THE 10 KNOWLEDGE AREAS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification exam includes ten knowledge areas, and project management is one of them. These knowledge areas are key components associated with successful project management. The list of all ten components include:

1. Project integration management
2. Project scope management
3. Project time management
4. Project cost management
5. Project quality management
6. Project human resource management
7. Project communications management
8. Project risk management
9. Project procurement management
10. Project stakeholder management

THE 5 PHASES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT

There are five designated phases of project management. These phases provide a roadmap to accomplishing the targeted goals of each project. The phases include:

1. Conception and Initiation: The first phase is where the high-level project goals and definition are developed. At this phase, feasibility is determined through discussion and feasibility testing. Once the project is accepted by stakeholders, a project charter or a project initiation document (PID) is created, outlining the purposes and requirements of the project.
2. Definition and Planning: At this phase, a roadmap is created to help guide teams towards specific targets throughout the project. The scope of the project is defined and a comprehensive project plan is developed. The plan identifies variables like cost, quality, available resources, and a realistic timeline. The project plan also establishes performance measures, which are generated using the scope, schedule, and cost of the project. Roles and responsibilities for team members are divvied out accordingly, distributing accountability across the project.
3. Launch or Execution: The project execution phase is when deliverables are developed and completed. There are many moving parts during this phase, like team development, resource assignment, system tracking, project scheduling, and plan modifying. This phase is where the “meat” of the project is completed, and consistent status reports and performance updates keep all goals in check.
4. Performance and Control: This phase is geared towards measuring project progression and performance to ensure that all tasks align with the original project plan. Key performance indicators (KPIs) help to determine if the project is on track based on components like project objectives, quality deliverables, effort and cost tracking, and project performance.
5. Project Close: This phase signals the completion of a project. Project managers are tasked with terminating contractors, recognizing valuable team members, and evaluating a project to identify strengths and weaknesses. After the project is completed, PMs must still create a punch list of unaccomplished tasks and perform a final budget analysis that will go into the final project report. All documents must be gathered and stored for future reference.

PROJECT TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS

Half of project management is learning how to allocate time to individual projects to stay on track. Here are some tips specific to the time management side of project management:

• Use resource calendars to delegate tasks and keep track of timelines, especially when you have overlapping resources.
• Leverage the project scope and use it as your guide.
• Use milestone lists to identify and analyze each significant point in your project.
• Create daily to-do lists and reassess your lists at the end of each day.
• Share project plans with team members so everyone knows what is expected, and when.
• Reference historical information to make estimates on new projects.
• Break down tasks into manageable chunks.
• Consider all dependant tasks to ensure efficiency and stick to schedules throughout the project.
• Don’t micromanage — trust that the team will complete the work.
• Set up meetings sparingly, only when issues are presented or need to be solved quickly.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES

Managing a project is a large feat full of many moving parts. There are four major best practices that can help all PMs effectively tackle their next project. These best practices include:

1. Expect delays: Obstacles can pop up at any point during a project, and being prepared for these issues will prevent unnecessary stress and delays in the long run. Complete a risk analysis early on to ensure you have a plan in place should an issue arise, and  add a cushion to timelines should delays occur.
2. Estimate accurate durations: As a PM, you are responsible in guiding team members towards an achievable timeline. Coaching employees to break down work into smaller, manageable chunks will lead to more accurate duration estimates and timelines.
3. Consider everyone’s way of thinking: Not all people work in the same way. Some people may be linear thinking, rooted in logic and numbers, while others prefer to break down objectives and detail each step of every plan before proceeding. Taking this into consideration and balancing all team members’ work styles will better prepare you for leading a project. Play to the strengths of each team member, and leverage those strengths wherever possible.
4. Sometimes you need to take a break from the plan: Project management is not a set-in-stone process, and you must remain flexible to adapt to changes that occur. That’s why, when issues arise, it may be helpful to step away from the project plan and bring your team together to brainstorm a solution. Having the right tools in place to facilitate collaboration and communication will expedite this process and the eventual resolution.