Project Management TrainingGeneral PM body of knowledge

Areas of Expertise Needed by the Project Team

Definitions• ISO definition of a project: Unique process, consisting of a set of co-

ordinated and controlled activities with start and finish dates, undertaken to achieve an objective conforming to specific requirements including constraints of time cost and resources (ISO 9000:2000 (Fundamentals and Vocabulary))

• PRINCE definition: A management environment that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to a specified business case (CCTA 1997)

• The PMI's definition: A project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service. It elaborates a little more with, "Temporary means that every project has a definite beginning and a definite end. Unique means that the product or service is different in some distinguishing way from all other products or services. (PMI 2000)

Areas of Expertise in PM

• The Project Management Knowledge• Application area knowledge, standards,

and regulations• Understanding the project environment• General management knowledge and

skills• Interpersonal skills

Project Characteristics (General)1. Non-routine activities

2. Planning is required

3. Temporary

4. Start and end dates specified

5. Objectives are defined

6. Identified results are achieved

7. Unique Products, Services, or Results

8. Progressive Elaboration

9. Cost, time and resources are consumed.

Project Characteristics according to PRINCE2

• PRINCE (PRojects IN Controlled Environments)

• A finite and defined life span

• Defined and measurable business products

• A corresponding set of activities to achieve the business

products

• A defined amount of resources

• An organisation structure, with defined responsibilities, to

manage the project.

Project Life Cycle (PRINCE2)

Project Life Cycle (PMI)

The activities of project start1. Start up2. Initial requirements3. Feasibility4. More requirements5. Initiation6. Estimation7. Risk analysis8. Budgeting9. Staffing10. Other resources11. Communication12. Review plans

Project Management

Project Management ProcessesAccording to PMI all processes are aggregated into five groups, defined as the Project Management Process Groups:•Initiating Process Group. Defines and authorizes the project or a project phase.•Planning Process Group. Defines and refines objectives, and plans the course of action required to attain the objectives and scope that the project was undertaken to address.•Executing Process Group. Integrates people and other resources to carry out the project management plan for the project.•Monitoring and Controlling Process Group. Regularly measures and monitors progress to identify variances from the project management plan so that corrective action can be taken when necessary to meet project objectives.•Closing Process Group. Formalizes acceptance of the product, service or result and brings the project or a project phase to an orderly end.

PRINCE2 Project Management• PRINCE2 provides projects with:• A controlled and organised start, middle and end• Regular reviews of progress against plan and against the Business

Case• Flexible decision points• Automatic management control of any deviations from the plan• The involvement of management and stakeholders at the right time

during the project• Good communication channels between the project management

team and the rest of the organisation• Agreement on the required quality at the outset and continuous

monitoring against those requirements.

Same PRINCE2• Project Managers using PRINCE2 are able to:• Establish terms of reference as a prerequisite to the start of

a project• Use a defined structure for delegation, authority and

communication• Divide the project into manageable stages for more

accurate planning• Ensure that resource commitment from management is

part of any approval to proceed• Provide regular, but brief, management reports• Keep meetings with management and stakeholders to a

minimum but at the vital points in the project.

Management Levels

• Corporate or Programme Management

• Directing a Project

• Managing a Project

• Managing Product Delivery

Project Management Team by PMI

Project Management Structure by PRINCE2

Project start upThere are several factors to consider before a decision is made to go ahead with the project including:

•Market•Feasibility•Scope•Staff•Cost & other resources•Risk•Quality •Time

Feasibility

• Needs Analysis

• Technical feasibility study

• Schedule Feasibility study

• Organizational Feasibility study

• Cultural Feasibility study

• Legal Feasibility study

• Marketing Feasibility study

Feasibility Study by PRINCE2

• Problem Definition

• Investigation

• Development of Options

• Submission of Recommendations

Starting up a Project (SU) in PRINCE2

This is the first process in PRINCE2. It is a pre-project process, designed to ensure that the prerequisites for initiating the project are in place. The process expects the existence of a Project Mandate that defines in high-level terms the reason for the project and what product is required. The process should be very short.

•The work of the process is built around the establishment of six things:•The design and, as far as possible, appointment of the project management team•The Project Brief•The Project Approach (in general terms how a solution will be provided)•The customer’s quality expectations•A Risk Log•The initiation Stage Plan.

Project Initiation (PMI)

What a plan might look like?

Components for a project master plan:

•Overview•Objectives•General Approach•Contractual aspects•Schedules•Resource requirements•Personnel•Evaluation methods•Potential problems