Project management according to (1995) involves avoiding problems. It is about tackling new ground, taking a new group of people and trying to achieve some very clear objective quickly and efficiently. Any process capable of being managed with a start and end point is a project. A project involves people and often it is the people who are the key to a successful project. If not enough care is taken over the people who have a stake in the project, it is more than likely to be perceived as having failed. The person who manages this process is the project manager. The task of managing a project is complex (2002,). It involves a large number of interrelated activities, such as:
- Planning and control
- Communicating with stakeholders
- Managing risk and quality
- Managing people
Project management is a collection of loosely connected techniques, some of which are useful in bringing projects to a successful conclusion (1995,Project management is viewed as an effective approach that addresses a wide variety of organizational opportunities and challenges. Project management focuses on reducing costs and product cycle times and provides an important link between an organization’s strategy and deployment of that strategy ( 2006
Project management’s primary focus prior to 1980s was in providing schedule and resource data to senior management. In the 1990s, with new technologies, changes have fueled for more sophisticated projects. These developments in technology gave way to better project management. Organizations claim that project management increases their advantages, such as
- Better control of financial, physical and human resources
- Improved customer relations
- Shorter development times
- Lower costs
- Higher quality and increased reliability
- Higher profit margins
- Improved productivity
- Better internal coordination
- Higher worker morale
According to (2001), a good project manager is the key to a project’s success. Project managers work with the project sponsors, project team, and other people involved in delivering the project scope and goals. Each project is constrained by its scope, time goals, and costs goals. Scope deals with the question ‘what is the objective of the project?’ Time deals with the question ‘how long it takes the project to be completed?’ Cost deals with the question ‘what should it cost to complete the project?’
Knowledge Areas
It has been said that project success is simply determined by being on time, on budget and to specification. This report will focus on the importance of being on time and its impact on the success of a project. Now let us analyze the knowledge areas in project management.
1. Project Integration – It includes the processes and activities needed to identify, define, combine, unify and coordinate various processes and project management activities with project management process group. It ensures the various elements of the project are properly coordinated. The goal is to successfully meet customer and stakeholders’ requirements and managing their expectations. It also coordinates changes across the entire project( 2003).
2. Project Scope Management – Includes processes required to ensure that project includes all the work required to complete the project successfully. Project scope management ensures that the project includes all the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully ( 2003).
3. Project Quality Management – Includes the processes and activities that determine quality policies, objectives and responsibilities so that the project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken ( 2003).
4. Project Human Resources Management – Includes the processes that organize and manages the project team. It includes all the stakeholders, sponsors, customers and project team members’ support staff ( 2003).
5. Project Communication Management – Includes all the processes required to ensure timely and appropriate generation, collection, dissemination and storage, retrieval and ultimate disposal of the project information (2003).
6. Project Procurement Management – It includes the processes to purchase or acquire the product, services, or results needed from outside the project team to perform the work ( 2003).
7. Project Time Management – It involves the processes required to accomplish timely completion of the project. It involves definition, sequencing, and duration estimating ( 2003).
8. Project Risk Management – Includes processes concerned with conducting risk management planning, identification, analysis, and responses and monitoring and control on the projects. Includes maximizing the probability and consequences of positive events and minimizing the probability and consequences of adverse events to project objectives (2003).
9. Project Cost Management – Includes the processes involved in planning, estimating, budgeting, and controlling cost, so that the project can be completed with the approved budget.
Project Life Cycle
1. Initiation Phase
2. Design/Development Phase
3. Implementation Phase
3. Commissioning Phase
Gantt Charts
Gantt charts are a particularly effective tool for managing the project schedule. Even though they may contain a great deal of information, they are easily understood. While they do require frequent updating, they are easy to maintain as long as task requirements are not changed or major alterations of schedule are not made. Gantt charts provide a clear picture of the current state of a project ( 1999).
Event
1st Month
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Feasibility Study and Report
Evaluation of site concerns including infrastructure and utility requirements
Site Design: Landscape, Hard cape, Circulation, Parking
Work with Project Team to define the approach to construction management
Floor Plan and Building Elevations
Event
2nd Month
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Program and Preliminary Design
Project Requirements
Contractor Selection
Define Project Site including amenities, landscape approach, parking requirement
Assess building elements and selection of building materials and methods
Event
3rd Month
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Program and Preliminary Design
Guidelines for budget concerns
Prepare preliminary construction budget
Identify potential risks to the project budget, design and schedule
Coordinate with contractors
Event
4th Month
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Design Development
Finalize project elements
Construction Documentation
Start of Construction
Event
5th Month and 6th Month
Weeks 1&2
Weeks
3&4
Weeks
5&6
Weeks
7&8
Construction
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