Introduction to Project Management

What is a project?

  • Temporary - it has a beginning and an end
  • Creates a product or service
  • Requires organizing different people
  • Requires planning and coordinating tasks
Adapted from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)

What makes a great project manager?

  • Organized using guidelines and templates
  • Define and achieve targets (gets stuff done)
  • Optimizes resources (time, people, equipment, ...)
  • Communicates effectively
  • Builds a team and then coordinates the team
  • Flexible (able to deal with change)
  • Subject-matter expert (is already an expert with whatever the project is about)
  • Decision-maker (thoughtful but not slow and not hesitant)
  • ... (what is missing?)
Adapted from Edwel.com

Project Management

Let's start a group project!
  1. WHO will be in your group?
  2. IDENTIFY a project manager (a.k.a. leader).
  3. LIST requirements (discuss as a group and with the teacher).
  4. RESEARCH what things your group can create.  (Make a list.)
  5. DETERMINE what your group will create. (Web Site? Database? App?)
  6. WHAT other materials will be created? (Brochure? Drawings? ...)
  7. BREAKDOWN the tasks (and their order) and put in a Gantt Chart
  8. ASSIGN resources to these tasks (people, equipment, software, ...)
  9. SET timelines for each task (put all into the Gantt Chart)
  10. IDENTIFY risks, warnings and threats to the project completion.
  11. Also IDENTIFY which tasks are essential (and which are not).
  12. Get COMMITMENT from all team members
  13. GO TO WORK!
  14. Leader will FOLLOW-UP to note tasks completed on time and those tasks that require additional resources (people, time, equipment)
  15. Leader COMMUNICATES so team is informed of group's progress.
  16. Leader REASSIGNS resources when threats appear. (people, time, ...)
  17. Leader CALLS A REVIEW if a major setback occurs.  At the Review, the group may change tasks, assignments and resources.
  18. CELEBRATE milestones, achievements and victories!
Adapted from ProjectSmart.co.uk
Link to Start
Files to Read
Links to Check Out

For More Info

Project Management Processes

What do these 2 images have in common?  Where are they different?
Picture

The GANTT Chart   (the most common tool in project management)

gantt_chart_for_project_management_-_by_mr_rich.xlsx
File Size: 15 kb
File Type: xlsx
Download File

The Gantt Chart is very commonly used, although some prefer using Microsoft Project or some other software.  However, once you've tried Microsoft Project, you will notice that it is very similar to the Excel chart for download.

Below is a preview of the download file above.  Be sure to download the file above!  Notice that the estimated time shows in lighter gray, while the actual time shows in darker orange.  This helps to visually represent the progress through activities.  
(In this Excel file, you don't need to add these colours --> just type in the numbers under "Estimated" and "Actual" and the colours magically appear!)

Project Documents (Templates) and their respective stages

For each of the stages, here are some of the documents that need to be produced. 
The titles (hopefully) explain themselves.
Picture




Now you're ready to look at the Assignment for Project Management.



Next: The Assignment