Oooh - project management. How to interpret about the results of project management and its significance. Is this the result of project management to run big works smoothly after organizing small works?. Isn't project management really just a series of events to create some thing, by some point, way off in some hazy future? Not really.



Defining projects will give us clear picture about project management. Technically a project is defined as putting all efforts for a fixed time duration in a systematic way for producing a useful product or service. In other words a project is an assignment that is being produced to the complete satisfaction of their customers.

Our day-to-day activities will never constitute a set of activities for a project to create something. A project creates a unique deliverable. An example to better understand about project is creating and developing the code for a game software. On the other hand after project completion, there is the scope for maintenance and operation activities like manufacturing the CDs, its marketing and provision of technical support that is required to customers

Customer has to accept the terms and conditions of the project before its execution.

The United States of Project Management

In my project management seminars I like to say that this point in the room represent our current state; this is where our organization is today. We have some opportunity that we'd like to seize. We have some problem that we'd like to solve. Or there's technology that has leapfrogged our current equipment so we need to improve our technical attributes. Where we are now is our current state.

Then I'll stroll to a distant part of the room. This new location represents where we want our organization to get to. This describes our desired future state. Can you imagine how great our organization would be once we reach this destination? Can you imagination the problem solved, the seized opportunity, or the new technology and how it makes our business better? This spot represent our desired future state.

As you know projects are short-term endeavors to create a unique product or service. Projects are out of the normal duties you do as part of your operations. Projects are constrained by time, cost, and scope -- and other constraints such as regulations, resources, or even vendors.

The Iron Triangle of project management posits that all projects are constrained by time, cost, and scope. Even single angle of the project has detrimental effect on whole project for its stability and smooth running.

Initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing are the five important process groups that every project has to undergo. Each process group has key activities that lend to a successful project. I believe the most important group is planning. Improper planning leads to project failure.

Yes so far we have covered the various parameters to be seen on keen like constrains, challenges that every project manager faces, how to operate project in this brief introduction to project management. On top of this strong foundation there are nine knowledge.

For now know this: The ability of the project manager to lead, manage and motivate the project team to complete the project as per the schedule manner is the success measure for a project. The project plan supports the vision the project manager has inherited from the project stakeholders. Project stake holder's vision of the desired future project should be imparted on the vision of the project manager, other wise projects will be ineffective and lead to catastrophic failures.

Projects fail at the beginning, not the end.