Provost Management's project
management principles closely follow the guidelines of PMI.
Projects
are managed by initiating, planning, executing, controlling/monitoring,
and closing the work. Recognizing these key focus areas help
to stay
on track throughout the project. This project life cycle
helps to
connect the project from beginning to end. Provost Management
utilizes
a toolbox
of project management tools to service projects. Select the Project
Management Tools link for more information.
Formally
initiating the project helps to acknowledge and document that the
project has been authorized by the funding resource to spend money and
allocate resources to achieve the goal of the project. The
goal is
identified, along with expected requirements (such as funds, resources,
facilities, etc.), that form the basis of all other work. This is
where a statement of scope is developed and the project is officially
chartered.
Planning
the project is likely the most critical phase of a project in order to
miminize risk exposure. It is critical to develop an
execution plan
that defines how the project will be executed. The execution
plan
includes references to detailed plans of the project such as:
The
execution phase of the project consists of allocating necessary
resources and developing the project team, dissimenating information,
performing quality assurance, and conducting the detailed work.
Key
metrics or key performance indicators (KPI) are used for each area of
the project plan to ensure that the goals and objectives of the project
are being achieved and performance measured. Periodic review
of KPIs
assist in identifying risks and developing recovery and/or value
opportunities for the project in addition to providing forecast of
project completion results.
The
importance of closing a project is often overlooked, but always
necessary. Close out of a project includes finalization of
all
documentation, collection of all project data, closure of all project
contracts, and recording lessons learned.
