1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The link between successful project outcomes and project management was recognised by Peters and Waterman (1982, pp. 3-28), more than 40 years ago. In the fast moving 21st Century business environment, project managers must work ever more effectively and accurately, and timely information is essential to every aspect of the project management role: planning, organisational design, gaining the ‘buy in’ of various stakeholders and being able to provide project reviews in ‘real time’, as well as embracing sustainability (ICE, 2002, p.5). The ways in which the project and its progress relate to the wider organisational context will also need to be considered and communicated (Cleland and Ireland,
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82). The management of projects, as indicated by Oracle (2011, p.1), must embrace every stage from planning to regular monitoring, controlling and evaluation of progress, undertaken by professional staff who also must be recruited and trained (Liberatore, and Pollack-Johnson 2004, pp. 164-174).
Advances in technology represent transformational power for project management in the ACE sector, according to Howard et.al. (1989, p. 18), since appropriate technology provides decision support for the integration of data that has been gathered from a variety of sources and stakeholders. The authors also forecast that, as technology advanced, the potential for huge savings generated from higher productivity would be increasingly important, for instance, by the use of artificial intelligence, process automation including robotics, and employment of advanced databases (Howard et al. 1989, p.18).
A technology solution suggested by Lee and Yu (2012, p. 82) is the web-based Project Management Information System (PMIS), which although not guaranteed to deliver project performance outcomes, is recognised as a vital tool to improving the probability of doing so. The construction industry is highlighted by (Liberatore and Pollack Jackson (2004, p. 170) as one with high usage of the most sophisticated project management information systems,
In the current business environment, the demand for project managers is ever growing. In short, project management is a provisional project constrained by time, cost and scope (A guide to the project management body of knowledge, 2013). Between the immense organization, optimization, and communication assets skilled project management brings to a project, it is easy to see why project management is a booming field of study. Furthermore, project management can be both financially and personally rewarding when long term milestones and goals come to fruition.
Gray, C. F. & Larson, E. W. (2008). _Project Management: The Managerial Process_. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hills Companies, Inc.
With the exceptional growth in technology, the present day projects are often large and complex involving a significant risk. So, a Project Management Methodology enables the delivery organization to handle these projects comprehensively, systematically and in an integrated manner, which results in strategic, tactical and operational benefits.
It is clear to see that throughout the project the tasks and progress were monitored very closely. The project is heavily dependent on the resources provided by its shareholders and in turn they rely on regular updates to reassure them on their investment. In the construction and building industry the methods and application of project management tools are very reliable and well tested. Therefore, it could benefit the project if the it was managed with detailed and defined practises and also follow standards set and agreed upon on a international level.
What is the pressing need to have project management in IT projects? Two out of the three IT projects fail to make the final cut. [1] This article not only elucidates the need for an appropriate project management team but also puts forth what can go wrong if the organization is oblivious to the project management processes. About 88% of the classic mistakes are categorized as either people or process mistakes. Some common mistakes being poor estimation and scheduling, ineffective stakeholder management, and insufficient risk management. [2] The article also highlights the meta-retrospective of 99 IT projects and their analysis for project management making it clear how such aggregation of retrospective findings point out most common mistakes and help adopt best practices for effective project management.
Project management refers to the process of monitoring, planning and controlling a distinct set of tasks that have a discrete end, beginning and result. The process of project managements is carried out within three important constraints of scope, costs and time (Meredith & Mantel, 2012). The purpose of the project management is producing a product that is technically acceptable that is within and on time the budget. To attain this, project managers tries to reduce the risks linked to the project and maximum the benefits, including marketability and profit. There is a wide array of techniques and tools that are used for the purpose of helping the project managers especially in controlling and monitoring the projects.
Although projects can be found dating back hundreds and thousands of years, project management has become a buzzword in the modern business world. Improved technology has allowed and enabled a vast increase in the number of projects to be completed in the workplace. Projects that would once have taken months to complete now take weeks, and new projects follow on their heels. The latest software makes tracking multiple projects easier, and training courses in project management demonstrate new tricks of the trade. The booming economy of the late 1990s made it feasible, from an economic standpoint, for companies to engage in more new endeavors than ever before. New products, new locations, and enhanced services were all the byproducts of the increase in projects.
Monitoring: each step of a project needs monitoring and feedback which give the project manager the ability to anticipate problems, to ensure no deficiencies occur and to oversee corrective
It is hard to find any industry that has not been significantly impacted by the technology revolution, and the construction industry is no exception. In this technology driven age, construction project managers and contractors have access to a number of software options that offer the logistic and administrative support necessary to create a streamlined, efficient process that has the capacity to increase productivity, improve communication and reduce overall costs.
The main objective of a PMS system is to distribute the right information to right people at the right time so that compulsory and corrective actions can be taken at right time. A PMS can facilely facilitate the project management, resource management and near authentic-time communication resulting in smooth transmission of essential information at different calibers. The discipline of Project Management system enables the organization to align its people and projects with its strategic objectives for magnification and efficiency. A web predicated project management solution will give much-needed overtness, insight, and control and efficacious management of all projects. What is project Management? Project management is the process of planning, scheduling, resource management, requirement analysis, designing, testing to achieve a project goal and objectives. Without project management the projects are not complete in given time and thus time and cost of the project is increased. Therefore, project management is required for remove such barriers in project development and to achieve the specific goal.
The paper is divided into three sections, the first of which will establish a timeline of events. This project background will serve as a case study for the analysis in the following section that will be structured such that each of the previously mentioned facets will be independently analyzed and contrasted with project management principles. Finally the paper will conclude with a summary of the analysis and recommendations based on
Project management is a critical process in organization, as it entails planning and implementing projects in line with the available time, human resource and financial resources. Successful project management is based on the available systems available. The automation of the project management has become the norm, whereby project managers use tailored software and applications to design, plan and implement projects, along with appropriate control and regulation. For a long time, the waterfall project management has been the project management tool of choice for businesses (Cervone, 2011). Organizations using the waterfall project management toll realize great success, including proper scheduling and completion. However, despite the benefits and returns arising from the use of the waterfall project management tool, recent developments and creation of newer, more efficient and reliable project management systems has rendered the waterfall system obsolete. As a result, organizations that still use the waterfall system may not be as competitive as other that use the new technologies, such as the agile project management tool.
According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), a project includes the following four phases: initiation, planning, execution and closure. (PMI, 2004) Project planning is the stage that defines how the project is going to be undertaken to a successful execution and delivery. “In present times any kind of activity is considered as a project” (Toader , 2010), “The quality and importance of project planning has been considered a major cornerstone of every successful project. (Dvir, 2004). “Numerous empirical studies of project management success factors suggested planning as one of the major contributors to project success.” (Pinto & Slevin, 1987)
For optimum project performance and delivery it is widely accepted that it can no longer be achieved without the use of
Managing and tracking the progress of a project is not an easy task as it seems. For any successful project delivery the project manager and team members must be very clear about all the project goals, specifications and deadlines that need to be met in specified time in order to be cost-effective and to ensure that quality is maintained so that the customer is completely satisfied.