PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Definitions
J Price Gittinger
“ A project is a specific activity with a specific starting point and
a specific ending point intended to accomplish a specific
objective. It is something like you draw a boundary around,
at least a conceptual boundary and say this is the PROJECT
Project
A project is an ongoing effort to create a unique product or
service designed to achieve a specific development objectives
Any project is an attempt to address specific issue or need
Characteristic features of a project
 It will have a fixed set of objectives ( what is to be done, how is it to be
done and why it is to be done)
 It will have interrelated activities of actions
 It will have a life span clearly indicating the definite start and end
 It will have a life cycle reflected by growth, and maturity
 It will be a single entity and is normally entrusted to one responsibility
centre while calls for team work
 No two projects will be exactly similar even if the plans are identical
 It realizes maximum results using limited resources ( time, money,
personnel, equipment etc.)
 It will operate on a specific location
Types of Projects

1.Quantifiable and Non quantifiable Project

2.Sectoral Projects
3.Techno –economic project
4.Financial institution classifications
5.Service projects
Quantifiable and Non quantifiable Project

Quantifiable Projects are those in which a plausible

quantitative assessment of benefits can be made.
E.g.. Industrial Devt, power generation etc.
Non quantifiable projects are those where such an assessment
is not possible,
E.g.. Health, education and defence
Sectorial Projects
The planning Commission of India accepted this Sectorial
bias as the criterion for classification of Projects;
A)Agriculture and Allied sector
B)Irrigation and power sector
C)Industry and Mining sector
D)Transport and communication sector
E)Social service sector
F)Miscellaneous
Techno- economic Projects
 Projects are sometimes classified on the basis of their techno
economic characteristics, three main groups of classifications can
be identified here :
 (a).factor intensity – oriented classification; on the basis of this
classification projects may be classified as capital –intensive or
labor – intensive depending upon whether large scale investment
in plant and machinery or human resources are involved
 (b).Causation –oriented classification; here Projects are classified
as demand –based or raw materials based projects
 (c).Magnitude oriented classification; in this the size of investment
forms the basis of classification. Projects may thus be classified as
large scale, medium scale, or small scale projects depending upon
the total project investment.
Financial Institutions classification
All India and state financial institutions classify the projects
according to their age and experience and the purpose for which
the project is being taken up, they are as follows;
New projects
Expansion projects
Modernization projects
Diversification projects.
Services Projects
Welfare projects
Service projects
Research and development projects
Educational Pojects.
Stages of Project Management
Project Planning and Formulation
Project Implementation and Monitoring
Project Evaluation and follow up
Project planning
Deciding in advance
WHAT TO DO
HOW TO DO IT
WHEN TO DO IT and
WHO IS TO DO IT
 According to the draft of the 1st five year plan
“Planning is essentially a way of organizing and utilizing
resources to maximum advantages in terms of defined social
ends”
For the project
 Planning foresees the resources needed for the projects activities
 Planning allows managers to concentrate on the task in hand
 Team members who are involved in planning will work with a
greater sense of purpose
 Planning involves looking ahead relating today’s events with
tomorrows possibilities and doing something to achieve the
possible end. It bridges the gap mentally from where we want to
be, in terms of accomplishing a task at some time in the future,
thus it is futuristic in nature. In this context, planning can be
defined “ as a process of collecting and analyzing the past and
presenting them and deciding on the objectives, activities,
resources implementation, monitoring and evaluation
PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT PLANNING
 Participatory ( involvement of the target group in planning and
implementation)
 Addressed to the specific issues (felt needs)
 Should take in to consideration the available resources
 Clear cut objectives
 Positive attitude
 Commitment
 Flexibility
 Learn and participate
 Be accountable
 Keep informed
 Monitor, evaluator and assess
PROJECT CYCLE
Project planning can be conceived in the form of a cycle
consisting of different steps arranged in a sequential order.
The number of steps sequenced in a project life-cycle differs
from one another, but the concept of the cycle is almost
similar in each case.
Project cycle is a simple and effective way for project
planning
THE PROJECT CYCLE
EVALUATION Project (problem) identification

PROJECT MONITORING PROJECT DESIGN

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
PROJECT APPRAISAL
PROJECT FORMULATION
Each project, which qualifies for investment, can be evolved
as a detailed project proposal, while
preparing a project report, it would be necessary to
ascertain the availability of
required inputs and services in the
area. Further, the relationship among the various
activities of the project has to be established through proper
backward and forward linkages.
 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Effective implementation of a
project requires the working –out
of a detailed implementation plan .
The various project activities/components have to be
identified and their inter-relationship arising from physical,
technical and other considerations established. For each
activity, there should be an optimum allocation of resources
and time. The implementation plan thus framed will ensure
proper and effective controlling and monitoring of the
project.
PROJECT MONITORING
Controlling and monitoring is complimentary to the planning
process. Once execution of a project commences, control
over the progress has to be exercised in order to complete
the project by the stipulated period
 Control involves comparing at regular interval the actual
achievements of the original plan
PROJECT EVALUATION
Evaluation is necessary for the
purpose of public
accountability, future planning
and decision making . Evaluation as a tool
cannot be separated from the process of planning,
implementation, monitoring and review associated with
the life cycle of a project. The terminal evaluation
reveals the level of achievement of the project objectives
and creation of the anticipated impact and the need of
post – investment with better planning.