Learning Aim A – Project Management Report
A1 Project definitions Typical IT projects include software application
development, installing IT systems and networks, and information collection
and analysis.
• a project has a defined beginning and end point in time, and a defined scope of work
to be completed for a given objective and/or benefit.
A project is a temporary endeavor which has a definite beginning and ends with several
phases and a unique output. Projects are different from operations because projects are
temporary, unique and are closed after attaining the objectives to sustain business. On the
other hand, operations are more on-going and repetitive. Projects are needed because it
allows companies/businesses to achieve a goal which will ensure what the company needs
to deliver, will be delivered accordingly.
• project management is the art of planning, organising and controlling project
activities so that the project is completed successfully within the budget, time and
quality constraints, and that problems are resolved to an appropriate standard and
appropriate risks are mitigated.
Project management is when a person manages the several phases of a project so that its
final objective is achieved accordingly. Typically, a project will be assigned a project
manager, someone who has the responsibility for the planning, organising and the
completion of the projects. The skills a project manager would need to run a project are:
● Leadership, this is a main skill because it allows guidance and control for the
employees contributing to the development of a project, so the completion of the
project is done smoothly.
● Information technology skills are also an important skill because when running a
project software tools are vital to operate a project as well as documenting any
information provided to the project.
● A project manager would need to have good communication between their staff
because they will be receiving and providing information for their team so that the
development of the project can go smoothly.
● Problem solving is another important skill for a project manager because there will
always be problems that a project would face which would need to be fixed
accordingly so that the projects can still meet organisations deadlines.
● Accounting skills are a vital skill for a project manager because they would be
dealing with financial transactions and analysing financial data so that there is not
any financial burden on the project.
● Lastly, purchasing skills are needed because generally projects will need materials
so that the project can go ahead to its next steps.
The reasons why effective project management is important to a business is because it
allows businesses to ask the right questions to the right people at the right time so that the
project can run smoothly and, on the timescale, set. The project manager's job is to bring
the right people in who are fit to work through a project without many difficulties to ensure
the overall business objective is fulfilled.
,• the project life cycle has five main stages and the structure in which these are
implemented will vary depending on which project management methodology is
being applied.
For a project to be fulfilled there is a main cycle which most companies would use for their
projects to run successfully which is called the project life cycle:
1. The first stage in the project life cycle structure is “Initiating”, this is where the
customer will tell the project manager what the client’s requirements are for their
product, so that the project manager can send all the requirements to the team for
everything to be justified and set to run.
2. The next stage in the cycle is the “Planning” of the product, here the project
manager sets a team meeting with the customer and staff working on the project so
that they can discuss the plan of the product design and how they will execute and
monitor it.
3. The third stage of the cycle is the “Executing” the project, this is where the
development of the project will occur under the time scales, cost, and quality
constraints.
4. The fourth stage of the project life cycle is the “Monitoring and controlling” stage,
during this task will be carried out and the progress of the stage will be reported to
the team. When the project manager receives all the progress information, they will
then control the project and lead it to the correct direction.
5. The last stage of the cycle is the “Closing” stage, this is where the final product can
be delivered to the customers and giving any documentations to the business and
communicating with stakeholders about the project being closed.
, A2 Characteristics of project management methodologies - A written report on
the investigation of principles and methodologies of IT project management
as used in industry, using at least three different IT projects as case studies.
PRojects IN Controlled Environments, (PRINCE2) Methodology
PRINCE2 is the most used methodology in project management and has become the
default methodology for most industries working in project management. Disregarding the
type of industries, PRINCE2 has always served splendid outcomes. PRINCE2 is a
model/structure to which each stage of the model starts with the beginning, middle and
the end and cares more about the delivery and completion of the project than performing
activities. Therefore, when the project is completed, the project will close, and all loose
ends will be tied. This is called a process-based approach where it concentrates on the
organisation and has full control of the project’s initiation to its ending.
PRINCE2 is effective because it is composed of three integrated elements. Projects that use
the PRINCE2 methodology often begin with a detailed and thorough plan:
● The first element covers the seven principles, which consist of 1-business
justification, 2-learn from experience, 3-define roles, and responsibilities, 4-manage
by stages, 5-manage by exception, 6-focus on products and lastly 7-tailoring to suit
the project.
● The second element of PRINCE2 is the seven processes of starting a project, which
consist of 1-starting up a project, 2-initiating a project, 3-directing a project, 4-
managing product delivery, 5-controlling a stage, 6-managing a stage boundary,
and lastly 7-closing a project.
● The last element of PRINCE2 are the seven themes, which comprise of 1-business
case organisation, 2-quality, 3-risk, 4-planning, 5-change, 6-design, and 7-progress.
The first element is responsible for the why of the project development and outcome. The
second element will tell you how to perform the development of the project. The themes in
the third element will be responsible for what to look for in the project. When joining these
elements together it gives the industry a tool that helps in delivering a successful project.
A1 Project definitions Typical IT projects include software application
development, installing IT systems and networks, and information collection
and analysis.
• a project has a defined beginning and end point in time, and a defined scope of work
to be completed for a given objective and/or benefit.
A project is a temporary endeavor which has a definite beginning and ends with several
phases and a unique output. Projects are different from operations because projects are
temporary, unique and are closed after attaining the objectives to sustain business. On the
other hand, operations are more on-going and repetitive. Projects are needed because it
allows companies/businesses to achieve a goal which will ensure what the company needs
to deliver, will be delivered accordingly.
• project management is the art of planning, organising and controlling project
activities so that the project is completed successfully within the budget, time and
quality constraints, and that problems are resolved to an appropriate standard and
appropriate risks are mitigated.
Project management is when a person manages the several phases of a project so that its
final objective is achieved accordingly. Typically, a project will be assigned a project
manager, someone who has the responsibility for the planning, organising and the
completion of the projects. The skills a project manager would need to run a project are:
● Leadership, this is a main skill because it allows guidance and control for the
employees contributing to the development of a project, so the completion of the
project is done smoothly.
● Information technology skills are also an important skill because when running a
project software tools are vital to operate a project as well as documenting any
information provided to the project.
● A project manager would need to have good communication between their staff
because they will be receiving and providing information for their team so that the
development of the project can go smoothly.
● Problem solving is another important skill for a project manager because there will
always be problems that a project would face which would need to be fixed
accordingly so that the projects can still meet organisations deadlines.
● Accounting skills are a vital skill for a project manager because they would be
dealing with financial transactions and analysing financial data so that there is not
any financial burden on the project.
● Lastly, purchasing skills are needed because generally projects will need materials
so that the project can go ahead to its next steps.
The reasons why effective project management is important to a business is because it
allows businesses to ask the right questions to the right people at the right time so that the
project can run smoothly and, on the timescale, set. The project manager's job is to bring
the right people in who are fit to work through a project without many difficulties to ensure
the overall business objective is fulfilled.
,• the project life cycle has five main stages and the structure in which these are
implemented will vary depending on which project management methodology is
being applied.
For a project to be fulfilled there is a main cycle which most companies would use for their
projects to run successfully which is called the project life cycle:
1. The first stage in the project life cycle structure is “Initiating”, this is where the
customer will tell the project manager what the client’s requirements are for their
product, so that the project manager can send all the requirements to the team for
everything to be justified and set to run.
2. The next stage in the cycle is the “Planning” of the product, here the project
manager sets a team meeting with the customer and staff working on the project so
that they can discuss the plan of the product design and how they will execute and
monitor it.
3. The third stage of the cycle is the “Executing” the project, this is where the
development of the project will occur under the time scales, cost, and quality
constraints.
4. The fourth stage of the project life cycle is the “Monitoring and controlling” stage,
during this task will be carried out and the progress of the stage will be reported to
the team. When the project manager receives all the progress information, they will
then control the project and lead it to the correct direction.
5. The last stage of the cycle is the “Closing” stage, this is where the final product can
be delivered to the customers and giving any documentations to the business and
communicating with stakeholders about the project being closed.
, A2 Characteristics of project management methodologies - A written report on
the investigation of principles and methodologies of IT project management
as used in industry, using at least three different IT projects as case studies.
PRojects IN Controlled Environments, (PRINCE2) Methodology
PRINCE2 is the most used methodology in project management and has become the
default methodology for most industries working in project management. Disregarding the
type of industries, PRINCE2 has always served splendid outcomes. PRINCE2 is a
model/structure to which each stage of the model starts with the beginning, middle and
the end and cares more about the delivery and completion of the project than performing
activities. Therefore, when the project is completed, the project will close, and all loose
ends will be tied. This is called a process-based approach where it concentrates on the
organisation and has full control of the project’s initiation to its ending.
PRINCE2 is effective because it is composed of three integrated elements. Projects that use
the PRINCE2 methodology often begin with a detailed and thorough plan:
● The first element covers the seven principles, which consist of 1-business
justification, 2-learn from experience, 3-define roles, and responsibilities, 4-manage
by stages, 5-manage by exception, 6-focus on products and lastly 7-tailoring to suit
the project.
● The second element of PRINCE2 is the seven processes of starting a project, which
consist of 1-starting up a project, 2-initiating a project, 3-directing a project, 4-
managing product delivery, 5-controlling a stage, 6-managing a stage boundary,
and lastly 7-closing a project.
● The last element of PRINCE2 are the seven themes, which comprise of 1-business
case organisation, 2-quality, 3-risk, 4-planning, 5-change, 6-design, and 7-progress.
The first element is responsible for the why of the project development and outcome. The
second element will tell you how to perform the development of the project. The themes in
the third element will be responsible for what to look for in the project. When joining these
elements together it gives the industry a tool that helps in delivering a successful project.
