Introduction to project
management
Project management basics
• The ability to deliver projects on schedule, on budget, and
aligned with business goals is key to gaining an edge in today’s
highly competitive global business environment.
• This is why it is important for the person in charge of the project
to have a comprehensive understanding of project management,
from basic concepts to extensive experience.
• Project managers are responsible for overseeing projects from
start to finish. They need to plan, organize, manage resources,
and communicate with different teams.
What is a project?
• Before we get into the basics, we need to define what exactly a
“project” is. Sure, you’ve probably been assigned countless
“projects” in school or on the job, but what is the actual
definition?
• The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines a “project” as
“A project is a one-time effort to achieve a specific goal, like
creating a product, service, or result, with a set beginning and
end.”
• The purpose of a project must be “to create a unique product,
service, or result.”
What is project management?
• Project management is using the right knowledge, skills,
and tools to complete a project successfully and meet its
goals.
• Proper execution of this practice comes down to
identifying the problem, creating a plan to solve the
problem, and then executing that plan until the problem
has been solved.
• That may sound simple, but there is a lot that goes into it
at every stage of the process.
• In the early 1900s, Frederick Taylor introduced ideas to make
work more efficient by focusing on smarter ways of working,
instead of just pushing workers to do more.
• Henry Gantt, a colleague of Taylor, created charts to visually
display the progress of tasks, helping people better organize
and manage projects.
• Example :
Role of a Project Manager
• As the name suggests, project managers are responsible
for projects from initiation to close, making sure the work
gets done efficiently and Acceptably.
• A project manager plays a crucial role in overseeing the
planning, execution, and completion of a project.
A summary of their main duties.
• Project Planning: They are responsible for creating a
comprehensive project plan that outlines the project, objectives,
timeline, budget, resources needed, and potential risks.
• Risk Management: Identifying potential risks and developing
strategies to mitigate them is another important aspect of their
role. This involves anticipating challenges and having
contingency plans in place.
• Communication: Project managers facilitate communication
among team members, stakeholders ensuring everyone is
informed about project progress, changes, and decisions.
Project Resources
• Project resources refer to the various assets, both tangible and
intangible, that are necessary for the successful completion of a
project.
These resources can include:
• Human Resources: The people involved in the project, including project
managers, team members, and stakeholders. Each person contributes
unique skills, knowledge, and expertise to the project.
• Financial Resources: The budget allocated for the project, which covers
expenses such as salaries, equipment, materials, and other costs
associated with project execution.
• Technological Resources: Software, hardware, and other
technological tools and systems needed to support project
activities, such as communication tools, and data analysis tools.
• Time: The time available to complete the project is also a critical
resource. Effective time management is essential for meeting
project deadlines.
Phases of software project
• Software projects typically follow a structured approach,
breaking down the development process into distinct phases.
• While specific methodologies may vary,
the following phases are commonly found in software project
development:
• Initiation: is the first phase where the project idea is created
and its potential is evaluated. This includes setting the project
goals, identifying key people involved, and understanding what
needs to be done.
• Planning: This phase involves detailed planning of the project,
including defining project Key points, estimating resources,
setting budgets, and establishing timelines. The project plan
outlines tasks, and dependencies.
• Design: In the design phase, the system architecture, software
components, and user interface are designed based on the
requirements gathered in the previous phase. This phase may
include creating detailed technical specifications, prototypes to
visualize the software's structure and functionality.
• Implementation (Development): The development phase
involves coding or programming the software based on the
design specifications.
• Developers write, test, and integrate code to build the software
system according to the defined requirements.
• Testing: In this phase, the software is tested to identify and fix
defects, errors, and vulnerabilities. Testing activities may
include functional testing, usability testing, performance
testing, security testing, and other types of testing to validate
that the software meets the specified requirements.
• Deployment (Release): Once testing is complete and the
software is deemed ready for deployment.
ClassWork
1. What is difference between stakeholders and
team members?
2. Explain the main difference between tangible
and intangible?
3. How do project managers determine the
financial needs for a project?
