Fundamentals Of Project Management

First and foremost, project management is a vast field. It covers all the engineering disciplines. Here we shall talk about some basic tools that are common for all streams of engineering. In the word Project, there inherit the secret. Any project Mega, Medium or Small are basically controlled/uncontrolled by problems, programs & progress. These are in a single word we can name as 3Ps. If you can visualize these 3Ps and can take the corrective measures in time you are the winner means you can successfully execute and complete the project in time. Time is of the essence for any project. Here one by one we shall discuss the three basic fundamentals in brief.

Problems in general

The problems are of two types predictable and unpredictable. Now to execute a project you need manpower, machinery, construction materials, and consumable items like cement, electrodes, steel etc. So you have to visualize their requirements and availability before they are needed not at the eleventh-hour demand. If you cannot control the basic resources like manpower, construction machinery & construction materials both basic as well as consumables will land your project execution in trouble to meet the program as scheduled. These are predictable problems that you can control.

The unpredictable problems are natural calamities like cyclones, heavy rain, earthquakes, etc. These also affect the project completion in time but by deploying additional manpower & resources you can achieve the target completion in time.

Program before commencing a project

This is another basic key to project management. Much before the commencement of the project you need to plan the activities at the micro-level. You have to fix the milestones for the completion of individual activities so that the requirements like manpower. and machinery (heavy and small) are available with you as and when you need it. The successful completion of a project lies in the proper implementation of the program. From time to time, program needs to be revised to suit situations. During scheduling, you have identified the parallel activities & activity sequence. Parallel activities mean independent activities. As an example, during the civil construction period, you can continue with structural & mechanical fabrication activities in different locations. But you can not commence with erection activities & E&I activities as they are in sequence with the completion of civil foundation & trench excavation and completion of piping construction activities. So to make an effective construction schedule you have to follow the critical path method or in one word CPM as well and you should have a clear vision of the project that you are going to execute. Same as before starting for an unknown destination you gather knowledge about the place. So when you are making a program you should consider all the factors like climatic nature, local factors, etc which can impact the predicted tentative program. As an example, some areas are very much politically sensitive areas hence you have to consider a factor when you are making the has also a direct impact on the program you predict. These all are valid for predictable problems.

Hence the success of your program is totally based on the experience you faced during the execution of previous projects. So if you want to make a foolproof effective program/schedule you must conduct a coordination meeting sharing varieties of types of problems faced by previous projects at the time of the construction phase & the ways to solve them. This will help you to make an effective program during the initial planning stage. Another factor for effective programming is the degree of accuracy of quantification of various activities of different disciplines. From time to time, there are possibilities of variation in the quantum of jobs the schedule needs to be revised on a monthly basis or at least once in a month religiously.

Progress monitoring during project execution

Regular progress monitoring is another task in project management. You should conduct a progress review on a regular basis whether the progress meets as target in the program and have to monitor it religiously for the timely completion of a project. Especially in case of delay, the asking rate needs to be monitored with the utmost care.

But running to achieve progress never compromises safety in the work. One fatal accident is sufficient to push back the project's completion.

Hence preference should be given for steady & safe progress. For effective progress monitoring, you have to generate a DPR (Daily Progress Report) format covering all the activities at the micro-level.

Finally, by exercising the very basic factors we are making a strong profit centre for the company as timely completion, control of manpower & optimum utilization of materials give a

transparent cost control. But keep in mind profit is not always the only & ultimate motto for a company. The term goodwill also plays an important role in view of a reputation for future projects with the same client. To maintain corporate relations the top MNCs keep the marginal profit. For example, a client offers a challenging job within a limited time frame and after the detailed exercise, the MNC analyzed they may earn a marginal profit but the client assures them of future projects which shall compensate them for apparent loss in terms of profit then it will be a wise decision for the MNC to proceed with the offer by the client. Varieties of factors affect the parts of the top MNCs during the financial recession to keep the manpower busy they sometimes run the show with literary zero profit. In those circumstances, micro-control of these three “P”s can give them a breathing amount of profit just by controlling the unnecessary expenditure which causes them a burden during that tight financial situation.

They have to start with inventory control as materials play a key role in a project so the same is needed for close monitoring from misuse or loss. Another basic thing to be taken care of is the optimum & effective use of manpower. Human resources play a vital role in project execution as per their function and role. To achieve more productivity the human asset to be kept always motivated & for that formation of the team is one of the basic requirements. All these are the fundamentals to execute a sound & successful project management.

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