This document discusses the importance of project management and defines key concepts. It provides: 1) A definition of a project as "a problem scheduled for solution" and notes that failure to properly define the problem can cause issues. 2) An overview of project management as planning, scheduling, and controlling activities to meet objectives of performance, cost, time, and scope. 3) Details several components of an effective project management system including human factors, methods, culture, organization, planning, information, and control.

1. IMPORTANCE OF PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
Some organizations have begun to ask their
contractors to provide only project managers
who have been certified as professionals by
The Project Management Institute.
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2. WHAT IS A PROJECT?
• “A project is a problem scheduled for
solution.” This definition forces us to
recognize that projects are aimed at solving
problems and that failure to define the
problem properly is what sometimes gets us
into trouble.
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3. WHAT IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT?
• Project management is the planning, scheduling,
and controlling of project activities to meet
project objectives.
• The major objectives that must be met include
performance, cost, and time goals, while at the
same time you control or maintain the scope of the
project at the correct level.
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4. The scope of project
• The scope of a project should remain constant
throughout the life of the job.
• Unforeseen problems or an inadequately defined
problem the most common reason for scope
changes is that something is forgotten.
• In most cases the magnitude (scope) of the work
increases, as a result of overlooked details.
Continue to see more…
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5. …The scope of project
• Scope generally increases.
The only time project scope decreases is when the
budget is cut, and some of the originally planned
work is put on hold.
• The problem with scope changes is that they tend
to be small and incremental, if a number of them
occur, the project budget or schedule may suffer.
This is a fairly common cause of project failures.
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6. The Four Project Objectives are…
• Performance
• scope
• Cost
• Time
Continue…There are more!
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7. Performance, scope, Cost& Time
• Performance: The quality of the work being
done.
• Scope: The magnitude of the work to be
performed.
• Cost: The cost of project work, directly
related to the human and physical resources
applied.
• Time: The schedule that must be met.
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8. STEPS IN MANAGING A PROJECT
• Define the problem
• Develop solution options
• Plan the project
• Execute the plan
• Monitor and control progress
• Close the project.
To see more about them the…↓
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9. Define the problem
• What client need is being satisfied by the
project?
• It helps to visualize the desired end result.
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10. Develop solution options
• How many different ways might you go about
solving the problem?
• Brainstorm solution alternatives (you can do
this alone or as a group).
• Is it more or less costly than other suitable
choices?
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11. Plan the project
• Planning is answering questions—what must
be done, by whom, for how much, how,
when, and so on.
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12. Execute the plan
• Once the plan is drafted, it must be
implemented. Interestingly, people
sometimes go to great effort to put together
a plan, then fail to follow it. If a plan is not
followed, there is not much point in planning,
is there?
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13. Monitor and control progress
• Unless progress is monitored, you cannot be
sure you will succeed. It would be like using a
roadmap to reach a destination.
• Control: What are you expected to do as a manager?
If a deviation from the plan is discovered, you
must ask what must be done to get back on
track, or—if that seems impossible—how the
plan should be modified to reflect new
realities.
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14. Strategy vs. Tactics
• Strategy: The approach being used to do
the project.
• Tactics: The steps taken to implement
the strategy or approach chosen.
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15. Close the project.
• The project is finished, but there is a final
step that should be taken.
• The point is to learn something from what
you just did.
• What was done well? What should be
improved? What else did we learn? We can
always improve on what we have done.
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16. The Project Management System
• In order to manage projects successfully, it is
necessary to have a system. A full project
management system consists of seven
components.
• If any one of the seven components is not in
place or does not function satisfactorily, then
you will have some difficulty managing
projects.
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17. The seven components are…
• Human Factors.
• Method.
• Culture.
• Organization.
• Planning.
• Information.
• Control. Continue…
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18. Human Factors
A project manager must be able to deal effectively
with all of the parts of this subsystem in order to
be successful.
• Leadership.
• Negotiation.
• Team building.
• Motivation.
• Communication.
• Decision making.
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19. Continue..The seven components
• Methods refer to the tools of your trade.
• The culture of an organization affects
everything you do.
• Organization:Every organization must deal with
the assignment and definition of each person’s
authority, responsibility, and accountability.
• Planning: Every organization needs a good
methodology for planning projects if it is to be
successful.
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20. Continue… Information & Control
• Good historical data are needed for planning
projects.
• The control subsystem is supported by the
planning and information subsystems.
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