Week 12 - Project Management

1.      Explain the triple constraint and its importance in project management.

‘The triple constraint involves making trade-offs between scope, time and cost for a project. It is inevitable in a project life-cycle that there will be changes to the scope, time or cost of the project.’ (Lecture slides: C.Maker, ‘Project management’, 2011). 

 

 

The triple constraint involves:

§  Increase in scope. This means that there is an increase in cost and an increase in time.

§  Tight time. This involves an increase in costs and a reduce in scope

§  Tight budget. This involves an increase in time and a reduce in scope

2.       Describe the two primary diagrams most frequently used in project planning

The two primary diagrams are the PERT chart and the Gantt chart.

The PERT chart is a ‘graphical network model that depicts a project’s tasks and the relationships between those tasks’ (Lecture slides: C.Maker, ‘Project management’ 2011).

The Gantt Chart is a ‘simple bar chart that depicts project tasks against a calendar’ (Lecture slides: C.Maker, ‘Project management’ 2011).

Source: Visitask.com c2011 (http://www.visitask.com/gantt-chart.asp)

3.       Identify the three primary areas a project manager must focus on managing to ensure success

The three primary areas a project manager must focus on managing to ensure success is managing people, managing communications and managing change.

§  Managing people is a process of skills that the project manager must have, to have a successful project outcome.

§  Managing communications includes the systematic coordination of planning, implementation, monitoring and revision of the channels of communication that are involved in the management of a project.

§  Managing change is the final and fundamental key to ensure success within a project. Managing change consists of managing the team so that there is an ability to move towards a new part of the project.

Managing people

Managing Communications

Managing Change

4.       Outline 2 reasons why projects fail and two reasons why projects succeed

Projects fail because of two main reasons, there has been a failure to align the project with organizational objectives and there has been poor scope. There are a number of other reasons as to why the projects fail but the two examples above are often the most common reasons.

Why IT Projects Fail

There are many reasons why projects succeed. The reasons for success include the right mix of team players and good communication, both an essential and important aspect of project success.

Team Players are a key to successful business projects because they work for their team to determine a successful outcome whilst not being motivated by ultierior motives that can negatively affect a tem. Effective communication will allow for the group to succeed because they are all on the 'same page' and are aware of what the group is doing and where the project is at. Good and effective communication is discussed in the video below.

Effective Communications in the Workplace