as PMI played a leadership role in its formation, being the secretariat for that ISO committee that developed it, and with sections of PMBoK used as its foundation. Similarly to PMBOK ISO 21500 is process based with five groupings of processes titled Initiating, planning, implementing, controlling and closing.
NOTE that all these standards and methodologies are relatively new the oldest of the ones listed above is the PMBOK published in 1983 as a white paper! In fact it wasnt really until the 1950s that people started talking about project management. Up until then projects were certainly being conceived and executed, but a systematic method of running projects had not been formed. Some founding principles had been laid by people like Henry Gantt (youll learn about Gantt charts later) back at the end of the 19th Century but not until the 50s were scheduling techniques such as Critical Part Method and "Program Evaluation and Review Technique or PERT invented and used. That is why we talk about modern project management. This term recognises projects have been happening for a very long term, but formal ways of managing them have been quite recently developed in only the last 60 to 70 years! NOTE also that the advent of increasing numbers of mass projects being run around the world by global companies has also coincided with the advent and development of modern PM. While we have listed a few examples in this topic, many organisations actually adapt from one or more of these methodologies or standards to develop their own versions to suit their own organisational environment and discipline. If you search the Internet you will find organisations such as NASA and many Government bodies set up web pages to provide Project Management advice, templates and procedures for their employees. Most important is adopting and then following a structured and well defined methodology/standard throughout the project lifecycle regardless of which one it is. In this Subject we will most closely follow the standard defined by PMI the PMBoK, 4th Edition. Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. It is interesting to look at the various government agencies that have published methodologies adapted for their specific needs, especially as they often provide useful templates and guides that anyone can take advantage of. Try a forum post about the method/standard your organisation uses, and if you know, why they made that choice.
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Useful Links
VIDEO: WEB: http://www.mosaicprojects.com.au/Resources_Papers_050.html - The Origins of Modern Project Management by Patrick Weaver PMP, FAICD, FCIOB http://www.prince-officialsite.com/ http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/history-of-prince2.html - The History of PRINCE2 by Duncan Haughey. http://www.goldratt.co.uk/resources/critical_chain/index.html http://www.pmi.org/ http://www.iso.org/iso/home/news_index/news_archive/news.htm?refid=Ref1662 http://www.egovernment.tas.gov.au/project_management http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oce/appel/ http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operationalmanagement/project-management/policy-and-guidance http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/best-practice-and-methodologyprojects-programmes-and-portfolios http://www.pomsmeetings.org/ConfProceedings/011/FullPapers/011-0754.pdf Paper on Critical Chain Project Management Theory and Practice presented at POMS 20th Annual Conference. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Guide_to_the_Project_Management_Body_of_Knowle dge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_chain_project_management http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=50 003 http://www.sybena.pl/dokumenty/ISO-21500-and-PMBoK-Guide.pdf provides a comparison between the 2011 draft of ISO 21500 and PMBOK 4th Edition. http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/history-of-project-management.html a hyperlinked article that covers the subject title History of Project Management: How Project Management Developed by Sandro Azzopardi. http://www.simplilearn.com/free-resources/prince2-structure - Video explaining how PRINCE2 works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRMDCRPGYBE Video outlining briefly CCPM by Dr Lisa Lang http://www.pmi.org/About-Us.aspx Has PMI Overview video outlining the value of PMIs work
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and longer timelines and consuming more and more money, so monitoring and controlling processes are vital through this phase of the project. o Finishing is not just a single act. It is the winding up of all processes and areas employed by the Project Team to carry out the work of the project. It involves the formal verification and acceptance of the project goal (hand-over to the end client, who may also be the Sponsor). It also includes formal documentation of the Teams reflections, identifying lessons learned throughout the project and noting recommendations for future projects for possible improved processes. It also involves closing procurements, redeploying staff if needed and archiving all project documentation in a way that can be easily accessed for informing future projects. Post-project reviews may also be held sometime after hand-over to determine customer acceptance and satisfaction as the success of some projects will not be able to be assessed until their results have been in use for some time. Very important that all documentation for the project be archived (and are easily accessible), to act as a reference for similar projects run by the organisation in the future. In moving through this life cycle there should have been the 42 PMBoK (Ed. 4) processes applied to manage the project, 2 in the Concept phase, 20 during Development (where the Plan is built), 18 during Execution and a final 2 during finishing. The closure or finishing stage is too often overlooked or simplified to just a handover of the main project goal. However, if closure is correctly managed it will also provide opportunity for the Project Manager and their team to reflect on the project and the processes used to manage it, and draw from these reflections documented lessons learned that can then inform future projects, thereby adding to the continuous improvement of project management within the organisation that the project has been run in. Its also a good excuse for a celebration!
Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. Have a look at the YouTube videos on project life cycles the first explains PMBoKs life cycle and the second one looks at how they may vary between industries.
USEFUL LINKS VIDEO: WEB: http://www.maxwideman.com/papers/managing/lifecycle.htm article on four phases of project life cycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_project_management_topics - Lists all the topics Wikipedia has on project management http://www.maxwideman.com/pm_101/intro.htm is an easy to read overview by Max Wideman about projects and project management. http://www.maxwideman.com/papers/framework/intro.htm is a more sophisticated explanation on the same website. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVSXB7mMfpw Project life cycle, phases and process groups http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Xu1QupXY4 Project life cycle phases, differing on discipline
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Video 5: Nine knowledge areas: Part 1: Core areas: Scope, Time, Cost, Quality
Knowledge areas are the areas identified by PMBoK as being necessary for a project manager to understand and be able to manage projects effectively. There are 9 knowledge areas in total: Integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, Human Resources, Communication, Risk and Procurement. Core knowledge areas are the main functions of project management and also represent the main constraints of managing a project the scope, the time, budget (cost) and agreed quality. Core areas are what you must define and plan as soon as possible for effective management as each has a direct effect on the others. Scope management o o Where primarily both what work is required to achieve the project goal as well as what work is not required is firstly defined and then controlled throughout. Both product and project scope should be identified the product scope being the specifications / features for the projects key deliverable, the project scope being the work required to create the product to its agreed scope. Five management processes are used in scope management according to PMBoK Edition 4. They are: To start off: collecting requirements (which is working out what the stakeholders need the project to deliver), defining the scope (by building as clear and unambiguous description as possible that is agreed to by key stakeholders), creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) which is a hierarchical listing that breaks the main project goal down into the work packages (or sub-deliverables) required to accomplish the end objective, verifying scope by making sure that the project sponsor / customer signs off on deliverables as completed and controlling scope by monitoring and managing changes where required to keep the project on scope. When defining the scope both PRODUCT and PROJECT scope should be considered. PRODUCT scope is the description (or specifications) of the project deliverables where PROJECT scope is the work required to create them. As an example, if baking a cake, the product scope would be the specifics such as ingredients list, size and type, where the project scope would be the recipe method, as this provides the description of the work for how to bake the cake. Focuses on setting up a timeline for the project and managing activities to keep them on schedule. There are six processes PMBoK Ed. 4 recommends be used for managing time. Processes include defining activities, where the WBS created for the Scope is broken down further to individual work activities (or tasks), sequencing activities in the most efficient way based on their relationships to each other (for instance does one activity need to end before the next starts or can they be done in parallel), followed by estimating resources and durations so that
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Time management o o o
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materials, people, equipment and supplies required can be worked out followed by the duration to perform each work activity given the availability of the resources. From this information a schedule will be developed that can then be used to control schedule by tracking and monitoring against, and managing changes throughout. o Resources are estimated under Time Management because they do have an impact on how long it will take to do tasks, so you need to know them before estimating durations. Resources fall into main categories of people, equipment, materials or supplies. For example, knowing the type of oven you have available to bake a cake can have a direct impact on how long it takes to bake it. The main focus is to create a budget from authorised estimates that can then be used to control costs throughout.
Cost management o
There are three processes described for managing project cost. Processes involved start with estimating costs, which often happens in an iterative fashion from rough order of magnitude (or ROM) estimates, followed by the determining of the budget which can be most accurately derived by adding up the estimated costs of the individual work activities to set up an agreed and authorised cost baseline, which sets the baseline from which to control the costs throughout the projects execution by monitoring and making changes where required. An effective way to determine a budget is to work out the cost of every activity that you worked out under Time Management (including resources and time duration estimates) and add them all up to get a total cost for the budget. Quality management o Where the requirements for quality of both processes and products are defined as early as possible in the projects life so that they can be planned for and controlled throughout. Central to modern quality management is the aim to continuously improve processes ensuring the right environment and organisational culture to attain quality outcomes.
There are three processes used for quality management. Quality is very important because there is a direct correlation between quality outcomes and customer satisfaction. o Processes used start by planning quality by identifying requirements and formalising them into a quality management plan that documents how compliance will be demonstrated, followed by performing quality assurance to audit that the results from quality control measurements match requirements and appropriate standards are being followed, as well as performing quality control which is where results of quality activities are recorded and monitored to check performance and recommend any necessary changes to improve quality outcomes. Plan as early as possible in the project for both the quality of the product produced and the quality of the processes to use while building it so you can assure during execution the standards are being met.
In the next topic we will look at the four knowledge areas that help facilitate or enable - the four core areas we have just looked at. Max Wideman suggests the four core areas as being the areas that a project planning should start with (being Scope,
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Quality, Time , Cost) and the four facilitating areas of Communication, Procurement, H/R and Risk as being the order it should be managed in, finishing with the core areas. Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. The Project Management Knowledge website is worth bookmarking as it has a great catalogue of Project Management terms in relation to PMBoK that provides good clear definitions usefully hyperlinked to further information. Do a Forum post of your observations of the importance of quality within a project.
Useful Links
VIDEO: WEB: http://blog.simcrest.com/introduction-to-the-nine-project-management-knowledgeareas/ Good introduction to all 9. http://www.maxwideman.com/papers/framework/intro.htm discussed Max Widemans take on project management, including the 9 knowledge areas and how they are applied. http://project-management-knowledge.com/definitions/p/project-managementknowledge-area/ An index to information on each knowledge area. A useful site for PM terms with brief explanations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4l2clRCrmo Knowledge Areas and Process Groups is a fairly dry but accurate explanation of these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKFQgCxGmh0 Overview of process groups and knowledge areas.
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Communication management In business as in life much misunderstanding and conflict can be generated by poor communication, just as good communicators tend to be able to keep both their life and jobs running smoothly by being able to keep stakeholders correctly informed and by being able to effectively explain their decisions and actions. For this reason any of us should be able to recognise good communication management as being an important tool for a Project Manager! Communication Management is where you aim to generate, collect, distribute, store, retrieve and archive project information. There are five described processes for managing communication according to PMBoK Edition 4. o Processes for managing communication are identifying the stakeholders (so you know who to communicate to), planning communications (working out how you will approach communication), distributing information (relevant information to the right people in the agreed manner), managing stakeholder expectations (communicating with relevant stakeholders throughout project execution and dealing with any issues as they arise) and finally reporting performance (so stakeholders are kept informed of project
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progress and it is able to be measured against the planned performance). Reporting performance accurately to the correct stakeholders will allow them to keep the pulse of the project and interject and follow up where any serious variances are identified. As we discussed in an earlier topic being able to identify projects that should be closed as also an important skill to develop, and getting a project correctly closed is unlikely to happen if the sponsor and client are unaware of how project performance is progressing! Risk management o o Focuses on seeking to increase the likelihood and impact of positive events and reduce the likelihood and impact of negative events. Many of us associate RISK with negative connotations risk takers are people that take unacceptable risks! However a bit more thought should tell you that many of the worlds best business people are inherently risk takers! Running a project itself represents a risk the project may fail. So risks may be just as positive as they may be negative. In the spirit of nothing ventured nothing gained, when running a project anything uncertain that may occur in the future of the project should be assessed for its likelihood and ways determined to decrease impact if it eventuates for negative risks, or enhance impact if a potential positive risk. There are six processes that are outlined for managing risks in a project. Process for managing risk start with planning risk management (working out how risk management will be directed), identifying risks (listing unplanned events of both potential positive and negative affect), performing qualitative assessment (working out probability and impact and using to prioritize for further action), performing quantitative analysis (numerically analysing effect of risks on the project), planning responses (working out options to use to enhance opportunities and reduce threats) and finally monitor and control risks (during project execution implementing risk responses and tracking, monitoring, evaluating as well as identifying any new risks throughout). Where you purchase or acquire externally to the team: services, results and/or products and manage contracts if required for the project. As part of Time management you will work out what resources are required for your project and during Human resource management you will acquire a team that has the skills identified as being required for the project work. Both these areas will need to be determined before you plan procurements, as this is where you will control outsourcing and manage supplier contracts, and you cant do that until there is a clear picture of what needs to be procured. There are four processes identified in PMBoK 4th Edition for managing procurements. Processes for managing procurement include planning procurements (identifying suppliers and documenting how purchases will be performed and decided on), conducting procurements (getting seller responses, selecting seller(s) and awarding contracts), administering procurements, including managing procurement relationships, monitoring contract performance and changing / correcting if required. Finally you need to close procurements. Because the effectiveness of contracts which are legally binding documents is so vital to procuring the correct products and / or services, and in large
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multi-faceted projects many sub-sections of the project work may need to be outsourced by the organisation running the project, procurement management requires its own skill sets and management processes to ensure procuring is properly performed. Integration management o The final knowledge area we will examine is Integration management, which is not described as either a core or facilitating knowledge area because it is an overarching knowledge area and coordinates the other 8. This is where the main work of the Project Manager lies, as it is where all the 8 separate threads of knowledge are drawn together in a cohesive manner and documentation created to manage the project. Often listed as the first knowledge area but this denotes importance not the order to learn about first, as to perform effective integration management you will need a sound understanding of the other eight! Consists of six management processes. Key processes include developing the project charter, which is the document that formally authorises the project and contains the initial requirements of key stakeholders, followed by development of the Project Management Plan. This is an overarching document that outlines how all the subsidiary plans created for each of the other knowledge areas will be defined, prepared, integrated and co-ordinated. Once the plan is completed execution may begin which requires the directing and managing of project execution according to the Project Management Plan, including the monitoring and controlling of project work which tracks, reviews and regulates the project progress as defined in the PM plan and performing integrated change control where requests for changes to the project are reviewed. Finally the project phase and/or project is closed resulting in the handover of the final product, service or result to its intended recipient(s). The Project Manager may not have been appointed at the time the Project Charter is drawn up but it is always preferable that they are, as it is this initial definition of the Project that they will have to manage, and so their input to it can greatly increase the buy-in of the PM and the team they will lead. According to PMBoK the Sponsor will either create the Charter or delegate its creation to the PM. What is most important is that the signatories to it include the person that has the correct authority to fund the project (which should be the Project Sponsor). Developing the charter and management plan means the PM will have a great understanding of everything required for the project to successfully run, and performing integrated change control ensures any alterations to the plan are also understood and managed effectively by the PM. The other processes ensure that at all times of the project the PM is effectively in charge and overseeing the progress of the project through to an organised handover and close-down of the project.
So, in short, being informed about the nine knowledge areas of: scope, time, cost, quality, HR, communications, risks and procurement will make sure every area of a project is investigated, planned for and executed, monitored and controlled over the entire project life cycle of concept > develop > execute and finishing! For project team members they may only require in depth knowledge of a few of these knowledge areas and may only be involved for a number of project phases, not necessarily the entire project. The Project Manager however, will need a sound
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understanding of all nine and should be involved throughout the entire project life cycle! Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. Have a look at the SimCrest ERP Round Table Blog it is a nice overview of all nine areas and links to some more in depth explanations of five of the areas.
Useful Links
VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4l2clRCrmo Knowledge Areas and Process Groups is a fairly dry but accurate explanation of these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKFQgCxGmh0 Overview of process groups and knowledge areas.
WEB:
http://blog.simcrest.com/introduction-to-the-nine-project-management-knowledgeareas/ Good introduction to all 9. http://www.maxwideman.com/papers/framework/intro.htm discussed Max Widemans take on project management, including the 9 knowledge areas and how they are applied. http://project-management-knowledge.com/definitions/p/project-managementknowledge-area/ An index to information on each knowledge area. A useful site for PM terms with brief explanations.
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Planning: this group of processes is all to do with planning the project or project phase, including defining the projects exact scope (work to be done), refining objectives and defining the course of action to take to enable the project to deliver the results it was undertaken for. o There are 20 specific planning processes identified by PMBoK 4th that belong to every knowledge area. Too numerous to list here but we will cover them in Module 3 in more detail, which looks at the Planning phase of the project life cycle.
Executing: are processes to do with getting the actual project work done as defined in the project management plan in a way that meets the agreed project specifications. o Executing includes 8 processes identified by PMBoK 4th Edition which are divided between the Integration, Quality, HR, Communication and Procurement management knowledge areas. We will look at them during the last Module which examines the Executing and Finishing phases of a projects life.
Monitoring & Controlling: processes are in the words of PMBoK - ones that are needed to track, review, and regulate the progress and performance of the project; identify any areas in which changes to the plan are required; and initiate the corresponding changes. In other words while performing work on a project check what is being performed and control any necessary changes to keep the work on plan. o Monitoring and controlling processes identified by PMBoK 4th Edition are required for every knowledge area except Human Resources and total 10 separate processes that we will cover in Module Four.
Closing: Specific closing processes identified by PMBoK 4th Edition are: closing the project or phase (from Integration management) and Closing Procurements from the Procurement management knowledge area.
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Dont confuse the five process groups with the four life-cycle phases (Concept, Develop, Execute, Finish). The life-cycle covers the period of time from the very start of the project (its inception) through to its eventual close. The five process groups are how you manage the project, and can be iterative and may be repeated and actually applied across phases of the project rather than its entire lifecycle. Planning, executing and monitoring & controlling are usually iterative as the progress of the project is likely to coincide with better understanding of requirements which then need incorporating into the overall plan, executed and monitor & controlled. This means that as more detail is understood planning, executing and monitoring & controlling processes may need to be repeated to properly integrate the better understood definition. This assists in progressive elaboration of the project management plan, which is a recognition that while plans must be created as accurately as possible before the project executes, as the project evolves more details will become apparent that will require further detail to be added to them. The five process groups can also be run more than once in a project. In complex projects, for effective management, there may be a decision made to split the project into several phases you may think of these as sub-projects if you like. If you have broken a large project into a number of sub-projects it then makes sense that the initiating, planning, executing, monitor and controlling and closing process groups should be run for each phase. This also provides ideal opportunity for key stakeholders to assess each sub-project as a standalone project as well as reassessing the overall project, allowing for a greater level of scrutiny and more checks and balances to be built in. Again, this will assist in projects that are no longer appropriate to the needs of the organisation, or which can no longer meet their requirements, being re-assessed and formally closed before unnecessary time and money is spent on them. To return to our question of What is Project Management? We could also say it is the proficient initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling and closing of a project! Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. Have a look at the Slideshare shows they overview the five process groups well.
Useful Links
VIDEO: WEB: http://www.slideshare.net/guestfe6ad/project-management-process-groups-andknowledge-areas#btnNext useful display of process groups and knowledge areas. http://www.slideshare.net/trumpetinteractive/pmbok4-processesccsanc#btnNext visualisation of processes and their knowledge areas and path through project. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4l2clRCrmo Knowledge Areas and Process Groups is a fairly dry but accurate explanation of these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKFQgCxGmh0 Overview of process groups and knowledge areas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoFFCnYMPbc process groups for single-phase project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U03o3zA0r-w preparation for PMP Certification. Covers 5 project process groups.
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already been partially done, as the sponsor will already have been made aware of this likely impact. While balancing constraints evenly may be the objective of the PM, the nature of the project can also have a bearing. Often the balancing of constraints will be determined by. For instance for a project that a flaw in the key deliverable could directly result in a loss or impairment of life, there should be more emphasis place on the Quality and Risk constraints, to the possible detriment of project expenditure (budget blowout), resources (more needed) and schedule (time overrun). However, if the project goal is to improve the administrative work processes of a work place, getting the changes in place quickly may mean more emphasis is placed on the Time constraint as it is deemed acceptable that any issues with quality may be ironed out by enhancements after implementation. Software companies are often singled out as being prone to sacrificing quality for reduced time (for instance on new software releases) because they rely on bug fixes and user feedback to enhance quality and functionality after release. However, this can be a dangerous game to play as breaching the invisible line between customer acceptance and rejection of a product can result in loss of market share and ultimate oblivion so when weighing up your projects constraints try to keep them evenly balanced. If you decide to go outside this rational, have a justifiable reason for doing so! Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. The two YouTube movies give a good overview of both the original triple constraint and how it has been extended. Try making a forum post about a project that has been impacted by one of these constraints, and what affect it had, if you are aware of a good example.
Useful Links
VIDEO: WEB: http://www.maxwideman.com/papers/framework/tetrad.htm http://www.enterprise-pm.com/pmbasics/triple-constraint http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4NkfM8G7PI shows triple and other 3 (total of 6) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nQNtAJmDAY shows triple with quality expanding to 6
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The PMI have released a white paper that argues the Global Financial Crisis has helped companies take up project management practices more effectively as their bottom line has tightened, requiring them to work faster and smarter. They provide examples in their White Paper (listed on the readings tab) of how companies like Intel are running more projects successfully in a tougher financial environment than before the GFC. Figures are listed showing they moved in 2007 from running 402 projects successfully to 454 projects successfully run in 2009. Basically financial constraints have caused businesses to seek ways to run projects more efficiently, and the best way to do that is to implement modern project management practices. As listed earlier in Topic Two on Project Management factors such as lack of User involvement, executive management support, planning properly and having realistic expectations all are major contributors to project management failures which means, in inverse, that having good user input, executive support, realistic expectations and planning properly all are going to increase project success rates, and thereby contribute to the benefits weve listed above. Many companies are now setting up Project Management Offices to coordinate and support effective project management. According to a 2010 survey run by PM Solutions in May 2010, the difference having a Project Management Office (PMO) in an organisation made was that ( among other benefits) failed projects reduced by 31% and in the U.S. alone this saved companies on average $567 000 US per project!
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Ref: State of the PMO 2010, PM Solutions, May 2010. Results based on a survey of 291 management employees. So the main message is, if you want more productive workplaces, happier clients and more successful projects run in less time and with less money resulting in more reliable project deliverables and you dont currently use formal project management processes, start doing so NOW! A word of warning simply taking on the burden of documenting projects without being prepared to spend the time on proper up front analysis and planning of projects will make it look like you are using modern project management practises but it wont produce the benefits. Before progressing to the next topic encourage to look at the Readings Tab. The PMI White Paper titled The Value of Project Management provides a very up to date analysis of employing Project Management practices. You may also like to read the article about 2012 growth in demand and salaries for trained project managers.
Useful Links
VIDEO: WEB: http://www.tenstep.com/open/A1ValueofPM.html Article titled The Value of Project Management by TenStep http://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/2350-the-top-ten-benefits-of-projectmanagement/ Gary Picariello (2010) The Top Ten Benefits of Project Management http://www.westwindconsulting.com/Benefits%20of%20Project%20Management.htm l Westwind Consulting Services Inc., The Benefits of Project Management. Provides a method for putting a figure to project management cost saving. http://files.asme.org/Divisions/Management/15918.pdf David V. Tennant, Project Management: A Competitive Advantage? http://www.pmi.org/business-solutions/~/media/PDF/BusinessSolutions/Value%20of%20Project%20Management_FINAL.ashx PMI Inc,. The Value of Project Management White Paper. http://www.egovernment.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/78187/Why_Project _Management_Fact_Sheet.pdf Tasmanian Government Project Management Framework, (2008). Project Management Fact Sheet: Why Project Management? http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/history-of-project-management.html a hyperlinked article that covers the subject title History of Project Management: How Project Management Developed by Sandro Azzopardi. http://www.slideshare.net/pys0209/chaos-project-management Slideshare presentation on Project Management A recipe for success that draws from the renown Standish Group CHAOS reports into IT project management success and otherwise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IQK4QN-NqgM (40 years of great projects) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icmvn23EvO4 (Harnessing the Power of Project Management by University of Texas Professional Development Center).
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http://www.maxwideman.com/guests/chaos_report/intro.htm Guest article by Jim Highsmith titled The CHAOS Report Reality Challenged that challenges the CHAOS reports methodology. http://www.cio.com/article/699312/Project_Management_Salaries_Show_Earnings_ Growth_Career_Potential Meredith Levinson (2012) Project Management Salaries Show Earnings Growth, Career Potential. http://graphics.eiu.com/upload/eb/Oracle_Project_Man_WEB.pdf Closing the gap: The link between project management excellence and long-term success (2009) A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit sponsored by Oracle. http://graphics.eiu.com/upload/eb/Oracle_Ind_Man_WEBr.pdf Industrial manufacturing: Managing for success, Economist Intelligence Unit, May 2010.
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2.
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