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An introduction toProject Management

Copyright 2007 Dennis Lock and his licensors. All rights reserved.

Welcome to these supporting presentations for the ninth edition of my Gower book

Pho

to: S

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o 86

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LtdProject Management

The history of The history of project managementproject management

(in about 30 seconds)(in about 30 seconds)

Before 1900 . . .•Wonderful projects

People cheap, plentiful, even expendable( project a big success, NOT MANY KILLED! )

Urgency not driven by the ‘rat-race’

No management scientists!

No recognized profession of project manager

1900 - 1949Emergence of management science Experts begin to study work and people at workHenry Gantt introduces his famous chartEarly development of critical path networks

1950 - 1970US defence projects exploit network analysisBig mainframe computers can run project

management softwareProject management becomes a recognized

professionMore concern for people

1970 - 1980Two meanings for project management:1 management of industrial projects2 management of IT projectsDevelopment of professional associationsMore project management softwareProtective legislation for people - anti-discrimination and health and safety laws

1980 - 1990Desktop PCs run project management softwareProject managers less dependent on IT expertsWider acceptance of project management as a

profession

PCs and notebooks can run all applicationsMore interest in project risk managementIT and industrial project management no longer

regarded so differently Project management is a respected professionProfessional associations flourishCommunications by satellites and the Internet

1990 – 2000+

For a serious history of project management read ...

Morris, Peter (1997)

The management of projectsLondon, Thomas Telford

What is ‘a project’?

Silly things that people say:Silly things that people say:

A project is something that has:

• a definite start

• objectives

• a budget

• resources

• a definite finish

But that’s only part of the story

Was that a project?

Consider:

You give junior the following instructions:You give junior the following instructions:

• Go to TescoGo to Tesco• Go nowGo now• Buy a joint of lambBuy a joint of lamb• Don't spend more than £5.00Don't spend more than £5.00• Be back here in time for lunchBe back here in time for lunch

Or a joint venture?

Another definition of a 'project':

A project is something that causes a change

Consider:

• Pick up one piece of woodPick up one piece of wood

Was that a project?

• Saw it in halfSaw it in half

• You now have two pieces of wood You now have two pieces of wood

• Have you created a change? Have you created a change?

What’s special about a project?What’s special about a project?

11 Novelty: Novelty:

A project is likely to be different A project is likely to be different from anything done beforefrom anything done before

22 Risk: Risk:

There is usually some uncertainty There is usually some uncertainty about meeting the objectivesabout meeting the objectives

Different project types have:

. . . Different environments

. . . Different kinds of people involved

. . . But many common principles

Four different typesof projects . . .

Shaft sinking at an Australian nickel mine

1 Civil or chemical engineering and construction projects- construction- land reclamation- tunnels and bridges- mining and quarrying- petrochemical plant- oil and gas

2 Manufacturing projects(the outcome is a product)- new product development- equipment manufacture- shipbuilding- heavy engineering- aircraft construction- pharmaceuticals

- food processingIngersoll milling machine

3 Management projects (often in-house)

- organize an exhibition or stage play- relocate a company- quality improvement project- marketing project- new production or IT facility- disaster recovery

4 4 Projects for pure scientific researchProjects for pure scientific research

- high risk of failure- also possibility of high

rewards- possible public

apprehension - outcome often unpredictable

The life cycle The life cycle of a projectof a project

One definition of a project life cycleOne definition of a project life cycle

Concept Design Execute Deliver or handover

Project life cycleProject life cycle

Warning!Warning!There’s a picture of a big but on the There’s a picture of a big but on the next slide.next slide.

Anyone who might be offended should Anyone who might be offended should close their eyes now.close their eyes now.

BUT...BUT...

A complete project life cycle . . .A complete project life cycle . . .

. . . doesn't end until the project has no further use. . . doesn't end until the project has no further use

Maintain/repair

Scrap(end of

useful life)

Full project life history

Concept and

appraisal Design Make Handover Operate

Project management phase

In nature, life cycles are so-called because of In nature, life cycles are so-called because of events or organisms that renew themselves. events or organisms that renew themselves.

In that sense, project life cycles are not really In that sense, project life cycles are not really true life cycles, but rather true life cycles, but rather life historieslife histories. .

However, a commercial or industrial project is However, a commercial or industrial project is usually a cycle in the sense that it:usually a cycle in the sense that it:

• begins with a customerbegins with a customer• passes to a contractor, and passes to a contractor, and • when finished is handed back to the customer.when finished is handed back to the customer.

This is how it often happensThis is how it often happens

The customer

1 Agree the

specification

7 The satisfied

customer pays

2 Plan work

and resources

6 Test and

handover

4 Buy goods

and services

5 Make

or build

3 Make

drawings

Project phase 1 Original concept 2 Feasibility study 3 Business plan 4 Risk assessment 5 Public enquiry 6 Authorization 7 Organization 8 Planning 9 Design10 Procurement11 Fulfilment12 Test/commission13 Handover14 Economic life15 Disposal

Five-year periods

A more comprehensive view of a life history for a big projectA more comprehensive view of a life history for a big project

(We should hope that the economic life would be longer than (We should hope that the economic life would be longer than we could show in the above space)we could show in the above space)

We shall revisit this life history in later shows We shall revisit this life history in later shows

End of Presentation 1End of Presentation 1