Modern Practices in Project Management

Lesson 1: Assignment

The Role of Project Management ....................................................................................... 2 Types of Project Management ............................................................................................ 2 Project Management Certification ..................................................................................... 3 The Power of Project Management .................................................................................... 4

The Role of Project Management

In your own words, what is the single most important role of a project manager? Why? Support your answer with examples.

Leadership. A Project Manager must be skilled at utilizing project management concepts, practices, and tools, and managing people who might or might not be direct reports. It is the ability to get things done by exercising leadership and/or control over people, situations and events. For the project manager, power is the perception that project goals are realistic, achievable and beneficial, and that those working on the project will benefit as a result. Trust and confidence in the leadership of an organization is the single most reliable predictor of employee satisfaction in an organization. Leadership styles can be categorised in the following ways:Directive Style Emphasis is primarily on the work to be done e.g. telling team members what to do, how to do it, when to have it completed, and other specific details. Persuasive Style Focuses on why a task should be done rather than just giving the directive to do it. The act of explaining "why" shows respect and helps build a relationship with team members. Participative Style More autonomy is given to the team members. The project manager involves the team members in the planning process and asks for their input on how the work should be done. However, the Project Manager maintains the final decision- making authority. Delegative Style Allows the employees to make the decisions. However, the leader is still responsible for the decisions that are made. This is used when employees are able to analyse the situation and determine what needs to be done and how to do it. This style relies almost completely on the trust that comes from an emotional connection.

Types of Project Management

Of the various types of project management, what methods stand out as similar? What can be said about these similarities? Are they a pattern that, if maintained, can act as a first step towards the ability to successfully manage any type of project? Explain.

Participative Style gives more autonomy to the team members. Delegative Style is where a team is fully functional and accepts full responsibility for their work. Both these styles are similar by entrusting team members to achieve their objective goals without full-time input from the Project Manager. It is simplistic to believe that total autonomy of team members can lead to a successful project as it may affect a teams ability to deliver. Project Managers can exert influence and control whilst managing the team members skills by allowing them to fulfill their creative potential and to be able to function as self-organized groups that can react rapidly to change and take corrective action if the team deviate from the project plan. This can be achieved by distributing decision making among the self-organised teams. The Project Manager will impart the project mission, objectives and goals and evaluate the project teams progress and strategy periodically to ensure compliance. The Project Managers ability to identify the stage at which the team members are able to participate in varying degrees of responsibility will ensure that a project is managed successfully.

Project Management Certification

Go to the following web site at http://www.pmhub.net/ and use it to help you explain what it means to be a certified project manager. What special skills are required? What opportunities are opened up? What fields or disciplines can a certification be applied to?

Certified Project Manager Project Management certification maintains an ISO 9001 accreditation in quality management systems. ISO 9001 is an international standard that validates compliance with quality management processes and performance metrics. Maintenance of the certification reaffirms commitment to optimal customer service and to the quality and integrity of its professional credentials. The Project Management credential process also maintains ISO 17024 accreditation. This distinction benefits Project Managers in several ways: 1. It elevates the status of Project Management credential holders on projects, within organizations and within the global project management community. It allows organizations that employ Project Management credential holders to reference the ISO 17024 certification as a qualifier for the competence and capability of their employees. It assures those professionals considering the Project Management credential that the certification system is recognized in the global business community.

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Project Manager Skills People Management Leadership Team-building Conflict & Issue Management Time Management Communicating Project Management Activities Planning and Scope Scheduling/Estimating Tracking and Control Risk Management Financial Analysis & Cost Management Requirements & Change Management Career Opportunities

In-house project management for product delivery. Independent, contract-based project management career (perhaps by consulting through your own company entity). Advancement into Program Management and project management office (PMO) setup and management. Exploring a project management career in new industry sectors healthcare, construction, environmental cleanup, etc.

Career Framework There are nearly 300,000 Project Management credential holders worldwide in industries that range from health care, telecommunications and education to finance, construction and IT.

The Power of Project Management

Visit the following web site, http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-5803090.html, and read the article, "Manage Office Politics Using Issues Management Techniques." When you are finished, answer the following questions: 1. What is the connection between office politics and project management? It's not uncommon for a project team to be impacted by office politics. It's the behavior and motivation of people that makes office politics good or bad. It will influence the success/failure of a project and Project Management will be applied to ensure that the project will be successful. 2. How can project management curb or improve office politics? Project managers need to become good at identifying and resolving political situations. Project Managers should apply their skills in issues management process to assist in getting issues resolved. 3. Why are office politics a bad thing? Or are they? Explain with examples. Office politics is a result of differences of opinion on the project deliverables, requirements, scope change requests, risk perceptions, etc. and when different people are trying to exert their influence to get done what they want. This need not necessarily be a bad situation for the project team. With guidance and negotiation from the Project Manager a team can progress successfully by encouraging positive communication, understanding clearly the project goals and the benefits that can be achieved by a successful project. Bad management resulting from poor communication and not recognizing the achievements of the team will lead to discontent. Also identifying if a team members personal objectives do not meet with the team goals ; if so it is important to establish whether that particular team member should belong in a particular team or not.