Lesson 2: Fundamental Project Concepts: Part 1
Project Processes
In our last section, we referred to something called project processes in our definition of project management. But just what are those processes?
Why, I'm glad you asked.
Project processes are roads, highways, alleys, and sidewalks that provide direction for whatever activity is taking place.
Now. Just what on earth does that mean?
In a nutshell, the project processes are the ways by which the various project deliverables are achieved (deliverables are like baby-goals that support the mother-goal, we'll define deliverable later on in this lesson).
Project processes are thus organizing tools for Project Managers. Each activity that goes into any project will work to help the project progressively elaborate towards its goal. The project management team will thus determine how each activity helps the project move forward by slotting each activity into its appropriate group of project processes.
What are those project processes? The PMBOK suggests five process groups:
- Initative Processes: authorizing the project or phase.
- Planning Processes: defining/refining objectives.
- Executing Processes: carrying out project activities.
- Controlling Processes: ensuring the project is on track.
- Closing Processes: formally ending the project or a phase.
The project management team thus looks at each activity and asks: where does it fit on this list?.
And of course, you have every right to ask: who cares where it fits? What is the point of all this?
The point is that, as an organizing tool, the project processes tell the project management team how each activity is helping the project.
Think of the processes as a football league, each with a different uniform.
- Initative Processes: red uniforms.
- Planning Processes: green uniforms.
- Executing Processes: blue uniforms.
- Controlling Processes: white uniforms.
- Closing Processes: black uniforms.
The project management team assigns each activity a uniform, and can thus tell -- without having to waste time figuring this out during the project delivery -- how each of those activities are helping the project move ahead.
Let's go back to our happy lemonade stand. Let's say that one of the activities in this project was to check the quality of the lemonade. The activity is called: check quality of lemondade, and the project management team gives it a white uniform, because it is in the controlling phase of the project.
So by listing all of the activities beneath their umbrealla project process heading, the project management team can make sure that they are doing what needs to be done in order to help the project move forward.
A little confusing, I know, but give it some time and it will start to make more and more sense as you read and experience more in the field.
We've covered a lot here, and we're well on our way to really grasping what project management is all about. Let's continue this momentum with a look at the Project Life Cycle.
References used in this section (these books are available for order via the Resources link above):
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, by the Project Management Institute. Chapter 3.
