Project Management as Recognized Profession

Professional Project Practice
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Professional Project Practice
1.0 Introduction
Project management refers to the application of experience, methods, skills, knowledge and processes to attain the objectives of the project (Project Management Institute, 2016). A project on the other hand, refers to the transient, unique endeavor which is undertaken in order to realize planned objectives. Such objectives are determined in terms of benefits, benefits, outcomes or benefits. A successful project is the one in which its objectives are achieved in accordance with the predefined criteria and within the planned budged and timescale. It is deemed temporary in the sense that a defined resource and scope. Similarly, a project is unique in the sense that it consists of a unique set of activities specifically designed to attain a particular goal. Any project must be managed by a team of experts in order to deliver the necessary integration and learning as well as on-budget and on-time results (Project Management Institute, 2016). Project management involves five major processes, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. Moreover, the knowledge of project management is drawn from ten key areas: human resources, cost, stakeholder management, integration, communications, quality, scope, procurement, time, and risk management Project Management Institute, 2016). Each project requires a unique focus by the management based on the schedule, resources, and its goals. According to Gemunden (2015, p. 2), project management is prominent for its formalized approach in handling complex challenges in organizations more efficiently and effectively. It primarily relies on good organized processes and careful controlling and planning with well-defined roles. The human aspect of project management has gained widespread importance over the past 15 years (Gemunden, 2015, p. 2). Traditionally, project management has been regarded as an informal practice, but it is increasingly becoming a distinct profession.
This essay supports the argument that it is worthwhile for project managers if project management becomes a recognized profession. The paper begins by examining the concept of project management and the key phases associated with it. Next, the paper examines the benefits that will accrue from making project management a distinct profession. Additionally, the paper also examines the applications of project management in various organizational activities. Finally, the paper concludes by providing a recap of the major findings in this study.
2.0 The Concept of Project Management
There are various definitions of a project. According to Prabhakar (2008, p. 3), a project refers to an organization of individuals who are dedicated to a certain objective or purpose. Perkins, Peterson and Smith (2003, p. 4) defines it as the discipline that utilizes knowledge and skills in order to attain the goals of the project through a series of tasks. It entails controlling quality, project scope, risks, time, and cost through multiple project management processes (Perkins, Peterson & Smith, 2003, p. 4). It generally entails high risk, unique or expensive s endeavors which must be completed within a certain period using the budgeted financial resources. In practice, all projects should not only have well-defined objectives, but also adequate financial and human resources to conduct the necessary tasks. Additionally, a project possesses various characteristics, including a specified time to completion, performance expectations, a series of interrelated or complex activities, and a limited budget (Prabhakar, 2008, p. 3). Scholars contend that a project entails the attainment of a certain organizational objective through the use of a series of tasks and activities which consume enormous resources. It must be completed within predetermined specifications with a well-defined beginning and ending periods.
On the contrary, project management is construed as a process of controlling the way in which the project objectives are attained. Using the available organizational resources and structures, project management is aimed at managing the project through the application of a series of techniques and tools without necessarily disrupting an organization's routine operation. It serves various functions including defining the project requirements, defining the extent of the project, allocating the requisite resources, planning for the execution of the project, monitoring the project's progress, and making adjustments to any deviations from the plan. The definitions of a project and project management seem to overlap in the sense that both are geared towards the attainment of project objectives. However, the major distinction between the two lies in both definitions' emphasis. A project is focused on defining as well as selecting the necessary task which is beneficial to the organization. The benefit of any project could be long-term technical, marketing or financial in nature geared towards the completed project's lifespan. On the contrary, project management is geared towards control and planning. It focuses on appropriate performance standards, within-budget expenditures and on-time delivery. The implication of this is that project management is short-term while the project is a long-term undertaking. Project management ceases to exist once the project objectives have been achieved. The project is long-term in the sense that it is not based on the development cycle, but rather in the whole life.
To this end, it is clear that project management is distinct from the project itself. Project management entails 5 fundamental and interrelated phases, including conception and initiation, definition and planning, execution or launch, performance and closure, and project close. It is worth noting that such phases can have different names or be split into extra phases. The conception and initiation phase involves careful examination of the project's idea in order to establish whether it will be beneficial to the company or not. During this phase, the team of decision makers determines the feasibility of the project. The definition and planning phase involves the drafting of the project scope and/or the project charter, outlining the necessary tasks associated with the project. During this phase, the project management team prioritizes the tasks associated with the project, determine the schedule and budget, and determine the requisite resources for the completion of the project. This phase starts when the top management develops the project charter defining the purpose of the project. The charter entails a statement that authorizes the project manager to undertake her or his functions (Perkins, Peterson & Smith, 2003, p. 5). The rules governing the project are also defined at this stage. The project manager together with the key stakeholders determines the goals, constrains and scope of the project.
The execution or launch phase involves distributing the resources for various tasks and informing the project teams of their respective responsibilities in the project. It is during this phase that the actual tasks associated with the project are launched. The various activities performed during this phase involve directing the work groups, monitoring the progress of the project, resolving issues and solving problems, making the necessary adjustments to the plan as well as coordinating such changes (Perkins, Peterson & Smith, 2003, p. 6). This phase ends once the goals of the project have been attained or when the project has been terminated. The closeout phase starts when the goals of the project have been attained or when it is terminated. The project history is also assembling during the closeout phase, which consists of all the activities that have been attained. The lessons learned from such project, are also documented for future use in the management of other projects. The major phases of project management are depicted in figure 1 below.
Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1: The major phases associated with the project management lifecycle. Source: Ajelabi and Tang (2010, p. 5)
The Benefits of professionalizing Project Management
A number of scholars have suggested that a number of benefits will be realized from making project management a distinct profession. The project management team plays a key role in the success of any project irrespective of the budget's duration, budget and scope. He or she should cultivate individual skills, be flexible with the complexity and changes associated with the project, and utilize various skills to attain the project's objectives. The manager is also expected to communicate values, assign critical relationships, as well as pay attention to the requite processes during the project execution phase. Generally, project managers serve as change agents by inspiring a shared purpose among the team undertaking the project tasks. To this end, it is arguably true that project management requires professionals with the requisite knowledge, skills and experience on all the aspects of project management. As such, project management professionals will enhance the success of projects taken by companies.
One of the benefits associated with making project management a profession is that it will make it easier for the project management professionals to search for the job (Mahaney & Greer, 2004, p. 265). Traditionally, project management has not been perceived as a profession. However, companies are increasingly looking for candidates with the necessary knowledge and skills in project management to fill vacancies for project management jobs. As such project management has been integrated into other disciplines in order to equip students with important knowledge and skills in project management. However, it is not easier for the job seekers to get project managem...