Practical Project Management Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Understanding project management as a system.
• Practical approach used in real-world situations.
• Key focus: mindset towards project management.

What is a Project?

• Definition: A time-limited endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result.
• Goal: To achieve a specific business goal, not just random results.
• Key Points:
  • Projects have a start and end date.
  • Project management involves the application of skills, knowledge, and tools.

Project Life Cycle

• Broken down into phases for manageability.
• Phases can be different in nature (e.g., pre-sales, initiation, development, etc.).
• Use of different processes, tools, and approaches in each phase.
• Example Phases:
  • Pre-sales, Project Initiation, Concept Development, Prototyping, Planning
  • Requirements Definition, UI Design, Development, Integration, Testing
  • Deployment, Hypercare, Maintenance, Handoff/Closure

Industry-Specific Life Cycles

• Focus on typical project life cycles relevant to your industry.
• Organizational environment influences project management approaches.

Custom Processes and Policies

• No standard project management; it varies by organization.
• Certifications might not make you a better project manager.

Project Stakeholders

• Definition: Individual or organization affected by the project.
• Importance of stakeholder identification and interaction.
• Use of stakeholder register to capture information.

Gathering Requirements

• Stakeholders provide product and project management requirements.
• Project manager responsible for collecting all requirements.

Project Charter

• Transition from sales to project management.
• Includes high-level information before planning.

Planning

• High-level requirements broken down into smaller tasks.
• Emphasis on creating tangible deliverables.
• Documents:
  • Project Scope Statement
  • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
  • Requirements Traceability Matrix
• Planning includes resources, schedules, budgets, and risk management.

Risk Management

• Continuous process throughout the project.
• Create risk response plans and integrate them into the project scope, schedule, and budget.

Execution

• Daily routines for maintaining project information.
• Sync-up meetings with the team and stakeholders.
• Regular motivation and communication routines.
• Use of project management software (e.g., Gantt charts) for tracking tasks.
• Importance of baselines for tracking progress.

Course Offer

• Online course offering detailed project management training and resources.
• Lifetime access for continuous learning and career advancement.
• Affordable pricing for practical, real-world project management skills.