Chapter 3

The Project Management Process Group: A Case Study

Project management is an integrative endeavor; decisions and action taken in one knowledge area at certain time usually affect other knowledge areas.

As we know a process is a series of actions directed toward a particular result. In project management there are also numbers of related processes, the project management process groups include:
— Initiating processes
— Planning processes
— Executing processes
— Monitoring and controlling processes
— Closing processes

1) Project initiation

It is developed by recognizing and starting a new project or project phase. The main goal is to formally select and start off projects. The key outputs include:
— Assigning the project manager
— Identifying key stakeholders
— Completing a business case
— Completing a project charter and getting signatures on it

2) Project planning

As for its main purpose of project planning is to guide execution process. The key outputs included in the JWD project include:
— A team contract
— A project scope statement
— A work breakdown structure (WBS)
— A project schedule, in the form of a Gantt chart with all dependencies and resources entered
— A list of prioritized risks (part of a risk register)

3) Project execution

Project managers must use their leadership skills to handle the many challenges that occur because it is usually takes the most time and resources to perform project it. A milestone report can help focus on completing major milestones

4) Project Monitoring & Controlling

Involves measuring progress toward project objectives, monitoring deviation from the plan, and taking correction actions. Outputs include performance reports, requested changes, and updates to various plans.

5) Closing
Involves gaining stakeholder and customer acceptance of the final products and services .Even if projects are not completed, they should be closed out to learn from the past. Outputs include project archives and lessons learned, part of organizational process assets