Project Management Concepts and Processes
Project Management Q&A
Project Basics
What is a Project?
A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service. It has a defined start and end date and progresses through a series of phases.
What is Project Management?
Project management involves applying knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements. It encompasses planning, organizing, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals.
Project Constraints
Projects often face limitations in five key areas: risk, time, scope, quality, and cost.
Project Stakeholders
Stakeholders are individuals or organizations actively involved in the project or whose interests may be affected by its outcome. Identifying and managing stakeholder expectations is crucial for project success.
Project Success
A successful project meets its objectives and fulfills stakeholder expectations within the defined scope, time, cost, and quality constraints.
Project Phases and Life Cycle
Project Phases
Projects are typically divided into phases to facilitate management. Common phases include:
- Viability: Feasibility study and analysis.
- Project Planning: Creating the project design and management plan, including activities and timelines.
- Construction: Implementing the planned activities.
- Final Test: Verifying that everything has been completed correctly.
Project Life Cycle
The project life cycle is a series of phases that projects typically follow. It provides a framework for managing projects from initiation to closure.
Organizational Structures
Functional Structure
In a functional structure, teams are organized by functional areas such as sales, marketing, and production. Project managers may have limited authority as they compete with functional managers.
Project-Based Organization
Project-based organizations are structured around projects, with teams dedicated to specific projects and reporting to a project manager.
Project Management Office (PMO)
A PMO is an organizational unit that provides support to project managers, including training, software, document standards, and assistance with project execution.
Key Project Management Processes
Scope Management
Scope management ensures that the project includes all necessary work and only the work required to complete it successfully. The Scope Statement defines project goals, deliverables, expectations, constraints, and success criteria.
Quality Management
Quality management focuses on meeting the needs that led to the project. It involves planning, controlling, and assuring quality throughout the project life cycle.
Risk Management
Risk management involves identifying, analyzing, and responding to project risks. Strategies include risk avoidance, transfer, mitigation, and acceptance.
Cost Estimation
Cost estimation involves determining the resources (people, equipment, materials) and quantities needed for project activities. Tools include expert judgment, analogous estimating, parametric estimating, and three-point estimating.
Project Execution and Monitoring
Project Plan Implementation
Project execution involves carrying out the planned activities, coordinating people and resources, and managing interfaces. Performance is continuously monitored to ensure the project stays on track.
Scope Management Plan
The Scope Management Plan outlines how project scope will be managed and how changes will be integrated into the project.
Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
ISO/IEC 12207
ISO/IEC 12207 is a standard that defines a framework for software life cycle processes, including acquisition, supply, development, operation, and maintenance.
Function Point Analysis (FPA)
FPA is a technique for measuring software functionality from the user’s perspective. It uses function points as a unit of measure, independent of the technology used to build the software.