Project Management

Body of Knowledge
Delivered by: Muhammad Moazzam
Primary Purpose of PMBOK guide:

To identify the subset of the PMBOK that is generally recognized

as good practice:

“identify” means to provide general overview as opposed to an

exhaustive description

“Generally recognized” means that the knowledge and practices

described are applicable to most projects, most of the time and that
there is widespread consensus about their value and usefulness

“Good practices” means that there is general agreement that the

correct application of these skills, tools, and techniques can
enhance the chances of success over a wide reange of different
projects.
Audience for PMBOK guide

These may include:

• Senior executives
• Program managers
• Project managers and team members
• Members of a project management office
• Customers and other stakeholders
• Functional managers with employees assigned to project
teams
• Educators teaching project management and related subjects
• Consultants and other specialists in project management
• Trainers developing project management educational
programs
• Researchers analyzing project management
PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS

Project is a temporary endeavor undertaking to create a unique

product, service or result.

1. Temporary

Temporary means that the project has a definite beginning

and a definite end.

End is reached when the objectives are achieved or it

becomes clear that the objectives will not or cannot be
achieved.

Need of the project no longer exists.

The term temporary doesn’t mean short in duration as many

projects may last a few years, but since they have a definite
end, they are called temporary endeavors.

This term also points that the projects are not an ongoing
effort.

Temporary doesn’t refer to the outcome / end results of the

project i.e. products, service or results. Although project has
a definite life, it is undertaken to produce a lasting outcome.

The temporary nature of the projects may also apply to other

aspects:

• The opportunity or market window may be temporary –

for example some projects have a limited time frame in
which to produce their product.
• The project team, as a working unit, seldom outlive the
project itself.
2. Unique Product, service or results

A project is undertaken and designed to create unique

deliverables.

A project can create:

• A product or artifact created is quantifiable and can

either be an end item itself or a component of the item
to be used in the end item
• A capability to perform a service, such as business
functions supporting production or distribution
• A result, such as outcomes or documents.

Uniqueness comes from the fact that every single deliverable

is different from the other.
3. Progressive Elaboration

This characteristic accompanies the concepts of temporary

and unique. It means developing in steps and continuing by
increments.

Examples of this may be the development of a chemical

processing plant and an economic development plan.
PROJECT VS. OPERATIONAL WORK

Every work performed by any organization is to achieve an

objective of a set of objective. So every work carried out has the
following characteristics:

• Performed by the people

• Constrained by limited resources (time, costs etc)
• Planned, executed and controlled

Given this, and the looking at the project characteristics, only thing
separating the operational work from project are the features of
being unique and temporary while the operational work is an
ongoing activity.

Projects tend to achieve the desired objective and then terminate,

while the operational work is carried out to sustain the business.

PROJECT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING

Since projects are means of organizing activities which are not

generally addressed in other operational activities, these are,
therefore, utilized as a means of achieving an organizations
strategic plan.

Project team can either be employed or contracted.

• A response to an unexpected big market demand

• Addressing an organization’s needs e.g. training.
• Delivering a specific customer request
• A technological advancement
• A Legal requirement
WHAT IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT?

This refers to the application of knowledge, skills, tools and

techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.

Main processes involved are initiating, planning, executing,

monitoring and controlling, and closing.

Project manager is the person responsible for establishing the

project objectives.

Managing a project includes:

• Identifying requirements
• Establishing clear and achievable objectives
• Balancing the competing demands for quality, scope, time
and costs.
• Adapting the specifications, plans and approach.

Project managers are often confronted with “triple constraint” i.e.

project scope, time and costs.

Project management team has a professional responsibility towards

their stakeholders e.g. customers, organizations and the public.

Most of the project processes are iterative with the concept of

progressive elaboration.