Module 1 Project Management
Module 1 Project Management
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:
• 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.
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OM 3 Project Management
Terminologies Backward pass: The technique that determines late start and late
finish dates for each activity.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
other software products and resources check out the following website:
http://www.infogoal.com/pmc/pmcswr.htm
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
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:
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.
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.
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.