Project management skills are essential for project managers, and any other managers who manage complex activities and tasks, because complex tasks are projects. Project management skills are essential for any complex task, where different outcomes are possible, requiring planning and assessing options, and organizing activities and resources to deliver a result. Projects come in all shapes and sizes, from the small and straight-forward to extremely large and highly complex. Project management can be concerned with anything: people, products, services, materials, production, IT and communications, plant and equipment, storage, distribution, logistics, buildings and premises, staffing and management, finance, administration, acquisition, divestment, purchasing, sales, selling, marketing, human resources, training, culture, customer service and relations, quality, health and safety, legal, technical and scientific, new product development, new business development; and in any combination.Project management, for projects large or small, should follow this simple process:
Project management process
1. Agree precise specification for the project.
2. Plan the project - time, team, activities, resources, financial - using suitable project management tools.
3. Communicate the project plan to your project team - and to any other interested people and groups.
4. Agree and delegate project actions.
5. Manage and motivate - inform, encourage, enable the project team.
6. Check, measure, monitor, review project progress - adjust project plans, and inform the project team and others.
7. Complete project - review and report on project performance; give praise and thanks to the project team.
8. Project follow-up - train, support, measure and report results and benefits.
Project Management
