A project is defined as a unique effort to introduce or produce a new product or service conforming to certain specifications and applicable standards. Another definition is that a project is a well-organized development of an end product that will have a discrete beginning, a discrete end, and a discrete deliverable. Every project will have a unique set of objectives and constraints, such as a required time frame, a specific budget, a defined scope of work, and a limited amount of human resources.
Project management is defined as a set of principles, methods, tools, and techniques for the effective management of objective-oriented work in the context of a specific and unique organizational environment.
The project management process encompasses these tasks;
- Assembling a project team with the expertise necessary to execute the project
- Establishing the technical objectives
- Planning the project
- Managing changes to the scope
- Controlling the undertaking so that it is completed on schedule and within budget
While each project will differ, the management of such projects will have much in common. Building the project team will be the primary and most critical task. Typically, the project team is assembled while developing the work breakdown structure (WBS) for a project. The work breakdown structure is a checklist of tasks that must be performed. The team members must be chosen in such a way as to match skills with the appropriate tasks. Figure 1 reflects the organization of a typical heavy industrial project that CB&A Project Management Services, L.L.C. would be involved with. CB&A is capable of providing personnel for any position on the project team. Since each project will differ, Figure 1 is to be used as a starting point for organizing a project team.
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