How do you understand the 10 Knowledge Scope or Areas of Project Management Essay PDF? The project management knowledge areas are essentially what you need to know about effective project management. Whether you’re a project manager studying for your Project Management Professional exam, freshening up your knowledge, or just looking to streamline and understand your project management knowledge; the project management knowledge areas found in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge are a good place to start. The small-scale project at hand involves few project team members and a small budget. Mostly, the project team members comprise individuals with little experience or those that have mostly worked on small-scale projects for some years. The small-scale project does involve a large budget since its deliverables do not complicate and thus require minimal funding.
Here is the article to explain; What are the 10 Different Types of Knowledge Scope or Areas of Project Management Essay PDF?
An example of a small-scale project is the development of a Point of Sale (POS) system. The project does not require a lot of funds and experience among the project team members as well as the project manager. Additionally, the resources required for the project are limited. For example, the project team can work with just computing devices such as computers, internet connection devices, and barcode readers and develop the POS system. What is more, a team of just five project team members can complete the project within a short period. Large-scale projects cover a wide scope and require many resources. These projects require a highly-skilled and experienced project team.
The project manager should have many years of experience in project management to manage such projects since they are complex and require effective resource management. This includes competency in managing the project team effectively to ensure that the project is completed in time and within the stipulated budget. An example of a large-scale project is the development of a social networking website and its mobile applications. In such projects, the project manager should spur the project team to be innovative.
The success of a large-scale project depends on the innovativeness of the project team. On the other hand, the project manager plays a vital role in the project by demonstrating leadership and management skills in the project. He or she is responsible for facilitating effective communication between the project team and other stakeholders. Below we’ll cover each of the 10 knowledge scopes or areas of project management at a high level along with a few of the process groups or action items associated with each of them.
Integration Project Management;
This is the only area of the PMI knowledge area that covers all the parts of project management. It acts as the umbrella that covers and knits all the other scopes or areas together to form the process of the project management and hence determine the deliverables of the project. It is the same for large and small projects. In the POS system project (small-scale project), integration management will involve planning, executing, and implementing the POS systems as per the requirements of retailers. This includes developing the software, testing it, and selling it to retailers.
The POS system sold to retailers will comprise software and bar code readers. The retailers will expect to have their computers. As for the social network project (large-scale project), integration management will include all activities starting from the development of the project to set up the live social network. The project can divide into modules assigned to different teams. These modules will then integrate into the final system. For instance, some project team members will require to develop the Android application of the system while others will be developing the iOS version of the system.
Scope Project Management;
The scope management area defines the boundaries of the project hence determining the limits and requirements of the project. The scope of the project defines before the commencement of the project. The social network project will have wider scopes as compared to the POS system that has a narrow scope. In that regard, the social network project can go further beyond boundaries increasing budget and time resources significantly. For example, developments in the changing social network prism may force the project team to include the latest technology hence widening the project scope. The POS system is not likely to change in terms of scope.
Time or Schedule Project Management;
The time or schedule management knowledge area or scope covers the plan defined to manage the time of project completion. The schedule involves dividing the project into milestones that have time scales. Gantt charts use to manage time by creating visual schedules. Time management is similar in large-scale and small-scale projects. For both the social network and the POS system; time is a factor and consider during the formulation of the plan. Starting this project on a small scale term will require less time compared to beginning it on the large scale. Assembling of materials may be easy on a small scale as it is done manually and only involves paper forms. In the social network project, it might take longer to initiate such a project as it involves programming in line with securing the project.
Cost Project Management;
Project cost management is a critical aspect of project management since it could lead to project delays or even failure of the project if it is not handled carefully. Cost management requires effective planning that includes estimation techniques. This knowledge area is also dependent on schedule since delays increase project costs. Cost management is complex and demanding in large-scale projects as compared to small-scale projects. For instance, the social network project might cost 100 times the amount the POS system would cost. For this reason, there is the need to ensure that large-scale projects’ finances are effectively estimated; because their budget can bulge enormously.
Quality Project Management;
Quality management determines the quality of the deliverables of the project. This knowledge area requires external consultants who task with the responsibility of evaluating the quality of the project. The social network project may require intensive and extensive quality management as compared to small-scale projects. This is because large-scale projects often have high delivery quality as a result of their complex organization. The POS system quality can test by comparing its functionality to the existing POS systems.
Both the social network project (large-scale) and the POS system project (small-scale) require effective requirement specifications to meet high-quality standards. The process knows as quality assurance and is set by authorities such as ISO. Moreover, system/software testing against quality standards is crucial in quality management. This is included in the quality management plan prepared before the commencement of the project.
Human Resource Project Management;
Human resource management is an area that affects both small-scale and large-scale projects. However, large-scale projects comprise diverse project teams with highly-skilled individuals. The social network project will require a lot of human resource management tools and personnel since it comprises a large pool of stakeholders. On the other hand, the POS system does not need intensive human resource management since the project team may comprise less than ten people. Human resource management is mostly influenced by the leadership and management skills of the project manager.
Communications Project Management;
Communication management involves how information disseminates to all the stakeholders of the project. The project manager defines communication strategies before the commencement of the project. Usually, communication involves updating external stakeholders on the milestones of the project; as well as ensuring effective collaboration of the project team. The social network project will require extremely structured communication channels since they involve many stakeholders. For a POS system project, a developer can use social media platforms most preferably WhatsApp to channel important notice to his or her clients. The large-scale version would have message pop-ups in the portal or apps.
Risk Project Management;
Risk management defines methods of preventing, managing and mitigating risks that expect in the course of the project. Usually, a risk register uses in the management and assessment of risks. The register is larger and complex in the social network project. Both small and large scale projects such as the POS system project and the social network project face risks of defaulting; but, the small scale version may be at a higher risk of this menace. For example, the social network project could challenge by innovations by social network companies such as Facebook.
The major risks that face large-scale such as the social network project projects are cost and schedule risks. The project is at risk of failing to complete within the stipulated budget and within the scheduled time; because of common challenges internally and externally. On the other hand, the POS system like other small-scale projects is likely to face performance risks due to a limited budget and probably an inexperienced project team. Both projects face market risks due to competition, strategic risks due to errors and technological changes, and legal risks due to changes in legal systems.
Procurement Project Management;
Procurement management determines the quality of the deliverables as well as the success of the project. This is because the quality of the resources used for the project will have a direct impact on the project deliverables. The social network project will involve the acquisition of many and expensive resources hence requires a procurement team. The POS system project does not have a procurement team since the project manager can handle the procurement process by consulting the project team on what needs for the project. For both projects, the procurement project is transparent since it conducts through contractual agreements. However, there is the need to conduct a cost-benefit analysis, risk analysis, and cost-utility analysis before procuring project resources.
Stakeholder Project Management;
Stakeholder management managing by the top management of an organization in collaboration with the program manager and the project manager for large-scale projects. For small-scale projects, it is conducted by the project manager. Stakeholders must satisfy with the project direction. For this reason, they must actively manage like other parts of the project. For example, the POS system project requires the management of project team members, the sponsor, and the client. As well as For the social network project, stakeholder management should be strategic and must conduct collaboratively by the organization’s CIO, program manager, and project manager.
References; Different Areas of Project Management. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/project-management/different-areas-of-project-management-6786.php?vref=1
