ICT Management > Managing ICT Projects

Project Management - What is Project Management?

By Lasa Information Systems Team

Projects go through a number of phases. Managing its progress can ensure it all runs smoothly.

A typical project starts with someone having an idea, which then gains acceptance from a wider group: probably informally through discussion with colleagues and then through a more formal process involving senior management, the management committee or board. This leads to a fund-raising process, which usually causes significant delay, and then if the funding bid is successful the project can start, staff can be appointed and work can begin. This work has to be planned and managed, problems dealt with, until the project concludes, hopefully successfully, and is wound up.

Formal methods of project management offer a framework to manage this process, providing a series of elements – templates and procedures – to manage the project through its life cycle. The key elements consist of:

• Defining the project accurately, systematically clarifying objectives
• Dividing the project up into manageable tasks and stages
• Controlling the project through its stages using the project definition as a baseline
• Highlighting risks and developing specific procedures to deal with them
• Providing mechanisms to deal with quality issues
• Clarifying roles to provide the basis for effective teamwork

The need to provide accountability and effective communication is implicit throughout.

Next Section: Which Method? or Download the full Project Management Guide