Over the last decades, Information Technology has become a key engine of operating efficiency due to its continuous further development and innovation. Thus successful project management became an important factor as well.
In essence, IT projects are often characterized by high complexity, which is inter alia due to a constantly increasing complexity of IT systems themselves as well as links among one another. Apart from the project’s objective, such as the successful migration of a software platform, the development of efficient software tools or even creating a website, there are other factors that have an impact on the project’s progress and on its success. Sometimes their significance is underestimated. In our blog series “project management” we’d like to give you an insight into our daily work as project managers. Your feedback, questions and suggestions are of course welcome.
Part 1: Project and Project Management
Projects can be found in many areas, e.g. aerospace, military, architecture, IT, etc. Although the examples occasionally seem to be quiet new territory, project management is neither today’s invention nor yesterday’s. It’s been practiced for hundreds of years. To proof this statement, we have to take a look at the definition of both projects and project management.
In general, a project is an undertaking that meets unique goals and objectives. It is usually realized to achieve advantageous changes or added value considering three main factors: budget, time and quality; consequently, project management describes the realization of projects including initiation, definition, planning, management and completion. Projects are organized, coordinated as well as monitored using specific techniques and tools.
Even these few characteristics lead to the assumption that there must have been a form of project management in early civilization, e.g. when people have built the first pyramids or aqueducts. Since the 1950s – referred to as the beginning of the modern Project Management era, people have started using and developing specific techniques and tools to manage and realize complex projects. Nowadays there are quite a lot approaches for managing projects – also different ones within specific areas. But all they have in common is a careful consideration of the three main factors mentioned above as well as responsibilities of all project participants and stakeholders.
Next time we will give you a general overview over different procedure models. We look forward to welcoming you as reader of our upcoming entry. Please do not hesitate to leave a comment by using the form below or sending us an e-mail to office@speicher210.de.
