Tuesday, March 22, 2011
What is the best tool use in expert judgment?
“One who limits himself to his chosen mode of ignorance”, Attributed to Elbert Hubbart.
In the field of project management, the project team itself is not capable of managing the project. There are trickle things that might occur while running the project that needs a vast proficiency by someone who is expert in such field. Reality can’t shroud that not everyone belong to the team is capable of all the things surrounds with reference to the current project. There could be probably problems and circumstances that might occur while taking the maintenance of a certain projects. Precisely, project team needs an expert at anytime - special skills or knowledge of experts especially in times of activity duration estimating. So in the project management domain there is a needing technique to response some glitches of project which is termed as EXPERT JUDGMENT.
Expert Judgment is a most commonly used estimation approach in practice in the turf of project management wherein the technique used in consulting with groups or individuals with specialized knowledge or training. The term is described from the internet domain of www.soft-net.at as a method involves consulting one or more experts from based upon a specific set of criteria and/or expertise from a knowledge or product area, a particular industry. These experts might come from the team member itself, project manager and/or from external group/person. But oftentimes, a project requires more expertise outside of project team whom will be consulted for specific advices in relation to the project. These experts provide estimates using their own methods and experience. To simplify what expert judgment really is, let’s take a simple example looking through the daily routine of the humankind. Expert judgment in project management is just the same as consulting a doctor, doctors are practically sorts in many types; there could be obgyne, pediatrics, surgeon, urologist, etc. so, if your tooth is aching that much – it is a commonsense to have consolations with dentist. That how expert judgment works – involves a rational thinking of the project team on where to ask soundings.
As soon as the moment you’ve recognized whom to consult with or which expert or group of experts can help your team. Some source over the internet imparted three best tools that are useful in some situations. Nevertheless, these tools sometimes won’t practically gives the information that project team really need. The fundamental tools is acquaint with below.
Interviews. This tool is best used when knowledgeable, experienced people are available at an affordable cost and specific information is needed. Interview can be on a one-to-one or a many-to-one basis wherein conducted by asking a series of questions that will increase your knowledge of the project or a particular project activity. For us, interview is never new to us. As what I have experienced, I had overdone certain interviews that will help the questions I wanted to know for me to continue on what must be done or do to my works or researches. Here, the project team will be able to recognize and define specific knowledge from the expert whom they were consulted with. Interview do have forms too, it could be formal or informal. Its best for consulting experts to used formal form of interview to respect the responses of the chosen experts.
Brainstorming. It’s the kind of expert judgment tool is usually best use when input from multiple experts is needed or when experienced people aren't available. Brainstorming works by getting a group to focus on a problem and then coming up with as many solutions as possible. Once the session has resulted in a number of solutions, the results can be analyzed. This tool is essentially needs a proper brainstorming of the experts and /or the project team after a number session of consultations has been made. It’s time foe deep analysis of the solutions that had listed by the experts to solve the problems. Through this, it would be definitely stress-free for the project team and the experts to give responses over the resulting ideas of solutions, and;
Historical data. Is best used when records are accurate and both projects are similar. Since a variety of documentations in project management matters most, so, it is very nice to have historical record data in every expert judgment to ensure that you are in line with what really it should be. Historical data uses the knowledge gained on a similar past project activity to obtain duration estimates for each activity associated with a current project. It’s never impossible to see projects the same as what project you’re currently working with, especially in the internet forms. Though, we see it as awkward to see most likely the same as what we are working to; but then again, it doesn’t matter because it could be sometimes gives recent ideas that can be applied to your contemporary project.
Like so many things, expert judgment does have advantages too. The advantages are that it (1.) allows for different perspective, (2.) makes valuable use of prior knowledge and experience, (3.) helps the team to find creative solutions and (4.) helps the project team avoid re-inventing the wheel or avoiding constructing again another ways of solutions. On the other hands, it also comprises of disadvantages effects. The team must be careful when using this kind of technique because it can subsist time-consuming, also can tie up experienced staff for many hours. Since it needs to be done usually outside the field, so, it will be a costly thing of. And the worst is experts may tend to down pay the fact that an activity took something different than the expected.
Indeed, expert judgment will be useful and knowledgeable technique that can be applied in a certain project. What’s good with the technique is that is manifest the proper usage of project management that can helps to handle projects in a very precise, proficient and effective way. It’s a powerful and invaluable technique or tool for estimating needing properties concerning the project. Also it gives a number of solutions that make a project team not to work stressfully and not be obliged to re-invert and create a new maneuver and turns to make a project magnificently and productively made.
How is a project different to any other work?
“A thing which cannot be accomplished should never be undertaken”, African Proverbs.
Many circumstances have been proven that promoting project management gives a triumphant portion in handling a certain project. On account of the techniques acquired on the concept project management, it is indeed very advantageous to apply for. Through the expenditure of project management techniques, projects will run up a couple of predictions if does it be reasonable to continue or to discard during the analysis course of action.
Enable to differentiate what is the difference between projects and any other work, let us define first the true meaning of this thing. The word project is well-defined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge 3rd Edition as “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service". Temporary means that the project has an end date and that of every project has a definite beginning and definite end. We can only say that it is the end of the project when the project objectives reached already. This word temporary means that a project is finite and it is not an ongoing activity. Generally, project is not a continuous process. While unique means that the project's end result is different than the results of other functions of the organization. Stated are the products of the deliverables of the projects. These products can only be considered as product when it is unique, in which requires that all project must be unique in its own simple ways. Projects itself are also comprises an ambiguous plan to define and constrain a future by limiting it to set goals and parameters.
Project is different to any other work like such of those ongoing works because of the fact that it matters time in which projects are temporary and unique which will have a definite start and end. But then again both project and operational or ongoing work are considered as a types of works, they differ only on the way how these works done, its characteristics and what are the things that should be consider to do so. Somehow these two categories are sometimes overlap and do share the same characteristics as stated according to the PMBOK 3rd Edition are as follows. First, both works are performed by people. Obviously, projects and operational works are both work and performed by the work team which is the people. Projects and operational works can never be successfully done without the person behind those works to execute the needed activities that needs to be accomplished. The second one is the characteristic that both works do constraint by limited resources. Both ways of those works requires resources that are needed by the works to be pull off. It both considers limited resources which will be suitable for those proposed works. There should be a good estimation of the resources, it must be overestimated nor underestimated. Lastly, all works are planned, executed and controlled. This means that those categories for works are seriously prepared, studied before an activity is provided to work with. This gives the intention to properly execute the works and be actively control all those first activities that had made until the work is done. That is why; projects are not merely different from other works. Hence, these projects do provoke the same attributes of other works.
On the other hand, many articles over the internet define the characteristics of a project that made it distinct from any other works; one of those sources is from thewww.spottydog.u-net.com wherein generally defined project as a programmed of work to bring about a beneficial change which comprises some characteristics:
A start and an end. Unlike from any other works, projects are primarily differing because of its feature that inquires the matter of time. This insinuated that projects start in a definite time and end up in a definite time too; this is where the project timeline occur like of Gantt Chart and Pert Chart. This could be an over source to see if the project is done properly wherein the desired time to be done and the desired scope of the project that needs to be meet after the project is ended. In general, projects are designed to be temporary and unique, and;
A multi-disciplinary team brought together for the project. This characteristic provides extension for the quote “form a team, not a committee”. It is good for the project team to work as one – one in the same mind and soul. A team management in managing a project is an efficient and needing factor to make the project successful. The project team must take a proficient and competitive team leader to lead and usually manages a project stage or a small project where his or her particular skills or expertise are a large part of the work. It is the thing of project processes that organize and manage the project team. Project team is comprised of the people to work with the assigned roles and activities for the completion of the project. This said team is responsible for planning, controlling and closing the project. According to the PMBOK, this team will be the core, executive and leadership team of the project. To cut a long description, a project will never be magnificently done without the viable and well-knowledge team member. Thus, this team must be capable of handling risk and promote a systematic team communication to enable clear responses with the teammates.
Is Project Management relevant to me?
After gone through certain projects, the question is, is project management relevant to me?..Hmmmm.. Absolutely yes!. For me, project management is a useful and very helpful technique in dealing with projects. Of all the techniques I’ve known, project management got into my vain. It is very important because it gives a constant guide to finish the project. Like of certain projects I’ve met, it is indeed promoting technique I ever had. This project management gave me an idea on how to handle projects rightly, so that I can manage it successfully. It appropriately gives knowledge and direction to perform a number of tasks such as defining the goal of the project, considering the scope, time and quality or the functionality of the project when it’s done, it requires valuable expertise to support other functions as well and also involves unique scope of work to the people whom will take the project.
Practically saying, project management really important to me especially when I need to create a project in a limited time, well obviously projects are made to be done in a limited time, so I need to comply with it. The thing project management helps me to manage my project in an almost perfect organized manner, in defining and refining the limited scope and resources of my project that should do, as it should be. It also gives me a hint to control myself on where the direction I should go and what are my limitations to do the projects so, as well as the properly documented templates of the project. This could help me a lot not to go anywhere of the project scope and also it would be easy for me to trace things when I organized the documents rightly. And because of the given techniques of the project management, it would certainly trouble-free for me to take the risks of certain projects that I’ll be handling. And lastly, because of the time is a relevant thing managing a project, so, with the used of those presented timeframe that can be use in managing the time management of the project, it would be easy for me to manage and get along with my projects in a strategic, systematic and knowledgeable way.
Perceptibly, projects are made to be done in a time allotted for it. So here are some of the examples of a project that needed to be knowledge properly:
(1) Project for public school rooms. Here, many people are involved such as the cost management team, resources management team, even as to the people whom will literally construct the building. Certainly, project like this need to be done in a timeframe for it is not be considered as ongoing work. Thus, this project will have to be done because it is badly needed in the present time.
(2) The production of a new customer newsletter, catalogue or Web site. The same as the above example, it also needed to be done in accordance to the time. Especially in this thing of making advertisements over the internet. It will never be relevant when once you will not accomplish is directly because many circumstances will come that might give risk to your project; most importantly like of the internet stability, and;
(3) The introduction of an improvement to an existing process. Mostly making these projects are in business firms whose need to update their provided services and products to their clients. This matter will do competitions without other firms, and make some move to enhance what they already have and to jive on what the trends is telling.
Indubitably, project management really gives a proper and organizes way of managing the projects. Nevertheless, projects will be fail when you itself whom will do the task is not taking the planning stage of the projects but rather because of you really plan to fail. The use of project management is only for guidance not for exactly when you do it, and think that project will be rightly successfully done. It also matters the attitude of the project team to accomplish the tasks.
Many circumstances have been proven that promoting project management gives a triumphant portion in handling a certain project. On account of the techniques acquired on the concept project management, it is indeed very advantageous to apply for. Through the expenditure of project management techniques, projects will run up a couple of predictions if does it be reasonable to continue or to discard during the analysis course of action.
Enable to differentiate what is the difference between projects and any other work, let us define first the true meaning of this thing. The word project is well-defined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge 3rd Edition as “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service". Temporary means that the project has an end date and that of every project has a definite beginning and definite end. We can only say that it is the end of the project when the project objectives reached already. This word temporary means that a project is finite and it is not an ongoing activity. Generally, project is not a continuous process. While unique means that the project's end result is different than the results of other functions of the organization. Stated are the products of the deliverables of the projects. These products can only be considered as product when it is unique, in which requires that all project must be unique in its own simple ways. Projects itself are also comprises an ambiguous plan to define and constrain a future by limiting it to set goals and parameters.
Project is different to any other work like such of those ongoing works because of the fact that it matters time in which projects are temporary and unique which will have a definite start and end. But then again both project and operational or ongoing work are considered as a types of works, they differ only on the way how these works done, its characteristics and what are the things that should be consider to do so. Somehow these two categories are sometimes overlap and do share the same characteristics as stated according to the PMBOK 3rd Edition are as follows. First, both works are performed by people. Obviously, projects and operational works are both work and performed by the work team which is the people. Projects and operational works can never be successfully done without the person behind those works to execute the needed activities that needs to be accomplished. The second one is the characteristic that both works do constraint by limited resources. Both ways of those works requires resources that are needed by the works to be pull off. It both considers limited resources which will be suitable for those proposed works. There should be a good estimation of the resources, it must be overestimated nor underestimated. Lastly, all works are planned, executed and controlled. This means that those categories for works are seriously prepared, studied before an activity is provided to work with. This gives the intention to properly execute the works and be actively control all those first activities that had made until the work is done. That is why; projects are not merely different from other works. Hence, these projects do provoke the same attributes of other works.
On the other hand, many articles over the internet define the characteristics of a project that made it distinct from any other works; one of those sources is from thewww.spottydog.u-net.com wherein generally defined project as a programmed of work to bring about a beneficial change which comprises some characteristics:
A start and an end. Unlike from any other works, projects are primarily differing because of its feature that inquires the matter of time. This insinuated that projects start in a definite time and end up in a definite time too; this is where the project timeline occur like of Gantt Chart and Pert Chart. This could be an over source to see if the project is done properly wherein the desired time to be done and the desired scope of the project that needs to be meet after the project is ended. In general, projects are designed to be temporary and unique, and;
A multi-disciplinary team brought together for the project. This characteristic provides extension for the quote “form a team, not a committee”. It is good for the project team to work as one – one in the same mind and soul. A team management in managing a project is an efficient and needing factor to make the project successful. The project team must take a proficient and competitive team leader to lead and usually manages a project stage or a small project where his or her particular skills or expertise are a large part of the work. It is the thing of project processes that organize and manage the project team. Project team is comprised of the people to work with the assigned roles and activities for the completion of the project. This said team is responsible for planning, controlling and closing the project. According to the PMBOK, this team will be the core, executive and leadership team of the project. To cut a long description, a project will never be magnificently done without the viable and well-knowledge team member. Thus, this team must be capable of handling risk and promote a systematic team communication to enable clear responses with the teammates.
Is Project Management relevant to me?
After gone through certain projects, the question is, is project management relevant to me?..Hmmmm.. Absolutely yes!. For me, project management is a useful and very helpful technique in dealing with projects. Of all the techniques I’ve known, project management got into my vain. It is very important because it gives a constant guide to finish the project. Like of certain projects I’ve met, it is indeed promoting technique I ever had. This project management gave me an idea on how to handle projects rightly, so that I can manage it successfully. It appropriately gives knowledge and direction to perform a number of tasks such as defining the goal of the project, considering the scope, time and quality or the functionality of the project when it’s done, it requires valuable expertise to support other functions as well and also involves unique scope of work to the people whom will take the project.
Practically saying, project management really important to me especially when I need to create a project in a limited time, well obviously projects are made to be done in a limited time, so I need to comply with it. The thing project management helps me to manage my project in an almost perfect organized manner, in defining and refining the limited scope and resources of my project that should do, as it should be. It also gives me a hint to control myself on where the direction I should go and what are my limitations to do the projects so, as well as the properly documented templates of the project. This could help me a lot not to go anywhere of the project scope and also it would be easy for me to trace things when I organized the documents rightly. And because of the given techniques of the project management, it would certainly trouble-free for me to take the risks of certain projects that I’ll be handling. And lastly, because of the time is a relevant thing managing a project, so, with the used of those presented timeframe that can be use in managing the time management of the project, it would be easy for me to manage and get along with my projects in a strategic, systematic and knowledgeable way.
Perceptibly, projects are made to be done in a time allotted for it. So here are some of the examples of a project that needed to be knowledge properly:
(1) Project for public school rooms. Here, many people are involved such as the cost management team, resources management team, even as to the people whom will literally construct the building. Certainly, project like this need to be done in a timeframe for it is not be considered as ongoing work. Thus, this project will have to be done because it is badly needed in the present time.
(2) The production of a new customer newsletter, catalogue or Web site. The same as the above example, it also needed to be done in accordance to the time. Especially in this thing of making advertisements over the internet. It will never be relevant when once you will not accomplish is directly because many circumstances will come that might give risk to your project; most importantly like of the internet stability, and;
(3) The introduction of an improvement to an existing process. Mostly making these projects are in business firms whose need to update their provided services and products to their clients. This matter will do competitions without other firms, and make some move to enhance what they already have and to jive on what the trends is telling.
Indubitably, project management really gives a proper and organizes way of managing the projects. Nevertheless, projects will be fail when you itself whom will do the task is not taking the planning stage of the projects but rather because of you really plan to fail. The use of project management is only for guidance not for exactly when you do it, and think that project will be rightly successfully done. It also matters the attitude of the project team to accomplish the tasks.
Is Project Management the best method of implementing change?
“All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born”, quoted by W.B. Yeats.
Nothing in this world is constant; changes are the fundamental components of continuous quality improvement. We can say that in any project that will handle do have a continuous change too. Any improvement methodology involves introducing change and measuring its impact. Through the changes occurred during the development of a project, the project itself will be capable of providing quality responses. Projects are practically changes; it is because of the available resources or even the needed tasks that should be completed. And most projects involve new ideas and learning, which it is why, projects needs a proper managing methodology to discipline to manage the new and unusual. Supported by the above quotation, it is truly right that changes will you to the way of a beautiful born of a new thing. It only implies that a change is done because it needs to and most importantly, you implemented changes to something for good. There is nothing wrong on revolutionizing as long as it goes from a deep analysis.
As long as I’m concerned with, I can say that project management is considerable to be best method of implementing change in a project. Project management itself does have a quality of managing and organizing the information needed in the project – from its scope, resources down to the time management of the project as well as the team management and many more and most importantly to the set of requirements that should meet to employ changes to the project. The templates that are possessed by the project management will definitely help the project team to manage the activities that is to be done included to the planned project. Furthermore, through the use of project management strategy in handling the project, you can easily identify what are the needs of the current project to be achieved in a proper way. Based on what I have learned during the project management lessons I had, here are the few things why I can consider project management to be the best method in implementing changes.
Provide proper alignment of activities when there changes are to apply on a project. The changes that are to be construct in the project must be made properly documented and analyzed by the project team. Every single change in the project must undergo strategic approval by the people who are involved and concerned in the project which is called Integrated Change Control. According to the PM Book that accesses the project management method, it is said that when a project is planned to implemented in the project; it should have a proper documentation as follows:
Change identification. All the planned changes of both the project team and stakeholders of the project to be implemented must be discover, recognize and classified appropriately as where it should belong. The people whom are concerned with the changes must be capable of finalizing the things that should be needed.
Change Request Proposal. The people involved in the changes must submit a formal change request proposal to clarify that the change is known by both parties. A proposal must first consider in making changes, here, the project team will document all the changes that they wanted to do unto the project – from the identification up to giving reasons why they need to have changes while developing a certain project and primarily to give awareness of the reasons to the project team and stakeholders in why changes are necessary. To sum it up, this is the time for asking permission to request a change.
Plan Project Changes Approval. After the project team formulated the change request addressed to they project partner, it is time for the approval if it is accepted or not. Of course, in approving certain changes, there are things need to be consider by the people behind whom will take the permission approved. They will think and analyze the change request thoroughly, if it is advisable to be change or not. These could be in a matter of time, scope or resources. The idea is that, everything that is planned to be change will do have a project approval by the people who are in right position to do so.
Help create an efficient, systematic defining of project scope, resource and, etc. The project management provides proper resources and pattern for refining the project scope. Here, the project team can be able to apply changes by looking through the ages of scope definition that is retained in the project. So that, after the changes has been approved and made documented and legally; it would be easy for the project team to manage the changes to its scope and others if necessary.
Also, there are some reasons according to the articles I have read why changes needs to be documented and written formally and needed to be approved by the people who are in the position. Here are the following:
Feel that there are other more important issues to be dealt with. Some will think that there are some things that it need to be cater first before the requested changes.
Not agree with the proposed change. This matter could be the feeling of others that there is a better way to achieve the outcome than implementing and applying those changes.
Disagree about how the change should be implemented. This involved on how to implement the change, if they are things will be affected and most importantly, if the time management will change and affected a lot by the requested change.
Feel that there will be extra work. There will be times that a requested change will be trash or disapproved because of the time that it will cost when it will be implemented. Some think that it will cause why they will suffer extra work as a result of the changes.
All the things I have stated above will proved that project management will be the best method or tool in managing and implementing changes to the project because it provides a step by step process of executing changes and a right, formal documentation to save the rights of all the people who are involved in the project. Moreover, project management for me is the type of method that is very useful and helpful in managing a project since it takes specific task in carrying out changes to bestow a quality resulted project.
Nothing in this world is constant; changes are the fundamental components of continuous quality improvement. We can say that in any project that will handle do have a continuous change too. Any improvement methodology involves introducing change and measuring its impact. Through the changes occurred during the development of a project, the project itself will be capable of providing quality responses. Projects are practically changes; it is because of the available resources or even the needed tasks that should be completed. And most projects involve new ideas and learning, which it is why, projects needs a proper managing methodology to discipline to manage the new and unusual. Supported by the above quotation, it is truly right that changes will you to the way of a beautiful born of a new thing. It only implies that a change is done because it needs to and most importantly, you implemented changes to something for good. There is nothing wrong on revolutionizing as long as it goes from a deep analysis.
As long as I’m concerned with, I can say that project management is considerable to be best method of implementing change in a project. Project management itself does have a quality of managing and organizing the information needed in the project – from its scope, resources down to the time management of the project as well as the team management and many more and most importantly to the set of requirements that should meet to employ changes to the project. The templates that are possessed by the project management will definitely help the project team to manage the activities that is to be done included to the planned project. Furthermore, through the use of project management strategy in handling the project, you can easily identify what are the needs of the current project to be achieved in a proper way. Based on what I have learned during the project management lessons I had, here are the few things why I can consider project management to be the best method in implementing changes.
Provide proper alignment of activities when there changes are to apply on a project. The changes that are to be construct in the project must be made properly documented and analyzed by the project team. Every single change in the project must undergo strategic approval by the people who are involved and concerned in the project which is called Integrated Change Control. According to the PM Book that accesses the project management method, it is said that when a project is planned to implemented in the project; it should have a proper documentation as follows:
Change identification. All the planned changes of both the project team and stakeholders of the project to be implemented must be discover, recognize and classified appropriately as where it should belong. The people whom are concerned with the changes must be capable of finalizing the things that should be needed.
Change Request Proposal. The people involved in the changes must submit a formal change request proposal to clarify that the change is known by both parties. A proposal must first consider in making changes, here, the project team will document all the changes that they wanted to do unto the project – from the identification up to giving reasons why they need to have changes while developing a certain project and primarily to give awareness of the reasons to the project team and stakeholders in why changes are necessary. To sum it up, this is the time for asking permission to request a change.
Plan Project Changes Approval. After the project team formulated the change request addressed to they project partner, it is time for the approval if it is accepted or not. Of course, in approving certain changes, there are things need to be consider by the people behind whom will take the permission approved. They will think and analyze the change request thoroughly, if it is advisable to be change or not. These could be in a matter of time, scope or resources. The idea is that, everything that is planned to be change will do have a project approval by the people who are in right position to do so.
Help create an efficient, systematic defining of project scope, resource and, etc. The project management provides proper resources and pattern for refining the project scope. Here, the project team can be able to apply changes by looking through the ages of scope definition that is retained in the project. So that, after the changes has been approved and made documented and legally; it would be easy for the project team to manage the changes to its scope and others if necessary.
Also, there are some reasons according to the articles I have read why changes needs to be documented and written formally and needed to be approved by the people who are in the position. Here are the following:
Feel that there are other more important issues to be dealt with. Some will think that there are some things that it need to be cater first before the requested changes.
Not agree with the proposed change. This matter could be the feeling of others that there is a better way to achieve the outcome than implementing and applying those changes.
Disagree about how the change should be implemented. This involved on how to implement the change, if they are things will be affected and most importantly, if the time management will change and affected a lot by the requested change.
Feel that there will be extra work. There will be times that a requested change will be trash or disapproved because of the time that it will cost when it will be implemented. Some think that it will cause why they will suffer extra work as a result of the changes.
All the things I have stated above will proved that project management will be the best method or tool in managing and implementing changes to the project because it provides a step by step process of executing changes and a right, formal documentation to save the rights of all the people who are involved in the project. Moreover, project management for me is the type of method that is very useful and helpful in managing a project since it takes specific task in carrying out changes to bestow a quality resulted project.
Why do Project/projects fail?
A project can be only said successfully made when it has a good quality, made on time, within scope and within the budget and most of all is the high-quality planning about the project. It is said that without a serious plan of action, fundamental feature or part may be left out of the project. This can cause the project to fail because it may not accomplish what the project was designed to achieve and it suppose to be. Pitiable project planning can cause the goals of the project to be left half-finished or the worst thing is unfinished. From my experiences, the failing grades I have in the prelim stage of my Systems Analysis and Design subject. I think I was wrong when I don’t merely study the first chapter test. My mind is not aware of the circumstances that might come when I will not study the lessons. I made it wrongly because I just think that it would be easy but I was wrong. That’s why I failed.
Between the discussions about the essence of project management, it was once asked by my instructor why does project or projects fail. Mine and most of my classmates answered the same reason – that is the time management. I can see discontentment from the eyes of my professor that all of our answer was not the answer he was expected for. Though I’m not saying that he does not agreed on what we shared, but somehow he was longing for the most definite answer. Then he shared that projects fail because we plan to fail. We planned for failure while doing the project, so nevertheless the result is also failure.
Apparently not all the project planned to be done is not intended to be successful. Both organizations and individuals have studied a number of projects that have been succeeded and failed and some factors emerge. These are factors affects the particular project failure. Rendered from the article entitled Information and Advice for Software Testing, here are some of the most important reasons for project failure. First, Lack of Team Involvement. This reason proved fatal for many projects. It says that without the involvement, nobody in the project feels committed and can be even hostile to it. The people themselves in the project must do attachment of oneself in making the project. This reason affects clearly because a project can only be successful when it does have the people who are willing to take the risk of working. Second, Long or Unrealistic Time Scale. Long timescales for a project have led to projects being delivered for products and services no longer in use at the present time. any project is intended not to took so long to be made because it has a timeframe when it is badly needed that’s why you do so the project. There are always problems with these long-time projects approaches, but the benefits of doing so are considerable. The only key to avoid this failure is to review all project plans to see if they are realistic. Lastly, Poor or No Requirements. Many projects have high level, vague, and generally unhelpful requirements. So to avoid these circumstances, the project must define the scope of its description and requirements; it must be definite, consistent, specific and reliable ones. It also relies on a restricted budget can cause many problems that lead to the failure of a project. Of course, every project has some type of budget restraint, but too tight of a budget is a plan for failure. Because of making restrictions in terms of budgeting, the project may lead to hard up situations of the project requirements.
So much for my own opinion and results from the searches I have, here are the reasons why do project/projects fail from book of Project Management. The reasons behind are as follows:
Poor Estimates. This reason follows the idea of having an inaccurate estimation about the project. It only says that it might be poor in managing time or in any other aspects of the project development.
Scope Changes. This reason tags the reality of not defining definite scope of the project on what it should be that could definitely give an idea of changes. It might because it’s the reason of lack of resources or any other means and possessions.
Work Breakdown Failures. This is the result of having a work of inefficiency while or during the process of development of the projects/project.
Not enough time/resources allocated. This is made when the time are resources is insufficient. The reason might be time management, time that is allocated in a project that is big and broad and inappropriate resources that can be apply to the project.
Incompetent project management. A project must have a competent project management to manage the project. The management must do the task and accordingly and equally. It is the reason mostly why do project fails is because of inept project management that is implemented during the period of developing the project.
To deeply understand why a project fails, I define here the meaning of the word FAIL in accordance to the context of the projects; depending on what kind of project environment it does belong. Below are some of the definitions that the Ezine Article stressed. Fail is considered as:
Project Cancellation. This failure is in terms of budget, delays, relevance, strategy changes and many more. A project will not be able to be continuing when it comes to a point that the project budgets have experience difficulties and complicatedness. This includes delays in time, applications and unexpected changes.
The project cost more than anticipated. The project has always it’s always project cost expectations. It may cause failures when the budget has not met the expected portion. This may cause crucial conversation between the people that worked on the project.
When we say project, it doesn’t only mean that it always preferring to paper work project/projects. Anywhere in our place now, all comprises of establishments or building are also considered as project because it undergoes serious plans and applications of those plans to be finished the proposed project plans. Anywhere we visit places of today; we see different type of constructions taking place. Like of business establishments, network establishment and even as the governmental establishments. Not just building but also the constructions of highways, houses, roads, bridges, shopping center and malls and same as the school institutions and business firms. All of these are can be considered as projects, especially when it needs different education and expertise which might think through as complex projects. Apparently, not all of these projects can be completed; this means that it always has the great number of failure projects. The people who are involved in the project must be ready to work around the clock because of delays, hectic schedules and project deadlines. A project like this must have a project construction management which applied the technique of managing the various designs and construction processes of a building project.
Additionally, a project does also have a circumstance of failure on account of the team leadership that was applied during the session of project advancement. Leadership once defined by John Mellecker, a financial services executive in Ohio, and gives his personal definition on what leadership is by stating, he quote leadership as the creation of an environment in which others are able to self-actualize in the process of completing the job. Another definition of leadership can be found in the Cambridge Dictionary, the word leadership is defined there as “the set of characteristics that make a good leader”. There are many definitions of the word leadership in this generation of ours, but many leaders would agree that the word leadership is defined through the qualities of a person, a deeper characteristic of a person who wanted to lead with.
According to the Cambrigde Dictionary, preparedness of the project leader does have a great help. It’s says that leader must be prepare on the any upcoming situations that may interfere with the mission, objective and goals of the project. We can only consider a true project leader is the one who has already thought of the necessary actions or plans in order if something wrong were to occur. This is where the true sense of leadership is tested. Alternatively, it is always better to be prepared ahead of time even if the circumstances do not occur, so that the time comes that if they do, project leaders have already the ideas and knowledge on what alternatives solutions must be taken. A great example of a leader that is being prepared are own soldiers, before they go on rivals they see to it that they are all prepared on what to do and how to accomplish the mission, but are also prepared on what to do if their plan goes the wrong way. Another thing that suits to the characteristic of being prepared anytime is the school teachers; they must come to class prepared by knowing what is going to be discussed to the class and how to explain the new lesson to his or her students. The act of being prepared in project management is like forecasting new news of today, because when the time comes that terrify circumstances occur, the people whose working on a project will not be left clueless and somehow knows what to do.
One more important quality of a project leader that must be possessed is the emotional stability in order to carry out his or her duties. According to the author of the “leadership great factors”, he emphasized that no matter how good or bad of a leader someone maybe, there will always be time when a leader’s emotion will come into effect. This involves jealousy of the members of the project to their project leader; they might throw criticisms unto their leader. To be a true leader must not let what other people think of one get in the way of accomplishing the job. If a leader allows the negative thoughts of other people get in the way, one is letting their emotions take over, which could lead to the road of failure for the team. This certain circumstances might cause disarray of the project team that will be probably cause failure to the project.
Also I have read some articles that say communication is still a part of the process of project management. In that fact, organizations nowadays are lacking the aspects of communications, ineffective communications and downright confusing communications. This is because in organizational viewpoint, only few who are involved in the project is taking the constraints of it on head. It’s just the same as having an intelligent mind but then again does not have the ability to apply what’s on his/her mind. We may also spot the reason of failure or cancellations of the project because of cost overruns, or the project were launched with essential errors mistakes.
Most of us define project failure when it has delays and unsatisfactory results. Then and there, we conclude that it still considered as failure of the project. What we really don’t know is the true definition of project failure. According to it.toolbox.com that a project is considered a failure when it’s not delivered what is required, in line with expectations. Therefore, they clinched that in order to succeed, a project must deliver to cost, to quality, and on time; and it must deliver the benefits presented in the business case. The conditions of project management are just so simple and yet we cannot apply at simply as it said. It is because of one of the conditions that have stated – the “in line with expectations” requirement. The expectations that has been settled ahead are the basis of the project, so if does not fit on it, it will be mull over as failure of project. The project success and failure isn't just about the facts, nor is it simply about what was the resulting product. It is also about how the project is taken in. The said article also presented their list of primary reasons why do project/projects fail. Inferior to the topic, here are some of the main reasons why projects fail:
The wrong project requirements have been addressed. In this matter, making a project requirement analysis is very much important. Since, the one of the definition of the project failure is not delivered on time. If the project is set up to deliver the "wrong thing," it may be considered a failure even if everything is delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality because it does not suit to the expectation of the client of what they really want to have with. For if the project does not delivered what the client really wants or needs, it will be unavoidably perceived as failure to the client’s part. This only means that a project must not only focus on when to finish the project, what’s the important is quality that will going to deliver to. On other instances, sometimes the failure to pass on time will be vanished when the project delivered what is expected to have for. It may be considered nothing less on when it had ended.
It's not possible to deliver the project case. The project case must be delivered properly. This case that was talking here are the promises you had lied down to your respected clients or to whom you give your projects. For example is in business firms, you have the task and promised to deliver the project system that they needed to have it launch was impossible to meet with. Without you knowing that the business firm is very much expected to have the system and already given new news to their investors. The failure of the project comes when you delivered it with the span time that was given but then again the system that you were developing was collapsed and needs time to settle it rightly before the business’ investors take back the agreements. In this case, you must be sure of what the project you launch or delivered to somebody. And somehow do have the allotted time for testing coz’ if the error occurs, you do have the chance to make it right and work out. In this matter, it is very important to right a project case. It is very imperative how much sure you are in analyzing the project requirements. The key is to make sure you think through the project requirements in detail, and identify what's needed to ensure that you can deliver those requirements. Avoid the act of JUST LISTING THE EXPECTATIONS – make sure that you go into the project requirements thoroughly. In facilitating implementations of the project, make sure that had review every inch of the process, this also include sufficient contingency resources such as people, scope, budget and time. Just be reminded of the things that should be within the project, always be remembering that implementing changes in the project is hard.
Implementation is poor. The answer to avoid the poor implementations, you need to deliver your projects competently. Unfortunately, it’s that easy. Implementations and delivery is naturally complicated, you need to manage risks, issues, and scope; manage your team; and communicate with whom you will deliver the project. changes during delivery is hard and you will never be expect it in your control , so as being competent doesn’t just enough for good, on time implementations of projects but it can be consider as a good start of having a successful project.
Enable a project to be successful, it's not enough simply to manage your project competently, and deliver a good quality product. To avoid failure, make sure you have identified the right business requirements, created an achievable business case, managed a high-quality implementation, and monitored changes. Above all, be sure to manage the expectations of your client/investor of your project, so that they stay supportive and continue give their trust unto your hands. After all, these are the only people who will declare or conclude your project to be successful – or otherwise.
Finally, failure projects will never be easy to avoid of. So if the time comes that you experience such difficulties, just be reconcile to be ready to have some difficult conversations with the clients whom you have given your services. Of course, be realistic that nobody will be happy when project fail especially when it’s badly needed.
all about PROJECT MANAGEMENT
What is a Project?
As a student of a university, I can apparently say that it is a very common word which in fact it’s the students most fear of. Because the only thing that come in the mind of like student is that a project must be pass on time and be made almost perfect to get a high grade. For me, a project is anything that has a limited time to end of. Project is an assignment, a task or a couple of task that is allotted only on a short span of time to finish. These said projects are something that is usually made partially.
Project is defined in freedictionary.com site as follows:
A plan or proposal. When we say a plan, it is an idea or a set of ideas, a conception or abstraction. It maybe somehow can be initializing as a suggestions for innovation of something. Recently, we just had a project proposal SAD 1. I noticed that there is always a time for accomplishment. Just like the building plan, you see establishments in any areas of the world and yet all need to be done in a short span only. All of those building gone in a long process of planning – from materials to different aspects of making a building.
A piece of study or research. When talks about study or research, from the word itself. It is a methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory, or to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered. It is a kind of project that talks about gathering information in order to form a string foundation of knowledge to engage with to have a deep understanding about the subject matter. From my past ;earning, I had my experiences of researching when I was in high school and even up to now college days. We gather information through passing questionnaires on respected areas.
Any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted. In this kind of project, we made attempts through making asset of planning in accordance to the chosen subject matter. Like we did last semester in System Analysis and Design, we did fast framework analysis that determined what our project planned for. I, myself can say that it is an attempt for we made sample picture that might be a product of our plan. It is said attempted because all are just in paper works without implementations involved. All are plain planning.
A task or planned program of work. A project like this requires a large amount of time, effort and planning to complete. Though it is stated that it requires a long time allotted to be done, perhaps it is considerable as a limit to finish for. According to the author, it is a project that suits to the application of project management.
But according to the Project Management Book, they defined project in three simple phrases.
(1.) TEMPORARY. This means that every project has a definite beginning and definite end. We can only say that it is the end of the project when the project objectives reached already. This temporary means that a project is finite and it is not an ongoing activity.
(2.) Unique products, services and results. Stated are the products of the deliverables of the projects. Product can only be considered as product when it is unique, all project must be unique in its own simple ways, and;
(3.) Progressive Elaboration. According to the author of the Project Management book, it is the characteristic of the project that accompanies the concepts of temporary and unique. From the word progressive elaboration, it’s the process of developing in steps and continuing by increments.
A sample of project is the most common project of road making or developing. The road making should have a limited, designated time to finish with. Someone is knowledgeable to control to do the task within the time allotted for it.
What is Management?
A management for me is something to do with managing and making rules. It is the management who made project finish on time. In this matter rely with how you handle task and make it successfully made. For me it a sort of controlling and organizing things by abiding the rules that aims to finish the task oriented. Or maybe apparently I can say that management is a core of managing people. An example of management is the management body of an institution or organization. They are the one whom relied on things which imposing rules to their people to do the task manageable.
In order for me to understand truly and deeply what a management really means is, so I gathered information of it. Management defines in IndianChild.com – Management is a term encompasses an array of different functions undertaken to accomplish a task successfully. According to them management is all about ‘getting things done’. I’ve seen the management as the acts of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives efficiently and effectively within specific project. It is once said in one of the sources on the internet that management also designed to us as human action, including design, to facilitate the production of useful outcomes from a system. This view opens the opportunity to 'manage' oneself, a pre-requisite to attempting to manage others. And also management can be referring to us as the person or people who perform the act or acts of management.
I was a bit confused when suite101.com emphasize that management is not actually or necessary mean to manage people. It says there that we can only manage ourselves or the material assigned to us at work. If we managed a project very well on your own, it would mean that you did the job in a well-organized, efficient manner, making good use of all resources at your disposal. From that source of definition, I can say that it can defend the managing aspects of management.
What is Project Management?
From my own understanding, a project management is a process of organizing the project to be properly done on time, within scope and budget. For me it is the way of processing the task in accordance with and abiding so the rules and it may considerable as a technique for matching available resources that are use in such project. For an instance, a project management can be a project in school. Like the SAD Project I had in SAD subject, it is the kind of project that needs planning and organizing and so managing time usage to finish the project.
The Project Management defined the project management as the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements. The managing movement of the Project management involves (1.) identifying requirements, (2.) establishing clear and achievable objectives, (3.) balancing the competing demands for quality, scope, time and cost, and (4.) adapting the specifications, plans and approach to different concerns and expectations of the various stakeholders.
Project management define in Wikipedia as the discipline of planning, organizing, securing and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific engineering project goals and objectives. It was stated also there the two primary challenges of project management, the (1) achievement of project goals and (2) to optimize the allocation and integration of inputs necessary to meet pre-defined objectives. The first challenge is design to meet the settings of objectives made by the project against the respected upcoming constraints of the project. Typical constraints distinct are time, scope and budget of the project. While the second one is desire to improve, enhance the apportionment or distribution of the projects.
The project management is pre-defined also in the site of MPG-you.com as the science (the art) of organizing components, whether a project is a development of a new product, the lunch of a new service, or marketing. It is said that no matter what kind of project it is trying to design to design with, it always follows the same pattern as what the PM Book also described.
Definition. This the stage of defining the project, here the project is define what really is it and what the users hope to achieve by undertaking the project.
Planning. In this stage the project is planned wherein all the project activities is defined. It includes lists of activities or tasks, how these tasks related to each other, how long each task will take, and how each task is tied to a specific deadlines.
Execution. The stage is all about executing the project. This includes the involvement of the project budget on how much budget to work with for the project. Through this, the project can now be started when the entire budget is already allocated in various tasks.
Control. This stage is the controlling stage the project. Hence, the updating sessions will now take in to reflect actual time elapsed for each task. This can be done by keeping up with the details of progress.
My reflection/learning's on the first day of class.
During our first day of class in subject Project Management, I don’t really have a clear idea of what are we got to talk about. But as time goes by, the sharing of what we had in our first quiz that talks about project management made my mind set hints of the subject matter. For us to deeply comprehend what project management is, together with our professor we made a short discussion through sharing of ideas. First, we define the word project, next is the word management and lastly the project management. Each of us has our own definition. At that time, I learned that project word defines only at a task that has a limited time to end with. The different aspects of project management and so on and I came to realize that the words project management is a very broad word to tackle within a semester.
Throughout the course of discussion about introducing the subject, I learned so many things such as the definite meaning of project. Project is define as a sequence of unique, complex and connected activities having one goal or purpose and that must be completed by a specific time, within the budget and according to specifications. We also define the project management as an application of knowledge, skills and technique to project activities to meet project management.
I also learned that management has an aspect of directing, planning, organizing and controlling. It is considered as a strong foundation of management.(1.) Directing represents the idea of giving instructions to somebody to be done. (2.) Planning involves simply planning or setting up an idea or a preparation of something. (3.) Organizing is to consolidate, utilize in uniform manner, and while; (4.) Controlling implies on exercise power or authority of something, or to limit or to restrict the areas of managing something.
The most interesting words I learned in the discussion are the acronym of SMART that was shared by our professor that was also shared to him by his professor too. The SMARTconcept of making project objectives, it represents as follows:
S – Specific
M –Measurable
A – Attainable
R – Reliable
T – Time bounded
Though these words, I learned that a project objective must be in specific form, this means that its scope must be define properly. Measurable in the sense that the project is manageable to be measured in its scope, attainable – a project is designed to be accomplish and within specifications as seen as it is when it is said as temporary. Reliable means that a project is dependable, it implies that a project is able to be trusted of to do what is expected to. And finally, time bounded – its only means that a project is just temporary and has an allotted time to end for. It is not an ongoing activity unlike of operational works.
I was amazed when, our professor said that SMART can be extended into SMARTER. He said that he got 1.0 grade when he stated the word SMARTER in the midst of their discussion. SMART is just have the same description but he just added two letters to made it SMARTER – the E and R. For him E represents the word enjoyable and R for rewarding. I agreed on what my professor said that the project must be enjoyable. And at the end of the project you are expected to have a reward. I can relate it on my previous final project on Network Technologies 1, me and my partner passed the project on time so we got a reward. We got the reward of passing grade that time. it seems that it a big accomplishment for me and for my partner in crime for we made it despite the hectic time we have in making the project.
I have also the idea now what is the difference between the leadership and management. I knew already that a project must be done in an influence by the leader not but managing and controlling people. I know to realize in the first place that controlling somebody is not the key to success to have a project successfully done. Because when we manage people, we were also controlling them. A leader must be an influence to do the job; the making of the project must be one to first give a guide on what his/her people must do. And also while his people working; he too must do the same. I’ve read some articles on internet that stated the difference of management and leadership that suits to the topic. It emphasized in one of the articles that leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow, this means that the leader is the spearhead or the leading light of the project. While management is intended to controls or directs people/resources in a group according to principles or values that have already been established; these only signifies that a management follows sort of rules in providing directions to its people.
I learned also the keys how to be a project successful. First is the essence of deliverable, we all known that what deliverable means and somehow we do also have individual’s perspective about it. For me, deliverable is a long way process or a step by step implementation of the project. Like what I did experience in my SAD 1 subject. We had undergone phases that represent the description of the project. These deliverables will help to have a clear view and definition of what the project is all about. Second is in terms of project budget. I learned that a project must have a reasonable project resources budget to get through the progression. This means that a project must have an equal resources budget to be use in the project. The budget must not be overestimated nor underestimate, it must be as what it is expected to have for. The last one is the time management of the project. I learned that all of the failure of the project do have the same reasons, it is the incorrect or in appropriate time management of the people behind the project. I’m not saying that time is the only aspects that affects the project development, hence it is just one if the aspects why projects/project do fail. Our professor concluded that a project must be properly planned to be successful, it means that all of the structures and description of the project must be study properly and well-done as it should be.
We have a short discussion about one of the common tool of project management development – the GANTT CHART. This chart was introduced to us by one of our classmate. Other than that moment, I already have a background about it. I came to reality that a project needs to have a time management tool that triggers each task on when it will be done or started. It gives a great idea of having an on-time passing of projects. Through these, the task will now be determined easily, it includes what task is in next in line.
Furthermore, I learned about the ideal project manager – management and people skills. I got to know that a project manager should have the characteristics of (1.) leadership, (2.) negotiation, (3.) selling, (4.) team building and motivation, (5.) communications, (6.)meeting management, and (7.) problem solving and decision making. Though we are already engage in the thought that a manager is the one who manages the project, now my mind setting is transformed into managers as the leaders. Once we become a leader, we must not control anybody but rather than we must be knowledgeable to lead the way to do the task of the project.
Also I learned the primary types of information that a project must have, these are the tasks, duration, task dependencies, resources and costs of the project. All of this represents the significant of project components such as time, budget and scope. In fact we made jokes at that time to intend changes the subject description to Project Leadership as we all agreed on it. We agreed for the reason that none of us is willing to be control of by someone. All of us wanted to have a freedom in everything we do. All over the discussion, it was interesting to hear others say what is on their minds about project management. Though we have separate, autonomous, many to mention definitions or ideas, but we made as one when our professor launched the truth about project management really is. That first day of class is an out of the ordinary class of the subject. Just in one day I already have lot things learned. All in all, project management topic is a very broad discussion to have for. It takes several aspects that do affect the effectiveness and efficiency of a specific project. Though the process is so long but in the end, somehow the project will be made successfully.
As a student of a university, I can apparently say that it is a very common word which in fact it’s the students most fear of. Because the only thing that come in the mind of like student is that a project must be pass on time and be made almost perfect to get a high grade. For me, a project is anything that has a limited time to end of. Project is an assignment, a task or a couple of task that is allotted only on a short span of time to finish. These said projects are something that is usually made partially.
Project is defined in freedictionary.com site as follows:
A plan or proposal. When we say a plan, it is an idea or a set of ideas, a conception or abstraction. It maybe somehow can be initializing as a suggestions for innovation of something. Recently, we just had a project proposal SAD 1. I noticed that there is always a time for accomplishment. Just like the building plan, you see establishments in any areas of the world and yet all need to be done in a short span only. All of those building gone in a long process of planning – from materials to different aspects of making a building.
A piece of study or research. When talks about study or research, from the word itself. It is a methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory, or to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered. It is a kind of project that talks about gathering information in order to form a string foundation of knowledge to engage with to have a deep understanding about the subject matter. From my past ;earning, I had my experiences of researching when I was in high school and even up to now college days. We gather information through passing questionnaires on respected areas.
Any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted. In this kind of project, we made attempts through making asset of planning in accordance to the chosen subject matter. Like we did last semester in System Analysis and Design, we did fast framework analysis that determined what our project planned for. I, myself can say that it is an attempt for we made sample picture that might be a product of our plan. It is said attempted because all are just in paper works without implementations involved. All are plain planning.
A task or planned program of work. A project like this requires a large amount of time, effort and planning to complete. Though it is stated that it requires a long time allotted to be done, perhaps it is considerable as a limit to finish for. According to the author, it is a project that suits to the application of project management.
But according to the Project Management Book, they defined project in three simple phrases.
(1.) TEMPORARY. This means that every project has a definite beginning and definite end. We can only say that it is the end of the project when the project objectives reached already. This temporary means that a project is finite and it is not an ongoing activity.
(2.) Unique products, services and results. Stated are the products of the deliverables of the projects. Product can only be considered as product when it is unique, all project must be unique in its own simple ways, and;
(3.) Progressive Elaboration. According to the author of the Project Management book, it is the characteristic of the project that accompanies the concepts of temporary and unique. From the word progressive elaboration, it’s the process of developing in steps and continuing by increments.
A sample of project is the most common project of road making or developing. The road making should have a limited, designated time to finish with. Someone is knowledgeable to control to do the task within the time allotted for it.
What is Management?
A management for me is something to do with managing and making rules. It is the management who made project finish on time. In this matter rely with how you handle task and make it successfully made. For me it a sort of controlling and organizing things by abiding the rules that aims to finish the task oriented. Or maybe apparently I can say that management is a core of managing people. An example of management is the management body of an institution or organization. They are the one whom relied on things which imposing rules to their people to do the task manageable.
In order for me to understand truly and deeply what a management really means is, so I gathered information of it. Management defines in IndianChild.com – Management is a term encompasses an array of different functions undertaken to accomplish a task successfully. According to them management is all about ‘getting things done’. I’ve seen the management as the acts of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives efficiently and effectively within specific project. It is once said in one of the sources on the internet that management also designed to us as human action, including design, to facilitate the production of useful outcomes from a system. This view opens the opportunity to 'manage' oneself, a pre-requisite to attempting to manage others. And also management can be referring to us as the person or people who perform the act or acts of management.
I was a bit confused when suite101.com emphasize that management is not actually or necessary mean to manage people. It says there that we can only manage ourselves or the material assigned to us at work. If we managed a project very well on your own, it would mean that you did the job in a well-organized, efficient manner, making good use of all resources at your disposal. From that source of definition, I can say that it can defend the managing aspects of management.
What is Project Management?
From my own understanding, a project management is a process of organizing the project to be properly done on time, within scope and budget. For me it is the way of processing the task in accordance with and abiding so the rules and it may considerable as a technique for matching available resources that are use in such project. For an instance, a project management can be a project in school. Like the SAD Project I had in SAD subject, it is the kind of project that needs planning and organizing and so managing time usage to finish the project.
The Project Management defined the project management as the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements. The managing movement of the Project management involves (1.) identifying requirements, (2.) establishing clear and achievable objectives, (3.) balancing the competing demands for quality, scope, time and cost, and (4.) adapting the specifications, plans and approach to different concerns and expectations of the various stakeholders.
Project management define in Wikipedia as the discipline of planning, organizing, securing and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific engineering project goals and objectives. It was stated also there the two primary challenges of project management, the (1) achievement of project goals and (2) to optimize the allocation and integration of inputs necessary to meet pre-defined objectives. The first challenge is design to meet the settings of objectives made by the project against the respected upcoming constraints of the project. Typical constraints distinct are time, scope and budget of the project. While the second one is desire to improve, enhance the apportionment or distribution of the projects.
The project management is pre-defined also in the site of MPG-you.com as the science (the art) of organizing components, whether a project is a development of a new product, the lunch of a new service, or marketing. It is said that no matter what kind of project it is trying to design to design with, it always follows the same pattern as what the PM Book also described.
Definition. This the stage of defining the project, here the project is define what really is it and what the users hope to achieve by undertaking the project.
Planning. In this stage the project is planned wherein all the project activities is defined. It includes lists of activities or tasks, how these tasks related to each other, how long each task will take, and how each task is tied to a specific deadlines.
Execution. The stage is all about executing the project. This includes the involvement of the project budget on how much budget to work with for the project. Through this, the project can now be started when the entire budget is already allocated in various tasks.
Control. This stage is the controlling stage the project. Hence, the updating sessions will now take in to reflect actual time elapsed for each task. This can be done by keeping up with the details of progress.
My reflection/learning's on the first day of class.
During our first day of class in subject Project Management, I don’t really have a clear idea of what are we got to talk about. But as time goes by, the sharing of what we had in our first quiz that talks about project management made my mind set hints of the subject matter. For us to deeply comprehend what project management is, together with our professor we made a short discussion through sharing of ideas. First, we define the word project, next is the word management and lastly the project management. Each of us has our own definition. At that time, I learned that project word defines only at a task that has a limited time to end with. The different aspects of project management and so on and I came to realize that the words project management is a very broad word to tackle within a semester.
Throughout the course of discussion about introducing the subject, I learned so many things such as the definite meaning of project. Project is define as a sequence of unique, complex and connected activities having one goal or purpose and that must be completed by a specific time, within the budget and according to specifications. We also define the project management as an application of knowledge, skills and technique to project activities to meet project management.
I also learned that management has an aspect of directing, planning, organizing and controlling. It is considered as a strong foundation of management.(1.) Directing represents the idea of giving instructions to somebody to be done. (2.) Planning involves simply planning or setting up an idea or a preparation of something. (3.) Organizing is to consolidate, utilize in uniform manner, and while; (4.) Controlling implies on exercise power or authority of something, or to limit or to restrict the areas of managing something.
The most interesting words I learned in the discussion are the acronym of SMART that was shared by our professor that was also shared to him by his professor too. The SMARTconcept of making project objectives, it represents as follows:
S – Specific
M –Measurable
A – Attainable
R – Reliable
T – Time bounded
Though these words, I learned that a project objective must be in specific form, this means that its scope must be define properly. Measurable in the sense that the project is manageable to be measured in its scope, attainable – a project is designed to be accomplish and within specifications as seen as it is when it is said as temporary. Reliable means that a project is dependable, it implies that a project is able to be trusted of to do what is expected to. And finally, time bounded – its only means that a project is just temporary and has an allotted time to end for. It is not an ongoing activity unlike of operational works.
I was amazed when, our professor said that SMART can be extended into SMARTER. He said that he got 1.0 grade when he stated the word SMARTER in the midst of their discussion. SMART is just have the same description but he just added two letters to made it SMARTER – the E and R. For him E represents the word enjoyable and R for rewarding. I agreed on what my professor said that the project must be enjoyable. And at the end of the project you are expected to have a reward. I can relate it on my previous final project on Network Technologies 1, me and my partner passed the project on time so we got a reward. We got the reward of passing grade that time. it seems that it a big accomplishment for me and for my partner in crime for we made it despite the hectic time we have in making the project.
I have also the idea now what is the difference between the leadership and management. I knew already that a project must be done in an influence by the leader not but managing and controlling people. I know to realize in the first place that controlling somebody is not the key to success to have a project successfully done. Because when we manage people, we were also controlling them. A leader must be an influence to do the job; the making of the project must be one to first give a guide on what his/her people must do. And also while his people working; he too must do the same. I’ve read some articles on internet that stated the difference of management and leadership that suits to the topic. It emphasized in one of the articles that leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow, this means that the leader is the spearhead or the leading light of the project. While management is intended to controls or directs people/resources in a group according to principles or values that have already been established; these only signifies that a management follows sort of rules in providing directions to its people.
I learned also the keys how to be a project successful. First is the essence of deliverable, we all known that what deliverable means and somehow we do also have individual’s perspective about it. For me, deliverable is a long way process or a step by step implementation of the project. Like what I did experience in my SAD 1 subject. We had undergone phases that represent the description of the project. These deliverables will help to have a clear view and definition of what the project is all about. Second is in terms of project budget. I learned that a project must have a reasonable project resources budget to get through the progression. This means that a project must have an equal resources budget to be use in the project. The budget must not be overestimated nor underestimate, it must be as what it is expected to have for. The last one is the time management of the project. I learned that all of the failure of the project do have the same reasons, it is the incorrect or in appropriate time management of the people behind the project. I’m not saying that time is the only aspects that affects the project development, hence it is just one if the aspects why projects/project do fail. Our professor concluded that a project must be properly planned to be successful, it means that all of the structures and description of the project must be study properly and well-done as it should be.
We have a short discussion about one of the common tool of project management development – the GANTT CHART. This chart was introduced to us by one of our classmate. Other than that moment, I already have a background about it. I came to reality that a project needs to have a time management tool that triggers each task on when it will be done or started. It gives a great idea of having an on-time passing of projects. Through these, the task will now be determined easily, it includes what task is in next in line.
Furthermore, I learned about the ideal project manager – management and people skills. I got to know that a project manager should have the characteristics of (1.) leadership, (2.) negotiation, (3.) selling, (4.) team building and motivation, (5.) communications, (6.)meeting management, and (7.) problem solving and decision making. Though we are already engage in the thought that a manager is the one who manages the project, now my mind setting is transformed into managers as the leaders. Once we become a leader, we must not control anybody but rather than we must be knowledgeable to lead the way to do the task of the project.
Also I learned the primary types of information that a project must have, these are the tasks, duration, task dependencies, resources and costs of the project. All of this represents the significant of project components such as time, budget and scope. In fact we made jokes at that time to intend changes the subject description to Project Leadership as we all agreed on it. We agreed for the reason that none of us is willing to be control of by someone. All of us wanted to have a freedom in everything we do. All over the discussion, it was interesting to hear others say what is on their minds about project management. Though we have separate, autonomous, many to mention definitions or ideas, but we made as one when our professor launched the truth about project management really is. That first day of class is an out of the ordinary class of the subject. Just in one day I already have lot things learned. All in all, project management topic is a very broad discussion to have for. It takes several aspects that do affect the effectiveness and efficiency of a specific project. Though the process is so long but in the end, somehow the project will be made successfully.
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