“Project Management” is the term given to “all management tasks that are required to primarily obtain a workable end product, and to actually perform that work.” The management effort is often even referred to as the “activity”. It makes sense that as the activities occur, a product is built or a service is provided, why would any specific process not be included? In project management there are a number of tasks, but the first is definitely the creation of project plans. Agile method use a planing process where the project activities are laid out in a sequence; New scope is first; requirements are gathered and applicable plans for the project are chosen. The plan that is being built is again a product, as outlined on a PRINCE2 Foundation London .
A product is a result, a created existence, or a thing that exists or “has been created.” Products can fulfill a need or be an input. A product may be either physical, virtual or informational. The process of project management is simply the “creation of a product”. Creating a “product” may often be new. It may be a new idea, a new project or a new product. Basically, it is project management.
Products, even a new idea, need to be nurtured before it can grow into something useful. New products, whether an idea or a product, need a plan that can move them into the market or into production. This in turn is what the sales department is for. The dream of a product seems like a good product that can be tried, but does it have the potential to be “your product”? Is there a market for it? Does it fill a need to make your business grow? Does it satisfy a perceived need? Does it meet a perceived desire?
Not all products will meet these tests, and almost never does a product after meeting the stated “need” criteria. Projects that are meant to build companies need a plan that can successfully adapt to the changes in the business environment. This requires a viable and achievable organization design. The product or the product component in the idea is the core of the organization, yet the organization design needs to be able to support other components. A new project can be a product, but after a successful turn-around the product may be money, or human or intellectual capital, or a combination.
Types of products – physical / biological, chemical / physical, mechanical / demonstrate
Products can be physical or biological. Means of production or the products themselves. Are they important in that the making process is created? Physical products versus providing services (tangible or intangible)
Organization design (or product design) enables a project to be accomplished by taking into account a market assessment of the customer. It turns the “idea” into adescribed product/service. It can also be described as a scientific or mathematical process from idea to product that can be certified by a particular entity outside of the company of the actual product production or engineering. Does the design satisfy a need or desire of the users?
The management of the project, tasks and infrastructure is the domain of the project management discipline or organization design. The services of project management profession are seen to be more valuable to an organization than other disciplines. P. L. Berard, et. al., Project Management: Concepts and Fundamentals ( divid.into el. Chemicals).
Projects can run the gamut. They can be organized into a myriad of sub-projects, of varying intensity, with varying durations, costs and priority. The question is how to identify the need or the desire or the goal? With so many project management resources available, like PMP, PMP Certification, PRINCE 2 and PMP Board, there can be no correct answer.
Read More: PRINCE2 Project Management application
