Lecture 1

STA 303
Presentation outline
• Meaning of project
• Characteristics of the project
• Importance of the project
• Difference of the project and program
• Project planning ??
• Project management
• Importance of project management
• Project cycle
 What is a project?

•A unique set of coordinated activities, with definite

starting and finishing points, undertaken by an
individual or organization to meet specific objectives
within defined schedule, cost and performance
parameters.
What is a project?

• PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge)

defines project as a temporary endeavor
undertaken to create a unique product or service.

• Temporary means that every project has a definite

end, and Unique means that the product or
service is different from all similar products or
services.
What is a project?

•Turner defines projects as an endeavor in which

human (or machine), materials, financial and
knowledge resources are organized in a novel
way, to undertake a unique scope of work of
given specification, within constraints of cost
and time, so as to deliver quantitative,
qualitative, and consumer oriented product and
service.
 What is a project?

• Bridge field group defines project as a related

set of activities and milestones with a preset
goal and time frame that is designed as a
specific event and not an ongoing process.
What is a project?

•Project can also be defined as a single use plan to achieve a

certain objective of introducing something unique or a
change and ensure that progress is maintained in line with
the objective, generally in terms of time, cost, and various
technical and quality performance parameters.

Everyone should make his/her definition.

Questions to ask ourselves
• 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 twenty years?

Overall, project management is essentially

management of change, while running a functional or
ongoing business is managing a continuum or
‘business-as-usual’.
Further elaboration

• It is immediately apparent therefore that there is a

fundamental difference between project
management and functional or line management
• The purpose of management is to continue the
ongoing operation with as little disruption (or
change) as possible.
Further elaboration
• Generally projects are formed to solve a problem or take
advantage of an opportunity.
• Business as usual activities can often be mistaken for
projects.
• Generally it is the uniqueness of the activity that is the
deciding factor – do we do this every year? If so, then it is
not truly a project – although you can use project methods
to get it done.
Characteristics of the project

• Are unique in nature. They do not involve repetitive

processes. Every project undertaken is different from
the last, whereas operational activities often involve
undertaking repetitive (identical) processes.
• It usually has defined constraints in terms of cost,
schedule (time), and scope
• It is a temporary activity. It is undertaken to
accomplish a goal within a given period of time;
once the goal is achieved, the project ceases to exist.
Characteristics of a project.

• Have limited resources. At the start of a project an

agreed amount of labor, equipment and materials is
allocated to the project.
• Must meet certain specified objectives. SMART
objectives. That is Specificity, Measurable, Achievable,
Realistic and Timely
Characteristics of the project

Broadly these objectives which are usually defined as part of

the business case and set out in the project brief, must meet
four fundamental criteria:
• The project must be completed on time;
• The project must be accomplished within the budgeted cost;
• The project must meet the prescribed quality requirements.
• The project must satisfy the stakeholders of the project
(stakeholders satisfaction)
Importance of the project
• Increasing products and providing services
• Provide stakeholders satisfaction
• Income generating activities are performed
• Employment opportunity

NB: More to be mentioned

 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
PROJECT AND PROGRAM
Basic Project Program
Comparison
Meaning A project refers to the A program implies a set of
temporary activity, which is projects which are linked to
undertaken to create a distinct one another, in a sequential
product or service that has manner to attain the combined
certain objectives benefits

Time horizon Projects are typically of a shorter Programs are typically executed
duration than programs, and by over a much longer timescale
definition have a finite duration. than projects, often several
years
Basic Project Program
Comparison
Structure A project is well-defined, with A program tends to
a Project Charter that spells out have greater levels of
exactly what the scope and objectives uncertainty.
are for the project.

Final production Produces output Produce Outcome

Scope It has a focused scope It has a wide scope
Project planning
• Project Planning is a process of determining project’s objectives and
deciding how to accomplish them effectively and efficiently.
• Project planning phase answers the What, Why, When, How and Who
questions about the project
Project management
• Project management is the state of keeping track of how the project is
implemented, performed and progressing
• Project managements includes managing the project expenditure,
resource use, implementation of activities, delivery of results and the
management of risks.
 Advantages of Using Project Management
• Better control of financial, physical, and human resources
• Improved customer relations
• Shorter development times
• Lower costs
• Higher quality and increased reliability
• Higher profit margins
• Improved productivity
• Better internal coordination
• Higher worker morale
 Importance of Projects to Communities

 Community projects around the world play an important role in the

development of society, ranging from social enterprises in some of the
poorest rural areas of the globe, to projects designed to enhance quality of life
for the more vulnerable members of society in any country or region.

 Local community involvement ensures that the needs of all stakeholders are
considered and met to the best of the project manager’s ability, creating
outcomes that are advantageous to larger sectors of society.
 Importance of Projects to Communities

 It provides a sense of inclusion; Community development projects

encourages participation from all members from children to adults, of
course everyone with their own suitable role to play and this inclusion
brings about a sense of unity and everyone learns to value each other.

 It helps in the improvement in the overall living standards of people at

the community level
Importance of Projects to Communities

• It helps in development of administrative structures; With each kind of

community development project, a leader is needed to oversee the
activities. Often times, the community gets to select an able leader that will
help them make the best decisions. It generally leads to creation of leaders.

• Promote relationships with other organizations; when a project is

established in a community, it integrates its activities with the pre existing
organization in the community to create synergy.
 PROJECT CYCLE
PROJECT
INITIATION

PROJECT
PROJECT PHASE OUT
PLANNING

PROJECT
MONITORING AND PROJECT
EVALUATION EXECUTION
 The Triple Constraint
• Every project is constrained in different ways by its

Scope goals: What is the project trying to accomplish?

Time goals: How long should it take to complete?
Cost goals: What should it cost?

• It is the project manager’s duty to balance these three

often competing goals
Figure 1-1. The Triple Constraint of Project Management
Reasons of project failure
• Lack of link between business/organization strategy and project
• Unclear objectives, competing/conflicting objectives
• Little or no alignment among major stakeholders
• Inappropriate decision making
• Unclear Project Charter
• Lack of executive support & user involvement
Two project to consider

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