Table of contents

What is project management?

Definition

Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.

Project management is essentially aimed at producing an end-product that will effect some change for the benefit of the organisation that instigated the project. It is the initiation, planning and control of a range of tasks required to deliver this end product, which could be a physical product, it could be new software or something less tangible like a new way of working.

Project management methods can be applied to any project. It is often tailored to a specific type of project based on project size, nature, industry or sector. Common among all the project management types is that they focus on three important goals: time, quality, and cost. Successful projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and according to previously agreed quality standards i.e. meeting the Iron Triangle or Triple Constraint in order for projects to be considered a success or failure.^[19]

For each type of project management, project managers develop and utilize repeatable templates that are specific to the industry they're dealing with. This allows project plans to become very thorough and highly repeatable, with the specific intent to increase quality, lower delivery costs, and lower time to deliver project results

A key factor that distinguishes project management from just 'management' is that it has this final deliverable and a finite timespan, unlike management which is an ongoing process. Because of this a project professional needs a wide range of skills; often technical skills, and certainly people management skills and good business awareness.

Definition from APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition

Project management is the process of leading the work of a team to achieve all project goals within the given constraints.[1] This information is usually described in project documentation, created at the beginning of the development process. The primary constraints are scope, time, and budget.[2] The secondary challenge is to optimize the allocation of necessary inputs and apply them to meet pre-defined objectives.

The objective of project management is to produce a complete project which complies with the client's objectives. In many cases, the objective of project management is also to shape or reform the client's brief to feasibly address the client's objectives. Once the client's objectives are clearly established, they should influence all decisions made by other people involved in the project – for example, project managers, designers, contractors, and subcontractors. Ill-defined or too tightly prescribed project management objectives are detrimental to decision-making.

A project is a temporary and unique endeavor designed to produce a product, service, or result with a defined beginning and end (usually time-constrained, and often constrained by funding or staffing) undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value.[3][4] The temporary nature of projects stands in contrast with business as usual (or operations),[5] which are repetitive, permanent, or semi-permanent functional activities to produce products or services. In practice, the management of such distinct production approaches requires the development of distinct technical skills and management strategies

What is a project?

A project is a unique, transient endeavour, undertaken to achieve planned objectives, which could be defined in terms of outputs, outcomes or benefits. A project is usually deemed to be a success if it achieves the objectives according to their acceptance criteria, within an agreed timescale and budget. Time, cost and quality are the building blocks of every project.

Time: scheduling is a collection of techniques used to develop and present schedules that show when work will be performed.

Cost: how are necessary funds acquired and finances managed?

Quality: how will fitness for purpose of the deliverables and management processes be assured?

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What is creative agency project management?

At a creative agency, a creative project manager leads the creative team working with a variety of different clients.

3 ways to manage creatives

1. Give recognition

Management basics tell us that all people (including creatives) thrive on recognition and praise. This is why using a project management tool like monday.com is so powerful: Everyone sees what tasks have been completed (and by whom.)

At the end of the week, you can help your creative team feel empowered and capable by celebrating those successes together.

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2. Create transparent processes.

Creative teams need processes for planning, delegating, creating, checking in, reviewing, and implementing projects. Be transparent with your team about the purpose behind each step along the way, as well as about things like KPIs, workload, operations, and more.

Whenever possible, get feedback from your team to foster transparency. By being open about the thought process behind your workflows and asking for suggestions, you’re creating an environment of trust and collaboration.

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3. Set clear goals (without micromanaging.)

When there are so many different pieces of a project, it’s easy to get lost in the details. You want the project done right, so of course you want to guide your team. But micromanaging will not only hurt your team’s productivity—it will also hinder creativity. Try managing the week instead of managing tasks and set clear goals up front.

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As a creative project manager, you have to balance your team’s creativity and provide structure. Clear goals will help keep those two things in balance.

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