Project management is the art and science of getting results by following a roadmap laid down to turn customers desires into concrete products and services by following established procedures in a defined sequence. The Project Management Institute brought active practitioners together to produce the Project Management Body of Knowledge, PMBOK, which is used around the world on all sorts of projects of varying sizes, with or without software support tools.
PMBOK definition: A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service. It is temporary because every project has a definite beginning and a definite end. It is Unique because the product or service delivered is different from others. Organizations use projects to achieve their strategic needs, which cannot be attained through normal operational means.
Dr. Joseph Juran, a founder of the quality movement, provides another definition:
A project is a problem scheduled for solution. The key to a successful project is beginning with a clear definition of the business problem: What is the gap between what we have and what we want?
In today's world, many operations once performed by specialists are assigned to non-specialists as 'projects.' However, most professionals have not received training or tools to help them manage projects efficiently and effectively. The 'project' is added to an already full schedule, major decisions have been made elsewhere, and you have no 'team' to carry out the work. Many projects fail because they have no focusing definition, which leads to scope creep, missed deadlines, and blown budgets. More time is consumed in solving these problems and firefighting. Risks and contingency plans are often ignored.
Without the basic tools of project management, people focus on a series of tasks and a To-Do list. Priorities get missed in favor of someone else's urgent agenda. More time is lost chasing down information and reinventing the wheel. Without the formal discipline of project management, it's hard to accomplish what is necessary and keep all your stakeholders satisfied.
Avoid these predictable pitfalls, use project management basics and bring your projects in successfully, efficiently, and effectively with results the stakeholders want.
As a result of this educational program, Non-Project Managers will be able to:
Context for Project Management
Project Management Processes
Project Initiation
Planning and Scheduling
Cost Management
Risk Management
Human Resource and Communication Plan
Project Execution, Monitoring, and Control
Project Closure
Rebecca Staton-Reinstein
Rebecca Staton-Reinstein, Ph.D., and President of Advantage Leadership, Inc. works with leaders and their organizations to Increase your bottom-line results through strategic leadership, engaged employees, and delighted customers in all economic sectors. Draw on her proven ability to mentor you through major change, customizing successful solutions to your complex issues. For over 25 years, Rebecca has contributed value as an executive, manager, educator, and consultant, honored on four continents. She is a Ph.D. in organizational development, a National Speakers Association Legacy Professional Member, and St. Petersburg Engineering Academy Foreign Member and author of books on strategic leadership and planning.
