| The principles of effective project management are | | | | established in literature that it should not be regarded |
| potentially applicable to any project type across | | | | as one man task since it requires other individuals and |
| different industries. It has been established that the | | | | their competencies that are grouped together and who |
| basis of these principles have been designed so as to | | | | are dedicated to achieving the particular objectives of |
| accommodate variety of tasks and industries but still | | | | the project (Pinkerton, 2003). One of the criticisms on |
| fine tuning is required during the course of certain | | | | project management literature development is its |
| projects (Papers4you.com, 2006). According to | | | | concentration and focus towards the 'hard' aspects of |
| Davidson (2002), the origin of project management | | | | the change while neglecting the 'soft' aspects. The |
| can be traced back to the post World War II era in | | | | school of thought that believes in blending both hard |
| which new efficient developments started taking place | | | | and soft issues to build upon project management |
| across the triad i.e. the US, Europe and Japan. | | | | techniques is growing. |
| Projects are formally defined by Cleland and Gareis | | | | It can be concluded that project management skills and |
| (1994), as the process that transforms and | | | | process although are generalized for any type of |
| unsatisfactory state of affairs into better state within | | | | project within any industry but these are more |
| certain time and resources limit. The literature within the | | | | appropriate for some than others. Levine (2002) has |
| domain of this subject has accepted the fact that | | | | suggested that weather an organization is involved in |
| orientation towards project based approach is | | | | managing projects or not in the traditional sense, but it |
| concentrated within few industries due to their inherent | | | | requires the management of its assets and PM |
| characteristics. Drawing upon Krezner (2001), it can be | | | | provides overall process and skills needed to achieve |
| elaborated that those industries that are project-driven | | | | any change objectives. |
| like construction and aerospace, needs more rigorous | | | | References: |
| project specifications. The evolution of PM process | | | | Cleland, D.I., Gareis, R. (Eds) (1994), "Global Project |
| has started from such industries and has permeated | | | | Management Handbook", McGraw-Hill International |
| into others with differing levels (Papers4you.com, | | | | Editions |
| 2006). Its applications, concepts and methods have | | | | Davidson, Frame, (2002), "Tools for an age of rapid |
| been broadened for its uses for all the industries. | | | | change, complexity and other business realities", San |
| The development of standardized procedures for | | | | Francisco, California: Wiley & Sons, Inc. (US) |
| project management has been the centre of | | | | Kerzner, Harold, (2001), "A systems approach to |
| discussion for many years and in today's world there | | | | planning, scheduling and controlling", New York: Wiley & |
| are many well known such standards. Project | | | | Sons, Inc. (US) |
| Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and | | | | Levine, Harvey, (2002), "Practical project management, |
| Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE), are two | | | | tips, tactics and tools", New York: Wiley & Sons, Inc |
| of the most widely used standards applicable to any | | | | Meredith, J.R., Mantel, S.J. (1995), "Project Management: |
| nature of project in any industry (Meredith & Mantel, | | | | A Managerial Approach", John Wiley & Sons, New |
| 1995). At the same time there has been constructive | | | | York, NY |
| work in the development of industry specific project | | | | Papers For You (2006) "P/M/400. Project |
| management processes and methodologies so as the | | | | management in theory and in practice", Available from |
| particular needs of each industry can be taken care of. | | | | [22/06/2006] |
| The role of project manager is seen central to the | | | | Papers For You (2006) "P/M/365. Dissertation. |
| process of project management but it has been | | | | |