BEYOND PMP:�INTEGRATION MANAGEMENT

ABHINAY VERMA

Purpose of this document

Learning about project management doesn’t end when you pass the PMP exam. PMP teaches a methodology that every practitioner must follow. However, the PMP content is quite detailed and is geared for large projects and many small projects, typically in IT industry, do not follow all processes described in the PMBOK. As a result, many PMP certified project managers either forget what their learnt or start thinking that most of what they studied is not relevant for their roles. This slide deck is intended for all of us who wish to retain the most important and practice advice that PMP taught us irrespective of how big or small our projects are.

INTEGRATION MANAGEMENT

What Integration Management means? Integration Management is actually the core essence of what PMI wants Project Managers to do. Project Manager’s main role is to bring all the different piece of the puzzle together, that is, to put all the pieces of the project together in such a way that it becomes a cohesive whole and meets the stakeholder’s requirements and objectives. In other words, the main job of the project manager is to perform integration management.

Scope Schedule

Resources

Cost

Procurement

Quality

Communications Risks

Large vs. Small Projects The PMP exam expects us to think in terms of large projects. What are the key aspects in which large projects differ from small ones?

Size of stakeholder group Diversity in team composition

Complexity of Communication Plan to manage stakeholder expectations Number of nations, locations, cultures, language barriers etc.

Number of activities Risk Exposure

Foreign exchange rates Number of contracts

Legal requirements to adhere to Number of metrics to track and report to sponsors

Project Selection Methods Every organization has a methodology based on which it decides which projects to pursue and which ones to discard. Generally, these project selection methods can be categorized as: Benefit Measurement Approach: •  Peer review •  Scoring models •  Murder Boards (This is a panel which tries to shoot down ideas) •  Economic Models – Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, Cost Benefit Analysis etc. Constrained Optimization: •  Linear Programming For the PMP exam, it is important to know the various economic models of project selection.

Management Plans There is a management plan for each of the knowledge areas described in the PMBOK. A management plan describes how you will define, plan, manage and control the project. The project management plan includes the following:

•  Which all processes from the process repository described by PMBOK will be used

•  Management plans for each of the knowledge areas

•  Scope, Schedule and Cost baselines – together these baselines are called the performance management baseline.

•  Requirements Management Plan – this describes how requirement will be gathered, analyzed and managed.

•  Change Management Plan – describes the change management process that will be used.

•  Configuration Management Plan – to manage changes to the project deliverables.

•  Process Improvement Plan – it is the responsibility of every project manager to document a plan on improving the

processes used on the project.

The performance of the project is measured against the performance management baselines. This is why it is important to have a realistic management plan for each of the knowledge areas especially scope, schedule and cost.

Change Management Process •  Try to prevent root cause of changes •  Identify change •  Evaluate the impact of the changes •  Create a change request •  Perform Integrated Change Control – understand

the change, look for options, get decision (approve/reject)

•  Adjust the project management plan and baselines •  Manage stakeholders expectations by

communicating the change to all stakeholders, not just those who are being affected by it

•  Manage the project according to the revised/updated baseline and project management plan

Manage Project

Identify Change

Evaluate Impact

Perform Integrated Change Control

Adjust Plan &

Baselines

Inform Stakehold

ers