Project Management History
Project management is the discipline of organizing and managing resources (e.g. people) in such a way that the project is completed within defined scope, quality, time and cost constraints. A project is a temporary and one-time endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service, which brings about beneficial change or added value. This property of being a temporary and one-time undertaking contrasts with processes, or operations, which are permanent or semi-permanent ongoing functional work to create the same product or service over and over again. The management of these two systems is often very different and requires varying technical skills and philosophy, hence requiring the development of project management.
The first challenge of project management is to make sure that a project is delivered within defined constraints. The second, more ambitious challenge is the optimized allocation and integration of inputs needed to meet pre-defined objectives. A project is a carefully defined set of activities that use resources (money, people, materials, energy, space, provisions, communication, etc.) to meet the pre-defined objectives.
In 1969, the Project Management Institute (PMI) was formed to serve the interest of the project management industry. The premise of PMI is that the tools and techniques of project management are common even among the widespread application of projects from the software industry to the construction industry. In 1981, the PMI Board of Directors authorized the development of what has become A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), containing the standards and guidelines of practice that are widely used throughout the profession. The International Project Management Association (IPMA), founded in Europe in 1967, has undergone a similar development and instituted the IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB). The focus of the ICB also begins with knowledge as a foundation, and adds considerations about relevant experience, interpersonal skills, and competence. Both organizations are now participating in the development of a ISO project management standard.
Project Management Associations
Several professional associations exist, which have as their aim the promotion and development of project management
and the project management profession. The most prominent associations include:
- The Project Management Institute (www.pmi.org)
- The Association for Project Management (www.apm.org.uk) (APM)
- The Australian Institute of Project Management (www.aipm.com.au)
- The International Project Management Association (www.ipma.ch)
- The International Association of Project and Program Management (www.iappm.org)
Other Professional Associations
- ISACA (www.isaca.org) - Serving IT Governance Professionals
- IIA (www.theiia.org)- The Institute of Internal Auditors
- ACFE (www.acfe.org)- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
- (ISC)² (www.isc2.org)- ISC2
- British Computer Society (www.bcs.org)- BCS