Overview of the lecture: practical approach to project management used in the real world.
Emphasis on the correct mindset:
Definition of a Project: Time-limited endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result to achieve a specific business goal.
Project management involves applying skills, knowledge, and tools to increase a project's chances of success in reaching its business objective.
Project Life Cycle
Projects are divided into phases to make them manageable.
Example phases for a software development project:
Pre-sales
Project initiation
Concept development
Prototyping
Planning
Requirements definition
UI designs
Development
Integration
Testing
Deployment
Hypercare
Maintenance
Handoff/Closure/Support phases
Different processes and tools can be used for different phases.
Importance of learning typical project life cycles in your industry.
Working Environment
Projects are always run within the environment of an organization.
Each organization has its own custom processes, policies, and tools.
No such thing as a standard project management; each organization tailors its own approach.
Project Stakeholders
Definition: Individual, group, or organization that may affect or be affected by the project.
Types of stakeholders:
Clients
Project owners
Boss
Team members
Subject matter experts
Use a stakeholder register to capture information about stakeholders.
Perform stakeholder analysis to decide how to interact with each.
Importance of collecting requirements from stakeholders.
Misidentification of key requirements from stakeholders can lead to project failure.
Phases of a Project
Pre-Sales Phase
Involves negotiation of terms and conditions of a contract between the sales team and the client.
Project manager may help develop realistic terms.
Early risk management activities start here.
Project Initiation
Transition from sales and contract negotiations into project management.
Use a project charter to capture high-level information about the project.
Project description
Business case
Project objectives
Preassigned resources
Stakeholders
Known requirements
Major deliverables
Assumptions
Constraints
Project risks
Development of a common understanding of the project.
Align future efforts with the project charter.
Planning Process
Plan specifically to reach objectives stated in the project charter.
Focus on specifying and digging deeper into high-level information from the charter.
Collect and refine requirements:
Business requirements
Stakeholder requirements
Product/system requirements
Create a project scope statement to describe all project deliverables.
Develop a work breakdown structure (WBS) to break down the project scope into manageable pieces.
Deliverables and work packages
Estimating and Scheduling
Estimate resources, duration, and cost for each task.
Create human resources acquisition plan and procurement management plan.
Use risk management to handle potential project risks.
Create project baselines for scope, schedule, and budget.
Execution
Execution involves daily management of tasks, resolving conflicts, motivating the team, and ensuring progress.
Establish daily routines for maintaining project information, team meetings, client updates, motivation, and communication.
Continuous rolling wave planning to adapt and refine the plan as the project progresses.
Monitoring and Controlling
Track all aspects of the project (quality, communication, stakeholder engagement, etc.).
Apply productivity techniques and adjustments to stay aligned with the project plan.
Negotiate and update baselines if deviations are significant.
Conclusion
Professional project management requires continuous monitoring, communication, and adaptation.
Efficient project management involves aligning with organizational processes, managing stakeholders effectively, and maintaining a clear and updated project plan.