Project management entails working as part of a team to plan, execute, and complete a project on schedule. It entails putting techniques, methods, skills, knowledge, and experience to use in order to attain a common goal.
A three days course on “Project Management Fundamental” was designed for those participants who want to build their project management knowledge and develop the skills to manage teams and deliver effective projects. The course was facilitated by Ms. Sangita Maharjan, Corporate Trainer.
The session delivered the following learnings;
Skills you have learned:
- Communication
- Time Management
- Problem Solving
- Organizational Awareness
- Diplomacy
Ms. Maharjan described a project as the temporary endeavor that requires certain resources and tools to perform predefined activities with a fixed timeline with start and end points, conducted for a particular reason with coordination with diverse teams, agreed, planned, executed to bring about change.
She described how a project begins and progresses through a variety of processes before determining the ultimate result. It entails using a process, approach, information, abilities, and experiences to accomplish goals.
The primary goal of project management is to finish a project within the time, money, and quality constraints that have been defined. She outlined the benefits of Project Management in a few points;
- Better efficiency: know how to effectively use the resources, done with proper planning, following proper process, proper framework able to produce outcome, know how to optimally utilize the resources. Enhancing efficiency.
- Increase beneficiary satisfaction: deliver what I be, looking for, quality is not compromised, they will be happy with what they are looking for.
- Effectiveness: you know how to do that, you know how to monitor, when you created a proper plan, using certain tools for that, performance index,
- Better teamwork: able to align goals to each team member, competitive advantage, controlling your activities well, how can we complete that project early.
- Services expansion: increase flexibility, able to bring flexibility in planning, done the quality analysis, when to avoid risk, risk management effectively
Ms. Maharjan also shared about a few constraints – Beneficiaries satisfaction, Stakeholder satisfaction, Resources, Time; Change in schedule, Risk and Quality in a Project Management.
Five Basic Phases in the Project Management
The 5 basic phases in the project management process are as follows:
- Project Initiation
- Project Planning
- Project Execution
- Project Monitoring
- Controlling and Project Closing
Meanwhile, she addressed the Project Manager as responsible for the success of any project. They are a person with a diverse set of skills. Responsible for initiating, planning, executing, controlling, monitoring, and closing a project.
She also discussed the essential abilities for project management, including the 5 C´s: Clarity, Communication, Common Sense, Coordination, and Creativity.
She led breakout sessions in which participants may interact about their project management ideas with one another.
She shared – “Inadequate project planning will always present problems. You have to know what you are doing, why you are doing it, who’s doing what, when it needs to be done and how much it will cost. New or unfamiliar technology is always a risk. It raises risks and fears. You always need to manage risks. So, do your homework in your planning phase to make sure the chosen solution will work for you!”
She also discussed why a project can fail and what steps can be taken to ensure a project’s success. Here are the tips for a successful project;
- Build the best team possible.
- Develop plan and keep it up to date
- Determine how much stuff you really need to get things done.
- Have a realistic schedule.
- Seek support of management and stakeholders.
- Must be willing to change
- Keep others informed about what you are up to date.
- Willing to try new things.
- Be a leader.
She also went over the phases of project management in depth, including her own experiences and lessons learned. While defining projects, she also highlighted the importance of SWOT analysis and Risk Mapping.