Project management is essential for the successful execution of projects across various industries. Managing projects effectively streamlines processes, mitigates risks, and ensures projects are delivered on time and within budget. As a project management consultant, I offer range of services that enables organizations to deliver projects through every stage of the project from project initiation to project closure phase. Explore several project stages discussed briefly below.
Project Stages
Project Initiation Stage: This marks the beginning of the project where project charter is created and project stakeholders are identified. The project charter formally authorizes the project manager to reference business case, project statement of work and use organizational resources to carry out project activities as per the project boundaries.
Project Planning Stage: During this stage, project management plan is created. Project scope, schedule, cost, quality, human resources, risk and procurement activities are identified and managed using various techniques, expert judgements, and organizational assets.
Project Execution Stage: In this stage, project tasks are managed, quality is assured, project team is identified and managed, along with procure third party resources and ensure communications with required stakeholders.
Project Monitoring & Controlling Stage: During this stage of the project, project activities and tasks are monitored and any changes to the project are kept in check. Also, project scope, schedule, cost, quality and risks are managed as well as controlled while ensuring procured resources are used efficiently and communication with all the stakeholders is maintained.
Project Closing Stage: This is the last stage of the project where project closure guidelines are followed to ensure project acceptance criteria is met, product is validated, various project reports are reviewed, and any lessons learned through out the project are well noted.
While the project moves from all the previously mentioned stages, a skilled project manager ensures several below mentioned activities are appropriately managed and controlled.
Project Management Activities
Project Integration Management: During this activity, the project manager mainly focusses on all the activities that defines, unifies and consolidates processes that span across various project stages. From developing project charter, defining project management plan, managing project work defined as per the plan, controlling the change, and finalizing all the activities for closure.
Project Scope, Time & Cost Management: In these activities, the project manager ensures project tasks remains within the defined scope as per the project plan. The manager breaks down the project tasks into manageable components called Work Breakdown Structure. The manager also makes sure that project tasks are appropriately estimated, sequenced and scheduled for avoiding delays and timely completion. The manager also validates that estimated tasks are within the planned budget such that finance and funding available for entire project remains in control.
Project Quality & Risk Management: During these activities, the manager confirms that project tasks completed meets and satisfies the quality objectives of the project defined. During this activity, quality requirements and standards are defined. The quality reports and results are validated and necessary changes to the tasks are carried out maintain project quality. For risk management, the manager analyses and identifies potential risks of the projects using quantitative and qualitative risk analysis and plans to manage, mitigate and control them.
Project Human Resources & Procurement Management: During human resource management, the manager organises, manages and leads the team of people responsible for project delivery. This is achieved by identifying and documenting roles and responsibilities of the team, ensuring their availability, improving their interactions and managing their performance. For managing procurement, the manager determines if all the required products & services are procured from outside of the project team or organisation as per the procurement plan, managing and awarding third party contracts as well as managing procurement relationships with the suppliers.
Project Communications & Stakeholder Management: In stakeholder & communications management, manager plans for project communications based on stakeholder’s need for information and their importance in decision making. The manager collects, controls and distributes project information as it surfaces from various stages of the project in timely manner to necessary stakeholders.
Ideally, it takes highly skilled & experienced project manager having technical knowledge, communication skills, and structured approach to understand client needs, identifies all the activities that needs attentions, and applies applicable methodologies to deliver a project for client’s success. The project manager not only ensures timely and cost-effective delivery but also strengthens relationships with clients and enhances your reputation as a trusted service provider.
Management
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