Introduction to Project
Management
Learning outcomes
At the end of this session, you should be able to:
• Define a project and the role of Project Management.
• Recognize the new opportunities and constraints that
exist in the field of Project Management.
• Locate project management within a university
environment
• Explain the benefits of project management.
• Link projects to strategy
• Understand how projects are selected
Definition of a project and
project management
• Project: A complex, non-routine, one-time
effort limited by time, budget, resources, and
performance specifications designed to meet
customer needs.
• Project management: The application of
knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project
activities in order to meet or exceed stakeholder
needs and expectations from a project
Definition of a project and
project management
•Major Characteristics of a Project
Has an established objective.
Has a defined life span with a beginning and an
end.
Requires across-the-organizational participation.
Involves doing something never been done
before.
Has specific time, cost, and performance
requirements.
Distinguishing levels of
projects
• Mega project:
• Extremely large scale investment project (> US$ 1 billion)
• High public profile
• Portfolio: collection of projects grouped together.
• Programme: A series of coordinated, related, multiple projects that continue
over an extended time and are intended to achieve a goal
• A higher level group of projects targeted at a common goal.
•Example:
•Project: completion of a required course in project management.
•Program: completion of all courses required for a business major.
Project Constraints
The Project Life Cycle/s
•Used as an alternative method to analyse and
understand projects
•Usefulness of this approach lies in the fact that a
(the) life cycle indicates both a defined life span
and a differing degree of effort that needs to be
exerted
•Each industry ultimately has a specific project
life cycle
The Project Life Cycle/s
Project life cycle stages include:
•Project definition: establishing goals and specs;
team formation and assignment of roles
•Project planning: establishing the what, when,
who and how
•Project execution: work on the project is carried
out and control measures are implemented to
monitor progress
•Delivery stage: handing over of project to the
customer and redeploying resources
The Project Life Cycle/s
Why Project Management?
• Time to market reduced
•Knowledge explosion
•Triple bottom line (planet, people, profit)
•Corporate downsizing
•Increased customer focus
•Small projects represent big problems (integration)
•Other?