Project Management

Writen by Bharat Bista

Project Management is the procedure of systematizing and managing resources in such a way that these resources deliver and execute the task required to accomplish a project within a defined range, time, and cost constraint. Furthermore, it is the management approach of setting and attaining goals while optimizing the use of multiple resources such as time, funds, manpower, equipment, energy, space etc. over the course of a project.

Project management is an art and a science, an artistic science with a goal driven methodology.

Literally almost all the individual and business activity involves carrying out a non-repetitive task to achieve their definite goals.

So we all practice project management? Not necessarily!

A project is always provisional and a one-time attempt undertaken to achieve some specified result or outcome with definite start and end points. Each project must have a procedural and scientific approach. This art of management secures optimum results with nominal efforts resulting in maximum prosperity and contentment both for employees and employers.

The characteristics of projects being interim or a one-time undertaking can differentiate it from operations that are permanently enduring functional work to create the same outcome. However, there is a big difference between carrying out very simple tasks involving few individual business goals versus projects that involve complex blends of people, resources, budgets, workforces, and time constraints.

Therefore, this result oriented management process with technical skills and philosophy, scientific procedure and organizational methodology, results the requirement and development of project management today.

Any venture that is a collection of linked activities with a clearly defined start and finish point carried out in an organized manner, to achieve some specified goals is a project; and to make it successful it entails a management system.

To make a particular project successful it requires an effective solution that delivers to the standards required and within the established time and cost constrains. Project management is a series of activities embodied in a process of getting things done by working with members of a project team in order to reach the project schedule, cost and technical performance objectives; in addition combining the systems, techniques and workforce to control and monitor activities undertaken within the project.

Project management coordinates the resources necessary to complete the project successfully. The main objective of project management is a successful project execution. A project will be deemed successful if it is completed at the specified level of quality, on time and within budget.

Prime characteristics of project management are as follows:

1. Objectives oriented.
2. Change oriented.
3. Functional coordination.
4. Planning and control.
5. Constrains of time, cost, and quality.
6. Unique art.
7. Knowledge of multiple sources.
8. Better utilization of sources and tools.

Technical competencies for successful project management:

1. Risk Management
2. Integration Management
3. Scope Management
4. Procurement Management
5. Time Management
6. Communications Management
7. Budget Management
8. Quality Management
9. Human Resource Management

Project management ensures responsibilities clearly defined and resources focused on specified objectives. The project management process also provided a structure for communication within and across organizational boundaries. All the projects share similar features and follow similar processes. This has led to the development of project management tools and techniques that can be applied to all projects, no matter how diverse; however this managing process may face a variety of challenges as well.

Successful project management always is result oriented and should envelope its goals as follows;

1. Project must be completed.
2. Project must be competed within the budget.
3. Project must be completed within allocated time.
4. Project must perform to satisfaction.

Possibly because project management is so much associated with information technology (IT) these days, many relate "project management" only with technical skills; however in spite of the technological advancement, it is yet a universal fact that the human creative workforce lie at the heart of any organization and its systems, to overlook this artistic side of project management can lead to project mismanagement, resulting in project failure.

The fusion of art and science by developing a proficiency in the art and expertise in the science, a project management plan can boost the success velocity for their projects, and will be better able to accomplish projects on time and on budget, without sacrificing quality.

Author: Bharat Bista Resource and Reference: Surrex Project Management is a premier provider of project management strategies and solutions specializing in IT services for mid-size and Fortune 500 companies, with timely, reliable, high quality Project Management Solutions and Project Management Tools.