What Is Project Management ?

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In summary, the contradictions between the hard deterministic model and soft model of project management can, in fact, be resolved. The soft model can be integrated or can complement the hard model of project management for it to become a better tool controlling and monitoring the various resources of a project for it to become successful. The integration of soft model into the hard model will not defeat the purpose of the project but will, in fact, enhance its efficacy. (Barraza 2011) After all, a project needs both the quantitative and human aspect of getting a project done successfully. (Kerzner, 1984) The tools alone cannot get the project done by themselves. More than the tools and the resources, it requires the effective coordination of people working as a team to achieve project goals. In fact, the materials and techniques are marshalled by people that without them, a project cannot even move. (Kerzner, 1984) Finally, the contradiction with the routinary and non-routinary use of project management can be resolved by ignoring, sequencing, segmentation and balancing. Ignoring meant the literal meaning of the word where the ignoring the contradictions seems to be the simple solution to the issue.

All things considered, it can be stated that project management as a complex, but flexible management tool that allows project managers to effectively use the various resources in an organisation through the different methods of controls in optimising such resources as constrained by time, budget, quality and other parameters needed to anticipate the successful outcome of a project. Being such, I would say that project management is both an art and science,

The use of an effective project management enables project leaders to anticipate the outcome of the project through the various tools, methods, processes and techniques according to the planned schedule, quality, budget and other parameters that project managers may set (Meredith and Mantel 1995). In other words project management can be defined as the application of processes which helps to get things done within the set budget, time, and other parameters that the managers of the project may include (Barraza 2011). It is a complex, temporary effort constrained by time, budget, quality and other parameters needed to anticipate the successful outcome of a project. (Project Management Institute Global Standard 2008) Project performance must be measured to enhance the probability of success and to enable its managers to anticipate its successful outcome. To quantify performance, a baseline summary must be determined. Project baseline is the summary of minimum project data where the performance of the project will be compared (Herroelen and Leus 2005). It could also work as a benchmark or the ideal performance desired where the actual performance will be compared. By having this baseline summary, project managers will be able to determine if they are within budget, schedule, scope or have adhered to other parameters set that would make the project successful. Consequently, it would also put the project managers in a better position to apply remedial measures if actual performance is way below desired performance (Munns and Bjeirmi 1996).

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