A project can simply be defined as any set of activities which used to achieve a per-determine objective with in a specific time. Key features of a project is that they are
1. Unique one to another
2. Have a specific objective
3. Includes specific resource allocation
4. Specific time frame for complication
But who is a project manager? A project manager is a person who drives above process into a real practice; but in order to achieve the predetermined project objectives, what should be done by a project manager?
Business change analysis
This is also known as Business analysis, which is the methodology of identifying business needs and determining solutions to business problems. Solutions often include a systems development component, but may also consist of process improvement, organizational change or strategic planning and policy development.
Critical path analysis
This involves identifying what are the critical activities that must be addressed and given top priority in order to achieve project objectives. Most popular method used in this is PERT (Project Evaluation and Review Technique).
Sample Diagram:
Using these values, critical path can determines the longest path of planned activities to the end of the project, and the earliest and latest that each activity can start and finish without making the project longer. This process determines which activities are “critical” (i.e., on the longest path) and which have “total float” (i.e., can be delayed without making the project longer). A critical path is the sequence of project network activities which add up to the longest overall duration. This means the shortest time possible to complete the project. Any delay of an activity on the critical path directly impacts the planned project completion date (i.e. there is no float on the critical path). A project can have several, parallel, near critical paths. An additional parallel path through the network with the total durations shorter than the critical path is called a sub-critical or non-critical path.
Develop a Work Break down Structure (WBS)
The work breakdown structure provides a common framework for the natural development of the overall planning and control of a contract and is the basis for dividing work into definable increments from which the statement of work can be developed and technical, schedule, cost, and labor hour reporting can be established.
Sample Diagram:
Implementation
Having identified the critical factors and work break down structure project manager can start the implementations. This is the most stress full period of the project for a project manager. However if things got planned well in advance and if the project managers equipped with ideal resources on right time this will not be a difficult task to accomplish.
A gap analysis has to be carried out in as an evaluation method of the work that has been carried out in order to find out what are the issues had during the implementation and their impact on the project objectives. By doing so, project manager will be able to figure out what were the expected results and what they actually achieved. Main aim of this is to develop contingency plans in more strategic manner and also to use the experiences as learning when laying out future project plans.
In conclusion, this is just a few stages of project management, and there can be many more phases/process involved depending on the scope of the project and the risk aptitude of the project stakeholders.
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Author: Ranidu Gunarathna


























