Project management is usually carried out in successive stages.
Project management is a process that is carried out by applying various methodologies and coordinating actions to achieve certain objectives. These procedures involve the consideration of different theoretical positions and the development of practices to manage the allocation of resources and direct efforts towards a goal.
It is important to note that the idea of management refers to managing or organizing something. A project , meanwhile, is a plan or scheme that indicates how to move forward with the intention of reaching a certain goal.
The preparations
Before starting the management itself, there must be a project proposal : an idea with the potential to materialize. This proposal , once approved, must lead to a project plan that indicates what actions should be executed.
It is important to take the scope of the project into account when carrying out the resource estimate . There are projects that can be carried out with few resources and others that require large amounts of money, personnel, etc. Establishing the project budget in a realistic way, therefore, is very important to minimize the chances of failure .
Another factor to study in the pre-management stage is the project schedule . Deadlines must be set according to the magnitude of the undertaking and considering the available resources.
Stages of project management
There are five stages of project management , according to the PMI (Project Management Institute) . This non-profit organization has more than fifty years of history and produces the guide known as PMBOK for the acronym of the English expression Project Management Body of Knowledge , where it offers standards and rules for project management.
These phases are usually carried out sequentially. Advancing step by step with the sequence of activities and addressing the issues that arise in each instance increases the chances of success .
- Beginning of the project : The broad definition is made, stipulating who the participants and sponsors will be. At this point, it is usually defined who will take over as project leader and what the project team that will accompany them will be, assigning roles and responsibilities. The project's communication guidelines are also beginning to be outlined.
- Project planning : At this point the objectives are stated. There are different strategies that can be applied, such as the one known by the English acronym SMART , which refers to the fact that the objectives must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-limited.
- Project execution : With the objectives already set, the tasks are announced to the team members, who must implement their work. It also establishes how the monitoring and control of the project will be carried out.
- Project performance : Based on the choice and analysis of key performance indicators , you must study how close or far you are from the objectives set at the beginning. The result of the evaluation must be informed to all participants.
- Project Closure : In this stage, the actions that mark the conclusion of the project are executed. Many times it is carried out through a meeting where the team's actions are evaluated, a practice that can serve as a basis for the development of future initiatives. The presentation of a final project report is also common.
Project management contemplates teamwork .
The methodologies
Project management can be developed according to different methodologies. The most popular is the sequential methodology , also called cascade or waterfall , which implies an orderly execution stage by stage: at the end of one phase, the next begins.
Although the sequential methodology is the simplest and even logical, it carries certain drawbacks. In the event of a failure, for example, restarting the project always forces you to return to the first phase.
The methodology known as agile is based on the fragmentation of tasks, setting a short time for completion. According to specialists, this vision contributes to defining priorities, increases productivity , increases commitment and improves the quality of the project .
The scrum methodology, meanwhile, relies on collaboration to achieve feedback. Teams with few members are formed, in charge of executing tasks in cycles that are repeated throughout the project.
Kanban is another common methodology in project management. Using a dashboard that helps visualize management, tasks are distributed according to a list of pending actions that are part of a constant flow of work. Thus, experts maintain, continuous improvement is encouraged.
In project management, a leader is established who assumes primary responsibility.
Risks and project management
Project management must consider the management of risks : that is, of the variables that can cause a deviation from the budget , a delay in meeting deadlines or other inconveniences that threaten success.
Risk identification , in this way, is essential. Practices such as risk analysis and risk monitoring and control are also important. The purpose is to recognize those potentially harmful factors and monitor them so that this damage does not materialize.
In any case, it is also necessary to have a risk response plan to contain and reverse the damage. These forecasts and measures integrated into project management help achieve objectives.
Carrying out adequate conflict management , taking note of the lessons learned in each case to achieve best practices and contemplating change planning when necessary are other actions related to risk management that affect the progress of the project and the achievement of objectives. the objectives.