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Module 1 Project Management

This document introduces key concepts in project management including the triple constraints of scope, time and cost; the nine knowledge areas and four project phases. It defines what a project and project management are, and provides an overview of important terminologies used in project management.

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Pedro Penduko
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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
200 views

Module 1 Project Management

This document introduces key concepts in project management including the triple constraints of scope, time and cost; the nine knowledge areas and four project phases. It defines what a project and project management are, and provides an overview of important terminologies used in project management.

Uploaded by

Pedro Penduko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Romblon State University

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTANCY

OM 3 Project Management

Module 1
Introduction to Project Management and
Project Integration Management
Introduction
This module is designed to introduce you to the basic concepts and
definitions associated with project management and project initiation
management. You will learn about the triple constraints of scope, time
and cost; the nine functional knowledge areas associated with project
management and the four major phases of a project. You will also learn
about the skills and tools used to integrate all of the knowledge areas
throughout a project’s lifecycle.

Learning Outcome:
Students can write a reflective essay about the importance of the nine
bodies of knowledge to project management.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the importance of project


management.

• evolve the initial plan systematically using the project life cycle and
the project management processes.
• assess the feasibility of a basic project base on technical and
economic factors.
• demonstrate an understanding of project integration management
to coordinate the various fields of knowledge for the success of the
project and scope change control.

1|P a ge
OM 3 Project Management

Activity on Arrow A project diagram in which activities are


(AOA) or Arrow represented by arrows and are connected at
Diagramming points called nodes to illustrate activity
Method (ADM): sequencing.

Terminologies Backward pass: The technique that determines late start and late
finish dates for each activity.

Baseline dates: The initial planned dates.

Crashing: A technique for making cost and schedule


tradeoffs to obtain the greatest amount of
schedule compression for the least incremental
cost. This involves adding more resources on a
critical path item. The trade-off is shortened
project duration for higher overall project cost.

Controlling Ensuring that project objectives are met as


processes: defined by monitoring, measuring progress
against plan, identifying variance from plan and
taking corrective action.
Closing Formalising the completion and acceptance of a
processes:
phase and or the project and closing all
associated activities.

Critical path method A project network analysis technique used to


(CPM): predict longest total project duration.
Change control A formal, documented process that describes
system: when and how official project documents
(especially the project plan) may be changed. It
describes those authorised to make changes, the
procedures to be followed and the tracking
system that will be used.
Dependency Arrows connecting the individual task duration
arrows:
bars show relationships, dependencies and
precedents between tasks.
Early start:
The earliest possible time an activity can start.
Early finish: The earliest possible time an activity can finish,
represented as (early start date + duration).
Executing
Managing the resources required to carry out
processes:
the project as defined in the plan.
Fast tracking: Performing activities in parallel that you would
normally do sequentially or in slightly
overlapping time frames (e.g., starting to
programme or code before all of the analysis is
complete).
OM 3 Project Management

Forward pass:
The technique to determine the early start and early finish
dates for each activity.
Free slack: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without
delaying the early start of any immediately following
activity.
Gantt chart:
A standard format for displaying project schedule
information by listing project activities and their
corresponding start and finish dates in calendar format.
Initiating processes: Formal authorisation of the project or phase.

Late start: The latest possible time an activity can start without
delaying the project completion date.
Late finish:
The latest possible date an activity can be completed
without delaying the overall project completion date.

PERT:
A network analysis technique used to estimate project
duration when there is a high degree of uncertainty about
the individual duration estimates.

Project life cycle: The life cycle starts with initiation phase, planning,
implementation, and close out.
Slipped milestone:
A milestone activity that was completed later than
originally planned.
Summary tasks:
This summarises the duration for all sub-tasks beneath it
– represented by a thick black bar with downward
pointing arrows at the beginning and end.

Task duration bars:


These are smaller lighter-coloured horizontal bars
representing the duration of an individual task.

Total slack: The amount of time an activity can be delayed from its
early start without delaying the planned project
completion date.
Work breakdown structure The work breakdown structure is a tool that displays in
(WBS): detail, the project statement of work to aid in
understanding and communication of the project scope.
The WBS is created from the earliest stages of project
definition.
Work authorisation systems: This is a formalised process used on large projects to
authorise work to begin on a particular activity or work
package.
OM 3 Project Management

Project definition
A project is defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI) ™, as a “temporary
endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service.”1 In lay person terms a project is a
grouping of tasks with a specified start and end date, a specific and defined objective, a budget and
resources assigned to the effort. A project is a one-time event that creates or manages change. Either
you are implementing something new such as a new programme, a new system or you are enhancing
existing programmes or systems. Repetitive tasks or performing the same task again and again are
not by definition projects.

What is project management?


Project management has been called an accidental profession. In many organizations in the
past project managers typically stumbled or fell into project management responsibilities. The world
has since changed and project management is now recognized globally as a formal discipline, with
international standards and guidelines and a growing knowledge base of best practices.

Project management is the application of skills and knowledge and the use of tools and
techniques applied to activities in a project to complete the project as defined in the scope.

Project management is not only the use of a scheduling tool such as Microsoft Project™, and
Scheduler Plus. Many organizations still do not understand that the ability to use a scheduling tool is
not enough to successfully manage a project. The use of a tool is only one part of the equation.
Successful project management requires a high level of skill in both the people and technical side of
the discipline.

If we consider that the tasks in a project are completed by people, this then sheds an entirely
different light to the concept of project management and should make it clear that for successful
project management the right combination of skills can impact on success and project outcomes.

The world is changing very rapidly with added complexities, increased expectations and
constant change. Project management is an effective process for organizations to address business
needs to get products and services to market more quickly and preferably before the competition!
International standards and guidelines
Project management is a formal discipline with international standards and guidelines developed by
the Project Management Institute (PMI) ™. A significant body of knowledge has been accumulated
relating to effective project management practices, tools, techniques and processes across industries.
PMI™ is recognized as the international body providing guidance and direction for the discipline.
PMI™ has developed the “Project Management Body of Knowledge™” or “PMBOK™”
documenting the essential knowledge areas and processes required to effectively manage projects.
There are nine body of knowledge areas within the standards and guidelines.
1. Integration management – processes to ensure that the elements of the project are effectively
coordinated. Integration management involves making decisions throughout the project in terms
of objectives and alternative approaches to meet or exceed stakeholder expectations.
2. Scope management – processes to ensure that all the work required to complete the project is
defined. Defining what is or is not in scope.
3. Time management – all processes required to ensure that the project completes on time
(defined schedule).

1 A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge -PMBOK®


OM 3 Project Management

4. Cost management – all processes required to ensure the project is completed within the
budget approved for the project.
5. Quality management – processes to ensure that the project delivers the need for which it
was undertaken. Includes all quality processes such as quality policy, objectives, and
responsibility and implements these through quality planning, quality assurance, quality
control and quality improvement.
6. Risk management – all processes involved in identifying, assessing/analyzing,
responding and controlling project risk.
7. Human resource management – all processes required to make the most effective use of
people resources in a project, including sponsor, stakeholders, partners, team etc.
8. Communications management – all processes to ensure timely and appropriate
distribution of project information, includes providing links between key people in the
project, generating, collecting, disseminating, storing and archival of project information.
9. Procurement management – processes to acquire goods and services for the project
outside of the organization.

Project management processes


Project management processes define, organize and complete the work defined for the project.
There are five project management process areas that apply to most projects and are defined in the
PMBOK™:
1. Initiating processes – authorizing the project or phase.
2. Planning processes – defining the project objectives and selecting the most appropriate
approach for the project to attain the objectives.
3. Executing processes – managing the resources required to carry out the project as defined in
the plan.
4. Controlling processes – ensuring that project objectives are met as defined by monitoring,
measuring progress against plan, identifying variance from plan and taking corrective action. 5.
Closing processes – formalizing acceptance of a phase and or the project and closing all
associated activities.
Project management is integrative and to effectively manage a project, a project manager
uses all of the body of knowledge areas and all of the processes throughout the life cycle of a
project.

The following diagram is a sample of a standard four-phase project life cycle.


OM 3 Project Management

Used with permission from Enterprise Project Management Ltd.

Project vs. product life cycles


Those of you involved in information technology fields have likely heard of the systems
development life cycle (SDLC) – a framework for describing the phases involved in developing and
maintaining IT systems. This is an example of a product life cycle.

The project life cycle applies to all projects (regardless of product produced) whereas a
product life cycle varies depending on the nature of the product. Many products (such as large IT
systems) are actually developed through a series of several different projects.

Large projects are seldom given full funding and approval from the beginning. Usually a
project has to successfully pass through each of the project phases before continuing to the next. The
practice of “progressive resource commitment” also means you only get the money for the next phase
after the earlier phase has been completed and there is an opportunity for management review to
evaluate progress, probability of success and continued alignment with organisational strategy. These
management points are often called phase exits, kill points or stage gates.

What is the value of project management?


Project management increases the probability of project success. Project management is
change facilitation, and used effectively with appropriate processes, tools, techniques and skills will:
✓ Support the business
✓ get the product or service to market effectively, efficiently and to quality standards
✓ provide common approach to project management
✓ improve service.
Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project
activities in order to meet or exceed stakeholder needs and expectations from a project.
OM 3 Project Management

How project management relates to other disciplines


Project management overlaps with general management knowledge and practice, as well as
with the project's application areas, knowledge, and practice. Project managers focus on integrating
all the pieces required for project completion. General managers or operational managers tend to focus
on a particular discipline or functional area. In this respect, project management tends to be a cross-
functional role, often involving people from various business areas and divisions.

While project management requires some fundamental understanding of the knowledge area
of the project itself, the project manager does not have to be an expert in that field. You don’t need to
be a certified carpenter, plumber, and electrician to manage the construction of your house, but you
do need to have at least a fundamental understanding of each trade or discipline.

The project management profession


The Project Management Institute (PMI) ™ provides certification as a project management
professional (PMP). The requirements include verification of from 4500 to 7500 hours of project
management experience (depending on education level), adherence to a Code of Ethics, and obtaining
a score of 70 per cent or higher on a 200-question multiple choice certification exam. For further
information see the PMI Internet website at http://www.PMI.org.

There are also numerous other sources of information on the project management profession.
Here are some other websites you may wish to check out:
• www.gantthead.com
• www.projectmanagement.com
• www.4pm.com
• www.pmforum.org
• www.allpm.com
• www.ipma.ch
• www.apm.org.uk
• www.projectnet.com
• www.comptia.org/certification/itprojectplus/index.htm

Understanding organizations
Ask any experienced project manager what the most important part of project management is and what
is likely to give them the most difficulty, and the answer invariably is people. That’s because
managing projects is really about getting people to work together co-operatively. So understanding
organizational dynamics and politics is often key to project success. Organizations can be viewed as
having four different frames:
1. Structural (this is the formal or rational view – like you see in an org chart)
2. Human resource (this focuses on balancing the needs of the organization and the needs of its
people)
3. Political (who really has the power, influence and control over resources – often different than
what the org chart would lead you to believe!)
4. Symbolic (this relates to organizational culture and the meaning attributed to certain symbols,
events, or processes)
OM 3 Project Management

The importance of project stakeholders


Project stakeholders are the people involved in or affected by project activities.
• Internal stakeholders:
✓ project sponsor
✓ project team
✓ support staff
✓ internal customers
✓ Senior Management
✓ Functional Managers Compete for Resources
✓ Other Project Managers
• External stakeholders
✓ external customers
✓ competitors
✓ suppliers
✓ others affected by the project, but not directly involved (e.g.,
government, concerned citizens, etc.).
A project manager once said there are three important questions to ask at the beginning of
any project regarding stakeholders and decision-making:
1. How do we know when we’ve won?
2. How do we know when we are done?
3. Who gets to decide 1. and 2.?
Stakeholder analysis
Identifies key stakeholders and information about them such as:
• organization or affiliation
• project role
• unique facts
• level of interest
• level of influence
• suggestions for managing the relationship with this stakeholder

Techno-economic feasibility analysis


Techno-economic analysis enables an investor to arrive at definite decisions about the
project implementation. As the project involves in a huge sum of money and time, it’s imperative to
verify its technical and economical viability. This is otherwise known as techno-economic feasibility
analysis. In this section we will examine how the technical aspects of a project be evaluated for its
technical feasibility followed by its economic analysis.
OM 3 Project Management

Technical feasibility analysis


This involves location decision, input raw material, size of plant, infrastructure facilities,
manpower availability, technology and construction process available for the proposed project. We
will discuss below briefly about each of them.
Location decision: The final location of a project comes from many alternative locations at
the initial stage. The optimum final location should then be evaluated using the criteria such as
materials availability, market orientation, infrastructural status, local laws, local government benefit
scheme, and socio-economic conditions. Local geography and climatic conditions also play important
rolls in the selection process. Further information on availability of land and its cost, utility
infrastructure (power, water, road/water transport, telecommunication.), Internet broadband,
availability and quality of skilled labour, public policies and taxes also help in the location decision.
Input raw material: Traditionally input raw materials need to be available next to the
location of an engineering project. This includes raw materials, component parts, sub-assemblies, coal,
water and steam, gas, fuel and electricity. In some cases, quality and quantity of raw materials is
crucial. Further important consideration is the suppliers of raw materials and their location from where
they operate. In today’s scenario, when the business operates in a globalized economy, sourcing of the
raw materials and component parts is possible from anywhere in the world thereby the physical
boundary is no longer a constraint for a new project. Also an important investigation at this stage is
the location of suppliers’ warehouse from where the raw materials, component parts etc. are sourced
easily with minimum lead time.
Size of plant: Plant size and market demand are interdependent. If the average demand of the
market is high and the proposed project is planning to cater the need of the market, a large capacity
plant is an obvious solution. Capacity determination is crucial at this stage because under-utilization
of the large capacity plant means operating below breakeven or leading to a loss-making situation. On
the other hand, small capacity results in having to forgo the market opportunity to the competitors.
Therefore building on the initial average capacity is a wise and conservative approach.
Infrastructure facilities: Infrastructures such as roads, railways, airways, waterways and
ports are to be studied at both implementation and operational stage of a proposed project. Close
proximity to these infrastructures facilitates the project operations and saves time in procurement and
delivery of products to market. Again the land area for the project itself should be able to house all
road network, service road, air-condition plant, gas and water pipe lines, storm water drainage systems,
captive power plant for a large scale plant etc. A detailed study of all such requirements is necessary
to avoid future surprises.
Manpower availability: Human involvement is central to all project management
irrespective of the degree of automation and computerization. Any project in the construction industry
is a good example of a labor-intensive endeavor whereas a technical project has got some level of
automation with less labor requirement. Manpower requirement and its availability are prerequisite to
any project from planning stage to implementation.
Technology: People, processes and technology are considered the foundation to any project
management. Technology drives the business. The same is true for the project and its management.
The technology requirement is quite different from one project/service to another. Examples like
construction of a multi-purpose dam, laying railway tracks, installing high power transmission lines,
multiplex theater and cafeteria need varying degrees of technology and processes. Building and
launching a satellite requires a high level of technology. Identification of an appropriate technology
remains a challenge for project managers or a team working behind a project. A technology is
considered appropriate only if it is assessed to be relevant and satisfactory. Some issues need to be
considered before buying a technology for the project management. The cost of acquisition,
installation, repairs and maintenance, obsolescence and the capacity of a project organization to
OM 3 Project Management

absorb/adopt the technology are few among many others. Patents, trademarks or licensing may be
involved.
Construction process: It involves methodologies for smooth flow of project and the risk
associated in it. A decision has to be made whether the project is to be undertaken in-house, on a
turnkey basis, or subcontracting out various work packages. Special assistance may be needed for
some critical activities in order to finish a project on time. The arrangement of construction equipment,
input raw material such as brick, cement, steel, and water, in the case of a construction project, has to
be organized by the sole owner. Also important is the supplier and their location in order to make the
just in time supply. Time scheduling the project activities using CPM/PERT network is crucial. If the
need arises, software such as MS Project or Primavera would be a great help in scheduling the project.
Economic and financial feasibility analysis
This includes all economic analysis and financial feasibility. The estimate of the total cost of
project investment and the cash-flow pattern is important at this stage of project evaluation. The capital
structure (debt and equity ratio), the financing sources, interest rates and working capital requirement
are to be decided before any final decision is taken. Financial decisions such as break-even point
calculation, pay-back period, NPV (net present value), IRR (internal rate of return), return on
investment (ROI), and return of assets (ROA) are to be considered at this feasibility stage of a project.
The final decision rests on the compliance of the above ratios and indices. The availability of timely
and relevant information ensures the correct calculation of the above ratios leading to appropriate
direction. Incorrect or incomplete information requires additional safety margins which might lead to
infeasibility.

In addition to the financial analysis discussed above, economic analysis is done from view
point of society or economy as a whole. It is known as social cost benefit analysis (SCBA). This
analysis looks into the national priorities, development of a specific economy sector and justifies the
consumption of national resources. The SCBA establishes a fact that the project is deemed fit only if
the sum total of the benefits to whom-so-ever they may accrue exceed the estimated costs.

Social cost and benefit analysis (SCBA), as discussed above, differs from monetary cost and
benefit analysis (financial analysis). SCBA considers external aspects of a project such as ecology and
environment. If the external damage is too great the project idea may be dropped, no matter what
financial benefits it has. SCBA considers poor and weaker sections of society rather than the rich and
affluent. The investment decision in SCBA is based on the need of a society without considering the
financial benefit. Some category of investment in a society is deemed appropriate looking at the needs
and wants of the society, whereas it is uncommon in an entrepreneurial firm.

Project management skill set


Some research has indicated that the following 15 functions are essential for effective project
management:
1. Define project scope
2. Identify stakeholders, decision-makers and escalation procedures
3. Develop detailed task lists (work breakdown structures)
4. Estimate time requirements
5. Develop initial project management flow chart
6. Identify required resources and budget
7. Evaluate project requirements
OM 3 Project Management

8. Identify and evaluate risks


9. Prepare contingency plans
10. Identify interdependencies
11. Identify and track critical milestones
12. Participate in project phase review
13. Secure needed resources
14. Manage the change control process
15. Report project status.

A March 1998 study of 100 practicing project managers found the following to be necessary critical
characteristics of an effective project manager:
• Leads by example
• Is visionary
• Is technically competent
• Is decisive
• Is a good communicator
• Is a good motivator
• Stands up to upper management when necessary
• Supports team members

• Encourages new ideas.

Project integration management


Many people confuse integration management with systems integration. The definition of
project integration management is “the processes involved in coordinating all of the other project
management knowledge areas throughout a project’s life cycle.”

To be an effective project manager, you must focus on performing integration management


making sure all the pieces come together at the right times to ensure project success. It is especially
difficult for people with technical backgrounds to delegate many technical tasks, so that they can focus
on integration management and the “big picture” view of the project. The three key components of
project integration management are:
1. Project Plan Development (creating the Project Plan)
2. Project Plan Execution (carrying out the Project Plan)
3. Change Control (coordinating changes across the entire project).

Integration management is about integrating the work of the entire project team by focusing on
high quality communication and relationship building. Thus project integration management includes
what is known as interface management – or identifying and managing the points of interaction
between the various project players and elements.
OM 3 Project Management

The project plan


The project plan is the core high-level document that guides a project’s execution and control. Project
plans:
• document assumptions, definitions and decisions
• facilitate stakeholder communication
• define content, extent and timing of key management reviews
• provide a baseline for project control and measuring progress
• define a size appropriate to the scope of the project.
The basic outline of a project plan is as follows:
1. Introduction or project overview
a. Project name
b. Project description
c. Project sponsor
d. Project manager
e. Key team members
f. Summary of key deliverables
g. List of reference documents or materials
h. Glossary of definitions and acronyms
2. Project organization
a. Organization charts
i. Company or institution organization chart
ii. Project organization chart (lines of authority, responsibilities and
communication)
b. Project responsibilities
c. Diagram, flow chart or timeline of major steps
3. Project management and technical processes
a. Management objectives, priorities, assumptions & constraints
b. Project controls
i. How is progress monitored?
ii. What is the change control process?
iii. Who has authority to make what types of decisions?
c. Risk management – how is risk identified, managed and controlled?
d. Project staffing – how many and what type of people are required and
when?
OM 3 Project Management

e. Technical processes – (e.g., Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)


and CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) tool selection.
f. Project documentation requirements.
4. Project deliverables and work breakdown structure
a. Major work packages
b. Key deliverables
c. Required specifications (hardware, software, construction
specifications, codes, regulations.).
5. Project schedule
a. Summary schedule (key deliverables and their planned completion
dates)
b. Detailed schedule including dependencies (network diagram for
illustration)
c. Schedule assumptions and constraints.
6. Project budget
a. Summary budget
b. Detailed budget:
i. fixed and variable costs
ii. projected benefits.
c. Assumptions.

Project plan execution


Project integration management considers project planning and execution as inseparable
activities. The purpose of the project plan is to guide execution. However, project plans are often
changed during the course of execution as additional knowledge and information is gained through
experience. Project managers rely on the expertise of team members in each knowledge area to help
guide and build the plan. Project managers need good leadership, communication and political skills
to execute project plans.
A key function of the project manager is to make sure the right resources are available in the
right quantities at the right time to get the job done. This includes making sure that team members
have the necessary knowledge and skills. In the many projects, labour shortages often mean having to
provide staff training. Also, making sure that there are back-up resources in case a key team player
becomes ill or is ‘lured away’ also becomes a critical element of risk management on IT projects.

Project execution tools and techniques


Some of the specialized tools and techniques used by project managers for project plan
execution include:

Project management software


Project management software has become a standard tool of the trade. Microsoft Project™,
is the most widely used project management software tools in the world. Primavera Project Planner™,
Scheduler Plus™, Open Plan™ are examples of other scheduling tools on the market. For a list of
OM 3 Project Management

other software products and resources check out the following website:
http://www.infogoal.com/pmc/pmcswr.htm

Project management software assists in creating detailed work breakdown structures,


assigning resources, scheduling, budgeting and monitoring progress. It automates the production of
Gantt and network diagrams and can include hyperlinks to other project documents.
Status review meetings
Regularly scheduled status review meetings are a standard project management tool for:
• exchanging project information
• monitoring progress
• maintaining motivation
• managing risk
• identifying issues
• stakeholder communication.
Work authorization systems
Work authorization systems are a formalized process used on large projects to authorize work
to begin on a particular activity or work package. They are designed to ensure that the right things are
done by the right people at the right time. They can be manual or automated.

Overall change control


Overall change control includes identifying, evaluating and managing project changes.
Remember the triple constraint triangle of project management (quality, time and cost) and how you
cannot change one parameter without impacting at least one of the other constraints. Without proper
change control, a project can easily drift into ‘scope creep’ and severe cost and/or time over-runs.
The three objectives of overall change control are:
1. Making sure the changes are useful and beneficial (this usually involves making trade-offs).
2. Determining if and when a change has occurred (and making sure senior management stays
informed so there are no surprises).
3. Managing actual changes as they occur.

Key tools in overall change control are the project plan, status or performance reports and change
requests. Project plans need to be updated as changes are made during execution. Status reports
provide a mechanism to alert the project manager and other team members to issues that could cause
problems. Change requests must be formal and written. Significant changes should be written, and be
reviewed through a formal change control process implemented for analyzing and authorizing project
changes.
Change control system
A change control system is a formal, documented process that describes when and how
official project documents (especially the project plan) may be changed. It describes who is authorized
to make changes, the procedures to be followed and the tracking system that will be used. A change
control system often includes the following elements:
OM 3 Project Management

1. A change control board (CCB) or steering committee – a group of people


specifically responsible for reviewing and authorizing or rejecting project changes. They
provide guidelines for change requests, evaluate these requests and manage their
implementation.
2. Configuration management– a process that ensures that the descriptions of the
project’s products and deliverables are complete and correct.
3. Change communication plan – policies and procedures for identifying and
reporting change requirements and communicating change decisions. This is to ensure that
the entire project team remains up to date with the project details.

Suggestions for managing change control


• Understand that constant communication and negotiation is a normal part of the process
• Plan for change
• Establish formal change control systems and procedures
• Use configuration management
• Define procedures for quick decisions on small-scale changes
• Use status reports to identify and manage change
• Use project management and other tools and processes to help manage and communicate
changes

The need for senior management buy-in

Senior management commitment and support is one of the critical success factors for project
management. The main reasons cited for this are:
• To ensure the project has adequate resources
• To ensure approval for unique or unanticipated project needs
• To ensure cooperation of other managers and staff
• To help deal with political issues
• To provide coaching and mentoring on leadership issues

Some organizations will create a special project management office or center of excellence as a special
support module for project activity.
Module summary
In this module you learned:

The concept of project planning in relation to project cycle. In addition, cost,


quality and time are the three important elements in influencing the project cost constraints. Before
embarking on any project, the scope management must be clear. Scope management identifies things
to be included and excluded in the project. The next step is selecting the project. Project selection can
be done using analytical approaches such as NPV. After a project is identified, a project charter needs
to be developed. This project charter is a document that describes and names the project. After the
project charter is identified, the next is scope planning. Scope planning involves developing documents
to clarify project scope and is the basis for project decisions including the criteria for phase sign-off.
One way to undertake scope planning is through WBS. Sometimes the scope needs to be changed due
to a customer request although that has been agreed earlier. Two techniques can be used when scope
change occurs, scope verification and scope change control. As a project starts to take off, time
management is very important. Project time management is important to ensure the project is
completed on time and under the budget. To assist the project manager in managing project time,
schedule development tools such as PERT, CPM and others can be used to manage the project time.

References:

ANDLER, N. 2011. Tools for Project Management, Workshop and Consulting. Erlangen, Germany:
Publicis Publishing

BOURNE, L. 2015. Making Projects Work. New York, USA: CRC Press.

DANN, J. 2014.The Project Management Coach. London, UK: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.

FLORES, M. F. et al. 2015. Project Management. Manila, Philippines: Unlimited Books, Library
Services and Publishing Inc.

HEAGNEY, J. 2012. Fundamentals of Project Management. New York, USA: American


Management Association.

LARSON E.W. et.al. 2011. Project Management: The Managerial Process. New York, USA:
MCGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Assessment
Activity 1
Directions: Answer the following questions; keep your answer short
and simple. Submit your answer in the google classroom on or before
the date specified by your instructor.

1. What is the definition and objective of a project plan?


2. What is the function of a project charter?
3. What is a work breakdown structure? What is a responsibility
matrix? How are they related?
4. Why is project management time important?
5. Why would you recommend project management software to
someone involved in project management? What features and
benefits does it provide?
6. What are Net Present Value and Payback Period?

Activity 2
Directions: Write a reflective essay about the importance of the nine
bodies of knowledge to project management.
What is a reflective essay?
Reflective essay is a kind of writing that requires the author to
inform the reader about her attitude, idea or impression about a given
topic.
Submit your answer in the google classroom.

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