What are the characteristics of project management Contras

What are the characteristics of “ project management? ” Contrast these to functional and other types of non-project management.

Solution

The characteristics of Project Management are basically based on the distinction between what is term as Project in contrast to the other functional and non-project operations of any organization.

Primarily Project and so Project Management is for creating a Change. For example, construction of a new building, may be laying down a new road, bridge etc. The term Project management is also considered as the management of a production process which is different from mass production and batch production and more of a non-repetitive type called project production. It is supposed to bring a major change for a longer time horizon.

There is always a specific start and end to a project, and it should cease once the mandatory products are created. Therefore the characteristic is temporary in nature and maintanance may not be part of the project.

Third characteristic is Cross-functional. A project engages people from different seniority and different business departments that work together for the period of the project. Project management needs to deal with different types of jobs, persons, agencies at different stages and times of the project.

The other two important characteristics are Uniqueness and Uncertainty. Every project is considered to be unique, there may be similarties but inputs may vary, technology may be different, timing may be different.

Projects are always subjected to uncertainty and mostly project management is enagaged in adhering to project schedules and budgetary provisions so as to have minimum time and cost overruns.

Therefore it is stated that the fundamental nature of a project management is that of a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result with diverse resources under some kind of uncertainty. Thus Project management is distinguished from well laid functional operations and other types of non-project management.