OBS 220
CHAPTER 1: Introduction to project management
What is a project
• Frequently a business is faced with making a change, such as improving an existing
work process, constructing a building, installing a new computer system, merging
with another company, moving to a new location, developing a new product,
entering a new market etc
• These changes are best planned
• Changes are initiated due to operational necessity or mee strategic goals such as:
- Market demand
- Customer request
- Technological advance
- Leal requirements or regulatory compliance
- Replace obsolete equipment, technology system or physical facility
- Crisis situation
- Social need
• Project: time-bound effort that has a definite beginning and a definite ending with
several related and/or interdependent tasks to create a unique product or service
• The word temporary used to denote project duration; however it does not mean
that the project duration is short; in fact it can range from a few weeks to several
years
• A project requires an organized set of work efforts that are planned with a level of
detail that is progressively elaborated on as more info is discovered
• Projects are subject to limitation of time and resources such as money and people
• Project is output often is a collection of a primary deliverable along with supporting
deliverable such as a house as the primary deliverable and warrantees and
instructions for use as supporting deliverables
• Stakeholders: people and groups who can impact the project or might be
impacted by either the work or results of the project
• Projects require a variety of people to work together for a limited time and all
participants need to understand that completing the project will require effort in
addition to their other assigned work
• Project management: the art and science of using knowledge, skills, tools and
techniques efficiently and effectively to meet stakeholders needs and expectations
• This works processes that initiate, plan, execute, control and close work
• Tradeoffs must be made among the following:
- Scope (size and features)
- Quality (acceptability of the results)
- Cost
- Schedule
- Resources
- Risks
• Trade-offs are done successfully the project results meet the agreed-upon
requirements, are useful to the customers, and promote the organization
Created by: Sabrina Dias
, How can project work be described
• Projects are temporary and unique. While operation is more continuous
• Project managers need certain soft skills and hard skills to be effective
• Project managers frequently have more responsibility than authority
• Projects go through predictable stages = life cycle
Project versus operations
• Projects:
- are temporary and no two are identical
- Projects may have both routine and unique aspects such as building a house;
such projects can be termed process oriented. These projects are associated with
fewer unknowns and uncertainties
- Project managers can use project management methods to help determine what
to do, but they rarely have checklists that identify all activities
- Project management discipline includes various processes (planning, risk
management, communication management etc)
• Operations
- Consists of the ongoing work needed to ensure that an organization continues to
function effectively
- Operation managers often use check-lists to guide much of their work
• Both projects and operations are associated with processes
• A process is described as a series of actions designed to bring about the consistent
and similar result or service
• Process designed to improve productivity
• Processes are repetitive and produce consistent and similar results
• Projects are unique
Soft skills and hard skills
• Soft skills:
- Ability to work in teams, interpersonal skills, communication conflict resolution,
negotiation and leadership activities
- Critical importance: interpersonal relations, conflict resolution and
communication
• Hard skills
- Risk analysis, quality control, scheduling, budgeting, change control, planning
other related activities and project execution
• Soft and hard skills go hand in hand
• Some people have a stronger natural ability and a better comfort level in one or the
other, but to be successful as project manager a person needs to develop both
• Wise project manager may recruit an assistant who excels in his area of weakness
Authority and responsibility
• Project manager held accountable for work that they cannot order people to
perform
• Projects most effectively managed with one person being assigned accountability
Created by: Sabrina Dias
CHAPTER 1: Introduction to project management
What is a project
• Frequently a business is faced with making a change, such as improving an existing
work process, constructing a building, installing a new computer system, merging
with another company, moving to a new location, developing a new product,
entering a new market etc
• These changes are best planned
• Changes are initiated due to operational necessity or mee strategic goals such as:
- Market demand
- Customer request
- Technological advance
- Leal requirements or regulatory compliance
- Replace obsolete equipment, technology system or physical facility
- Crisis situation
- Social need
• Project: time-bound effort that has a definite beginning and a definite ending with
several related and/or interdependent tasks to create a unique product or service
• The word temporary used to denote project duration; however it does not mean
that the project duration is short; in fact it can range from a few weeks to several
years
• A project requires an organized set of work efforts that are planned with a level of
detail that is progressively elaborated on as more info is discovered
• Projects are subject to limitation of time and resources such as money and people
• Project is output often is a collection of a primary deliverable along with supporting
deliverable such as a house as the primary deliverable and warrantees and
instructions for use as supporting deliverables
• Stakeholders: people and groups who can impact the project or might be
impacted by either the work or results of the project
• Projects require a variety of people to work together for a limited time and all
participants need to understand that completing the project will require effort in
addition to their other assigned work
• Project management: the art and science of using knowledge, skills, tools and
techniques efficiently and effectively to meet stakeholders needs and expectations
• This works processes that initiate, plan, execute, control and close work
• Tradeoffs must be made among the following:
- Scope (size and features)
- Quality (acceptability of the results)
- Cost
- Schedule
- Resources
- Risks
• Trade-offs are done successfully the project results meet the agreed-upon
requirements, are useful to the customers, and promote the organization
Created by: Sabrina Dias
, How can project work be described
• Projects are temporary and unique. While operation is more continuous
• Project managers need certain soft skills and hard skills to be effective
• Project managers frequently have more responsibility than authority
• Projects go through predictable stages = life cycle
Project versus operations
• Projects:
- are temporary and no two are identical
- Projects may have both routine and unique aspects such as building a house;
such projects can be termed process oriented. These projects are associated with
fewer unknowns and uncertainties
- Project managers can use project management methods to help determine what
to do, but they rarely have checklists that identify all activities
- Project management discipline includes various processes (planning, risk
management, communication management etc)
• Operations
- Consists of the ongoing work needed to ensure that an organization continues to
function effectively
- Operation managers often use check-lists to guide much of their work
• Both projects and operations are associated with processes
• A process is described as a series of actions designed to bring about the consistent
and similar result or service
• Process designed to improve productivity
• Processes are repetitive and produce consistent and similar results
• Projects are unique
Soft skills and hard skills
• Soft skills:
- Ability to work in teams, interpersonal skills, communication conflict resolution,
negotiation and leadership activities
- Critical importance: interpersonal relations, conflict resolution and
communication
• Hard skills
- Risk analysis, quality control, scheduling, budgeting, change control, planning
other related activities and project execution
• Soft and hard skills go hand in hand
• Some people have a stronger natural ability and a better comfort level in one or the
other, but to be successful as project manager a person needs to develop both
• Wise project manager may recruit an assistant who excels in his area of weakness
Authority and responsibility
• Project manager held accountable for work that they cannot order people to
perform
• Projects most effectively managed with one person being assigned accountability
Created by: Sabrina Dias
