Engineering project management

• The project manager is responsible for ensuring that the customer is satisfied with the work scope completed in a quality manner, within budget, and on time.
• The project manager provides leadership to team members, ensuring that they perform the right tasks at the proper time, as a cohesive group.
• The project manager creates one vision for all interested parties, ensuring a more comprehensive plan.
• The project manager reviews the plan with the customer, setting up a project management information system.
• Managing change involves minimizing any negative impact and the later in the project that changes are identified the greater their effect on accomplishing the project objective.
• Open communication and a climate of trust are prerequisites for introducing changes, reducing resistance to change, and gaining commitment to change.
• Appropriate project team members should estimate and request the customer’s approval before proceeding.
• The project manager is responsible for securing the appropriate resources, both in-house tasks and subcontractor tasks.
• The project manager gains commitment and negotiates, delegating authorities and designating leaders.
• The project manager creates a motivation environment.
• The project manager is responsible for immediate corrective action, obtaining input and advice from team members.
• Participative and consultative leadership style in project management involves not telling people how to do their job but delegating authority and ensuring necessary resources and authority.
• Ability to handle stress in project management involves not panicking and acting as a buffer by absorbing complaints and redirecting them into challenges.
• Responsibilities of a project manager include having the needed skills and techniques for effective delegation, managing and controlling changes, and achieving the expected results, not just to keep busy.
• Leadership ability in project management involves inspiring people to work as a team and creating a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
• Problem-solving skills in project management involve identifying a problem early, encouraging project team members to identify problems early and solve them on their own, and using analytical skills to evaluate the information and develop the optimal solution.
• Developing needed skills in project management involves learning from other people, gaining experience, and seeking out feedback from others.
• The project manager has the skills to inspire the project team to succeed, win the confidence of the customer, and lead.
• Planning is necessary to develop a plan that shows how the project tasks will be accomplished within budget and on schedule.
• Planning determines what needs to be done, who will do it, how long it will take, and how much it will cost.
• Without a plan, there is sure to be failure.
• The result of the planning effort is a baseline plan for performing the project.
• People who will be involved in performing the work have to be also involved in planning the work.
• Participation Builds Commitment.
• Plans should be easily read and clear communication is important.
• Types of plan include corporate strategic plans, pre-tender plans, master plans or pre-contract plans, and short term plans.
• Pre-tender planning involves the planning considerations during the preparation of an estimate and its conversion into a commercial bid.
• Pre-contract planning is what happens after award of contract.
• Contract planning is planning in order to maintain control and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
• A plan is a description of how we intend to reach an objective.
• The objective is the target end product that the project team must deliver.
• The project objective should be clear and concise at the beginning of the project.
• The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a hierarchical tree of end items.
• There is not a single correct WBS for any project.
• The WBS usually indicates the organization or individual responsible for each item.
• The Responsibility Matrix indicates who is responsible for each work items and the role of each individual in supporting the overall project.
• An activity is a defined piece of work that consumes time.
• The Network Plan is prepared by defining activities and their precedential relationships.
• Without a plan, there is sure to be failure.