The Need for Project Management
Project management is a particular concept of management applied
to project-type work. It is a concept which is being widely promoted,
although it is not always very well understood by those in need
of the service, or even those involved in the many aspects of this
form of management. However, as experience is gained and understanding
of the concept and the many supportive management techniques improves,
so do performance and support, generally. The driving
forces arise from the pressure of such factors as unfavorable short-term
economic conditions, risks inherent in unpredictable inflationary
trends, the magnitude and duration of projects (particularly in
construction), and increasing regulatory and environmental requirements,
as a result of political pressures.
Such uncertainties make the project management approach particularly
appropriate for owners intending to invest in significant capital
works. Properly applied, project management enables an owner to
maintain both executive control and open options for as long as
possible to respond to external conditions.
This is achieved by dealing through a single entity, the project
team, which in turn is led by an individual dedicated to the project,
or to project work, and identified as the project manager. This
team should be established early in the development of the project
concept and be given responsibility for the complete project life
cycle from feasibility; through schematics, design, procurement;
to delivery and start-up. In this way, managerial unity is established
early in the project, with the capability of achieving specific
goals through a practical organizational structure.
Thus the owner avoids becoming intricately involved with the design
and construction specialists and in the very time-consuming details
necessary to create new facilities. In short, he is able to continue
to concentrate on his primary business with minimum interruption
to his own organization.
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Introduction
