Project Management – What is it about?

Traditionally, project  management is defined as the planning, delegating, monitoring and controlling all aspects of the project and the motivation of those involved to achieve the objectives within the expected performance targets for time, cost, quality, scope, benefits and risks.

Honestly, to a layman the above definition is not only overtly lengthy but also difficult to comprehend. Although the definition encapsulates the ramifications of project management, it does not immediately tell what project management is about. I have had several of my students tell me they have not had experience of project management, so are scared to pursue project management as a career. That is a wrong way to look at it. To me, project management is about “getting things done”. Anytime you have done something new, something that is not normally your everyday activity, where you had to plan, think about budget, timeframe, scope, quality, risk and benefits, then you are in essence doing or involved in project management.

So, whether you have planned a holiday for your family, worked in a team that created a piece of machinery, or involved in the delivery of any output then that is project management. Project management is about the delivery of an output, with consideration giving to the time to do this, the quality expectation, the size (or scope) of what is to be done, the money (or budget involved), the risks, and the benefits (or reasons) why you are doing the stuff in the first place.

All Project managers are involved in the delivery of output(s). Every output has capability in them to release outcomes, which when measured translates to benefits. So if you are excited about doing stuff, concerned about the quality of what you are to deliver, conscious about working to budget and time constraints, and having a keen eye for details especially on the things that may go wrong, then you are likely to have the capability of a good Project Manager.

Ask about the courses we offer here at A1 Insight Consulting Limited, and we will help you start or enhance your career prospects.