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Unit 3 Project Management Essentials
Structure
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Characteristics of Project Mindset
3.3. Process Groups
3.3.1 Process Interactions
3.3.2 Process Interactions Initiating Processes
3.3.2.1 Planning Processes
3.3.2.2 Executing Processes
3.3.2.3 Controlling Processes
3.3.2.4 Closing Processes
3.4 Customization
3.5 Project Monitoring and Control
3.5.1 Preliminary Work
3.5.2 Project Progress
3.5.3 Stage Control
3.5.4 Resources
3.5.5 Quality Control
3.5.6 Schedule Quality Review
3.5.7 Agenda for Quality Review
3.5.8 Conduct Quality Review
3.5.9 Follow Up
3.5.10 Review Quality Control Procedures
3.6 Project Process Control
3.6.1 Approvals
3.6.2 Change Control
3.6.3 Changing Project Management Process
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3.6.4 Tools for Changing a Process
3.6.5 Project Closure
3.6.6 Completion of Activities and benefits
3.6.7 Post Implementation Review
3.6.8 Tools for Post Implementation Review
3.6.9 Final Project Reporting and Documentation
3.7 Summary
TQ’s
Answer to SAQ’s and TQ’s
3.1 Introduction
It is known that many organizations fail in executing their well planned projects in spite of following
various procedures. Facts reveal that the success rate is dependent on whether the company or the
organization is fundamentally strong to handle such projects or not. In this unit some of the
prerequisites like communication and information systems, focus and orientation toward quality and
capabilities to handle problems and mindset will be brought out. The organization working on projects
have to adhere to these factors related to projects. What is essential for a project to become
successful has to be clearly listed and each point to be well understood.
Learning Objective
1. Project management characteristic
2. Various process groups
3. The project monitoring steps, project control and project quality
4. The control of the project process and
5. Post closure activities along with the way of reporting and documentation.
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3.2 Characteristics of Project Mindset : Some of the characteristics of project mindset are the
following –
1) Time – It is possible to improve the pace of the project by reducing the time frame of the process.
The mindset is normally to work a comfort mode by stretching the time limits.
3) Information Sharing – Information is power. Information is the master key to today’s business.
Information sharing is the characteristic of the project mindset today.
4) Processes Project mindset lays emphasis on flexible processes. The major difference in a
process and a system is in its capabilities of providing flexibility to different situational encounters.
Flexible processes possess greater capabilities of adaptability.
5) Structured planning Structured planning based on project management life cycle enables one to
easily and conveniently work according to the plan. It also involves efficient used of project
resources and prioritization of the activities based on resource planning.
Self Assessment Questions 1 : True or False
1. Responsiveness refers to quickness of response of an individual.
2. It is possible to improve the pace of the project by reducing the time frame of the process.
3. Project mindset lays emphasis on rigid processes.
3.3 Process Groups
It consists of the following
a) Initiating processes: recognition to start and establishing commitment.
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b) Planning processes: devising and maintaining a workable scheme to accomplish the business
need
c) Executing processes: coordinating people to carry out the plan
d) Controlling processes: monitoring and measuring progress and taking remedial action
e) Closing processes: Formalizing acceptance and bringing project to an orderly end.
3.3.1Process Interactions
The individual processes are linked by inputs and outputs
· Inputs: It refers to the client documents converted to action plans to be acted upon.
· Tools and techniques: It refers to the mechanisms applied on to the inputs to create desired
outputs
· Outputs: It refers to the documents that are results of the process.
3.3.2Process Interactions Initiating Processes Every process is initiated by management
group decision which results in the next phase of the project.
3.3.2.1 Planning Processes
· Planning has the major importance
· Plans are nothing planning is everything
· Planning processes are highly interdependent
· If the cost is unacceptable, scope and time may need to be redefined
3.3.2.2 Executing processes
· Interactions depend on the nature of the work
· They are dynamic & dependent on Team Innovations
3.3.2.3 Controlling processes
· Measuring project performance [time, cost, quality]
· Identifying variances from the plan
· Updating project plans
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· Taking corrective action
3.3.2.4 Closing Processes
· Review of the project
· Findings
· Analysis of the project performance with respect to various processes
SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS 2 : True or False
1. The individual process are linked by inputs and outputs.
2. Inputs refers to the documents that are results of the process.
3. Identifying variances from the plan is a part of closing processes,
3.4 Customization
a) Large projects may need details A detailed project management plan might be necessary
to indicate every detail in the initial stages.
b) Smaller projects may need relatively less details A detailed plan may not be required in the
initial stages.
c) Process details might change for other reasons Resource identification might be required for
scope definition
Self Assessment Question 3 : True or False
1. Large projects may need details which might indicate every detail in the initial stages.
3.5 Project Monitoring and Control
Any project aimed at delivering a product or a service has to go through phases in a planned manner
in order to meet the requirements. It is possible to work according to the project plan only by careful
monitoring of the project progress. It requires establishing control factors to keep the project on the
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track of progress. The results of any stage in a project, depends on the inputs to that stage. It is
therefore necessary to control all the inputs and the corresponding outputs from a stage. A project
manager may use certain standard tools to keep the project on track. The project manager and the
team members should be fully aware of the techniques and methods to rectify the factors influencing
delay of the project and its product. The various steps involved in monitoring and controlling a project
from start to end are as follows
3.5.1 Preliminary work – the team members understand the project plans, project stage
schedule, progress controls, tracking schedules, summary of the stage cost and related
worksheets. All the member have to understand the tolerances in any change and maintain a change
control log. They must realize the need and importance of quality for which they have to follow strictly
a quality review schedule and frequently discuss on the quality agendas. They must understand the
stage status reports, stage end reports, stage end approval reports.
3.5.2 Project Progress – The members must keep a track of the project progress and
communicate the same to other related members of the project. They must monitor and control
project progress, through the use of regular check points, quality charts, statistical tables, control the
quality factors which are likely to deviate from expected values as any deviation may result in
changes to the stage schedule. The project manager ensures that these changes are made smoothly
and organizes review meeting with the project management group.
3.5.3 Stage Control – The manager must establish a project check point cycle. For this suitable
stage version control procedures may be followed. The details are to be documented stage wise.
Project files have to be frequently updated with suitable version control number and revision status
should be maintained for each change. Team members are identified who will exercise controls at
various points of the project.
3.5.4 Resources Plan the resources required for various stage of the project. Brief both the
project team and the key resources about the objectives of every stage, planned activities, products,
organization, metrics and project controls
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3.5.5 Quality Control – This is very important in any project. Quality control is possible if the
project members follow the quality charts and norms very strictly.
3.5.6 Schedule Quality Review – It is recommended that quality review be scheduled at the
beginning of the stage and also ending of every stage.
3.5.7 Agenda for quality review – create and distribute a quality review agenda specifying the
objective, products, logistics, roles, responsibilities and time frame.
3.5.8 Conduct quality review – the quality review is to be conducted in a structured and formal
manner. Quality review should focus on product development and its quality factors. Focus on
whether it meets the prescribed quality standard .
3.5.9 Follow up QR complete product status revised from ‘In progress’ to ‘QR Complete’.
Follow up the actions planned in strict manner which ensures conformity to the standards.
3.5.10 Review quality control procedures – verify that the quality objectives for each product
are appropriate and that all participants are satisfied both with the process and its outcome.
Self Assessment Questions 4 : Fill in the blanks:
1. It is possible to work according to the project plan only by careful _______ of the project
progress.
2. During the _______ the members must keep a track of the project progress and communicate the
same to other related members of the project.
3. ________ is possible if the project members follow the quality charts and norms very strictly.
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b) Update ScheduleUpdate the schedule for actual start date for tasks started, actual finish date
for tasks finished, actual hours worked per task, latest estimated work in hours to complete the
task.
· Update costs Update the stage cost summary worksheet with actual costs incurred this
period, estimated remaining costs. Miscellaneous costs will be automatically updated from the
scheduler, since they are calculated from actual work.
· Replan stage scheduleReview the tracking Gantt and Cost workbook and identify any
deviation from the baseline. Establish why the deviation has occurred. Refer back to the project
control factors to help determine the appropriate corrective action and adjust the schedule
accordingly. Determine if the stage has exceeded the progress, cost and quality tolerance levels
agreed with the project management team. Review status of open issues and determine any
further action required on these issues. Review the status of any outstanding quality reviews
Review any new change requests.
· Conduct team status review Conduct a status meeting with the project team. Items for
discussion are achievements this period planned activities that are incomplete or overdue, activities
for the next period, new issues identified this period, issues closed this period, summary of results
of quality reviews , summary of schedule and cost status, suggested revisions to the plan.
· Create status report The status report provides a record of current achievement and
immediate expectations of the project. The status has to be effectively communicated to all
interested parties.
· Create Flash report summarize the accomplishments for the month, schedule status,
upcoming tasks for the month and any major issues. Distribute to the project team and project
management team
· Project Status Reports As discussed earlier, the status report provides a record of current
achievements and immediate expectations of the project.
A weekly status report includes:
Accomplishments during the period
Items not completed during the period
Proposed activities for the next period
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Any predicted slippage to the stage schedule, along with cause and corrective action.
Any predicted cost overrun along with cause and corrective action.
3.6.2 Change Control
Controlling the changes in the project is possible through a proper change management process
and using necessary tools for controlling the change. Change control is necessary to control the
increase of work at various stages of project and to manage effectively the disruptions in the
stages, if any. These factors may affect the progress of the project, resulting in deviations from the
stage schedules, project and stage cost and project scope.
3.6.3 Changing Project Management Process
The processes involved in bringing about a change are the following:
i.Request for a change Identify need for a change based on which a formal request from either a
member of the project team or a client or a coordinator or Key stakeholder to make a change is to
be made.
ii.Identify Alternate Solutions – Evaluate the change request and identify several alternative
solutions. Assess the alternatives with respect to the functional scope, schedule, effort and cost.
iii.Decide on the Actions for the change – Present the change request, alternative solutions and
recommendation to the project management team. The project management team is required to
accept the recommendation, choose an alternative solution, or request further investigation.
iv.Implement change – make appropriate schedule and other project plan adjustments to
accommodate the change, communicate these to team members, monitor progress and execute
quality control on the changes.
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3.6.4Tools for Changing a process
There are various tools which can be used to bring about a change in a process. All such tools can
be mainly classified into the following two types
a) Change Management System (CMS) It is a methodology which requires collection of all formal
documented procedures, defining how project performance will be monitored and evaluated, how
project plans could be updated, how various measures can be implemented to control the change
process. These procedures may be unique to an organization based on their project needs. It also
includes procedures to handle the changes that may be approved without prior review, so that the
evolution of baseline can be documented.
b) Configuration Management (CM) – Identify the configuration items and define the naming and
numbering scheme, structure the changes, define a backup procedure, and follow the methods for
tracking the status of configuration items. Identify and define the responsibility and authority of the
CMS.
3.6.5Project Closure
Any project that is planned properly and executed as per the plan will also close successfully. For
successful completion of a project every aspect of the project should be monitored and controlled.
3.6.6 Completion of activities and benefits
The closure of a project may result in the following benefits –
1. It implies that on successful completion of a project, it has not drifted from its intended course and
plans. Otherwise it would have resulted in a change and may also kick start another project
affecting the main project.
2. The project member are acknowledged for the completion of the project, motivating them to take
up more projects wherein the members would be able to confidently handle and take care of all
the problems based upon their learning from earlier project.
3. It results in setting up of processes for continued development and improvement of the final
product of any project forthcoming.
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4. It results in setting up of improved standard process and estimating models for this type of future
projects.
5. It enables resource redeployment.
The deliverable at the end of each stage could be
1. A set of specified outputs for each stage of the project
2. New products or modified existing product
3. Items that may be less easy to distinguish like parameter setup data transfer, staff training etc.
3.6.7 Post Implementation Review
After every stage of a project is implemented, it may so happen that there could be a minor change
or modification which has to be reviewed. A review may by in the following form
a) Final product review – The product obtained after every stage must meet the requirements of that
stage. If it completely meets the stated objectives then focus on the issues of maintenance of the
processes and product performance. If the final product does not completely meet the objectives
then identify the variations in the product and analyze the variation. Study the factors responsible for
the change and evaluate each one separately.
b) Outstanding project work review – Many times it is found that there may be some item of the
project which is still not in its stage finished form. It may be insignificant as it may be a byproduct of
that stage not required immediately for the next stage. Then the items that are open should be
resolved and necessary steps be taken to close such open items..
c) Project Review Every aspect of a project from start to end has to be reviewed. The objectives,
performance criteria, financial criteria, resource utilization, slips and gains of time, adherence to the
project definition and plans have to be reviewed. All such review details and reports have to be well
documented for future use.
d) Process review – Every process is important in any project. One may review the process to see if
any changes can be made to improve its performance.
3.6.8 Tools for Post Implementation Review
There are various tools for post project implementation review that may be considered for improving
and developing processes of the project. Reports are prepared on the same which becomes the
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basis for all future discussion. Some of the tools that may be considered for post implementation
review are
a) Final product evaluation – This may be done through regularly organized meetings and quality
reviews.
b) Outstanding project work evaluation – All outstanding works of a project can be reviewed to
check its output quality, its performance compared to planned and evaluate the same.
c) Project review questionnaire may become important if the reviews are to be structured and group
discussion may be initiated depending upon the points to be discussed.
d) Process evaluation – evaluation of any process is one of the key issues of project
3.6.9 Final project reporting and documentation
After completion of a project stage and the project as a whole, it is documented. Reports are
prepared to indicate the details. The objective of the stage and the project and the corresponding
plans should be reviewed and items that are still open should then be closed or resolved. The
outstanding items should be passed on to the person responsible for the subsequent work. It is
necessary to document every stage of the project. Every review meeting by the project team and
any other members of the project organization and follow ups have to be well documented. The risks
that were managed have to be analyzed and documented. Also various metrics could have been
used during the course of the project and necessary changes in the stages. Effects on the process
and the corresponding metrics are evaluated and documented. Some of the outcomes that need to
be well documented are –
a) Key stages of the project
b) Project logic diagram
c) Key stages responsibility chart
d) Estimates for all key stages
e) Optimized project gantt chart
f) Updated and reviewed project risk log
g) Risk management forms for new high risks
h) Project operating budget
This serves as a baseline for future project reference.
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Self Assessment Questions 5 : True or False
1. Update the schedule for actual start date for tasks started, actual finish date for tasks finished,
actual hours worked per task, latest estimated work in hours to complete the task.
2. While creating status reports, summarize the accomplishments for the month, schedule status,
upcoming tasks for the month and any major issues.
3. Change control is necessary to control the increase of work at various stages of project and to
manage effectively the disruptions in the stages, if any.
4. SCM and CM are the tools used for changing a process.
5. Project review questionnaire may become important if the reviews are to be structured and
individual discussion may be initiated depending upon the points to be discussed.
3.7 Summary
Now that you have gone through this unit, you will be confident in applying the thoughts to a project
with respect to the Project management characteristic and the various process groups. You have
also understood the project monitoring steps, project control and project quality as applicable to any
project management activity. Also explained is the methodology of controlling the project processes.
At the end you have studied about the steps to be followed post project completion. How to close
activities along with the way of reporting and documentation is also explained.
Terminal Questions:
1. What are the characteristics of project mindset?
2. What is the need of customization?
3. Explain the various steps involved in monitoring and controlling a project.
4. How is the project progress controlled?
5. Indicate the processes involved in bringing about a change.
6. What are the tools used for changing a process in a project?
7. Write in detail about the post implementation review of a project.
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Answers to Self Assessment Questions:
Self Assessment Questions 1
1True, 2True, 3False
Self Assessment Questions 2
1True, 2False, 3False
Self Assessment Question 3
1True
Self Assessment Questions 4
1monitoring , 2project progress, 3 quality control.
Self Assessment Questions 5
1True, 2False, 3True, 4True, 5False
Answer to Terminal Questions :
1. Refer 3.2
2. Refer 3.4
3. Refer 3.5
4. Refer 3.6
5. Refer 3.6.3
6. Refer 3.6.4
7. Refer 3.6.7
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