Project Management:An IntroductionENTC 4060

What is a Project?Harold Kerzner, Project Management, pg. 2A series of activities and tasks thatHave a specific objective to be completed within certain specifications;Have defined start and end dates;Have funding limits (if applicable);Consume resources (i.e., money, people, & equipment)

What is a Project?

A series of activities and tasks that haveSCOPE Have defined start and end dates;Have funding limits (if applicable);Consume resources (i.e., money, people, & equipment)

What is a Project?

A series of activities and tasks that haveSCOPE TIMEHave funding limits (if applicable);Consume resources (i.e., money, people, & equipment)

What is a Project?

A series of activities and tasks that haveSCOPE TIME RESOURCES

The Three Project Constraints:

SCOPE TIME RESOURCES

Project TriangleSCOPERESOURCESTIME

Project TriangleSCOPERESOURCESTIME

What is Project Management?Project management is the art of creating an illusion that any outcome is the result of a series of predetermined, deliberate acts when, in fact, it was dumb luck.Harold Kerzner, Project Management, pg. 3

What is Project Management?Project management is the planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of company resources for a relatively short term objective that has been established to complete specific goals and objectives.Harold Kerzner, Project Management, pg. 4

Two Main ComponentsPlanningCreating, then fine tuning, the overall project planMonitoringTracking & reporting progress

Measurements of Project SuccessWithin specificationsWithin allotted time periodWithin the budgeted costsAccepted by the customer/userMinimal and mutual scope changesWithin corporate culture & without disturbing organizational workflow

Project Managers RoleResponsible for coordinating and integrating activities across multiple and functional linesUnderstand operations of line organizationsFamiliar with technologyMaster if in R&D activities

Whats in the Successful Project Managers Toolbox?Strong communication skillsStrong interpersonal skillsAbility to balance technical and managerial functions;overcome organizational constraints;cope with and survive risks

Ten Specific SkillsTeam BuildingLeadershipConflict ResolutionTechnical ExpertisePlanning

Ten Specific SkillsOrganizingEntrepreneurshipAdministrationManagement supportResource allocation

Project Managers ManageEngineeringProcurementConstructionFinanceCost engineering

Project Managers ManageScheduleEnvironmental considerationsRegulatory requirements and lawInflation & cost escalationsLabor and client relations

Management SkillsHuman behavior and interpersonal relationshipsPsychologyOrganizational behaviorSociologyCommunications

Project Managers ResponsibilitiesPlanning agent Overall and summary NOT detailed planningFunctional or line managersResolve conflictsMake tradeoffs

Planning Architect defines Complete tasksResource requirementsMajor timetable milestonesEnd-item quality and reliability requirementsPerformance measurements

System/Product Lifecycle

What would a typical Project Lifecycle look like?