Summary - Projectmanagement: essentials

PROJECT MANAGEMENT ESSENTIALS
Samenvatting 1ste semester schijf 1




Project management essentials 1

, 1. the PROJECT

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 results within a predetermined budget
within a predetermined time frame.

Results, budget, time -> very important as a project manager



VUCA
Volatility (= wispelturig)
= The environment demands you react quickly to ongoing changes that ate unpredictable
and out of your control.
->energy prices fluctuate dramatically from month to month due to geopolitical tensions and
market disruptions

Uncertainty
= The environment requires you to take action without certainty
-> companies are unsure about future regulations surrounding AI, making strategic planning
difficult

Complexity
= The environment is dynamic, with many interdependencies
-> global supply chains involve dozens of suppliers, each with their own risks and regulations

Ambiguity (= onduidelijk)
= The environment is unfamiliar, outside of your expertise
-> the impact of hybrid work on productivity is hard to measure and varies widely across industries
and teams



If the procedures of an activity are chaotic, which approach are you using? -> improvised




There are different projects:
- Organizing a major event
- Building a new shopping centre, bridge, factory, …
- Developing and launching a new product
- Merging two businesses
- Setting up a website
- Introducing a new electronic learning environment
- Relocating a large company to a new location

Project management essentials 2

,Project features

 Temporary (clear start and end date)
 Unique and clearly defined goal
 A project has a budget
 Project members with different expertise
 …




What separates a project form a process?

1. A project has a finish line
-> delivering a specific outcome/ goal, within a certain budget by a set deadline.

2. A project involves something new
-> a project can transfer into a process

3. A project delivers a benefit, but not straight away
-> projects seek to change and/ or improve the world
-> “Short term pain for long term results”




When do we need a ‘project’?
 Does your project have more than 10 tasks?
 Does your project involve more than 2 people?
 Does your project need more than 3 weeks to complete?




Advantages of a project-based approach Disadvantages of a project-based approach

 Project is not part of your everyday work  Setting up and organizing a project costs
(temporary new job) time
 Sponsor makes most important decisions  Tasks and responsibilities in own
 Clear project plan department must be filled
 Balanced team  Inexperienced members must be trained
 Smaller risk of failure first


Project management essentials 3

, From improvisation to routine




Types of projects

1) Technical projects
 Effect changes in technology or come up with a new product
 Construction of a bridge, railway line or computer network

2) Social projects
 Change the corporate culture or organizational structure of a company
 Also known as ‘soft’ projects
 The most difficult projects
 Adapting working procedures, reorganization of a company

3) Commercial projects
 Ultimate goal is to earn money
 Conducting market research or introducing a new product on the market

4) Mixed projects
 Combine some of the aspects of both technical and social projects
 “They do not speak each other’s language’
 The design, programming and installation of an extensive computer program

5) Events
 The end result only appears at a certain point in time
 Computer fair, pop festival, quiz, car show




Project management essentials 4