Why do projects

Their main task is to make sure that the organization does the right things. Project owners and Steering groups ensure the conditions of success for all projects that are selected to be implemented. They define and describe the goals and benefits that are targeted through projects, as well as how project success will be measured.

Project managers are responsible for leading the project planning and execution, making sure that the planned deliverables will be available at the end of the project. Their main task is to ensure that things are done right. The project process makes us think of "why", "what" and "how" Often a good idea gets us excited, and immediately we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work. That is just human.

But if we do not stop for a moment at the beginning of our endeavor and give some thought to what should be achieved and how , we may lose valuable resources, time, and money. It also may be that the deliverables, nor their quality, end up being like they should. The project management process, when applied properly, compels us to plan how we will get from idea to benefits. The shortest way from idea to finished deliverables would be straight.

However, this is rarely reality; usually, we encounter obstacles and changes and need to adjust our course along the way.

By applying project management methods and best practices, we can do that without reinventing the wheel and wasting valuable resources. The good news is that it is possible to shorten the way from idea to finished deliverables!

A project is planned, organized and goal-oriented work How is project work different from other work? There are some basic criteria for when an entity of work can be considered and managed as a project: A project has a purpose, certain benefits that are targeted. In order to achieve the benefits, certain deliverables need to be produced during the project.

Needs articulation — this phase involves clarifying the understanding of a need by describing its characteristics more precisely. This enables managers to identify the most appropriate way of meeting the need, it enables stakeholders to contribute to the developmental process, and it leads to a precise statement of what must be done or provided to meet the need — the project definition.

Sometimes the strategic need for a project is determined by senior managers and the project goals are determined before project managers and staff are involved. For example, if an organisation decides at board level that a new headquarters building is to be commissioned and sited in a new location, staff may not be consulted until the decision has been made.

However, it is not unusual for project goals to be identified by those working within a changing setting, particularly if these people might be considered to be very familiar with the needs that are to be addressed by the project. There are also tools that can help to get a better understanding of the project.

These include mind mapping and a task breakdown chart. Making the decision to study can be a big step, which is why you'll want a trusted University. Take a look at all Open University courses. If you are new to University-level study, we offer two introductory routes to our qualifications.

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Request an Open University prospectus OpenLearn works with other organisations by providing free courses and resources that support our mission of opening up educational opportunities to more people in more places. All rights reserved. The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking. Skip to main content. So as you can see, there are lots of reasons why a project might go wrong.

I am sure you have others to add! Yet we can see overarching characteristics. All these reasons come down to one of two things: problems with the people or the planning. The key therefore to making your projects a success? Gaining control of the people and the planning from the start. If you are interested in learning more about how to be a more effective project manager, why not register your interest for our Project Management programme. We can help create a project management approach that works for your organisation.

Philly specialises in personal effectiveness, communication, management development and fundraising.