The Life Of A Project

The Life of a Project

Carla J. McCoy

Unit 1 Discussion Board – MGT110

March 26th, 2009

American InterContinental University

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The Life Of A Project

Project Management

Project Management involves a starting and ending point that requires a set of co-

ordinated activities, normally undertaken by either an organization or individual who is required

to meet objectives that are specific with cost and performance parameters as well as a defined

schedule. An effort must be made in the development of a project plan involving resources are

needed. Defining project objectives and goals are also needed. Specifying tasks on how goals

will be reached, along with associating budgets and timelines for completion will be required.

There needs to be an implementation of the project plan as well which will ensure the plan is

actually being managed according to the plan. There are also normally phases of Project

Management that need to be followed such as evaluation and support maintenance, feasibility

study, project planning, and implementation which will all need various titles. (Free

Management Library, 1997-2009)

Project Management Objectives

Project Management Objectives are specific and are not measurable. Objectives refer to a

specific purpose that drives each individual towards a set of solid goals that can be changed if

necessary. A project leader or team with work strategies will direct their work and their strategies

that they hope to advance in. Objectives can be a series of products or services that need to be

produced or performed in order to accomplish a set of goals. Modifications of the end goals of a

project may change if objectives of the project team change as well but are normally just

modifications of the original goals or interests. There is normally a purpose that the leader or

project team needs to attain in order to obtain specific results that need to be accomplished.

(Project-Management-Knowledge.com, 2009)

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Project Management Life-Cycle

Project Management Life-Cycle will define how to manage a project and will always

remain the same. There are five Project Management Phases that all Projects should progress

through which are listed below. (NYS Project Management Lifecycle, 2009)

1. A Project is proposed by an Individual in order to create a product or develop a

service to address or solve problems that are needed within the Performing

Organization. The Proposal will then be submitted over to an evaluation and

selection process by the performing organization. Considering that it would be

selected, what may be required afterwards would be a budget or further

management commitment prior to the project manager being assigned and the

project being authorized to progress over to Project Initiation. A time delay

between the proposal, selection, and initiation could be evident depending on

standards and practices that the performing organization has. (NYS Project

Management Lifecycle, 2009)

2. A project manager will be assigned at the beginning of a project initiation who

will work with a project sponsor in identifying resources. Team members will be

needed for key project parameters development involving cost, scope, schedule,

and quality (CSSQ). Documented information will be created into a project

charter which is based on the project proposal and includes the original business

case. Initial planning effort among a designated team will begin once the approval

of the project charter is authorized by the project sponsor. The results of the Initial

Project Plan from the Project Initiation will differ in detail levels which have to be

sufficient to obtain new resources before it can progress to the next phase.

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Communication is required among all parties that will be affected by the project

where risks that can threaten the project can be identified. A revision and re-

evaluation will then be made along with a decision that will either allow the

project to halt or proceed. (NYS Project Management Lifecycle, 2009)

3. Additional members will join the Project Team at this point to assist with the

Cost, Scope, Schedule, and Quality, CSSQ) and key elements are added to the

plan which include issue management, externally-focused items, change control,

acceptance management, and issue management. This is where an initial list of

project risks are augmented and mitigation plans are developed. There should be

no work uncovered when the project plan is completed, however at a later date

there is some project work that may continue such as transition and

implementation details. When Project Planning is at an end the Case is then

revised and re-evaluated along with a decision to either halt or proceed with

resources that are necessary for Project Execution and Control. (NYS Project

Management Lifecycle, 2009)

4. If Project Execution and Control is needed then resources are applied in the

project. Again, various team members will join at this point and begin this part of

the phase. The Project Team will then execute tasks that are on the defined

Project Schedule in order to develop a product or service to deliver. Processes and

Plans are used during Project Initiation and Project Planning in order to manage

the product or services for transitioning the service or product responsibility from

the Project team to the performing organization. (NYS Project Management

Lifecycle, 2009)

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5. The outcome and performance of the project team and performing organization is

then assessed by soliciting and evaluating feedback from customers, consumers,

stakeholders, and project team members. The purpose of the assessment is used

for enabling performing organization, best practices and lessons learned in order

to use for future projects. (NYS Project Management Lifecycle, 2009)

Project Management work breakdown structure

Work Breakdown Structure involves using a hierarchical tree structure and helps

organize and define the complete project more accurately. It also aids in resource allocation,

controlling the project, assigning responsibilities, and monitoring the project. The deliverable

will be more precise and concrete so project teams know what has to be accomplished. Better

time will be able to be allowed by teams, and better estimating of risk and cost as well. You can

also use the Mind Mapping Methodology instead if you choose to do so. A group of people will

need to gather in one single room where two levels will be set up. One level is the project title,

and the other is made up of all deliverables for the project. Next they will need to launch into the

decomposition or breakdown where deliverables are broken down into smaller pieces of work to

be completed in order for work to not only have a time frame but to be able to be realistically

managed which is what we call the Work Package. This level requires the Project Manager to

monitor all Project work. Some projects will be measured using an 8/80 % rule but strive for the

100% rule. Activities and tasks will be planned from work packages once they are assigned.

(Online-Project-Management-Training.com, 2009)

Website with Suggestions for Developing Effective Proposals

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The website I have chosen to review is http://www.allbusiness.com/management/466167-

1.html A Description of the Content on this website is the Process of research and planning in

order to develop winning proposals which is the key to competing among today’s global

markets. There are three aspects on this website that will help proposals be more effective such

as preliminary research, planning to write, and writing because writing is only part of making

proposals effective, so you need the other two in order to complete the process. Anytime a

proposal is going to be created a person needs to do some extensive research that will clearly

define the purpose.

References

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Online Web Library:

Free Management Library, (1997-2009) Project Management Authenticity Consulting, LLC

Retrieved on March 26th, 2009 from

http://managementhelp.org/plan_dec/project/project.htm#anchor440783

Online Web Page:

Project-Management-Knowledge.com, (2009) Project Management Knowledge, Retrieved

March 26, 2009, from Web site:

http://www.project-management-knowledge.com/definitions/o/objective/

Online-Project-Management-Training.com, (2009) Project Management Work Breakdown

Structure retrieved on March 26th, 2009 from Web Site: http://www.online-project-

management-training.com/work-breakdown-structure.html

Online Guidebook:

NYS Project Management Lifecycle, (2009) Project Management Lifecycle NYS Office for

Technology Project Management Office (Section 1) Retrieved on March 26th, 2009 from

Web Site pdf file: http://www.oft.state.ny.us/pmmp/guidebook2/Origination.pdf

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