Project management is a comprehensive discipline that integrates ten key knowledge areas to ensure project success. Integration Management harmonizes all project elements, while Scope Management defines project boundaries. Schedule and Cost Management respectively ensure timely delivery and budget adherence. Quality Management focuses on meeting set standards, and Resource Management allocates necessary personnel and materials. Communications Management facilitates effective information exchange, whereas Risk Management identifies and mitigates potential issues. Procurement Management oversees external resource acquisition, and Stakeholder Management aims to satisfy those with a vested project interest.
How does one ensure that all elements of the project are properly coordinated among the 10 knowledge areas?
To ensure all elements of the project are properly coordinated among the 10 knowledge groups, planning meetings should be conducted to ensure every element is appropriately managed. Such meetings during the planning phase allow for the initialization of open communication among individuals in charge of each project element management entity. These meetings are a way to confirm every individual is on the same page in regards to the project. For example, Schedule and Cost Management and Resource Management, and Procurement Management are maintaining close communication as they are dependent on one another.
A good tool for ensuring that all knowledge areas are synced and properly coordinated is the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). This tool allows the project manager to keep track of all the workstreams, from an integration management perspective, scope management, schedule and cost management, quality management, resource management, communication management, risk management, procurement management, and stakeholder management perspective. For example, the WBS has high-level objectives (scope) that gets broken down by tasks and assigns team members and budget to each task (schedule, cost, and resource). By keeping track of each task, risk planning can be more effectively done without missing any part of the project (risk). Any external partner management is also captured in WBS tasks (procurement). The WBS is shared with the entire team (integration, communication) and allows for ease of information sharing with stakeholders.
