Project Management:What and Why

Wayne Baggett

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What is a Project?

• PMI (PMBOK) definition:– a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a

unique product, service, or result

• Important words:– Temporary = definite beginning and end

• Could be long term, though!

– Unique• Product doesn’t already exist in *exactly* the same

form

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What is Project Management?

• PMI (PMBOK) definition:– the application of knowledge, skills, tools and

techniques to project activities to meet project requirements

• Not the technical work of the project!– PM *enables* the technical work to proceed– PM activities define/control/direct the technical work

• Establishes project goals (scope, cost, schedule, quality)• Identifies and deals with risks (technical, managerial)• Establishes the processes to be used by the project

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Triple Constraint

• Classically, Project Management works with three quantities– Scope – what is being done– Cost – how much $ you have to spend– Schedule – when it needs to be done

• Project Manager manages these items to accomplish the project goals

• These items interact to affect quality

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Why Project Management?

?

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Why Project Management?

• Have you– Ever worked on a project?– Provided a time estimate for a task?– Provided a progress estimate on a task?– Helped decide who would work on a project?– Helped decide what work is needed on a

project?

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Why Project Management?

Because we do many PM activities as part of our

work, anyway!

Might as well learn and

apply accepted best practices

to what we already do!

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What Are Those Best Practices?

• PMI defines five “Process Groups”– Initiating

• Project charter & Initial scope

– Planning• Scope definition & schedule, cost, risk, etc. planning

– Executing• Team building, QA, general management

– Monitoring & Controlling• Schedule & cost control, risk monitoring, performance

reporting, contract administration

– Closing• Contract closure, project closing

Process: A set of interrelated activities performed to achieve a pre-specified set of products, services, or results.

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What Are Those Best Practices?

• PMI defines nine “Knowledge Areas”– Project Integration Management– Project Scope Management– Project Time Management– Project Cost Management– Project Quality Management– Project Human Resource Management– Project Communications Management– Project Risk Management– Project Procurement Management

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Best Practice MatrixInitiating Planning Executing

Monitoring & Controlling Closing

Integration 2 1 1 2 1

Scope 3 2

Time 5 1

Cost 2 1

Quality 1 1 1

Human Resources 1 2 1

Communications 1 1 2

Risk 5 1

Procurement 2 2 1 1

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Summary

• Project Management– Is something we do anyway– Is an organized approach to achieve project

goals– Utilizes best practices

• Well-defined• Time-tested• Generally accepted

– Is worth learning and applying to our work