Engineering Project Management (IENG300)

Chapter 1
Modern Project Management

Dr. Bassam Hussein

 What is a Project?
• A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique
product, service or result. A project must not be repetitive work.

• Major Characteristics of a Project:

– Established objectives.
– Defined life span.
– Working in cross functional teams.
– Introducing something new.
– Specific time, cost & performance requirements.

• Program vs. Project: A program is a group of related projects

designed to accomplish a common goal over an extended period of
time.

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 Project Life Cycle

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 The Challenge of PM
• Project Managers:

– Plan, schedule, motivate, track and control.

– Manage temporary non-repetitive activities to complete a project.
– Manage project teams, customers, performance, trade-offs & risks.

• Factors leading to increased use of PM:

– Compression of the product life cycle.

– Knowledge explosion.
– Triple bottom line (planet, people, profit).
– Corporate downsizing.
– Increased customer focus.
– Small projects that represent big problems.
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 PM Integrative Approach
• An overview of all project management activities.

• Resources assignment.

• Risk assessment.

• Performance improvement.

• Communication with upper management.

• Portfolio management through a project office (PO).

• Project’s technical dimension represents the “science” of project

management while the sociocultural dimension represents the “art” of
managing a project.

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