Reflection and Discussion Forum Week 1
Reflection and Discussion Forum Week 1Assigned Readings:Chapter. 1 Modern Project ManagementInitial Postings: Read and reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Then post what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding in each assigned textbook chapter.Your initial post should be based upon the assigned reading for the week, so the textbook should be a source listed in your reference section and cited within the body of the text. Other sources are not required but feel free to use them if they aid in your discussion.Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:
- Individually identify what you consider to be the greatest achievements accomplished by mankind in the last five decades. Now share your list with three to five other students in the class, and come up with an expanded list. Review these accomplishments in terms of the definition of a project. What does your review suggest about the importance of project management?
[Your post must be substantive and demonstrate insight gained from the course material. Postings must be in the student’s own words – do not provide quotes!]
Activity 1
Read the Case ” A Day in the Life” at the end of chapter 1 and response to the following questions:Rachel, the project manager of a large information systems project, arrives at her office early to get caught up with work before her co-workers and project team arrive. However, as she enters the office she meets Neil, one of her fellow project managers, who also wants to get an early start on the day. Neil has just completed a project overseas. They spend 10 minutes socializing and catching up on personal news.(Rest of case not shown due to length.)
- How effectively do you think Rachel spent her day?
- What does the case tell you about what it is like to be a project manager?
Chapter One
Modern Project Management
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An Overview of Project Management 7th ed
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Project Management 6e
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Learning Objectives
Understand why project management is crucial in today’s world
Distinguish a project from routine operations
Identify the different stages of project life cycle
Understand the importance of projects in implementing organization strategy
Understand that managing projects involves balancing the technical and sociocultural dimensions of the project
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Chapter Outline
1.1 What Is a Project?
1.2 Current Drivers of Project Management
1.3 Project Governance
1.4 Project Management Today—A Socio-
Technical Approach
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What Is a Project?
Project Defined (according to PMI)
A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result
Major Characteristics of a Project
Has an established objective
Has a defined life span with a beginning and an end
Requires across-the-organizational participation
Involves doing something never been done before
Has specific time, cost, and performance requirements
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Project Management 6e
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Program versus Project
Program Defined
A group of related projects designed to accomplish a common goal over an extended period of time
Program Management
A process of managing a group of ongoing, interdependent, related projects in a coordinated way to achieve strategic objectives
Examples:
Project: completion of a required course
in project management.
Program: completion of all courses required
for a business major.
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Project Management 6e
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Comparison of Routine Work with Projects
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TABLE 1.1
Routine, Repetitive Work
Taking class notes
Daily entering sales receipts into the accounting ledger
Responding to a supply-chain request
Practicing scales on the piano
Routine manufacture of an Apple iPod
Attaching tags on a manufactured product
Projects
Writing a term paper
Setting up a sales kiosk for a professional accounting meeting
Developing a supply-chain information system
Writing a new piano piece
Designing an iPod that is approximately 2 X 4 inches, interfaces with PC, and
stores 10,000 songs
Wire-tag projects for GE and
Wal-Mart
.
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Project Management 6e
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Project Life Cycle
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FIGURE 1.1
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The Challenge of Project Management
The Project Manager
Manages temporary, non-repetitive activities and frequently acts independently of the formal organization.
Marshals resources for the project.
Is linked directly to the customer interface.
Provides direction, coordination, and integration
to the project team.
Is responsible for performance and success of the project.
Must induce the right people at the right time to address the right issues and make the right decisions.
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Project Management 6e
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Current Drivers of Project Management
Factors leading to the increased use of project management:
Compression of the product life cycle
Knowledge explosion
Triple bottom line (planet, people, profit)
Increased customer focus
Small projects represent big problems
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Project Governance
Integration (or centralization) of project management provides senior management with:
An overview of all project management activities
A big picture of how organizational resources are used
A risk assessment of their portfolio of projects
A rough metric of the firm’s improvement in managing projects relative to others in the industry
Linkages of senior management with actual project execution management
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Project Management 6e
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Integrated Management of Projects
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FIGURE 1.2
.
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Alignment of Projects with
Organizational Strategy
Problems resulting from the uncoordinated project management systems include:
Projects that do not support the organization’s overall strategic plan and goals.
Independent managerial decisions that create internal imbalances, conflicts and confusion resulting in dissatisfied customers.
Failure to prioritize projects results in the waste of resources on non-value-added activities/projects.
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Project Management 6e
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A Project Management Today:
A Socio-Technical Approach
The Technical Dimension (The “Science”)
Consists of the formal, disciplined, purely logical parts of the process.
Includes planning, scheduling, and controlling projects.
The Sociocultural Dimension (The “Art”)
Involves contradictory and paradoxical world of implementation.
Centers on creating a temporary social system within a larger organizational environment that combines the talents of a divergent set of professionals working to complete the project.
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Project Management 6e
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A Socio-Technical Approach to Project Management
FIGURE 1.3
.
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Key Terms
Program
Project
Project life cycle
Project Management Professional (PMP)
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