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ADULTS – Project Management vs Product Development
Project Management
Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. It is the proactive management of a project to help increase the likelihood that the project will be successful.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) has created the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK 4.0) which serves as “best practices” to be used for all projects, regardless of the project type or the industry. However, the appropriate project management guidelines should be reviewed and customized for each project to be sure there is enough structure to add value but not too much that it bogs down the project team unnecessarily.
So, a construction project will have similar project management guidelines applied to it as a software development project. There may be more or less guidelines applied, but overall the project management is going to be similar on both types of projects.
For example, the process groups involved in Project Management for both projects (construction and software) may include: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing.
In addition, the knowledge areas involved in Project Management for both projects (construction and software) may include: Integration, Scope, Time (schedule), Cost, Quality, Human Resources (people), Communications, Risk, and Procurement (purchasing).
Product Development
While project management focuses on the management of a project, product development focuses on the development of a product. Yet, there is a subset between the two that may overlap (see image).
For the most part, the project management guidelines used on projects should be similar (more or less) even if they are applied to very different types of projects. This is typically not the case for product development. Each type of “product” may have its own development approach.
For example, the development of a new computer might include: Concept, Feasibility, Definition, Implementation, Beta Testing, Deployment.
Or, the development of a new software application might include: Define, Design, Develop, Deliver.
Finally, the development of a new house might include: Plan, Design, Construct, Inspect, Close.
Well, you get the idea.
ADULTS – Project and Project Management Description
Definition of a Project
According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. The temporary nature of projects indicates a definite beginning and end.
Types of Projects
A unique product that is created via a project could be a new mobile application for the iPhone. A unique service delivered as a project could be the service labor involved in landscaping the front yard of a new house. A unique result from a project could be streamlining the business processes for creating and supporting a product in order to reduce costs.
There are many different types of projects but the most important from Cognitra’s perspective includes preparing students for home projects (Ex. Making a new shirt), school projects (Ex. Working with other students to create a team presentation), volunteer projects (Ex. Getting more food for the local food shelf), and work projects (Ex. Figuring out how to spend less time making a good pizza for customers).
Definition of Project Management
Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements.
Project Management Process Groups
There are five (5) major project management process groups (more information will be in another post under Overview):
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Monitoring and Controlling
- Closing
Project Management Knowledge Areas
There are nine (9) major project management knowledge areas (more information will be in another post under Overview):
- Integration
- Scope
- Time
- Cost
- Quality
- Human Resource
- Communications
- Risk
- Procurement
Project Management and Operations Management
Operations management is different than project management. Operations management activities are permanent endeavors (not temporary) that produce repetitive outputs, with resources assigned to do basically the same set of tasks. An example is manufacturing operations where the same type of product is produced over and over again each day.
Project Manager
The project manager is the person assigned to run the project and achieve the specific project objectives.
Project Management Learning Goal
The goal is to start out with very simple project management concepts when children are young and get more sophisticated as the age of the student progresses. Each lesson should build on the one before it. If we teach kids how to manage projects when they are young, over time they should get much better at managing projects. Attaining these project management skills at an early age should help in school, at home, volunteering, and eventually at work.