Project management is a useful tool to handle complex activities when an organization intends to bring new projects on stream and into the market. Over time, organizations have adopted the use of project management with the launch of complex problems that inevitably become referred to as projects. Moreover, the success of the project management always depends on the success of the launched project. However, the time has shown that the success of project management is not dependent on the success of the project as the objectives of the project management team and the project are different ("Chapter 2.4", 2016). Further, an organization can achieve a successful project even when the project management team has failed. Based on this, the success of the project management team depends on the project management framework which comprises of the planning, organizing and the allocation of resources to reach the project objectives and outcomes. The role of this paper, therefore, will be to discuss the concept of project management framework while highlighting its values and benefits in the organization. Evidently, while many organizations launch different projects to achieve their objectives, project management framework defines the roles and responsibilities that the project management team can apply to all the projects in the organization.
Project Management Framework
Project management entails the systematic planning, organizing, and the allocation of resources to enable an organization to reach project objectives and outcomes. Under the project management framework, it comprises of the sets of standard project management processes which can be used to initiate, plan, execute, and close a project ("Chapter 2.4", 2016). The presence of the project management framework in place ensures that the project management team has optimal decision making, communication, and coordination processes during the entire project. Further, the project management framework contributes to governance and management rigor resulting in more efficient use of corporate resources ("Chapter 2.4", 2016).
Importance of Project Management Framework in an organization
When an organization manages their projects with a consistent set of project management tools they realize several benefits. Through the use of a project management framework, first, it allows for consistency throughout the corporation (Naybour, 2013). Often, the best-planned projects can fall apart if the team did not come up with proper planning. However, through the project management framework, it can reduce the work spent by half because of a consistent way of handling projects. Indeed, the presence of tools and coordination processes adds a lot of control and precision to the process and the results. Second, the project management framework enables all stakeholders in the project management team to understand clearly the scope of the project they are involved within the organization (Naybour, 2013). Therefore, the lack of confusion during the project phase facilitates the smooth running of the project and the overall achieving of better results. Indeed, the presence of project management framework reduces doubts and questions in anyone’s mind regarding any aspect of the project.
Third, the project management framework enables for collaboration since all the participants involved in the project management process understands the steps that they should take during the project (Naybour, 2013). Further, the team understands the problems they might encounter, and the results, as the level of collaboration and understanding between the participants is much better. The team members also collaborate effectively as the project management framework reduces the scope for doubts and confusion in their minds regarding the nature of the project and its elements. Fourth, the framework leads to continuity as all projects in the organization follows the same approach (Naybour, 2013). As a result, the project management framework ends up improving the learning curve for the new participants, and it also strengthens the concepts of the experienced members of the team. Therefore, when the team completes one projects successfully and begins another one, the framework adds a certain amount of continuity to the transition because all projects follow the same structure and go through the same process.
Fifth, the project management framework improves the capability of the team to perform the complicated projects and tasks (Naybour, 2013). Evidently, through project management framework, the project manager approaches complex and complicated projects and processes by breaking them into smaller, more straightforward, and clear tasks. When the organization later moves to more significant and complicated procedures, it achieves this through training and mental clarity provided by the project management framework, which makes it possible to handle even the most complicated projects with ease (Naybour, 2013). Overall, such a process improves the members and organizational capability in delivering quality and efficient results without putting substantial extra work. Lastly, the project management framework enhances communication. One of the biggest impediment to a successful project is the lack of communication between the team members (Naybour, 2013). Some of the project management teams comprise of diverse members, people with different intellectual capabilities, and workers from various departments. As a result, the level of knowledge in some situations during the project can vary. However, the project management framework deals with this challenges as every member of the team becomes aware of why the project is approached, what it entails and the expected results. In the end, this improves the level of communication in the team which enables the achievement of the project goals (Naybour, 2013).
The Five Phases of Project Management Framework
In the modern world, the success of any projects requires the presence of a project manager (PM) to execute the different phases of the project. Indeed, the Project Management Professional (PMP) has the necessary knowledge to perform the five stages of project management thereby boosting the overall success ("Demystifying the 5 Phases of Project Management", 2018). The five phases of project management include the following. First, project conception and initiation. Second, planning. Third, execution. Fourth, performance and monitoring. Fifth, project closing ("Demystifying the 5 Phases of Project Management", 2018). The Project Management Institute (PMI) came up with the phases for all the project management professionals. In project initiation, the goal is to define the project at a broad level with the project manager researching the feasibility of the project. The stakeholders conduct their research to determine whether the project should proceed. Project planning entails coming up with a roadmap for everyone to follow ("Demystifying the 5 Phases of Project Management", 2018). At this stage, it begins with setting SMART and CLEAR goals.
Clear goals stand for Collaborative, Limited, Emotional, Appreciable, and Refinable goals. Indeed the goals should encourage the employees to work together, should be limited in scope, they should form an emotional connection with the employees, and they should be flexible to adapt to the needs of the project ("Demystifying the 5 Phases of Project Management", 2018). Moreover, under clear goals, they should be breakable to smaller tasks for ease of completion. Under project execution, it entails informing the teams involved in their responsibilities. Often, it is the meat of the project as a lot of things happen at this stage ("Demystifying the 5 Phases of Project Management", 2018). Project monitoring is the fourth phase, where the manager checks the project progression and performance thereby ensuring that everything aligns well with the project management plan. Lastly, project closure represents the completed project with all contracts hired to complete the project terminated at this time.
Requirements to become Project Management Professional
As a project manager, the highest level of certification that one can obtain is the Project Management Professional (PMP). Project Management Professionals are found in most countries across the globe, and they often lead successful projects, unlike other professions whose primary focus in on specific geography ("Project Management Professional Certification", 2018). As a PMP, one can work in any industry, and they provide a significant advantage when it comes to salary and the earning potential. In a salary survey conducted to check PMI’s earning power, it indicated that the people with PMP certification had a 20% earning potential than those without the PMP certification ("Project Management Professional Certification", 2018). The employees also benefit when their managers have the PMP certification. In such a case, the organization always complete its projects on time, on a budget, and they meet their original goals. For one to become a Project Management Professional, they must have a secondary degree, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent of the same. Moreover, one should have completed 7500 hours leading and direct projects and 35 hours of project management education ("Project Management Professional Certification", 2018). Furthermore, a person that has achieved a four-year degree course from a recognized university, 4500 hours leading and directing projects, and 35 hours of project management education also stand a higher chance of becoming a certified PMP.
References
Chapter 2.4: Project Management Framework. (2016). Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-634-x/2016001/section2/chap4-eng.htm
Demystifying the 5 Phases of Project Management. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.smartsheet.com/blog/demystifying-5-phases-project-management
Naybour, P. (2013). Six reasons to use a project management framework?. Retrieved from https://www.parallelprojecttraining.com/blog/six-reasons-use-project-management-framework/
Project Management Professional Certification | PMP. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/project-management-pmp
