REASONS WHY YOU MUST BECOME A GOOD PROJECT LEADER
project management isn't just for site engineers wearing hard hats and basking in the sun. Project Management is for any manager who has a complex task that's the new connotation for the word "project" it could include sales managers running a campaign; frontline professionals r software engineers handling a sub-task or an executive assistant to a Managing Director
WHY YOU MUST BECOME A GOOD PROJECT LEADER
Almost any human
activity that involves carrying out a non-repetitive task can be a project. So
we are all project managers! We all practise project management (PM). Project managers can be found in all industries.
Their numbers have grown rapidly as industry and commerce has realised that
much of what it does is project work. And as project-based organisations have
started to emerge, project management is becoming established as both a
professional career path and a way of controlling business. One reason for
the rapid growth is the need to understand how to look after complex projects,
often in high tech areas, which are critical to business success but also have
to use scarce resources efficiently.
So opportunities in project management now exist not only in being a project manager, but also as part of the support team in a project or programme office or as a team leader for part of a project. There are also qualifications that can be attained through the professional associations.
But there is a big difference between carrying out a very simple project involving one or two people and one involving a complex mix of people, organisations and tasks.
This has been true for millennia, but large-scale projects like the Pyramids often used rather simple control and resource techniques including brute force to 'motivate' the workforce!
The art of planning for the future has always been a human trait. In essence a project can be captured on paper with a few simple elements: a start date, an end date, the tasks that have to be carried out and when they should be finished, and some idea of the resources (people, machines etc) that will be needed during the course of the project.
When the plan starts to involve different things happening at different times, some of which are dependent on each other, plus resources required at different times and in different quantities and perhaps working at different rates, the paper plan could start to cover a vast area and be unreadable.
5 BASIC PHASES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
So opportunities in project management now exist not only in being a project manager, but also as part of the support team in a project or programme office or as a team leader for part of a project. There are also qualifications that can be attained through the professional associations.
But there is a big difference between carrying out a very simple project involving one or two people and one involving a complex mix of people, organisations and tasks.
This has been true for millennia, but large-scale projects like the Pyramids often used rather simple control and resource techniques including brute force to 'motivate' the workforce!
The art of planning for the future has always been a human trait. In essence a project can be captured on paper with a few simple elements: a start date, an end date, the tasks that have to be carried out and when they should be finished, and some idea of the resources (people, machines etc) that will be needed during the course of the project.
When the plan starts to involve different things happening at different times, some of which are dependent on each other, plus resources required at different times and in different quantities and perhaps working at different rates, the paper plan could start to cover a vast area and be unreadable.
5 BASIC PHASES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
A easy definition of
project management means the application of knowledge, skills, tools and
techniques to a broad range of activities in order to meet the requirements of
a particular task at hand. The process
of directing and controlling a project from start to finish may be further
divided into 5 basic phases:
1. Project conception and
initiation
An
idea for a project will be carefully examined to determine whether or not it
benefits the organization. During this phase, a decision making team will
identify if the project can realistically be completed.
2. Project definition and
planning
A
project plan, project charter and/or project scope may be put in writing,
outlining the work to be performed. During this phase, a team should prioritize
the project, calculate a budget and schedule, and determine what resources are
needed.
3. Project launch or
execution
Resources'
tasks are distributed and teams are informed of responsibilities. This is a
good time to bring up important project related information.
4. Project performance and
control
Project
managers will compare project status and progress to the actual plan, as
resources perform the scheduled work. During this phase, project managers may
need to adjust schedules or do what is necessary to keep the project on track.
5. Project close
After
project tasks are completed and the client has approved the outcome, an
evaluation is necessary to highlight project success and/or learn from project
history.
Projects
and project management processes vary from industry to industry; however, these
are more traditional elements of a project. The overarching goal is typically
to offer a product, change a process or to solve a problem in order to benefit
the organization.
One reason for the rapid growth is the need to understand how to look
after complex projects, often in high tech areas, which are critical to
business success but also have to use scarce resources efficiently. Organizations
that are willing to allow hastily planned, poorly lead projects eventually
weaken themselves and endanger employees by wasting precious resources
1.
Organizations that are flattening
(re-engineering, downsizing, rightsizing, etc) will depend on projects and
project leaders to get work done that was once handled by departments.
2.
With rare exceptions, project prime movers
believe that project meltdowns are the result of weak project leadership.
3.
More than one lumpy project leadership
performance can give you a reputation that will repel future project
participants.
4.
Project work is often disguised by the use of
the word Team; if you find yourself on or leading teams, you're probably
working together to complete a project.
5.
The abilities that are required to organize and
carry out successful projects will enhance other aspects of your job.
6.
Leading successful projects is the best way
to prove your promotability to the people who make those decisions.
7.
The best way to promote effective project
leadership is to set examples that are so powerful and positive that others
wouldn't dare do less.
8.
As Project leaders learn more, they get
better faster.
9.
If you're not getting better, you're getting
worse as you get older
10. The
younger people are smarter;faster learners and need your job slot to advance
their blocked careers
Project
managers can be found in all industries. Their numbers have grown rapidly as
industry and commerce has realised that much of what it does is project work.
And as project-based organisations have started to emerge, project management
is becoming established as both a professional career path and a way of
controlling business.
So opportunities in project management now exist not only in being a project manager, but also as part of the support team in a project or programme office or as a team leader for part of a project. There are also qualifications that can be attained through the professional associations.
Most people still want their projects to be on time, meet quality objectives, and not cost more than the budget. These form the classic time, quality, cost triangle. In fact if you have an unlimited budget and unlimited time, project management becomes rather easy. For most people, however, time and money are critical and that is what makes project management so important today. Most people still want their projects to be on time, meet quality objectives, and not cost more than the budget. These form the classic time, quality, cost triangle. In fact if you have an unlimited budget and unlimited time, project management becomes rather easy. For most people, however, time and money are critical and that is what makes project management so important today.
So opportunities in project management now exist not only in being a project manager, but also as part of the support team in a project or programme office or as a team leader for part of a project. There are also qualifications that can be attained through the professional associations.
Most people still want their projects to be on time, meet quality objectives, and not cost more than the budget. These form the classic time, quality, cost triangle. In fact if you have an unlimited budget and unlimited time, project management becomes rather easy. For most people, however, time and money are critical and that is what makes project management so important today. Most people still want their projects to be on time, meet quality objectives, and not cost more than the budget. These form the classic time, quality, cost triangle. In fact if you have an unlimited budget and unlimited time, project management becomes rather easy. For most people, however, time and money are critical and that is what makes project management so important today.
