1.1 Project management

What does project mean?

• “a planned piece of work that has a specific purpose (such as to find information or to make something new) and that usually requires a lot of time” (Merriam-webster.com)
• “a task or problem in school that requires careful work over a long period of time” (Merriam-webster.com)
• „It’s a temporary group activity designed to produce a unique product, service or result.” (pmi.org)

 

Why do we define a project?

• Work is getting more and more complex: many stakeholders, high costs, long timeframes, unforseeable events.

• Need to plan, organize, control and monitor an entity of the costs, resources, scope and quality.

 

• Key concepts:
  • task, problem
  • planned work, careful work
  • period of time, temporary
  • specific purpose, unique result

 

Figure 1.1: What is a project?

What does project management mean?

• “Planned set of interrelated tasks to be executed over a fixed period and within certain cost and other limitations.” (BusinessDictionary.com)
• “Is the application of knowledge, skills and techniques to execute projects effectively and efficiently.” (pmi.org)

 

Why do we need project management?

• A comprehensive set of processes to deliver in time, on budget, be within the scope.
• Need for well planned set of acts to become successful.

 

 

• Key concepts:
  • executing interrelated tasks by the application of knowledge, skills and techniques
  • limitations: costs and others

 

Figure 1.2: What is project management?

Project management can be applied

• in general, for example:
  • building a new bridge in a valley
  • developing a new data analysis software
  • performing a research experiment
  • almost everything that requires some work to achieve a specific result
• at personal level, for example:
  • acquiring a BSc degree after high school
  • learning a new language
  • building my dream house