Project Management Principles, Essay Example

Abstract

Project management is a tremendously challenging process, which if not well taken care of, could lead to failure of a task. Project management is a non-continuous process   that has a definite beginning and ending. For effective accomplishment of a project, various measurement tools need employment. This paper discusses the project management process, the measurement tools employed, the company process, and the priority rules employed in the process in order to maximize overall performance.

Project management principles

A successful project should be under a budget. It should meet the customer requirements and must be on time. The project management principles used in a company to increase the success rate of projects include:

1. The knowledge that projects are temporary- a project aims at creating a given product, or meeting a given goal, after which it has a clear end.
2. The decision on whether or not the project should happen – a decision depending of the viability of the project made before starting it.
3. Consider all the potential risks and be ready to handle them should they occur.
4. Cost, time, and quality are co-dependent; the present time not changed.
5. Know what is out of bounds – determines what is doable by the project and what is not.
6. Develop a project plan with clear activities- size and scope of the project clearly defined.
7. When making assignments, consider the interests of the people, their skills and experience
8. Let the worker who takes an assignment or task set the due date.
9. There are lots of project management tools in existence; just use what works for you best
10. There can only be one chief or boss and it does not necessarily have to be you.
11. Set meeting ground rules
12. Celebrate success, especially after successful completion of a set objective.

Project management tools

For the success of a project, two best measurement and project management tools employed. These include:

1. Work breakdown structure – this is a functional decomposition of the tasks of a project. Work in a project broken down into major subtasks, where the tasks assigned to a given person. This ensures everyone has a task to do, failure to which he /she is answerable.
2. Gantt charts – these are charts giving a timeline for activities. Gantt charts are for planning and scheduling. They then constructed in a manner that set schedules that record the progress of the project. Gantt charts can be in the form of load charts or project planning charts. They present a time line for all activities in a project.

A combination of the two project management tools would ensure project activities run in a professional and timely manner.

Company process

One company process is the Customer Oriented Processes (COP’s) – These involve product realization processes that aim at determining the requirements of the customer. The customer requirements could be in the form of (inputs), desire of a new design, the latest make, and fashion. It could also call for after sale service as delivery of products. The process in subject calls for determination of ensuring customer satisfaction. These processes have the greatest degree of interaction with external customers.

Conclusion

In general, project management is a process that calls for a determined, responsible and a friendly person who would coordinate all activities in a professional manner. It calls from a person who can as well coordinate the workers properly, for a successful business.

References

Al-Khouri, Ali M. (2012). Projects Management in Reality: Lessons from Government Projects Business & Management Review. Jun2012, Vol. 2 Issue 4, p1-14. 14p.

Zizhi Xu,Tong Liu, Jinpeng Liu, & Hongjuan Li. (2012). Study on Large Power Grid Construction Projects Whole Process Cost Management Modes.  Asian Social Science. 8 (11), p54-57.