Big Picture A

Week 1-3: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit, you are expected to:
a. Know what is Project Management; and
b. Understand how to plan the project.

Big Picture A in Focus: ULOa. Know what is Project Management

Metalanguage

In this section, the most essential terms relevant to the study of Project Management
and to demonstrate ULOc will be operationally defined to establish a common frame of refence
as to how the texts work in your chosen field or career. You will encounter these terms as we
go through the study Project Management. Please refer to these definitions in case you will
encounter difficulty in the in understanding educational concepts.

1. Project management . It is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to

project activities to achieve project requirements. Project management is accomplished
through the application and integration of the project management processes of initiating,
planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing.” (PMBOK Guide, 2013)

2. Project. It is a problem scheduled for solution. -J.M Juran

Essential Knowledge

To perform the aforesaid big picture (unit learning outcomes) for the first three (3)
weeks of the course, you need to fully understand the following essential knowledge that will
be laid down in the succeeding pages. Please note that you are not limited to exclusively refer
to the these resources. Thus, you are expected to utilize other books, research articles and
other resources that are available in the university’s library e.g. ebrary, search.proquest.com
etc.

1. Four constraints of Project management

a. Performance
b. Cost
c. Time
d. Scope
2. Three components of a project:
a) Strategy- it determines the high level approach in order to reach the requirement of
the project
b) Tactics- is used in the implementation planning of the project which it includes
ways on how things will be done , getting the right people to do it and how long is
the time duration to do it
c) Logistics- deals with making sure that the team will be able to do their job by
providing them all the needed materials/resources for the project.

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3. Five phases of a project (project life cycle) as illustrated below:

CONCEPT DEFINITION PLANNING EXECUTION CLOSE OUT

Marketing Input Define Develop Do all Work Final Reports

Survey of Problem Strategy Monitor Lessons
Competition Develop Implementation Progress Learned
Vision Planning Corrective Review
Write Mission Risk Action
Statement Management

(Heagney, 2015)

4. Steps in managing a Project:

a) Define the Problem
b) Develop solution options
c) Plan the project
d) Execute the plan
e) Monitor and control progress
f) Close the project

5. Process of a Project (PMBOK Guide, 2013)

a. Initiating- This is where the project manager should make a project charter.
Project charter-this includes people who will work for the project,
the scope, and the timeframe
b. Planning-it is the process of thinking before doing the action
c. Executing-it is the process of implementing the project plan
d. Closing-once the product is produced to the customer’s satisfaction, the project is
considered finished, or closed. Or if the project is not attainable anymore, then it should
be closed.

6. Knowledge Areas according to PMBOK Guide, 2015

a) Project Integration Management. ensures that the project is properly planned,

executed, and controlled, including the exercise of formal project change control.
b) Project Scope Management. It includes authorizing the job, developing a scope
statement that will define the boundaries of the project, subdividing the work into
manageable components with deliverables, verifying that the amount of work planned
has been achieved, and specifying scope change control procedures.
c) Project Time Management. It refers to developing a schedule that can be met,
then controlling work to ensure that this happens.
d) Project Cost Management. Involves estimating the cost of resources, including
people, equipment, materials, and such things as travel and other support details.
e) Project Quality Management. Includes both quality assurance (planning to meet
quality requirements) and quality control (steps taken to monitor results to see
whether they conform to requirements).

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 f) Project Human Resources Managementroles, responsibilities, and reporting
relationships; acquiring those people; and then managing them as the project is
executed.
g) Project Communications Management involves planning, executing, and controlling
the acquisition and dissemination of all information relevant to the needs of all project
stakeholders. This information might include project status, accomplishments, and
events that may affect other stakeholders or projects.
h) Project risk management is the systematic process of identifying, quantifying,
analyzing, and responding to project risk. It includes maximizing the probability and
consequences of positive events and minimizing the probability and consequences of
adverse events to project objectives. This is an extremely important aspect of
project management that sometimes is overlooked by novice project managers.
i) Project procurement management involves deciding what must be procured,
issuing requests for bids or quotations, selecting vendors, administering contracts,
and closing them when the job is finished.
j) Project stakeholder management includes the processes required to identify and
manage the people, groups, or organizations that could impact or be impacted by the
project.

Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you further
understand the lesson:

Heagney, J. (2016). Fundamentals of project management.Fifth edition. | New York :

American Management Association

Let’s Check
QUIZ EXERCISE 1. Now that you know the most essential terms in Project
Management. Let us try to check your understanding of these terms. Write down the
answers in the space provided.

1. Project management is not just:

a. Planning.
b. Rework.
c. Scheduling.
d. Controlling.

2. The problem with being a working project manager is that, in a

conflict between working and managing:
a. You don’t know what priorities to set.
b. Your boss will think you’re slacking off.
c. There will never be enough time to do both.
d. The work will take precedence, and managing will suffer.

3. The PMBOK® Guide refers to:

a. The body of knowledge identified by PMI as needed by project
managers to be effective.
b. A test administered by PMI to certify project managers.
c. An acronym for a special kind of risk analysis, like FMEA
(Failure Mode and Effects Analysis).
d. None of the above.

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4. Project scope defines:
a. A project manager’s line of sight to the end date.
b. The magnitude or size of the job.
c. How often a project has been changed.
d. The limits of a project manager’s authority.

Let’s Analyze
RESEARCH EXERCISE 1. Getting acquainted with the topic What is project
management. Now, I will require you to conduct a research. Provide your own
discussion.

Note: Answer will be rated as a whole, not per item but in case of corrections it will
be specified by the CF in each item.

5 Excellent If the answer is definitely of high quality

which is free from any form of errors in
terms of grammar, sentence and idea
construction.

4 Very Satisfactory If the answer is of quality but has slightly

form of errors in terms of grammar,
sentence and idea construction.

3 Satisfactory If the answer is of quality but most often

have a form of errors in terms of grammar,
sentence and idea construction.

2 Fair If the answer is of low quality and most

often have a form of errors in terms of
grammar, sentence, and difficulty in idea
construction.

1 Needs Improvement If the answer is of very low quality and

always have a form of errors in
terms of grammar, sentence, and difficulty in idea
construction which needs immediate improvement.

1 2 3 4 5
1.Grammar (This refers to correct
sentence, punctuation, and idea
construction).

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 2. The depth of Analysis (This refers
to the learner's level of analysis based
on the interview conducted which can
be manifested in how they interpret the
interviewee's response during the
interview).
3. Correctness (This refers to the
complete details given in the papers
based on following instruction given by
the teacher).

Range of Means Scores

4.20 – 5.00 = 25
3.14 – 4.19 = 18
2.60 – 3.90 = 12
1.00 – 1.79 = 3

1. Research on a company of your choice and present their best projects. Discuss.

Reference :

In a Nutshell

Based from the definition of the most essential terms a Project management and the
learning exercises that you have done, please feel free to write your arguments or
lessons learned below. I have indicated my arguments or lessons learned.

Project Communications Management involves planning, executing, and controlling

the acquisition and dissemination of all information relevant to the needs of all project
stakeholders. This information might include project status, accomplishments, and
events that may affect other stakeholders or projects.

Your Turn

1. __________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________

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5. ___________________________________________________________

Q & A List

In this section, you may list down all emerging questions or issues to help you in
your review of concepts and essential knowledge. Answers will be specifically
tackled in the scheduled video conferencing.

Do you have questions for clarification?

Questions/Issues Answers
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Keywords Index.

Project Logistics Executing Project Scope

Management
Strategy Initiating Closing Project Time
Management.
Tactics Planning Project Integration Project Cost
Management Management.
Project Quality Project Human Project Project risk
Management. Resources Communications management
Management Management
Project Project Cost Performance
procurement stakeholder
management management

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