Project Vs Operations
- A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result.
- Operations: Ongoing work done in organizations to sustain the business
Think of examples of projects and operations.
Attributes of a Project
- There is a Unique purpose
- Projects are Temporary
- Projects are developed through progressive elaboration
- Projects use Resources (People, Hardware, SW, Infrastructure etc.)
- Each project has a Customer or Sponsor
- Projects involve Uncertainty. As the project progresses, the project manager is to reduce the uncertainty.
Project Constraints
There are three elements which are constraints in any project and they interact with each other. They are: Cost, Scope and Time. Changing one impacts atleast one of the other two.
Discuss if Quality is also a constraint?
Program Management
- A program is a group of related projects – with some benefits of being managed as a program E.g. Cost benefits, Knowledge sharing, Reuse, Best practices. Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) defines Program as “a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually”.
- Program Manager leads a group of projects. E.g. IT Infrastructure program; ERP update program; Android Upgrade Program
Project Portfolio Management
- Portfolio is the investment on a group of programs and/or projects to achieve objectives of the enterprise.
- The strategic question addressed here is – Are we working on the right projects?
Project Manager
- A project manager works with all concerned and ensures that the project goals are met.
- The specifics of the role varies with the context/organization/industry.
Dr. Selvaraj Vadivelu 