Project Management, Planning and Control / إدارة المشاريع – التخطيط والتحكم

Project Management, Many people and organizations have defined what a project is, or should be, but probably the most authoritative definition is that given in BS 6079-2:2000 Project Management Vocabulary, which states that a project is:

A unique process, consisting of a set of coordinated and controlled activities with start and finish dates, undertaken to achieve an objectives conforming to specific requirements, including constraints of time, cost, and resources.

The next question that can be asked is ‘Why does one need project management?’ What is the difference between project management and management of any other business or enterprise?

Why has project management taken off so dramatically in the last 20 years?

The answer is that project management is essentially management of change, while running a functional or ongoing business is managing a continuum or ‘business-as-usual’.

Project management is not applicable to running a factory making sausage pies, but it will be the right system when there is a requirement to relocate the factory, build an extension, or produce a different product requiring new machinery, skills, staff training, and even marketing techniques.

It is immediately apparent therefore that there is a fundamental difference between project management and functional or line management where the purpose of management is to continue the ongoing operation with as little disruption (or change) as possible. This is reflected in the characteristics of the two types of managers. While the project manager thrives on and is proactive to change, the line manager is reactive to change and hates disruption.

In practice, this often creates friction and organizational problems when a change has to be introduced.

(A) Project organization 

Building a house

Designing a car

Organizing a party

Setting up a filing system

Setting up retail cashpoints

Building a process plant

Introducing a new computer system

(B) Functional or line organization

Manufacturing bricks

Mass-producing cars

Serving the drinks

Doing the filing

Selling goods & operating tills

Producing sausages

Operating credit control procedures