Project Management Theory - Essay Example

A project can be defined as a planned or contemplated venture (Webster’s II, 1984). The business world created a discipline called project managementwhose purpose is to manage a project’s resources in order to complete it in a timely manner and within budget constraints. This essay will describe different elements of project management as well as offer a personal example of its application. Every project needs a person to become responsible for its outcome. This person is called the project manager.

Project managers are professionals with leadership abilities who are able to effectively communicate with other members of a team. A project can be divided into five processes. These processes are: initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing (Project Management Institute, 2005). In order to complete these jobs a project manager should subdivided the workload into small tasks and then delegate these tasks to different members of the team. It is the responsibility of the project manager to track, control and measure the entire process in order to successfully complete a project.

A managers’ ability to work with a team can be enhanced by using specific techniques to help motivate his team. Three useful techniques are: Essential facilitation skills Rapid Consensus approach Speed and Quality (Lewis, 2007). A project manager must be able to facilitate the transfer of information inside the group. In order to do so he must recognize the abilities and weakness of his players in order to obtain results and avoid conflict. He must observe, listen and ask meaningful questions to learn about his team.

Rapid consensus is way to accelerate the decision making process to save time. The manager must evaluate all the perspectives of his teammates to then make decision based on their opinions and his own insight. Speed and quality concept means that sometimes a rapid decision will not speed of the process in comparison with a quality response. In order for a project manager to induce quality decisions in his team he has to create cohesiveness among them and find a place in which they feel comfortable for brainstorming sessions.

The last project I worked on was remodeling project of my Aunt’s backyard. I took lead in the project and performed the duties of the project manager. There were a total of five people working on this project. The total budget was $800 for materials and labor. Our main tasks were to mow the lawn to then install a gazebo and BBQ in the backyard. Additional tasks included planting seven new species of plants into the garden. We had a one week deadline for the project since my aunt was planning a family reunion in a week.

I created a daily schedule of tasks and delegated different responsibilities after consulting with each member what were their preferences. I divided the project into four phases: grass mowing, purchase of materials, layout configuration and installation, cleanup and gardening. The project was completed on time and within budget. We were a big hit at my aunt’s party since she told everyone we set-up the area. References Lewis, C. (2007). Manage your team consensus. British Journal of Administrative Management, 58, 29.

Retrieved May 27, 2007 from EBSCOhost database. Project Management Institute (2005). Retrieved May 27, 2007 from http://www.pmi.org Webster’s II (1984). New Riverside Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company.