The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines project management as “the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet or exceed stakeholder needs and expectations from a project”.

The sharing of resources--people, equipment, information, facilities, tools, money--frequently leads to conflict and requires skillful negotiation to make sure that the project gets the necessary resources throughout the course of the project.  The team is really responsible for managing the project.  The project manager is responsible for keeping the project team focused on goals, budget, schedule, and quality.
 
Project management has been around for centuries.  The Pyramids and the Great Wall could never have been built without a good project manager.  The concept of project management as a discipline was developed in the early 1960s for use in managing the U.S. space program.  Because project management is such a successful concept, many industries and disciplines have embraced it:  the military, construction, electric power generation, transportation, banking, pharmaceuticals, and software development.

The rapid rate of change in both technology and marketplace competitiveness has demanded increasingly rapid and effective responses to sponsor needs.  Functional organizations are often unable to accommodate the wide variety of activities and expertise necessary for successful project completion.  Project management has evolved to make better use of resources by getting work to flow horizontally (across distinct functional units) as well as vertically (up and down within an organization).  This reduces the need to restructure functional organizations with each new project.

One of the greatest benefits of project management is its disciplined approach to planning, organizing, monitoring, and controlling the activities and resources involved in accomplishing the project goal.  It also requires the ability to influence, since the project manager often does not have organizational authority over the people who will accomplish the work of the project.

Successful project management--the ability to achieve a desired goal on time, within cost limitations, and through the active support of others--is a difficult and complex venture.  Project management is simple--but it is not always easy!  

What:  Using the tools and techniques of project management, the team completes the work of the project to specifications, on time, and within budget.

Why:  In order to meet your organization’s ethical and contractual obligations to sponsors, employees and other stakeholders in a manner that satisfies the all parties to the extent possible and maintains fiscal health for the organization.

Who:  The team manages the project under the leadership of the Project Manager.
When:  Throughout the life cycle of the project
How:  By following good project management practices consistently.