Chapter 16
Project Management Skills
Study Guide
Chapter overview
This chapter looks at project management and the skills vital to your ability to complete a
project or a dissertation. Project management skills are also valuable at work.
What is covered in this chapter?
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understanding the whole project process
understanding the project lifecycle
using the project triangle to manage projects
developing an awareness of project scope and how to manage it
how to define a project
how to plan the detail of projects
how to develop and use work breakdown structure charts
creating timelines with Gantt charts, network diagrams and critical path analysis
using communication matrices
choosing project management software
Additional chapter activities
[There are no additional activities in this chapter.]
Learning diary reflections
This chapter is concerned with project management and its associated skills. All managers
need a basic set of project management skills to organise and control teamworking. As with
earlier chapters, it takes time and reflection to develop these skills. Learning diaries are a
good place to express your thoughts and reflections. In this chapter you might want to think
and reflect on:
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Do I like the logic and control of project management?
Does thinking logically suit my style of thinking?
What do I think about the level of precision required for project management?
What were my experiences and thoughts when carrying out a project management
role?
What do my colleagues think about my skills as a project manager?
How effective was the last project I managed or contributed to managing?
What are the politics of project management?
Do I feel comfortable with the level of politics involved in managing a project?
Why are project teams so difficult to manage?
Why do most projects run over time and over budget?
Would I like a job as a project manager?
Test your learning
Multiple choice questions
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The project lifecycle consists of…
evaluating, defining, planning, implementing, closing
planning, defining, implementing, closing, evaluating
evaluating, implementing, defining, planning, closing
defining, planning, implementing, closing, evaluating
According to The Business Skills Handbook, the project triangle consists of what aspects?
people, time, money
scope, time, money
people, stakeholders, money
stakeholders, time, money
According to The Business Skills Handbook, increasing any aspect of the project
increases…
time
cost
quality
scope
Which of the following are stakeholders in your dissertation? (tick all that apply)
you
your tutor
research subjects
the university
RiBS charts set out the project details of…
resources
risks
skills
tasks
Critical path analysis calculates…
the need for slack in the timescale
the maximum time to complete
the minimum time to complete
the elements that are likely to run over time
Please refer to the ‘Study Guide: Answers’ document, also on the student support site, for
answers to all of the quizzes in the study guides.
Reflective question
A lot of planning and organising goes into every successful project. Why do you think
projects go wrong, run over budget or over time?
Make a list of the things you feel could damage the progress of projects and list them in the
form of a RiBS chart, as on page 414.
Chapter summary
Project management skills are vital to business. Try to develop these before you carry out
your dissertation.
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Understand the project lifecycle:
o defining
o planning
o implementing
o closing
o evaluating.
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Understand the nature of project scope and how an increase in scope increases other
areas of the project. The project triangle helps to control the scope of the following
elements:
o people
o time
o money.
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The project process consists of various stages:
o defining the project
o stakeholder management
o definition of deliverables
o planning the project
o using other breakdown structures, such as resources and risk.
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Develop accurate and visual timelines using:
o Gantt charts
o critical path analysis.
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Communicate to all interested parties using a communications matrix.
For larger and more complex projects use project software:
o Microsoft Project
o PRINCE2.
Chapter web links
Project Management Institute: http://www.pmi.org.uk/
The Association for Project Management: http://www.apm.org.uk/
Project Management Today: http://www.projectnet.com/