PROJECT MANAGEMENT
MODULE 1 - THE PROJECT
Project management
= A project can be defined as a group of people, usually from various fields of
expertise, collaborating temporarily with the aim of reaching a predetermined project
result within a predetermined budget within a predetermined time frame
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES
Improvised Project-based Routine
When? Ad hoc Predictable Repetitive
Result? Uncertain Reasonably certain Certain
Familiarity? New, sudden New, planned Well-known
Freedom? A lot of freedom A suitable amount Little freedom
Procedures? Chaotic Increasingly Clear
VUCA
Volatile
→ the environment demands you react quickly to ongoing changes that are unpredictable
and out of your control
Uncertain
→ the environment requires you to take action without certainty
Complex
→ the environment is dynamic, with many interdependencies
Ambiguous
→ the environment is unfamiliar, outside of you expertise
or
Vision
→ focus on activities that will bring you closer to your goal
Understanding
→ work with up-to-date data coming from all stakeholders
Clarity
→ simplify communication to make sure messages are understood clearly
Agility
→ provide flexibility to adjust to changes more quickly
WHAT IS A PROJECT
, Organizing a major event (exhibition, sports event or music festival)
Building a new shopping centre, bridge, housing estate, nursing home, factory, …
Relocating a large company to a new location
Implementing new software at a company
Introducing a new electronic learning environment
Developing and launching a new product
Setting up a website
Other examples
- Merging two businesses
- Creating a new corporate identity for a company
- Improving internal communication
- Developing a marketing plan for international recruitment
- Improving the selection/recruitment process
- Reducing waiting lists in the field of health care
- Doing a theater production or film
- New tramline in Ghent (Gentspoort)
- …
- Even re-arranging your own study room
- …
PROJECT FEATURES
From improvisation to routine:
Improvisation → via project → routine
1. Temporary
Clear starting point → start-up of kick-off
Finishing date
2. Unique an clearly defined goal
3. Sponsor who has commissioned the project
4. A project has a budget
5. Project members with different expertise
6. Own organizational set-up
7. A project must be initiated
WHAT SEPARATES A PROJECT FROM A PROCESS?
3 specific project features
1. A project has a finish line
Completion date/ deadline
Desired outcome/ goal
Finished prototype/ product
Delivering a specific outcome, within a certain budget by a set deadline.
2. A project involves something new
Bringing change by creating or doing something new
Can be challenging
A project can become a process
3. A project delivers a benefit, but not straight away
Projects seek to change and/or improve the world.
Added value and progress
, “Short term pain for long term results”
TYPES OF PROJECTS
Technical projects
Effect change in technology or come up with a new product
E.g. construction of a bridge, railway line or computer network
Social projects
Change the corporate culture or organizational structure of a company
Also known as ‘soft’ projects → most difficult projects
E.g. adapting working procedures, reorganization of a company
Commercial projects
Ultimate goal is to earn money
E.g. conducting market research or introducing a new product on the market
Mixed projects
Combine some of the aspects of both technical and social projects
“They do not speak each other’s language”
E.g. the design, programming and installation of an extensive computer program
Events
The end result only appears at a certain point in time
E.g. computer fair, pop festival, quiz, car show
PHASING AND PRODUCTS
Why phasing
→ Phasing minimizes the risks associated with the project.
→ A number of opportunities for decision making are built into the project. At the end of
each phase the sponsor has an opportunity to alter the project:
Continue as planned
Continue with some alterations to the project
Termination of the project
→ Termination? – Requires a great deal of courage. After all, a lot of time and effort has
already been invested in it.
→ In general – benefits ↔ the costs, during each phase of the project.
1 – THE CONCEPT/IDEA
A project proposal
The idea
MODULE 1 - THE PROJECT
Project management
= A project can be defined as a group of people, usually from various fields of
expertise, collaborating temporarily with the aim of reaching a predetermined project
result within a predetermined budget within a predetermined time frame
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES
Improvised Project-based Routine
When? Ad hoc Predictable Repetitive
Result? Uncertain Reasonably certain Certain
Familiarity? New, sudden New, planned Well-known
Freedom? A lot of freedom A suitable amount Little freedom
Procedures? Chaotic Increasingly Clear
VUCA
Volatile
→ the environment demands you react quickly to ongoing changes that are unpredictable
and out of your control
Uncertain
→ the environment requires you to take action without certainty
Complex
→ the environment is dynamic, with many interdependencies
Ambiguous
→ the environment is unfamiliar, outside of you expertise
or
Vision
→ focus on activities that will bring you closer to your goal
Understanding
→ work with up-to-date data coming from all stakeholders
Clarity
→ simplify communication to make sure messages are understood clearly
Agility
→ provide flexibility to adjust to changes more quickly
WHAT IS A PROJECT
, Organizing a major event (exhibition, sports event or music festival)
Building a new shopping centre, bridge, housing estate, nursing home, factory, …
Relocating a large company to a new location
Implementing new software at a company
Introducing a new electronic learning environment
Developing and launching a new product
Setting up a website
Other examples
- Merging two businesses
- Creating a new corporate identity for a company
- Improving internal communication
- Developing a marketing plan for international recruitment
- Improving the selection/recruitment process
- Reducing waiting lists in the field of health care
- Doing a theater production or film
- New tramline in Ghent (Gentspoort)
- …
- Even re-arranging your own study room
- …
PROJECT FEATURES
From improvisation to routine:
Improvisation → via project → routine
1. Temporary
Clear starting point → start-up of kick-off
Finishing date
2. Unique an clearly defined goal
3. Sponsor who has commissioned the project
4. A project has a budget
5. Project members with different expertise
6. Own organizational set-up
7. A project must be initiated
WHAT SEPARATES A PROJECT FROM A PROCESS?
3 specific project features
1. A project has a finish line
Completion date/ deadline
Desired outcome/ goal
Finished prototype/ product
Delivering a specific outcome, within a certain budget by a set deadline.
2. A project involves something new
Bringing change by creating or doing something new
Can be challenging
A project can become a process
3. A project delivers a benefit, but not straight away
Projects seek to change and/or improve the world.
Added value and progress
, “Short term pain for long term results”
TYPES OF PROJECTS
Technical projects
Effect change in technology or come up with a new product
E.g. construction of a bridge, railway line or computer network
Social projects
Change the corporate culture or organizational structure of a company
Also known as ‘soft’ projects → most difficult projects
E.g. adapting working procedures, reorganization of a company
Commercial projects
Ultimate goal is to earn money
E.g. conducting market research or introducing a new product on the market
Mixed projects
Combine some of the aspects of both technical and social projects
“They do not speak each other’s language”
E.g. the design, programming and installation of an extensive computer program
Events
The end result only appears at a certain point in time
E.g. computer fair, pop festival, quiz, car show
PHASING AND PRODUCTS
Why phasing
→ Phasing minimizes the risks associated with the project.
→ A number of opportunities for decision making are built into the project. At the end of
each phase the sponsor has an opportunity to alter the project:
Continue as planned
Continue with some alterations to the project
Termination of the project
→ Termination? – Requires a great deal of courage. After all, a lot of time and effort has
already been invested in it.
→ In general – benefits ↔ the costs, during each phase of the project.
1 – THE CONCEPT/IDEA
A project proposal
The idea
