1. Introductie
Types of activities
improvised Project-based Routine
When? Ad hoc (suddenly) Predictable Repetitive
Result? Uncertain Reasonably certain Certain
Familiarity New, sudden New, planned Well-known
Freedom? A lot of freedom A suitable amount Little freedom
Procedure Chaotic Increasingly clear 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 your expertise.
Positive action in project management
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 change more quickly.
1. Possible exam question
If the procedures of an activity are chaotic, which approach are you using?
A) Standard
B) Improvised
C) Project-based
D) Routine
1
, What’s a project?
- Building a new shopping centre, bridge, housing estate, nursing home, factory, …
- Relocating a large company to a new location
- Organizing a major event (exhibition, sports event or music festival)
- Implementing 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
- Reducing waiting lists in the field of health care
- Doing a theater production or film
- Even rearranging your own study room
- …
Let’s have a look
1. Give three examples of projects you have ever done. Write them down.
2. What ‘features’ do these projects have in common? Discuss with your neighbour and try to
find as many
as possible.
Project features
1. Temporary
1. Clear starting point (start-up or kick-off)
2. Finishing date
2. Unique and 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
(no lists)
2. Possible exam question
Given
X: A car dealer sells cars.
Y: Taylor Swift makes a new album.
Which answer is correct?
A) Both X and Y are project-based activities.
B) Only X is a project-based activity.
C) Only Y is a project-based activity.
2
,D) Neither X nor Y is a project-based activity.
From improvisation to routine
Project management
A vacation can be approached in a routine, improvised or project-based manner.
Give an example of each.
Types of projects
1. Technical projects
- Effect change in technology or come up with a new product
- E.g. (bv) construction of a bridge, railway line or computer network
2. Social projects
- Change the corporate culture or organizational structure of a company
- E.g. adapting working procedures, reorganization of a company
- Also known as ‘soft’ projects most difficult projects
3. Commercial projects
- Ultimate goal is to earn money
- E.g. 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
- E.g. the design, programming and installation of an extensive computer program
- “They do not speak each other’s language”
5. Events
- The end result only appears at a certain point in time
- E.g. computer fair, pop festival, quiz, car show
3
, Phasing and products
Concept project proposal
The idea
Definition project plan
What needs to be done?
Design preliminary design
What is the ultimate goal?
Preparation detailed design
How do you need to go about it?
Realization project results
Doing it!
Aftercare using the project results adapting the project
results
Operation and maitenance
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
The concept phase of a project often results in a project proposal. If the proposal is approved
by management (the sponsor), the next phase may commence.
At this stage, the project exists only as a problem or an idea in the minds of those who have
thought it up (= opportunity).
A number of activities may be carried out:
- An investigation into the current state of affairs
- A rough estimation of the extent of the problem
- A determination of the aims or the desired results of the project
4
Types of activities
improvised Project-based Routine
When? Ad hoc (suddenly) Predictable Repetitive
Result? Uncertain Reasonably certain Certain
Familiarity New, sudden New, planned Well-known
Freedom? A lot of freedom A suitable amount Little freedom
Procedure Chaotic Increasingly clear 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 your expertise.
Positive action in project management
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 change more quickly.
1. Possible exam question
If the procedures of an activity are chaotic, which approach are you using?
A) Standard
B) Improvised
C) Project-based
D) Routine
1
, What’s a project?
- Building a new shopping centre, bridge, housing estate, nursing home, factory, …
- Relocating a large company to a new location
- Organizing a major event (exhibition, sports event or music festival)
- Implementing 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
- Reducing waiting lists in the field of health care
- Doing a theater production or film
- Even rearranging your own study room
- …
Let’s have a look
1. Give three examples of projects you have ever done. Write them down.
2. What ‘features’ do these projects have in common? Discuss with your neighbour and try to
find as many
as possible.
Project features
1. Temporary
1. Clear starting point (start-up or kick-off)
2. Finishing date
2. Unique and 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
(no lists)
2. Possible exam question
Given
X: A car dealer sells cars.
Y: Taylor Swift makes a new album.
Which answer is correct?
A) Both X and Y are project-based activities.
B) Only X is a project-based activity.
C) Only Y is a project-based activity.
2
,D) Neither X nor Y is a project-based activity.
From improvisation to routine
Project management
A vacation can be approached in a routine, improvised or project-based manner.
Give an example of each.
Types of projects
1. Technical projects
- Effect change in technology or come up with a new product
- E.g. (bv) construction of a bridge, railway line or computer network
2. Social projects
- Change the corporate culture or organizational structure of a company
- E.g. adapting working procedures, reorganization of a company
- Also known as ‘soft’ projects most difficult projects
3. Commercial projects
- Ultimate goal is to earn money
- E.g. 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
- E.g. the design, programming and installation of an extensive computer program
- “They do not speak each other’s language”
5. Events
- The end result only appears at a certain point in time
- E.g. computer fair, pop festival, quiz, car show
3
, Phasing and products
Concept project proposal
The idea
Definition project plan
What needs to be done?
Design preliminary design
What is the ultimate goal?
Preparation detailed design
How do you need to go about it?
Realization project results
Doing it!
Aftercare using the project results adapting the project
results
Operation and maitenance
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
The concept phase of a project often results in a project proposal. If the proposal is approved
by management (the sponsor), the next phase may commence.
At this stage, the project exists only as a problem or an idea in the minds of those who have
thought it up (= opportunity).
A number of activities may be carried out:
- An investigation into the current state of affairs
- A rough estimation of the extent of the problem
- A determination of the aims or the desired results of the project
4
