What is Project Management?

What is Project Management? It is processes and procedures. Also it entails people and technology. In sum, these items enable projects to be managed.

PMP Project Management is a process driven framework. Continuous delivery of solutions and services processes. Project Delivery requires standards. Project Managers ensure timely closure of projects. The closure of projects need to be cost-effective. Quality is also a parameter to be evaluated. PMP project management is the principles and methods providing quality project delivery. Project Management PMP is an international accredited degree. It validates your expertise in managing busines projects. A variety of different project tools drive results.

Consider project management as best standard of projects. It starts from initiating a project. And ends after the project closure. In between, you do continuous efficiencies.

 

Project Management Tools

Project management tools has two parts. One focuses on the technical aspect.  Second part focuses on human aspect of project delivery. Also, Project Management fundamentals is based upon a framework. Framework defines the best practices. It defines methodologies to close projects in a timely and cost-effective environment. Project Management is more of a skill set. However, the project management course prepares you for the examination. Half of the success is going through the experience itself. Project management software and tools manifests efficiency. Use these tools to work by best standards.

As a project manager, you learn many new tools. New tools come each quarter. Some work on different tools. We recommend keep track of tools for different segments. Software development project management tools for software programs.

Tools also require skills. You need knowledge to use these applications. These applications are for project managers. Similarly, tools can be specific to tasks. Not all applications cater to all phases. For example, some project tools focuses on time management. Other applications are useful for costing. As project managers you need to be vigilant of different tools.

Without using tools your work is difficult. We recommend learning the latest tools. Depending upon the career path, the tools change. If you are working in construction, the tools are different. And if you are in telecom, the tools are different. So, there is no tool that fits all. Basically parameters define tools. Sometimes you need multiple tools. Certain tools focuses on cost. And other tools on people management skills.

 

Project Management Life Cycle

Project Management revolves around a particular project. A project attempts to achieve a particular objective. The objectives can take the shape and form of any outcome or output. Project outcomes are governed by the requirements of the organization.

Project is a definitive life cycle. This is not the case of a generic activity. Best PMP Certification Training programs include practical examples.

Project Managers build life cycles. This is critical for optimization. Life cycle is catering to the activities and needs. Project deliveries to add into life cycle. Life cycle communicates phases and the sub activities. Break up the activities into a life cycle. Life cycle is a complete understanding or project.

 

Core Components of Any Project Management

The following are the core components of Project Management:

• Defining the reason to implement the project
• Capturing of all the pre-requisites and mandatory requirements
• Estimating cost, human resources and time of project delivery
• Securing funding and management approval
• Developing a project management plan
• Leading and motivating the project delivery team
• Monitoring the progress of the project
• Monitoring and mitigating risks and hurdles
• Clearly communicating the milestones to stakeholders
• Handling Service Agreements
• Closing the Project

There are many other components as well. Probably, there are other components as well. Depends upon your needs. Different project managers have different components. It is all fine. All projects are all different. This is natural. Hence, keep the components that make it successful. Never create a vacuum. Create the project in all perspectives. Much of the skill is acquired through attending any quality oriented project planning course.

 

When Do you Use Project Management?

Scope and delivery kick-starts when an organization requires a particular outcome. An example, is when a company wants to roll out a particular item for a particular event. Any product needs to be made in a certain amount of time. Manufacturing and shipping the item requires people, process and technology.

Other project examples:

• Reducing cost of a particular service offering
• Constructing a new building
• Software development

Everything deserves a project plan. Without it you cannot manage projects. Consequently, you need project management skills. Can you starta phase? No, that is not the case. You use project skills every time. Project management for IT professionals is a similar perspective. Recommend using the tools and cycle in any part of the phases. I realize that you can get stuck. It is logical. However, we recommend start doing it when you can. Many of times it will work well. We recommend you start working on managing key deliverables today.

Making a software? Building software as a project is a must. Build anything with best practices. Known fact that PMP gives efficiencies.

 

Project Management Life Cycle

Any project follows a particular life cycle. The following are the main groups that constitute the life-cycle:

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

Again this depends upon the type of service. If you are in a product manufacturing, different stages occur. And if you are in service segment, different phases take place. For the most part, the phases remain in totality. These stages are for effective project management. It is about initiation to closing. All other phases in between. As a result, you need to use all. No other framework works.

Life cycle works effectively. Create project life cycles for consistent quality. Implementing life cycle is not easy. You need experience and knowledge. However, implementing it gives immediate benefits.

Again life cycles are different in industries. You cannot apply the life cycle to all segments. The life cycle

 

Knowledge Areas

The following are the main project management knowledge areas:

• Integration
• Scope
• Time
• Cost
• Quality
• Procurement
• Human resources
• Communications
• Risk management
• Stakeholder management

Each one works differently. Depends upon the scenarios. All of these areas are used differently. It depends upon the situation. For example, sometimes you use the cost knowledge area skills. Many of times you focus on stakeholder management. In many cases, quality skills mandatory. Again this depends upon the situations. You need to be smart enough to know the differences. And when to use them.

In contrast, project managers who do not know when to use these skills fail. This is a basic root cause issue. Not knowing when to use applications and tools. Common mistake by many.

Interestingly, project managers become experts in certain knowledge areas. Why? Because they start working on certain areas. Like if you are working in procurement, your skills will develop accordingly. We recommend that you keep training on other areas as well.

Human resource skills most essential. People management is key. Projects have people. People work on different tasks. As a project manager you need to manage. Manage is hard. People have different views. You need to keep cost and time into account. Learn these skills.

Communications is another important skills. Communications is about providing details to teams.

Risk management is detrimental. Mitigate risks.

 

Project Management Effective Framework

Lastly, consider project management is a framework. Focusing on these frameworks improve projects. Project managers implement frameworks. The frameworks keep changing. Improving is a routine. Knowledge expands. Projects improve through sharing of data.

Frameworks create service value. Without framework, projects get delayed. Hence, the need to create models. It creates value from inception to closure.