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The Essential Guide to Project Management is a guide that you can use to help you manage projects. It contains information about the history of project management, the five phases of project management and how to assess and manage risks.
History of project management
The history of project management can be divided into four major stages of advancement. These include the ancient period, the cold war, the mid-20th century, and the modern era.
Project management originated as a management specialty, but it did not become a profession until the middle of the 20th century. By then, a group of forward-thinking individuals had met to create a standard set of tools.
Henry Gantt, a project manager, developed the first Gantt chart, which became a popular tool for documenting project schedules. This new approach to planning allowed project managers to see a complete picture of the project, while also providing a connection between different functions.
Other important innovations during the twentieth century included the development of the critical path method, which gave managers more control over large, complex projects. It was used for the US Navy’s Polaris Project, which launched the world’s first submarine-launched nuclear missiles.
Industrial psychology became a significant part of project management in the decades leading up to World War II. The shrinking war-time labor supply required new organizational structures.
Five phases of project management
A project management process is a set of methods that project managers use to manage the progress and quality of a project. It helps the team deliver results, establishing direction and finding the best way forward. Several organizations and businesses use project management processes, which can be adapted to suit the needs of the organization.
The project management process includes five phases. Each phase has its own characteristics.
During the planning phase, the project manager should establish a realistic timeline and estimate costs and resources. This phase is important because it determines the feasibility of the project.
The statement of work, also known as the business case, will outline the project’s scope, duration and key milestones. Stakeholders will have to be involved in this phase to ensure that the project meets their needs.
Once the initial planning and budgeting have been completed, the team will build a resource plan. This will include a detailed schedule and a list of tasks. Assigning responsibilities to the team during the project will streamline communication.
Documenting, reviewing and managing risks
The process of documenting, reviewing and managing risks is one of the more challenging tasks involved in project management. Fortunately, there are tools available to help.
A risk trifecta, for instance, is a three-legged stool that includes a risk register, a communication plan and a risk mitigation plan. You can also use a tool like Planio to monitor risks as they occur.
Having a streamlined system for documenting and tracking risks will ensure that all parties are informed. When it comes to identifying and handling risk, the most important thing is to get your team on board. By making them aware of what’s at stake and the steps required to avoid or mitigate it, you’ll increase the likelihood of success.
One good way to identify the risks affecting your project is to brainstorm. This will reveal potential problems and possible solutions. It’s also a good idea to consult with others, particularly those with more experience in project management.
Exalate
Managing projects is a major part of achieving corporate goals. It is also essential that teams work together, communicate, and stay informed. One way to achieve these objectives is through the use of project management software. Exalate, for example, is a software integration solution that is used to synchronize data between various platforms, including Jira and Salesforce.
This integration tool is designed to help teams across multiple platforms sync their work. It keeps worklogs and issues updated between all relevant teams. It also provides a secure way for teams to work together without leaving their preferred environment.
The Exalate app for Azure DevOps allows users to choose the organization and project they want to connect to. Once this is done, they can install the application. However, before doing so, the user will need to verify they have access to both the Jira and Azure DevOps instances. If the user does not have this information, they will be provided with an invitation code.