Pm Assignment

The main characteristics of a project are:

* Importance: A project should be given high priority by the executive management if it really needs to succeed. The project should be given to a high ranked executive and should be constantly monitored for its progress. The symptoms of the lack of importance are: no mention of the project, assigning work to low ranked officials, no resource allocation, etc.

* Performance: A project is a one-time activity with well-defined objectives and specifically desired end results. It is divided into subtasks and requires careful timing and coordination in order to accomplish the tasks.

* Life cycle with a finite due date: Every project has a life cycle. It has to be terminated by a certain date and there would be many phases in between.

* Interdependencies: Projects work with other projects of the same organizations. This enables the proper allocation and utilization of resources. The priority of the projects has to be done by the management.

* Uniqueness: Every project is unique and can't be approached the same way as all other projects. The whole end result of the project has to be analyzed and should be approached based on that assessment.

* Resources: There is a limited budget and hence limited resource allocation.

* Conflict: Since a project consists of many people with unique minds, there is bound to be conflict. The project manager lives in a world characterized by conflict. It need for resources create conflict between various projects of the same organization. The project manager should be a conflict resolution expert which would help facilitate its very progress.

Work Application:

I was a part of a project last spring which involved the production of popcorns. We had to improvise on popcorn production process by using various statistical soft wares like Minitab. The quality of popcorn production had to be improved. The project had three phases and each had to be time phased which would help in completing the project on time. Initially the project started slow but slowly picked up pace. It lost its way as it was not time phased and hence could not be completed on time. In spite of having all the resources needed including that of human resource, they were not properly utilized thereby leading to a heavy rush in the last phase of the project. Due to this the project lost its preciseness leading to an unsuccessful project ending. There was lack of immaculate planning and a life cycle which lead to this.