| The principles of effective project management | | | | been established in literature that it should not be |
| are potentially applicable to any project type | | | | regarded as one man task since it requires other |
| across different industries. It has been established | | | | individuals and their competencies that are |
| that the basis of these principles have been | | | | grouped together and who are dedicated to |
| designed so as to accommodate variety of tasks | | | | achieving the particular objectives of the project |
| and industries but still fine tuning is required during | | | | (Pinkerton, 2003). One of the criticisms on project |
| the course of certain projects (Papers4you.com, | | | | management literature development is its |
| 2006). According to Davidson (2002), the origin of | | | | concentration and focus towards the ‘hard' |
| project management can be traced back to the | | | | aspects of the change while neglecting the |
| post World War II era in which new efficient | | | | ‘soft' aspects. The school of thought that |
| developments started taking place across the | | | | believes in blending both hard and soft issues to |
| triad i.e. the US, Europe and Japan. | | | | build upon project management techniques is |
| Projects are formally defined by Cleland and | | | | growing. |
| Gareis (1994), as the process that transforms | | | | It can be concluded that project management |
| and unsatisfactory state of affairs into better | | | | skills and process although are generalized for any |
| state within certain time and resources limit. The | | | | type of project within any industry but these are |
| literature within the domain of this subject has | | | | more appropriate for some than others. Levine |
| accepted the fact that orientation towards | | | | (2002) has suggested that weather an |
| project based approach is concentrated within | | | | organization is involved in managing projects or |
| few industries due to their inherent characteristics. | | | | not in the traditional sense, but it requires the |
| Drawing upon Krezner (2001), it can be elaborated | | | | management of its assets and PM provides |
| that those industries that are project-driven like | | | | overall process and skills needed to achieve any |
| construction and aerospace, needs more rigorous | | | | change objectives. |
| project specifications. The evolution of PM | | | | References: |
| process has started from such industries and has | | | | Cleland, D.I., Gareis, R. (Eds) (1994), "Global Project |
| permeated into others with differing levels | | | | Management Handbook", McGraw-Hill International |
| (Papers4you.com, 2006). Its applications, concepts | | | | Editions |
| and methods have been broadened for its uses | | | | Davidson, Frame, (2002), "Tools for an age of |
| for all the industries. | | | | rapid change, complexity and other business |
| The development of standardized procedures for | | | | realities", San Francisco, California: Wiley & Sons, |
| project management has been the centre of | | | | Inc. (US) |
| discussion for many years and in today's world | | | | Kerzner, Harold, (2001), "A systems approach to |
| there are many well known such standards. | | | | planning, scheduling and controlling", New York: |
| Project Management Body of Knowledge | | | | Wiley & Sons, Inc. (US) |
| (PMBOK) and Projects in Controlled Environments | | | | Levine, Harvey, (2002), "Practical project |
| (PRINCE), are two of the most widely used | | | | management, tips, tactics and tools", New York: |
| standards applicable to any nature of project in | | | | Wiley & Sons, Inc |
| any industry (Meredith & Mantel, 1995). At the | | | | Meredith, J.R., Mantel, S.J. (1995), "Project |
| same time there has been constructive work in | | | | Management: A Managerial Approach", John Wiley |
| the development of industry specific project | | | | & Sons, New York, NY |
| management processes and methodologies so as | | | | Papers For You (2006) "P/M/400. Project |
| the particular needs of each industry can be taken | | | | management in theory and in practice", Available |
| care of. | | | | from [22/06/2006] |
| The role of project manager is seen central to | | | | Papers For You (2006) "P/M/365. Dissertation. |
| the process of project management but it has | | | | |