PolarStar (Matrix Design Inc and SeaFram Consultants Inc)

Quick Guide to the World of Project Management (Phase 1)

(Proof of concept – site under construction, presentation to be improved in Phase 2 ,including breaking it up into manageable sections)

Update Notes (to be removed once all sections are complete).

2009.05.04 – added Guide Outline and links

2009.6.20 – additional work on existing information and updated links

 

As part of our project oversight services we understand that project management is an important part of being able to implement change and understanding its key principles are important.  To enable this common understanding and helping educate business managers we have created the ‘quick guide to the world of project management’.  It is completely built on publically available materials and is designed to incrementally walk through the discipline of project management.

 

This information directly supports the services we provide related to project oversight and how this service includes proactive risk management for complicated multi-stakeholder projects.

 

Please respect the original author’s copyrights and use this information in the way it was intended.  With each link we provide a short abstract that we hope helps you understand why it was selected and what are the expected learning outcomes.  Knowing that we cannot control change, though many times we would like to, these links are provided on an ‘as is’ basis and may not be available or change over time.

 

This site is based on the concept of a ‘learning community’ where the participants contribute to its viability and as such all we ask for is your feed back (we hope to automate this in the future).  We are interested (but not limited to) the following:

  • Is the guide well organized (logical flow of information)?
  • Does the abstract describe the site effectively?
  • Are the learning outcomes achieved?
  • What improvements can be made?

 

At this point please email your comments to: mailto:matrix@polarstar.com

 

Guide Outline

 

The project management guide includes (or will include) the following sections:

 

Project Management Body of Knowledge

 

  • Introduction – definitions and general overview of project management
  • Standards, Methodologies and Frameworks – introduction to the two main recognized project management knowledgebase’s and methodologies - (work in progress)
  • Project Planning - … (work in progress)
  • Project Control - …(work in progress)
  • Communications (Expectations Management) - …(work in progress)
  • Quality Management - …(work in progress)
  • Cost Management - …(work in progress)
  • Contacting and Procurement - …(work in progress)
  • Risk Management - …(work in progress)
  • Integration - …(work in progress)

 

Prince2

 

  • Concepts - …(work in progress)
  • Project Management Processes - …(work in progress)
  • Components - …(work in progress)

 

General Information

  • Case Studies - …(work in progress)

 

Introduction

 

http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/introduction-to-project-management.html

 

This is a good high level three page article.  It does point out one interesting area and that is the shift from seeing projects as a triangle (time, cost, scope with quality as the central topic that brings it all together to a diamond (time, cost, scope and quality with expectations as the underlying connection).

 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Definition of a project
  2. Basic understanding of skills required to be a project manager

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management

 

This site provides a general overview of a lot of the terms and principles.  It drives in a little bit quickly though at some point most of the topics will be referenced

 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Survey of project management including an understanding of the range of activities and terminology used within this subject area.
  2. Increase in understanding lexicon of terms used in project management.

 

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Standards, Methodologies and Frameworks

 

Project Management Institute (PMI)/Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)

 

In North America the primary certification for project mangers is Project Management Professionals (PMP).  This certification is managed through the Project Management Institute (PMI) and all certification is based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK - overview).  PMBOK is published by the PMI and is in its fourth edition.  The body of knowledge is based on nine (9) knowledge areas that is broken into 44 project management processes.  Projects are then divided into five (5) process groups that cover the complete project lifecycle.  It should be noted that one of the key success factors is the project manager’s ability to use their profession judgment and experience to use the individual project management process appropriately based on the individual project requirements.

 

Key Point (Editorial):  PMBOK is a detailed body of knowledge and framework.  It is not a methodology and should not be treated as one.

 

PMI Factsheet provides details about the Institute, its global presence and membership (cites 420,000 members and credential holders).

 

Prince2

 

Prince2 Background Information

 

This is the Office of Government Commerce (UK) website that provides some background information on the Prince2 project management methodology.

 

Wikipedia - Prince2

 This section of Wikipedia provides an overview to the Prince2 methodology.

 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Understand and be able to describe the differences between PMI and Prince2.
  2. Describe the management approach to Prince2.

 

Interesting Facts: Almost as many people are certified xxx  for the Prince2 and are certified under the Project Management Body of Knowledge.

  

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Discussion Topics

 

In this section there will topical discussion information posted as it related to project management and its ability to successfully deliver.  Over time sections will be updated and added.  To help understand changes each area will include a last updated date.

 

Project Leadership

The article Improving Project Success Rates with Better Leadership makes an interesting assertion that project leadership is the differentiator in increasing project success and following the PMI Body of Knowledge is important but is not enough.  (if the link above does not work or you need to log in and do not want to sign up the article is available in pdf format).

 

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General References

 

http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/

 

“Project Smart is the project management resource that helps managers at all levels to improve their performance. We provide an important knowledge base for those involved in managing projects of all kinds. With weekly updates it keeps you in touch with the latest project management thinking.”

 

Project Times (your PM Community)

 

“Back in the mid-1990s, Project Times started out as a modest black and white newsletter. We went to glossy stock in 1998. We became a full-colour magazine in 2004. Then in 2006, we went exclusively online.

 

Today, we're online to be more current; to be more interactive and to better serve the project management community, of which we are a proud and active member. Our content changes regularly and frequently to keep you abreast of what’s going on in the world of project management, and to be as topical as possible.”

 

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