The art of proficient project management is fast becoming one of the world’s most desired skill sets, as the efficient and effective initiation, management, completion and evaluation of projects are coming under increasing pressure of reduced time, resources and people, while working through an increasing plethora of rules and regulations. Additionally, as technology drives business performance, materials and direction, project managers need to keep up with technological advances to ensure they are at the leading edge of the game.
For many, project management simply encompasses the origination and design of the main tasks, with little effort being placed on the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the specific tasks making up the overall project. However, project management is an all encompassing activity which not only includes the development of the original plans, but managing all of the components that contribute to its entirety, including its resources, risks and challenges, plan objectives and timelines, budgets and the expectations of the various stakeholders involved in the development. The ever increasing complexity of the internal and external environments in which the assignment operates necessitates the accumulation of the skills necessary to thrive within these environments.
Those who do not possess these skills are a major cause of task failures. In fact, when identifying the risks of the task, any lack of skill, experience or qualifications of the key staff involved with the project should be identified, with either an action plan in place to address any potential issues or the removal of that person from the team. Project management courses have expanded rapidly as a result of this realisation in business and a resultant increased demand for these courses by individuals and businesses alike.
Projects face many real and potential risks, as mentioned above, of which all must be identified and possible responses originated. The lack of risk identification and response strategies to deal with any eventuating risk is a key cause of plan failures. A recent review of project failures has resulted in the identification of the major causes of assignment failure, which include:
- Discrepancies in understanding the objectives of a plan.
- Incomplete, unrealistic and outdated plans.
- Weak assignment leadership.
- Vague lines of responsibility and authority which leads to a lack of accountability.
- Poor commitment to the plan by the team.
- Inadequate resources.
- Lack of commitment to the development organisation.
- Lack of analysis of major risk factors.
In order to keep the assignment on track, the key timings and milestones must be audited on a regular basis. This is an important process in managing ‘scope creep’, which is an inevitable overrun of time and costs if timely evaluations are not carried out. The development of planning software has facilitated the process, and it is now deemed an essential skill that all project managers must possess.
Whether you are contemplating entering the industry, or simply want to upgrade your skills to enable you to keep up with industry trends and technological advancements impacting upon the process of project management, make enquiries at a reputable education facility and project manage your own career and future prospects
by: Sue Gunn