There are many types of project, and these include:
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Construction Projects
These projects can be defined as the creation of artifact, whose value is generated by the project embedded in the artifact itself. Such projects are related to a complex system with mechanical and human components. For example, warship, customer call line, IT system, Millennium domes, etc.
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Research Projects
This can be defined as a project that produces knowledge. It could be formally represented as patters, models or patents. For example, Business modeling, developing new species of a food item, military intelligence/code breaking, etc.
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Re-engineering Projects
This project can be defined as a project that creates a desired change in either some processes or systems. Examples are; renumbering the UK telephone system, designing and installing an Intranet, etc.
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Procurement Projects
This project can be defined as the production of a business relationship contractually supported with a selected supplied based on a defined specification of product or service and/or a defined specification process. Examples are; Outsourcing a specific research or construction project, imposing new rules and measures on a regulated industry, etc.
Business Implementation Projects
This project can be defined as a process that is operationally effective. Examples are: Installing e-commerce, developing a new business process for the purpose of repackaging and exploiting existing assets, etc.
Scope Management
This is the management of the process (planning) that is required in any project to ensure that all the work necessary for its completion is successful.
Every scope management plan must include the following:
- The Inputs (Project management plan, project charter, enterprise environmental factors, and organizational process assets)
- The tools/techniques (Expert judgment and meetings)
- The outputs (Scope management plan and requirements management plan)
The tools that could be used to show the subdivision of the scope of work are: Statement of Scope (SOS) and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) templates.
Deciding a Successful Project
To ensure that a project is successful, the following have to be measured:
- Schedule: In the business case objective, was the project completed within the time allotted?
- Scope: All that was planned to be completed within the time frame, (the driving force of the project) were they all completed?
- Budget: Did the completion of the project stick to the planned budget? Or did the project come under the budget?
- Team Satisfaction: Were the team happy about the whole task? Did the team leader ensure they were not grudgingly carrying out the tasks?
- Customer Satisfaction: Are the clients satisfied with all they desired from the project> Do they also rate the project 5 Star and gave positive feedback?
- Quality of Work: Does the quality meet the quality planned for the project? And can it be recommended for advertisement by the client?
When all these questions are positive, then the project is successful.
Managing Changes to Control a Project
In order to manage a minor or major change in a project, it is necessary to put in place a project change management plan. Inside the project change management plan must include a formal project change request (PCR) and it’s required that major changes and minor changes are properly documented.
Major changes: After the work items on the critical path, it is necessary to delay important milestones or the entire project end date following duration. Then additional funds should be included.
Minor Changes: Doesn’t necessary require PCR. It doesn’t have to affect the plan, and dates do not have to be extended. No financial impact too.
Project Quality Management
These are all the activities and processes required to determine and accomplish project quality. The quality of a project is determined by meeting the needs and desires of the customers.
It includes:
- Customer satisfaction: The measure of the quality of the project
- Prevention over inspection: It is the Cost of Quality (COQ) that includes the funds spent during and after the project.
- Continuous improvement: It includes major quality approaches such as Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma.
Also see related links:
The Role of Management Theories in Workplace