What is project management and why is it important

1. April 30, 2012 What is project management and why is it important? A systems approach to achieving strategic goals

2. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 1 April 30, 2012 Objectives of workshop To clarify the differences between operations and projects To introduce participants to project management concepts and tools To explain why projects should be managed in a systematic and disciplined way To demonstrate how taking a systems approach to project management: Doesn't need to create overhead costs, or Require time that not-for-profit staff don't have, and Can help not-for-profits achieve their strategic goals To present a number of practical project management tools & techniques To provide participants with a networking opportunity

3. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 2 April 30, 2012 Organizations and work Organizations perform work to achieve objectives Work is: Performed by people Constrained by limited resources Planned, executed and controlled Work generally involves either: Operations, which are ongoing and repetitive, or Projects, which are temporary and unique

4. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 3 April 30, 2012 What are operations? Ongoing work performed to sustain the organization �An organizational function performing the ongoing execution of activities that produce the same product or provide a repetitive service.�1 Examples of operations include: Production operations Manufacturing operations Accounting operations

5. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 4 April 30, 2012 What is a project? Work undertaken to achieve an objective not met through operations �A temporary endeavour undertaken in order to produce a unique product, service or result.�2 Temporary Every project has a definite beginning and a definite end Work producing a unique result Something that has not been done before

6. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 5 April 30, 2012 What is a project? (cont�d) Work involving a certain degree of uncertainty Work that must be progressively elaborated Examples of projects are: Developing a new product or service Constructing a building or facility Developing and running an environmental campaign

7. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 6 April 30, 2012 What is project management? �The application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.�3 Work performed by the project team, typically involving: Competing demands for scope, time, cost, risk and quality Stakeholders with differing needs and expectations Identified requirements Accomplished through an iterative process

8. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 7 April 30, 2012 Why do projects need to be managed? They are performed by people They are constrained by limited resources They are temporary They produce unique results They involve uncertainty They are critical to the realization of strategic goals4

9. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 8 April 30, 2012 What is a process? A series of actions bringing about a result A way to: Increase the quality of results produced Increase the consistency of results produced

10. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 9 April 30, 2012 What is the project management process? A set of five process groups: Initiating processes Planning processes Executing processes Monitoring and controlling processes Closing processes

11. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 10 April 30, 2012 The project management process

12. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 11 April 30, 2012 What is a project life cycle? The phases that define the beginning and end of the project The points at which sign-off is (generally) required Defined to provide better management control Useful to operations

13. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 12 April 30, 2012 A project life cycle

14. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 13 April 30, 2012 What are project phases? Part of a generally sequential process Designed to ensure proper control of the project And to attain the desired product or service (the objective of the project) They generally end when deliverables have been completed They can end without the decision to initiate any other phases

15. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 14 April 30, 2012 Endnotes 1 Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: Third Edition (PMBOK Guide). (Pennsylvania: Project Management Institute, 2004) 380. 2 Project Management Institute 20. 3 Project Management Institute 23. 4 Project Management Institute 12.

16. What is Project Management and why is it Important? 15 April 30, 2012 Thank you! For a copy of this presentation, please visit http://www.importantprojects.com