Project management

What is a project?

A project is a set of tasks that has a deadline to meet and it is bounded by time, resources and expected results (Cs.odu.edu, 2013). According to (Oxforddictionaries.com, 2013), a project is “an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim”.

Phases in a project

Figure 1. Stages in a Project Source (Coolprojectmanagement.com, 2013)

The stages in a project are as follows: -

1.      Initiation

As stated by (Projectsmart.com, 2013), it is one of the important stages in a project:-

It sets the terms of reference within which the project will be run

If it is not done well, there is a chance for the project to fail.

Initiation is the stage where the business case is declared

2.      Planning

Planning of a project would lead to a successful project, it is one of the key tasks anyone should do when undertaking a project (Projectsmart.com, 2013)

3.      Controlling

A project is controlled by continuous reporting of the problems, progress and the checking the business objectives thereby to keep track.

4.      Completing

According to (Projectsmart.com, 2013), “the project manager should review the project and record the good and bad points, so successes can be repeated and failures avoided”.

Project management

According (Aboutprojectmanager.com, 2013), “Project management is best defined as the state of organizing components of a project”. As stated by the website (Project Management Institute.org, 2013), it is the applying of knowledge and skills in order to implement projects effectively.

Reference

Aboutprojectmanager.com (2013) What is Project Management?`, [Online], Available: http://aboutprojectmanager.com/what-is-project-management/ [14 Jan 2013].

Coolprojectmanagement.com (2013) What does theory say? - Project Management Methodologies - Cool Project Management, [Online], Available: https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQLOLBRZ1Go4vDHbbEzWBPkmPzn3TF6DTive6qoEnR51071UVc0cQ [14 Jan 2013].

Cs.odu.edu (2013) What is a Project, [Online], Available: http://www.cs.odu.edu/~cs410/whatisaproject.htm [14 Jan 2013].

Oxforddictionaries.com (2013) Definition of project , [Online], Available: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/project?q=projec [14 Jan 2013].

Project Management Institute.org (2013) What is Project Management?, [Online], Available: http://www.pmi.org/About-Us/About-Us-What-is-Project-Management.aspx [14 Jan 2013].

Projectsmart.com (2013) The Stages of a Project, [Online], Available: http://www.projectsmart.com/project-management/the-stages-of-a-project.php [14 Jan 2013].