HOQ’s Note
on September 2023
Project Management
, Hoq’s Note on Project Management
(September 2023)
Part A
Foundation to Project Management
Table of Contents
About Project Management.................................................................................................................... 2
Project Management Principles .............................................................................................................. 2
Steps in Project Management (Project Management Life Cycle) ........................................................... 3
Project Management Methodologies ..................................................................................................... 5
About Agile.............................................................................................................................................. 7
About Scrum (an Agile Framework) ........................................................................................................ 9
About Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) (an Agile Framework) ........................................................................ 11
About Kanban (an Agile Framework) .................................................................................................... 12
About Extreme Programming (XP) (an Agile Framework)..................................................................... 13
About Adaptive Project Framework (APF) (an Agile Framework) ......................................................... 14
About PRINCE2 ...................................................................................................................................... 15
About Six Sigma..................................................................................................................................... 17
About Critical Path Method (CPM) ....................................................................................................... 18
About Scrumban (a Hybrid Project Management approach) ............................................................... 19
About Kanban for DevOps (a Hybrid Project Management approach)................................................. 20
About Lean Six Sigma (a Hybrid Project Management approach) ........................................................ 22
Kaizen Principles.................................................................................................................................... 23
Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) Characteristics ............................................................................................... 25
Project Management Tools ................................................................................................................... 26
Common Glossaries of Project Management Terms............................................................................. 28
Part A 1
, Hoq’s Note on Project Management
(September 2023)
About Project Management
Project management is the discipline and practice of planning, executing, and controlling projects to
achieve specific goals or objectives while meeting specific success criteria. Projects are temporary
endeavours with defined scopes, budgets, and timelines, undertaken to create unique products,
services, or results. Project management encompasses a set of processes, methodologies, tools, and
techniques to ensure that projects are completed successfully and efficiently.
Project Management Principles
Project management principles provide a foundational framework for effectively planning, executing,
and controlling projects. These principles guide project managers and teams in achieving project
objectives while managing resources, risks, and stakeholders.
Here are some key principles of project management:
1. Clear Objectives: Every project should have well-defined objectives and goals that are
specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART)1. These objectives serve
as the project's roadmap and help ensure that all efforts align with its purpose.
2. Project Scope: A clear and documented project scope statement outlines the boundaries and
deliverables of the project. Managing scope effectively involves controlling changes to
prevent scope creep, which can lead to project delays and budget overruns.
3. Stakeholder Engagement: Identifying, analysing, and engaging stakeholders is crucial for
project success. Effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders help manage
expectations and address their needs throughout the project.
4. Project Planning: Comprehensive project planning involves creating a project management
plan that outlines the project's approach, schedule, budget, resources, risks, and quality
standards. Planning serves as a roadmap and reference for the project team.
5. Resource Allocation: Allocating the right resources (human, financial, materials) to tasks and
activities is essential for maintaining project efficiency and effectiveness. Resource
constraints should be identified and managed proactively.
6. Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks is integral to project
management. A well-defined risk management plan helps anticipate and address potential
issues before they impact the project.
7. Quality Assurance: Ensuring the project's deliverables meet all the standards is essential.
Quality should be planned, monitored, and controlled throughout the project life cycle.
8. Project Scheduling: Creating a realistic project schedule with clear milestones and deadlines
is crucial. Scheduling helps manage time effectively, allocate resources, and track progress.
9. Change Management: Changes are inevitable in most projects. Effective change
management processes allow for the evaluation, approval, and controlled implementation of
changes to minimize disruptions.
10. Communication: Open and transparent communication among team members,
stakeholders, and project managers is essential for ensuring everyone is aligned with project
goals, progress, and potential issues.
1
SMART objectives, also known as SMART goals, represent a method of setting objectives that empowers both
managers and employees to establish, monitor, and achieve short-term and long-term goals effectively.
Part A 2
, Hoq’s Note on Project Management
(September 2023)
11. Monitoring and Control: Continuous monitoring and control processes help project
managers track progress, compare it to the project plan, identify variances, and take
corrective actions as necessary to keep the project on track.
12. Documentation: Proper documentation of project activities, decisions, and outcomes is
essential for accountability, knowledge transfer, and compliance with regulatory
requirements.
13. Project Closure: Proper project closure involves obtaining formal acceptance of deliverables,
conducting a project review or post-mortem, documenting lessons learned, and ensuring a
smooth transition of project results to the client or end-users.
14. Flexibility and Adaptability: Project managers should be prepared to adapt to changing
circumstances, requirements, and stakeholder needs. Agile and iterative approaches may be
necessary for some projects.
15. Continuous Improvement: Learning from past projects and applying lessons learned to
future endeavours is a key principle. Project management processes and practices should be
refined and improved over time.
These project management principles provide a solid foundation for managing projects effectively
and efficiently. While the specific approach to project management may vary depending on the
project's size, complexity, and industry, these principles serve as a guiding framework for successful
project execution.
Steps in Project Management (Project Management Life Cycle)
Project management involves a series of steps and processes to ensure that a project is planned,
executed, and completed successfully. These steps are often referred as the “Project Management
Life Cycle”. These steps can vary slightly depending on the project management methodology used
(e.g., Waterfall, Agile, PRINCE2), but here are the general steps in project management:
1. Initiation:
a. Define Purpose and Objectives: Clearly articulate the project's goals, purpose, and
what it aims to achieve ultimately.
b. Scope Definition: Define the boundaries of the project, specifying in detail what are
included and what are not.
c. Stakeholder Identification: Identify all individuals or groups with an interest in the
project and determine their roles and influence.
d. Project Charter: Create a project charter, a formal document that authorizes the
project and provides a high-level overview.
e. Tools Selection: Discuss, select, and if necessary, train, the tools, and methodologies.
2. Planning:
a. Project Plan: Develop a comprehensive project plan that outlines tasks,
dependencies, timelines, and milestones.
b. Resource Allocation: Allocate necessary resources, including personnel, budget,
equipment, and materials.
c. Risk Management: Identify potential risks and create a risk management plan to
mitigate, monitor, and respond to them.
d. Communication Plan: Define how project information will be shared with
stakeholders and establish communication channels.
e. Quality Standards: Set quality criteria and performance standards to ensure the
project meets its objectives.
Part A 3
on September 2023
Project Management
, Hoq’s Note on Project Management
(September 2023)
Part A
Foundation to Project Management
Table of Contents
About Project Management.................................................................................................................... 2
Project Management Principles .............................................................................................................. 2
Steps in Project Management (Project Management Life Cycle) ........................................................... 3
Project Management Methodologies ..................................................................................................... 5
About Agile.............................................................................................................................................. 7
About Scrum (an Agile Framework) ........................................................................................................ 9
About Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) (an Agile Framework) ........................................................................ 11
About Kanban (an Agile Framework) .................................................................................................... 12
About Extreme Programming (XP) (an Agile Framework)..................................................................... 13
About Adaptive Project Framework (APF) (an Agile Framework) ......................................................... 14
About PRINCE2 ...................................................................................................................................... 15
About Six Sigma..................................................................................................................................... 17
About Critical Path Method (CPM) ....................................................................................................... 18
About Scrumban (a Hybrid Project Management approach) ............................................................... 19
About Kanban for DevOps (a Hybrid Project Management approach)................................................. 20
About Lean Six Sigma (a Hybrid Project Management approach) ........................................................ 22
Kaizen Principles.................................................................................................................................... 23
Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) Characteristics ............................................................................................... 25
Project Management Tools ................................................................................................................... 26
Common Glossaries of Project Management Terms............................................................................. 28
Part A 1
, Hoq’s Note on Project Management
(September 2023)
About Project Management
Project management is the discipline and practice of planning, executing, and controlling projects to
achieve specific goals or objectives while meeting specific success criteria. Projects are temporary
endeavours with defined scopes, budgets, and timelines, undertaken to create unique products,
services, or results. Project management encompasses a set of processes, methodologies, tools, and
techniques to ensure that projects are completed successfully and efficiently.
Project Management Principles
Project management principles provide a foundational framework for effectively planning, executing,
and controlling projects. These principles guide project managers and teams in achieving project
objectives while managing resources, risks, and stakeholders.
Here are some key principles of project management:
1. Clear Objectives: Every project should have well-defined objectives and goals that are
specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART)1. These objectives serve
as the project's roadmap and help ensure that all efforts align with its purpose.
2. Project Scope: A clear and documented project scope statement outlines the boundaries and
deliverables of the project. Managing scope effectively involves controlling changes to
prevent scope creep, which can lead to project delays and budget overruns.
3. Stakeholder Engagement: Identifying, analysing, and engaging stakeholders is crucial for
project success. Effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders help manage
expectations and address their needs throughout the project.
4. Project Planning: Comprehensive project planning involves creating a project management
plan that outlines the project's approach, schedule, budget, resources, risks, and quality
standards. Planning serves as a roadmap and reference for the project team.
5. Resource Allocation: Allocating the right resources (human, financial, materials) to tasks and
activities is essential for maintaining project efficiency and effectiveness. Resource
constraints should be identified and managed proactively.
6. Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks is integral to project
management. A well-defined risk management plan helps anticipate and address potential
issues before they impact the project.
7. Quality Assurance: Ensuring the project's deliverables meet all the standards is essential.
Quality should be planned, monitored, and controlled throughout the project life cycle.
8. Project Scheduling: Creating a realistic project schedule with clear milestones and deadlines
is crucial. Scheduling helps manage time effectively, allocate resources, and track progress.
9. Change Management: Changes are inevitable in most projects. Effective change
management processes allow for the evaluation, approval, and controlled implementation of
changes to minimize disruptions.
10. Communication: Open and transparent communication among team members,
stakeholders, and project managers is essential for ensuring everyone is aligned with project
goals, progress, and potential issues.
1
SMART objectives, also known as SMART goals, represent a method of setting objectives that empowers both
managers and employees to establish, monitor, and achieve short-term and long-term goals effectively.
Part A 2
, Hoq’s Note on Project Management
(September 2023)
11. Monitoring and Control: Continuous monitoring and control processes help project
managers track progress, compare it to the project plan, identify variances, and take
corrective actions as necessary to keep the project on track.
12. Documentation: Proper documentation of project activities, decisions, and outcomes is
essential for accountability, knowledge transfer, and compliance with regulatory
requirements.
13. Project Closure: Proper project closure involves obtaining formal acceptance of deliverables,
conducting a project review or post-mortem, documenting lessons learned, and ensuring a
smooth transition of project results to the client or end-users.
14. Flexibility and Adaptability: Project managers should be prepared to adapt to changing
circumstances, requirements, and stakeholder needs. Agile and iterative approaches may be
necessary for some projects.
15. Continuous Improvement: Learning from past projects and applying lessons learned to
future endeavours is a key principle. Project management processes and practices should be
refined and improved over time.
These project management principles provide a solid foundation for managing projects effectively
and efficiently. While the specific approach to project management may vary depending on the
project's size, complexity, and industry, these principles serve as a guiding framework for successful
project execution.
Steps in Project Management (Project Management Life Cycle)
Project management involves a series of steps and processes to ensure that a project is planned,
executed, and completed successfully. These steps are often referred as the “Project Management
Life Cycle”. These steps can vary slightly depending on the project management methodology used
(e.g., Waterfall, Agile, PRINCE2), but here are the general steps in project management:
1. Initiation:
a. Define Purpose and Objectives: Clearly articulate the project's goals, purpose, and
what it aims to achieve ultimately.
b. Scope Definition: Define the boundaries of the project, specifying in detail what are
included and what are not.
c. Stakeholder Identification: Identify all individuals or groups with an interest in the
project and determine their roles and influence.
d. Project Charter: Create a project charter, a formal document that authorizes the
project and provides a high-level overview.
e. Tools Selection: Discuss, select, and if necessary, train, the tools, and methodologies.
2. Planning:
a. Project Plan: Develop a comprehensive project plan that outlines tasks,
dependencies, timelines, and milestones.
b. Resource Allocation: Allocate necessary resources, including personnel, budget,
equipment, and materials.
c. Risk Management: Identify potential risks and create a risk management plan to
mitigate, monitor, and respond to them.
d. Communication Plan: Define how project information will be shared with
stakeholders and establish communication channels.
e. Quality Standards: Set quality criteria and performance standards to ensure the
project meets its objectives.
Part A 3
