WHAT IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Project Management is the methodology of planning, organizing and managing resources to bring about successful completion of the project goals and objectives. The successful delivery of complex projects needs an effective management of a large number of interrelated tasks that in turn need a combination of skills, experience; project management processes project plans, execution strategies and a set of well-defined procedures.

 

Project Management is a carefully planned and organized effort to accomplish a specific objective, for example, establishing an oil refinery or installing a cross country pipeline. It includes development of a concept, a project plan that details out the project goals and objectives, identifies the tasks, develops a methodology for achieving the goals, quantifying the resources needed, and estimation of budget and timeline for completion. It also includes the execution strategies and methodologies.

Summary Of Discussion

Given below is a summary of the areas of discussion under Project Management. These areas/topics find a place under different sections of this blog.

 

1.       Project Time

2.       Project Cost

3.       Project Scope

4.       Project Quality

5.       Project Performance

Components of Project Management

A project is essentially a plan that needs to be accomplished in a set of timeframe, within an allotted budget, meeting the technical specification within the pre-defined scope and achieving the desired quality of product. It has the following five major components:

1.       Scope

2.       Time

3.       Cost

4.       Quality

5.       Performance

Major activities of Project management

Project Management on major projects is a responsible for a number of activities that include:

1.       Meticulous study of the project goals and objectives

2.       Preparation of project plans to meet the objectives

3.       Estimation of project cost

4.       Estimation, acquisition and allocation of required resources

5.       Preparing manpower plans with mobilization and de-mobilization   schedules

6.       Acquiring and organizing the work force

7.       Developing the execution plans and strategies

8.       Assessing and managing project risks

9.       Monitoring project performance

10.    Analyzing and reporting project progress

11.    Management of changes

12.    Forecasting project time and cost

13.    Quality analyses and management

14.    Value engineering

15.    Crisis management

16.    Project close-out

All these items will find a detailed discussion under different sections of this blog.

 

Focus of discussion

The main focus of discussion under the Project Management Section revolves around the following topics:

1.       Major EPC Projects

2.      Project Management Process

3.       Project Organization

4.       Risk Management

5.       Project Performance

6.       Project Performance Index

7.       Value Engineering

8.       Project Information System

9.       Project Communications  

10.    Management Strategies

11.    Lessons Learned

  

Major Functions of Project Management

Apart from a discussion on the above areas, following major functions of Project Management will find a discussion under different sections/ heads.

1.       Project Controls

2.       Engineering

3.       Procurement 

4.       Contracts

5.       Construction

6.       Quality Control

7.       Safety

8.       Commissioning & Start-Up

9.       Close-Out