Project Management Essentials
1. The project
1.1 Project Management
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”
Volatility (NL: wispelturig)
Example: Energy prices fluctuate dramatically from month to month due to geopolitical
tensions and market disruptions.
Uncertainty
Example: Companies are unsure about future regulations surrounding AI, making strategic
planning difficult.
Complexity
Example: Global supply chains involve dozens of suppliers, each with their own risks and
regulations.
Ambiguity (NL: onduidelijk)
Example: The impact of hybrid work on productivity is hard to measure and varies widely
across industries and teams.
1.2 What is a project?
Examples:
- Organizing a major event
- Building a new building (shopping center, bridge, nursing home…
- Relocating a large company to a new location
- Implementing new software at a company
, - Developing and launching a new project
- Merging two businesses
- Creating a new corporate identity for a company
- Improving internal communication
- Developing a marketing plan for international recruitment
- Reducing waiting lists in the field of health care
- Doing a theater production or film
- New tramline in Ghent (Gentpoort)
- Even re-arranging your own study room
1.3 What makes a project, a ‘project?
Project features:
- Temporary
o Clear starting point (start-up or kick-off)
o Finishing date
- Unique and clearly defined goal
o Sponsor who has commissioned the project
- A project has a budget
- Project members with different expertise
- Own organizational set-up
- A project must be initiated
1.4 Project >< Process
What separates a project from a process
- A project has a finishing line
- A project involves something new
- A project delivers a benefit, but not straight away
1.4.1 A project has a finishing line
- Completion date/ deadline
- Desired outcome/ goal
- Finished prototype/ product
Delivering a specific outcome, within a certain budget by a set deadline
1.4.2 A project involves something new
- Brings ‘CHANGE’ by creating or doing something new
- It can be challenging!
- A project can become a process!
1. The project
1.1 Project Management
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”
Volatility (NL: wispelturig)
Example: Energy prices fluctuate dramatically from month to month due to geopolitical
tensions and market disruptions.
Uncertainty
Example: Companies are unsure about future regulations surrounding AI, making strategic
planning difficult.
Complexity
Example: Global supply chains involve dozens of suppliers, each with their own risks and
regulations.
Ambiguity (NL: onduidelijk)
Example: The impact of hybrid work on productivity is hard to measure and varies widely
across industries and teams.
1.2 What is a project?
Examples:
- Organizing a major event
- Building a new building (shopping center, bridge, nursing home…
- Relocating a large company to a new location
- Implementing new software at a company
, - Developing and launching a new project
- Merging two businesses
- Creating a new corporate identity for a company
- Improving internal communication
- Developing a marketing plan for international recruitment
- Reducing waiting lists in the field of health care
- Doing a theater production or film
- New tramline in Ghent (Gentpoort)
- Even re-arranging your own study room
1.3 What makes a project, a ‘project?
Project features:
- Temporary
o Clear starting point (start-up or kick-off)
o Finishing date
- Unique and clearly defined goal
o Sponsor who has commissioned the project
- A project has a budget
- Project members with different expertise
- Own organizational set-up
- A project must be initiated
1.4 Project >< Process
What separates a project from a process
- A project has a finishing line
- A project involves something new
- A project delivers a benefit, but not straight away
1.4.1 A project has a finishing line
- Completion date/ deadline
- Desired outcome/ goal
- Finished prototype/ product
Delivering a specific outcome, within a certain budget by a set deadline
1.4.2 A project involves something new
- Brings ‘CHANGE’ by creating or doing something new
- It can be challenging!
- A project can become a process!
