Good Books
Absolute Beginner's guide to Project Management by Greg HorieProject Definition
- Project is a finite endeavour (having specific start and completion dates) undertaken to cerate a unique product or service which brings about beneficial change or added value
- Contrast with Process "Permanent or semi-permanent functional work to repetetively produce the same product or service""
Projects vs Processes
Similarities
- Planned, executed and controlled
- Performed by people
- Resource constrained
Differences
| Feature | Projects | Processes |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Attain objectives and teminate | Sustain organization |
| Time | Temporary, defined start and end | Ongoing |
| Outcome | Unique product, service or result | Multiple products, services or results |
| People | Temporary teams; not aligned with organization's structure | Functional teams aligned with organization's structure |
| Authority of manager | Varies by organization. Minimal line of authority | Generally formal; direct line of authority |
Project Characteristics
- A set of tasks which may be performed concurrently and/or sequence, to achieve a goal or objective
- A distinct start and finish date
- A limited set of resources which may be used on more than one project
- Examples of Projects?
Project Goals and Objectives
Goal
- End result - what are we trying to accomplish
Objectives
- Steps - how are we going to reach the goal
- S = Specific
- M = Measurable
- A = Achievable ( or Agreed-To )
- R = Relevant ( or Realistic, Rewarding )
- T = Time-Bound
Maybe the acronym should be SMARRRRT?
Project Management
- "Discipline of planning, orgainizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives"
Determining project success
Achieves desired objectives (Quality) within given deadlines and budget
Balance between Scope/Quality, Time and Cost