PROJECT MANAGEMENTWhat is Project Management?Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. Project management is accomplished through the appropriate application and integration of a number of logically grouped project management processes comprising the 5 phases. These 5 phases are:

• Initiating,• Planning,• Executing,• Monitoring and Controlling, and• Closing.

Understanding the Project Management Triple Constraint

All projects are carried out under constraints - traditionally cost, time and scope. These three important factors, commonly called the triple constraint, are often represented as a triangle. More recently the triangle has given way to a project management diamond, with cost, time, scope and quality the four vertices with customer expectations as a central theme.

Each constraint forms the vertices with quality added as a central theme.

Projects must be delivered within cost. Projects must be delivered on time. Projects must meet agreed scope, no more - no less. Projects must also meet customer quality requirements.

More recently the triangle has given way to a project management diamond, with cost, time, scope and quality the four vertices with customer expectations as a central theme (see Figure 2). No two customer expectations are the same so you must ask what their expectations are.

Managing a project typically includes:

• Identifying requirements,• Addressing the various needs, concerns, and expectations of the stakeholders as the project is planned and carried out,• Balancing the competing project constraints including, but not limited to:○ Scope,○ Quality,○ Schedule,○ Budget,○ Resources, and○ Risk.

The relationship among these factors is such that if any one factor changes, at least one other factor is likely to be affected. For example, if the schedule is shortened, often the budget needs to be increased to add additional resources to complete the same amount of work in less time. If a budget increase is not possible,the scope or quality may be reduced to deliver a product in less time for the same budget. Project stakeholders may have differing ideas as to which factors are the most important, creating an even greater challenge.Changing the project requirements may create additional risks. The project team must be able to assess the situation and balance the demands in order to deliver a successful project.

During a software development project your customer increases the scope. They ask to add new features to the software after hearing about a competitors' product that will be in direct competition with theirs. It is important the product has the new features if it is to compete successfully.

Impact: The budget and schedule increase as a result pushing out the final delivery date. More people are added to the project to minimise disruption to the schedule increasing the projects' overall cost. The most important constraint in this case is the scope (the features of the product).

Phases Of Project management:

• Initiation• Planning• Execution• Monitoring & Control• Closure

Processes Of Project management:

• Scope• Quality• Schedule• Budget/Resources• Risk

PHASES OF P ROJECT MANAGEMENT

Initiation

The initiation of a project involves determining its requirements to some degree of detail,

outlining candidate solution approaches and an assessment of whether or not to proceed with the

project.

• Develop Project Charter:Document that formally authorizes a project or a phase and documenting initial

requirements that satisfies the stakeholder’s needs and expectation.

• Identify Stakeholders:Identifying all people impacted by the project and documenting relevant

information regarding their interest, involvement & impact on project succes.

Planning

A process of documenting the actions necessary to define,prepare,integrate & coordinate all subisdiary plans. Its is the primary source of information for how the project will be planned,executed,monitored & controlled & closed.

• Develop Project Management Plan• Collect requirements.• Define Scope.• Create Work Breakdown Structure.• Define activities.• Develop Schedule.• Determine Budget / Estimate Cost.• Plan Quality.• Human resource plan.• Plan risk management.

Execution

The Executing Process Group consist of those processes performed to complete the work defined in the

project management plan to satisfy the project specifications.This Process Group involves coordinating peopleand resources, as well as integrating and performing the activities of the project in

accordance with the projectmanagement plan

• Manage project Execution.• Perform Quality assurance.• Acquire/Manage project team.• Distribute information.• Manage stakeholder expectation.

Monitoring & Controlling

The Monitoring and Controlling Process Group consists of those processes required 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.

• Monitor and Control Project Work.• Verify Scope.• Control Scope.• Control Schedule.• Control Cost.• Report Performance.• Monitor & control risks.

Closure

The Closing Process Group consists of those processes performed to fi nalize all activities across all Project

Management Process Groups to formally complete the project, phase, or contractual obligations. This Process

Group, when completed, verifi es that the defi ned processes are completed within all the Process Groups to

close the project or a project phase, as appropriate, and formally establishes that the project or project phase

is complete.

• Close Project or Phase.

PROCESSES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENTProject Scope Management:

Project Scope Management includes the processes required to ensure that the project includes all the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully. Managing the project scope is primarily concerned with defining and controlling what is and is not included in the project. It has the following processes :

1 Collect Requirements—The process of defining and documenting stakeholders’ needs to meet the project objectives.2 Define Scope—The process of developing a detailed description of the project and product.3 Create WBS—The process of subdividing project deliverables and project work into smaller, more manageable components.4 Verify Scope—The process of formalizing acceptance of the completed project deliverables.5 Control Scope—The process of monitoring the status of the project and product scope and managing changes to the scope baseline.

Project Quality Management:

Project Quality Management includes the processes and activities of the performing organization that determine quality policies, objectives, and responsibilities so that the project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken. It implements the quality management system through policy and procedures with continuous process improvement activities conducted throughout, as appropriate. It has the following processes :

1 Plan Quality—The process of identifying quality requirements and/or standards for the project and product, and documenting how the project will demonstrate compliance.2 Perform Quality Assurance—The process of auditing the quality requirements and the results from quality control measurements to ensure appropriate quality standards and operational definitions are used.3 Perform Quality Control—The process of monitoring and recording results of executing the quality activities to assess performance and recommend necessary changes.

Project Time Management:

Project Time Management includes the processes required to manage timely completion of the project. It has the following processes :

1 Define Activities—The process of identifying the specific actions to be performed to produce the project deliverables.2 Sequence Activities—The process of identifying and documenting relationships among the project activities.3 Estimate Activity Resources—The process of estimating the type and quantities of material,people, equipment, or supplies required to perform each activity.4 Estimate Activity Durations—The process of approximating the number of work periods needed to complete individual activities with estimated resources.5 Develop Schedule—The process of analyzing activity sequences, durations, resource requirements, and schedule constraints to create the project schedule.6 Control Schedule—The process of monitoring the status of the project to update project progress and managing changes to the schedule baseline.

Project Cost Management:

Project Cost Management includes the processes involved in estimating, budgeting, and controlling costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget. It has the following processes :

1 Estimate Costs—The process of developing an approximation of the monetary resources needed to complete project activities.2 Determine Budget—The process of aggregating the estimated costs of individual activities or work packages to establish an authorized cost baseline.3 Control Costs—The process of monitoring the status of the project to update the project budget and managing changes to the cost baseline.

Project Human Resource Management:

Project Human Resource Management includes the processes that organize, manage, and lead the project team. The project team is comprised of the people with assigned roles and responsibilities for completing the project. The type and number of project team members can change frequently as the project progresses.Project team members may also be referred to as the project’s staff. While the specific roles and responsibilities for the project team members are assigned, the involvement of all team members in project planning and decision making can be beneficial. Early involvement and participation of team members adds their expertise during the planning process and strengthens their commitment to the project. It has the following processes :

1 Develop Human Resource Plan—The process of identifying and documenting project roles, responsibilities, and required skills, reporting relationships, and creating a staffing management plan.2 Acquire Project Team—The process of confirming human resource availability and obtaining the team necessary to complete project assignments.3 Develop Project Team—The process of improving the competencies, team interaction, and the overall team environment to enhance project performance.4 Manage Project Team—The process of tracking team member performance, providing feedback, resolving issues, and managing changes to optimize project performance.

Project Risk Management:

Project Risk Management includes the processes of conducting risk management planning, identification, analysis, response planning, and monitoring and control on a project. The objectives of Project Risk Management are to increase the probability and impact of positive events, and decrease the probability and impact of negative events in the project. It has the following processes :

1 Plan Risk Management—The process of defining how to conduct risk management activities for a project.2 Identify Risks—The process of determining which risks may affect the project and documenting their characteristics.3 Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis—The process of prioritizing risks for further analysis or action by assessing and combining their probability of occurrence and impact.4 Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis—The process of numerically analyzing the effect ofidentified risks on overall project objectives.5 Plan Risk Responses—The process of developing options and actions to enhance opportunities and to reduce threats to project objectives.6 Monitor and Control Risks—The process of implementing risk response plans, tracking identified risks, monitoring residual risks, identifying new risks, and evaluating risk process effectiveness throughout the project.