Scientifically Learning The Art Of Project Management
A project is any task which has a clear beginning and ending point - which, in today's world, means that most work consists of a project or series of projects. This is why it is so important that we understand the nature of projects and the tools and techniques necessary to complete them. While training nowadays seems to be compartmentalized into discrete categories such as technology training or management training, project management training must be interdisciplinary because projects by their very nature involve all these skills and more.
As an example, let's look at a software development project. The project, of course, starts with a need for a certain piece of software. This provides the justification needed to begin. Next, the business analyst who is responsible for the relationship with that client will meet with them to determine what exactly they need. The analyst can then write up the requirements. Those can be tested using any of a number of requirements analysis software packages that are available. Once the requirements are finalized and properly documented, the next phase of project management can start.
Any project revolves around resources. These resources have attached costs. Good project management aims at maximizing the returns on the investment made in these resources. Since, each activity in a project has a planned finish date, it is important to continuously monitor and control the activities according to pre-planned timelines. A popular tool used for this purpose consists of project management templates built using worksheet processing softwares. For this reason, project management training should emphasize teaching these worksheet processing softwares.
Two way comunication is very critical to the success of a project . The feedback loop is intended to provide information regarding the status of a project to managers . The project may take more or less time to finish depending on it's curent state . The importance of everyone involved in a project to be trained in communication tools has never been more important than now . Mail software training is only a part of communication . Being updated with the current status and accordingly planning for the future ultimately determines the success of a project .
Projects involve human capital. Allocation of this resource involves placing people capable of doing tasks in logical manner in order to meet the project objectives. Training in this regard must include sessions on human organizational behavior, costing and human resource management and also sessions on quality, value engineering and theory of constraints. These theories are to be imbibed and not just to be read. Hence, training on project management should include tasks which involve application of the key take-away from the sessions.
In recent times, many trainers have started using specially designed computer games to illustrate the project management concepts. these games involve the learner to use project management technology and focus on their approach to training project management concepts. The outcome of such game based training is quantifiable through course assessment. it can be summarized that training should also involve the learner to perform tasks using project management technology and not only traditional project management philosophies.
In sum project management training plays an important role in any company. As in software development the project management starts initially. Computer games are used as one of the project management technology. This game provides an easy way for training. And also these games have advantage as it's attracts more number of people.And finally project management includes most of the things like deciding on resource and cost constraints, time constraints etc. so a proper training helps in development of good product. And good product development will directly lead to organizational development.
Published May 16th, 2007
Filed in Computer
