Project-Management in Practice

Project management is becoming more and more important in business life. A large number of projects fail, so it makes sense to deal with the topic of project management. Definitions explain the project and project management terms in detail. National and international organizations define project management standards like the PMBOK-Guide or the IPMA Competence Baseline. Beyond that there are company-specific process models and others related to domains.

The chapter “Comprehensive Topics” considers topics that could not be assigned directly to project phases. These are requirements, project culture, communication, documentation, quality, and risk management. Additionally, the chapter presents methods proven to be helpful in a project. Requirements engineering helps to deal with requirements, to identify the characteristics of a product or a system for a high customer value. In a typical project first the requirements have to be identified and to be assessed. If these are known, the requirements have to be managed: They are fulfilled, they may drop out and get changed, or maybe some are added. The project culture describes the cooperation of the project members in the project. Additionally, the image of a project plays a role. Globalization results in international projects with different cultures and value systems converging. This has to be considered. A common language has to be defined. The key success factor for a project is good communication. Which communication devices are used in a project? A communication plan shows the communication channels in a project.An important aspect is the quality of a project. Quality measures should help to achieve the required quality in a project. A good quality in a project results in high-quality project results.Risk management enables project success, even with possible difficulties. For this risks are collected and assessed regularly to initiate counteractions if necessary. Presented methods support the project progress. Brainstorming is a simple and effective method that could be used during the complete project life cycle. With the flashlight method, it is possible to get a group status concerning a closed question.

A project can be divided in project phases. As described in the literature and as defined individually by companies, there are different possibilities of structuring a project and naming the project phases. This book defines the following four practice-oriented phases:• Strategy phaseThe strategy phase starts with a situation analysis and an environmental analysis to identify framework conditions for a project to be implemented. If a project becomes specified, the definition of project goals is made. First solution approaches complete the basis for a project order. The project order signifies the start of a project. Depending on the size and kind of a project, the creation of a tender specification and performance specification has to be done.• Planning phaseThe planning of a project is an essential task of a project manager. The result of the project planning is a project plan, covering further plans. The most important plans are the work breakdown structure (WBS) and based on this the time schedule including a milestone plan as well as the resource plan and cost schedule. The function of a project organization is to find the most effective structure in relation to the line organization for a successful implementation of the project. Corresponding roles and boards are to be defined.• Realization phaseThe controlling of a project is another essential task of a project manager. In the foreground is the organization of the approval of intermediate milestones, the project closure, or—if required—the project cancellation. The project internal and external communication with the stakeholders has to be ensured. If there are deviations or disturbances in the course of the project, corresponding activities have to be carried out. In using the milestone trend analysis based on the milestone plan, the project progress can be monitored and possible schedule difficulties detected.• Closure phaseIn this phase the project completion is done. The central point is the acceptance of the project by the principal. In a last phase final tasks are done, transitions, and at the end release of the resources. Lessons learned and a final documentation secure the newly acquired knowledge for future projects.

Certification programs of national and international organizations offer the possibility of extending project management knowledge and having it confirmed. In companies corresponding qualification programs are often available as well. In the future, agile project management will play a major role.

This chapter contains templates for practice. Concerning the discussed comprehensive topics, there are templates for a communication plan, minutes, a project profile, and a project handbook. For the strategy phase, templates are offered for a RACI matrix, environmental analysis, and a project order. The planning phase should be supported by templates for a work breakdown structure, a work package, a milestone plan, and a resource plan/cost schedule. Finally, there are templates for the realization phase for a milestone report and a project status.

A project is an intent, characterized by uniqueness of conditions in their totality. A project is distinguished by an aim with temporal, financial, and personnel restrictions.