Discussion – Project Management

Discussion – Project Management

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Introduction

Project management refers to the application of skills and tools to produce something that gives people value. Value is created by producing a product, service, or result that has desirable outcomes. A project can range from a simple individual task to complex organizational tasks that involve large teams and more resources. Some examples of projects include car development, moving departmental offices from one facility to another, and moving information systems. Regardless of the complexity of a project, it has to undergo all project phases: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and project closing,

Personal Project Experience

I presided over the construction of our home, a project that needed in-depth project management skills. The initiation stage is one of the most important parts of a construction project. The first activity done during the first stage was programming and feasibility to determine whether the project was worth undertaking (Harvard Business Review, 2016). It included defining the goals of the entire project. Also, we decided on the size of the land and the number of rooms that will make up the new building. Also, the architect did a schematic design, producing a sketch of how the new building will look. Finally, with the help of the architect, we created contract documents to be used by those bidding to take part in the new project.

The second stage was the planning phase. It started with contracting the successful bidder who was going to be in charge of the technical aspects of the project. Roles were also defined in this phase, with me being the project manager while the successful bidder took over contract administration. We agreed on the roles each of us would perform to avoid potential conflicts during the project life (Harvard Business Review, 2016). Other activities that took place during the planning phase include soil testing and environmental impact assessment.

Thirdly, the execution phase of the project was the construction stage. While I played significant roles in earlier stages as the project manager, this phase is largely controlled by the contractor and subcontractors. The efforts in the planning stage are designed to pay off during the construction phase (Harvard Business Review, 2016). The main objective during this stage was to ensure that the project aligned with earlier plans. The construction manager, contractor, and subcontracted engineers performed supervisory roles as laborers did the groundwork. As a project manager, I only did regular reviews to ensure compliance, besides providing other participants with what they needed to succeed.

The final phase during the building construction phase was the closeout phase. Now that the entire building was done, it was time to wind up the project. The closing phase is more than completing what was on the project’s planning list (Harvard Business Review, 2016). Other activities undertaken during the phase include cleaning up the construction site, returning rented equipment, and general demobilization of construction resources.

The project was Different than an Operation.

Two aspects of activities take place in an organization, projects, and operations. On the one hand, projects are unique and temporal tasks meant to create value in the organization regarding services, products, or desirable outcomes. On the other hand, operations are the day-to-day activities that facilitate the functioning of an enterprise, such as accounting and production processes.

One key difference between projects and operations is based on their duration. A project is temporal since it starts from scratch and ends once the desired product has been produced.   Conversely, an operation starts once the project is accomplished and is permanent. For instance, as long as there is demand for goods and services, an enterprise must continue producing. Another difference is budgeting; a project’s budget is predetermined and definite, while an operation’s budget depends on revenue. As long a given product brings revenue, production will continue. Also, the risk factor comes in. There is a high risk in carrying out a project since it is new, but operations have less risk since they have happened before, and it is just a matter of increasing volume.

How were Principles of Project Management Applied to the Project?

One of the principles of project management applied in the construction process is the division of work. Right from the initiation phase, people are assigned roles that aligned with their specialty (Newton, 2015). An architect was assigned to design the building, a contractor to manage the work, and engineers to supervise the technical work and ensure laborers were doing the right thing. Specialization ensures all participants are productive.

Another project management principle applied in the construction project is a centralized center of command. Laborers reported to the construction manager, who in turn reported to the contractor. As a project manager, I was at the top of the hierarchical order. A well-defined center of command ensures responsibility for mistakes is clearly defined.

Skills and Knowledge Led to Success or Lack of Skills and Knowledge Led to Failure

One of the most notable aspects of the construction project was building and engineering knowledge. Most contractors who lack engineering knowledge are likely to fail in the field. The knowledge ensures they know how to handle tools and call out juniors who divert from project goals.

Lessons Learned

Project management skills are critical for any project, regardless of its magnitude and complexity. As a result, project managers or individuals must ensure that a project undergoes all four project phases. Unlike day-to-day operations, a project is a bit risky, hence requires more attention to ensure it succeeds (Wideman, 2000). Additionally, a project must align with project management principles to ensure success. Such principles include division of work, unity of command, centralization, among others.

References

Harvard Business Review. (2016, November 3). The Four Phases of Project Management. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/11/the-four-phases-of-project-management

Newton, P. (2015). Principles of project management. Retrieved from www.free-managementebooks.com.

Wideman, R. M. (2000). First principles of project management. AEW Services, Vancouver, BC Corporation.

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In some manner, people have all performed project management at various times in their lives, often without even knowing that they were doing it. Project management is performing and completing a group of activities to accomplish some specific goal. Project management can be applied to something as large and complex as putting humans on Mars or as small and simple as building a tree house in your backyard. In either situation, the projects progress through the same stages.

Discussion – Project management

Think about something that you have done that fits the definition of a project, and discuss how the project progressed through the different phases of the project life cycle. Submit a 3-page paper that addresses the following:

Describe the project and how it differed from an operation.
What activities were performed that were part of the following phases?
Initiating
Planning
Executing
Closing
How were the principles of project management applied to this project?
What skills and knowledge of the project manager were applied to make you successful (or were lacking, which led to failure)?
What lessons were learned in this project that could be applied to future projects?