The first knowledge area within the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) is called Project Integration Management. Although most people forget about it after writing the PMP exam (because it is a unique knowledge area that underpins all of the other, more visible ones), this knowledge area is in fact the one most utilized on a day-to-day basis by … [Read more...]
The Project Initiation Document (PID) is the most important document in the PRINCE2 project management method. It defines the project scope and identifies how the project will achieve its objectives. It puts the project on a solid foundation, a baseline that provides a place from which the project manager and project board can assess progress. The PID is a … [Read more...]
Projects are by definition temporary, that is, they have a defined beginning and end. For this reason, the project schedule is almost always a major factor in project success. It also means that project stakeholders want to be updated on the status regularly, to ascertain whether the project is on track to complete on time. A project status report contains … [Read more...]
Before a project even begins, a project charter is a document that incorporates the project and appoints the project manager. Many projects operate without a project charter, even multimillion dollar projects. But the formal authorization of the project by the performing organization can be important to ensure the lines of authority are clear and identify what the … [Read more...]
Many documents are created in the profession of project management. Some of these are critical to the successful completion of the project, and others are merely intended for organizing the work flow. But the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) outlines many documents that have an integral place within the structure of project management, and the following list … [Read more...]
With most projects, success can ultimately be attributed to the project team. Using the right people for the job and managing them well can be one of the biggest skills of a project manager. You can't put a value on knowing your project team is going to get the job done right, on time, and under budget. The Project Management Body of Knowledge contains processes to … [Read more...]
Unlike most of the project management knowledge areas, which deal with a specific area of expertise of the project manager, the Project Integration Management knowledge area is something of a catch-all, containing many of the everyday actions of a project manager. It is the glue that holds the project together. The processes within the Project Integration Management … [Read more...]
The project manager is the ultimate responsible authority for the successful completion of the project. They establish the critical success factors and take responsibility for achieving them. Usually the project manager inherits criteria that the project must work with, such as budget, stakeholder concerns, and so forth. These are codified within the project charter … [Read more...]
Although projects span a huge spectrum from big to small, innovative to routine, and technical to repetitive, there is in fact a standard project organization chart within which all projects fall. With the exception of a few variable parts all project fit into a standard mold. According to project management theory, each member of a project is, in fact, very well … [Read more...]
Project planning is immensely underrated. Everyone has a story of how they could have planned better to avoid a disaster, even if they didn’t look back and realise it. The Project Management Institute suggests that planning should ideally consist of about 20 – 30% of the time required to perform the project work. This is substantially more than most project managers … [Read more...]
