project_management

Project Management is the process involves planning. coordinating, organising, securing and controlling the development of a solution to an information problem. It is often led by a project manager who could be a permanent employee of a company or someone who is outsourced.
 * Project Management**

A Project Manager is usually a very ewperienced member of the ICT industry. Although the actual role of a project manager is unlikely to be given to a young ICT professional, the theory of project management provides a form of problem colving that could be of value to anyone in any field of work or study.

Examples of projects that need careful project management include:
 * Updating a computer network
 * Development of a computer website
 * Launch of a new product
 * Release of a monthly newsletter
 * Relocation of company headquaters

Before starting a project, the project manager should make themselves aware of what each stakeholder (person who is affected by a project or company, such as an employee, employer, customer or supplier) requires. This could involve meeting with the general manager and the managers of each relevant department. It is vital that the project manager establishes the following specifications.
 * What is the project's deadline?
 * Who are the people involved?
 * What are the needs of the users?
 * What resources are available?
 * What resources will need to be brought in?
 * What are potential problems that could occur?
 * What are estimated costs?

The role of a project manager is to break down a project into its various tasks. Each task has a starting and finishing point, thus defining the time required to complete the tasks. Each task involves the use of a __**Resource**__, such as some equipment, human resource, time factor or cost. Tasks should be relatively small, manageable and easy to track.

Tasks could include:
 * Holding meetings with various stakeholders
 * Ordering equipment
 * Selecting hardware and software
 * Delivery of equipment
 * Training events for staff professional development
 * Recruiting and employing staff

The project manager orders the tasks into a logical sequence, establishing checkpoints or __**Milestones**__ that will need to be completed. These milestones indicate the conclusion of an important stage of the project, such as the arrival of the equipment or the conclusion of staff training. These include: **Gantt Charts** (image) Looks similar to a bar graph, where each bar represents a task, and the longer the bar, the longer the task. When one bar is on top of another it means that those two tasks can be completed at the same time. For example, meeting with employees can occur at the same time that equipment is ordered. When one bar is linked by an arrow to another bar, it means that the second task is dependent on the first. **PERT Charts** A PERT (Program, Evaluation and Review Technique) Chart is another project management tool. It is particualry useful when the actual duration of tasks is uncertain. A PERT Chart represents each project task in the orderof their dependencies. Each task or set of tasks make up an event that is represented by an arrow and the completion of the events is represented by a node, usually shaped as a circle or rectangle. The PERT Chart allows you to identify the __**Critical Path**.__ The Primary Challenge of project management is to achieve all of the engineering project goals and objectives while honoring the preconceived project constraints. Typical constraints are scope, time and budget. The secondary challenge is to optimise the allocation and integration of inputs necessary to meet predefined objectives.

**Definitions** __**Resource**__ A resource could be a person (stakeholder) or some equipment

__**Milestone**__ A milestone represents the achievement of a significant stage in a project and has zero duration. This would follow tasks where the needs were investigated, components justified, and specifications report was written, all of which would take time.

__**Critical Path**__ A Critical Path is the line that runs from the beginning of the project, through a sequence of events and concludes at the completion of the final event. Each event on the critical path is dependent on the successful completion of the previous event and represents the longest such path in the project.