Research Paper on Practices of Project Management in the Workplace

The phrase project management refers to the discipline of initiating, controlling, planning, executing as well as the closing of work performed by a team to attain specific goals and fulfill specific success criteria (Bolles & Hubbard, 2007). Also, in itself, a project is an endeavor designed to achieve a unique product or result within a defined time frame. A good project management is important as it aids in the successful attainment of an organizations preset goals. As such, a competent manager must have the potential to implement the theoretical knowledge of project management learned in school to real life situations. An effective project manager must also know the skills that are required at the management level in order to make a progression from the project management theory to practice.

Project Management at the Workplace

In an organization, project management is employed by project leaders, supervisors and other persons with authority over the execution of a given project. There is a number of reasons as to why project management is employed by such leaders. First, project management aids in attaining a better efficiency in the implementation of a project. This is because a project management provides the project stakeholders with a desirable map that should be followed from the start to the completion of a project. This way, the project stakeholders can identify possible challenges that could affect the implementation of a project and in turn, devise possible solutions for the anticipated challenges.

Second, project management aids in enhancing the level of customers satisfaction at the workplace. This is because it allows the project leaders to ensure that an organizations project is completed on time. Consequently, the customers who stand to benefit from such projects attain satisfaction from using the processes or products developed through the project. Consequently, this promotes the level of manager and customers business relationship in the organization. Third, proper project management aids in the attainment of an enhanced effectiveness in the delivery of products and services. Subsequently, this aids in promoting the level of customers loyalty for an organizations products and services.

Additionally, a good project management helps in the attainment of an improved growth as well as development within a project team. This is because a good project leader uses effective project management skills, to inspire his/her projects team. Subsequently, this results in an improvement in performance of the projects team, and ultimately, the attainment of a high-quality execution of the project. Moreover, good project management aids an organization in attaining a greater standing or a competitive edge in a target market. This is because potential clientele to an organization, such as suppliers and customers, are always attracted to superior performance in the marketplace.

Moreover, good project management creates better flexibility for an organization. It is arguably among the greatest benefits of executing project management. This is because it allows a project manager to map out a strategy that he/she may like to be implemented to see a project completed. Additionally, a good project management can allow project managers to discover better or smatter directions to take to improve the outcome of the project. This ensures that only the best results are secured when executing a specified project. Furthermore, project managers can implement a good project management plan to aid in attaining an increased assessment of risk.

This is because, with a good project management, a project manager can be able to identify any potential risk that may hinder a timely completion of the project. Moreover, a good project management leads and increased level of opportunities for expanding an organizations products and services. This is because a great performance through effective project execution leads to more opportunities for an organization to succeed. Moreover, an increased level of effectiveness of a project through proper project management goes hand-in-hand with an elevation of the quality of an organizations products and services. There are four primary project management strategies that managers can use when executing a project.

Common Project Management Strategies Used at the Workplace

Waterfall Method

This is a linear approach to project management where a project manager ascertains the requirements of given project (Wingate, 2014). On the other hand, a developer designs the project while the rest of project members assemble all the pieces of the project management plan together. Later, the project manager integrates the project into the organizations functions for testing and debugging. Ultimately, once the project being executed is considered ready, the management team implements the project and later a manager is appointed to maintain the completed project.

Agile Approach

In this form of project management strategies, a project manager does not develop the project in sequential pieces. Instead, a version of the project, which must be at a level that can be implemented is presented to an organizations management for its evaluation (Unhelkar, 2016). The project management team then develops suggestions for improving the project. This is followed by a remodeling of the first project by the project developers, through incorporating the suggestions for its improvement. This process continues until the perfect project is attained.

Six Sigma

This is a project management methodology that is appropriate for management projects that can be measured with precision (Morgan & Brenig-Jones, 2015). It involves the determination of any deviations from total perfection in a project and later addressing the causes of such deviations. A project manager can attain this by defining, measuring, analyzing and controlling the project when it is in the development and implementation phases. This is with the primary goal of achieving the exact results that are desirable in the project, with very little or no variation from perfection.

Kanban Technique

In this project management method, a project manager uses a white board containing sticky notes that are placed in each of the three columns. The columns are then labeled "in the queue," "in progress" as well as "recently completed" (Leopold & Kaltenecker, 2015). In addition, the sticky notes contain a brief description of the projects tasks. This is meant to inform the projects team pertaining the tasks that are coming up, those being worked on as well as those that have been executed. In the event a project stakeholder brings in a new task, the project manager can determine where the task belongs on the projects Kanban board.

When Project Management Should Be employed at the Workplace

There are several instances when project management should be used in the workplace. First, they can be used when the management team desires results, especially the deliverables, so as to be successful in its attainment of goals and objectives. Moreover, project management should be used to keep the execution of an ongoing project on the right track. This is important because without a project management plan, it not easy to get indications of deviations in a project, away from the desired outcome. Ultimately, project management should be implemented to ensure that the desired time of completing a project has been kept. This is imperative in maintaining the loyalty of the organizations stakeholders such the customers and suppliers among others.

Implementing Class Lessons About Project Management to an Actual Business Project

Project management is a primary subject taught in most business courses in higher learning institutions. This is because it is essential in offering vital skills to future business leaders on managing key projects in an organization. As such, the knowledge of implementing what is learned in class to an actual business setting is of paramount importance to business managers. The use of the six phases of implementing project management is among the most effective way that managers can use to translate what is learned in class about project management to their business operations. These are six phases include the initiation, definition, design, development, implementation as well as the follow-up phase (Hamilton, 2004).

In the initiation phase, a project manager uses the skills of projected management learned in class in structuring a business proposal. Such a proposal defines the business plan as well as the sources of financing for the planned business project. Also, it marks the beginning of the project and also provides an examination of the projects feasibility. On the other hand, in the definition phase, managers can use their theoretical skills gained in class in formulating the expectations of the project. In the definition phase, the project manager should also outline the expectations of all the stakeholders involved in the project. In this case, the project manager must clearly outline the preconditions, design limitations, functional requirements as well as operational requirements of the project.

Additionally, in the design phase, project managers can use their intellectual abilities attained in class in developing an efficient sketch or design for their project. Also, depending on the nature of the business project intended for implementation, a project design can include photo impressions, flow charts, dioramas, UML schemas, prototypes, site trees as well as HTML screen designs. Additionally, such components of a project design act as guides to effective project implementation. Moreover, a good project manager should structure multiple designs to be used for the project. In addition, after developing such designs, the manager together with his/her team of project designers should determine the best design that should be implemented for the project. Moreover, the selection of such designs should be based on the best-expected results from the project if each proposed design is to be implemented.

On the other hand, in the development phase, by using class skills in project management, a project manager can arrange all the requirements needed to implement a project. In this phase, a project manager should also bring in all the potential subcontractors as well as suppliers to be involved in the implementation of the project. At this stage, the project manager should also be able to create a schedule for the project, order tools and materials relevant to the project and then issue instructions to all the personnel who will participate in the implementation of the project. The development phase should be then followed by the implementation phase. This phase entails the construction of the actual result of the project.

Moreover, at the implementation phase, a project manager should use the skills of project management learned in class to organize the activities of all stakeholders involved in the execution of the project. For instance, a project manager can ensure that the programmers working on a project are occupied or ensure that the designs working on graphic materials are performing their roles. At this phase, proper management of all the activities of the project being undertaken by different stakeholders is of paramount importance. This is because it ensures a timely and successful attainment of the desired project results. Ultimately, the final phase that a manager must use the project management skills learned in class in implementing a business project is the foll...