BOOK REVIEW: PROJECT MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 6
The authors motivation for writing this text is to provide for our students a text
built around a holistic, integrative view of project management. A holistic view of project
management focuses on how projects contribute to the strategic goals of the
organization. The linkages for integration include the process of selection of projects
that best support organizational strategy and all the technical and managerial processes
to complete those projects. The goals for prospective project managers are to clearly
understand the role of a project in their organizations and to master project
management tools/techniques and interpersonal skills necessary to orchestrate projects
to completion.
The role of projects in organization is receiving increasing attention. Projects are
becoming the major tools for reaching the strategic goals of the organization. Given
savage worldwide competition, many organizations have reorganized around a
philosophy of innovation, renewal and organizational learning to survive. Project
Management has developed to the point where it is a professional discipline having its
own body of knowledge and skills. Today it is nearly impossible to imagine anyone at
any level in the organization who would not benefit from some degree of expertise in the
process of managing projects.
This text is written for a wide audience, Students and prospective project
managers will find the text useful to understand why organizations have developed a
formal project management process to gain a competitive advantage. Readers will find
the concepts and techniques discussed in enough detail to be immediately useful in
new project situations.
Given this managerial perspective, we have arranged the book to use the project
life cycle as the primary organizational guidelines. For our introductory chapter, we
comments it on the role and importance of projects in our society and discusses project
management as a potential career for aspiring managers, the book covers the major
events and issues arising during the management of a project in the order in which they
usually occur in the life of a project. Part I Project initiation describes how projects are
selected for implementation. It also covers the role of the project manager, the various
ways that projects can be organized, and the special requirements for managing, a
cross cultural project. It is followed by a description of the project planning process and
some tools used in project planning. Part I concludes with a topic of major importance to
the project manager negotiation.
Project budgeting, scheduling, resource allocation, monitoring/information
systems and controlling are discussed in Part I Project Implementation. Finally, Part III
Project Termination concludes the discussion with a description of project auditing and
termination.
I. INTRODUCTION

Bibliographic information

Title Project management

Authors Marivic F. Flores, Angelita Ong Serrano

Publisher Unlimited Books Library Services & Publishing, 2015

ISBN 9719654112, 9789719654117

Length 372 pages

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DR. MARIVIC F. FLORES holds the distinction of being awarded as one of the
Outstanding Faculty of the Management and Finance Department of Pamantasan ng
Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). Dr. Flores obtained her degree in Bachelor in Business
Administration and Doctor in Business Administration from Polytechnic University of the
Philippines (PUP). Dr. Flores assumed various administrative positions in ME, PLM, like
College Secretary and Department Chairman of different department such as
Management, Finance and Marketing. Alongside teaching and doing some research
work, shr continued to be an adviser and consultant of various firms especially on
issues of organization, management and development.
A self-motivated and multitalented educator, Prof. Angelita Ong Camilar-Serrano
graduated from De La Salle University- Taft as a scholar of Coca-Cola Foundation. She
completed her Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Business Administration with
honors (Jose Rizal Awardee). Now she is writing her dissertation in its final stage to
complete her Doctorate in Business Administration in Pamantasan g Lungsod ng
Maynila (PLM), where she is also currently teaching as an Assistant Professor. She
teaches Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Finance subjects in PLM, De
La Salle-College of St. Benilde and Far Eastern University. She was the former Chief of
Staff to the President of PLM during the time of President Adel A. Tamano. She had the
opportunity to also hold various academic positions like Department Chair of
Management and Finance Department, Department Chair of Marketing and
Entrepreneurship and College Secretary of the College of Management and
Entrepreneurship. She had advised Entrepreneur students in Best Business Idea and
Development Award (BIDA) given by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(PCCI) who won as finalists. Aside from being an educator, she is a researcher, a
research adviser, an entrepreneur, a seminar speaker and a business consultant.
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Project management is the process of planning, organizing, executing, and
controlling a project to achieve specific goals and objectives. Project management
involves defining the scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risks of the project, as well
as assigning roles and responsibilities to the project team and stakeholders. Project
management also requires monitoring and reporting the progress and performance of
the project, as well as managing any changes or issues that may arise. Project
management is essential for delivering successful projects that meet the expectations
and needs of the customers and sponsors.

II. SUMMARY OF THE CONTENT

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques
to achieve specific goals within a defined scope, time and budget. Chapter 6, Project
activity planning is the process of identifying and organizing the tasks and resources
needed to achieve a specific goal within a given time frame. It involves defining the
scope, objectives, deliverables, milestones, dependencies, roles and responsibilities,
budget and schedule of the project. Project activity planning helps to ensure that the
project is realistic, feasible and aligned with the expectations of the stakeholders. It also
helps to monitor and control the project progress and performance, as well as to identify
and manage risks and issues that may arise during the project execution.
A project charter is a document that summarizes the main aspects of a project,
such as its objectives, scope, and responsibilities. It is used to get approval from the
project sponsor and other stakeholders before starting the project. A project charter is
an important tool for initiating and planning a project, as it provides a clear direction and
a common understanding of the project among all parties involved. It also empowers the
project manager to lead the project and make decisions within the scope of the charter.
A project charter should be concise, clear, and comprehensive, and should be reviewed
and approved by the project sponsor and other key stakeholders before proceeding with
the project execution.
Developing the work breakdown is a crucial step in project management. It
involves **decomposing** the project scope into **deliverables** and **sub-
deliverables** that are organized in a **hierarchical** and **visual** way. The work
breakdown helps to define the tasks, resources, and dependencies needed to complete
the project successfully.
There are two types of work breakdown structures: **deliverable-based** and
**phase-based**. A deliverable-based work breakdown structure focuses on the final
products or outcomes of the project, and breaks them down into smaller components. A
phase-based work breakdown structure groups the tasks by the stages or phases of the
project, such as planning, design, testing, etc.
III. CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OR EVALUATION

A critical assessment project is a type of academic assignment that

requires students to evaluate and analyze a topic, issue, or problem in depth.
The purpose of this project is to develop critical thinking, research, and
communication skills.
A critical assessment of developing the work breakdown structure (WBS)
is an important step in project management. The WBS is a hierarchical
decomposition of the project scope into manageable deliverables and activities. It
helps to define the project scope, schedule, cost, and risk. A critical assessment
of developing the WBS involves evaluating the following aspects:

- The completeness and accuracy of the WBS. The WBS should cover all the
project deliverables and activities, and avoid unnecessary or redundant items.
The WBS should also be consistent with the project objectives, requirements,
and assumptions.
- The level of detail and granularity of the WBS. The WBS should be detailed
enough to provide clear guidance and accountability for the project team, but not
too detailed to create excessive overhead and complexity. The WBS should also
be flexible enough to accommodate changes and uncertainties in the project
environment.
- The alignment and integration of the WBS with other project management
processes and tools. The WBS should be aligned with the project charter, scope
statement, stakeholder analysis, risk register, and other project documents. The
WBS should also be integrated with the project schedule, budget, quality plan,
communication plan, and other project management tools.

A critical assessment of developing the WBS can help to identify and address
potential issues and gaps in the project planning process. It can also help to
improve the quality and efficiency of the project execution and control processes.

IV. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the project activity planning process was a success. We were able
to identify the main objectives, tasks, resources, and risks of the project. We also
established a realistic timeline and budget for the project execution. The project activity
planning process helped us to align our expectations and communicate effectively with
all the stakeholders involved. We believe that this process will contribute to the quality
and efficiency of the project outcomes.
 Developing the work breakdown is a crucial step in project management. It helps
to define the scope, schedule, and budget of the project, as well as to identify the
deliverables, tasks, and dependencies. By creating a work breakdown structure (WBS),
the project manager can ensure that the project is aligned with the objectives and
expectations of the stakeholders, and that the project team has a clear understanding of
their roles and responsibilities. A well-developed WBS can also facilitate
communication, risk management, and quality control throughout the project lifecycle.

V. RECOMMENDATION
Project management is a crucial skill for any professional who wants to deliver
high-quality results on time and within budget. Project management involves planning,
organizing, executing, monitoring and controlling all aspects of a project, from defining
the scope and objectives, to managing the resources and risks, to communicating with
stakeholders and evaluating the outcomes.
There are many benefits of project management, such as improving efficiency,
reducing costs, enhancing customer satisfaction, increasing innovation and learning
opportunities, and achieving strategic goals. Project management can also help you
develop your leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
If you want to learn more about project management, you can take advantage of
various resources available online or offline. For example, you can enroll in a project
management course or certification program offered by reputable institutions or
organizations. You can also read books, articles, blogs or podcasts on project
management topics and best practices. You can also join online communities or forums
where you can interact with other project managers and experts.
Project management is not only a skill but also a mindset. You need to adopt a
proactive, flexible and collaborative approach to managing your projects and
overcoming any challenges or uncertainties that may arise along the way. You also
need to constantly monitor and evaluate your progress and performance and seek
feedback and improvement opportunities.
By following these tips, you can become a more effective and successful project
manager and recommend project management to others who want to achieve their
professional goals.

VI. REFERENCES LIST

https://monday.com/blog/project-management/cost-estimation-in-project-management/
https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/cost-estimation-for-projects