Project Management Fundamentals Guide
Project Management Fundamentals Guide
Introduction to the
Project management
Insured by:
Adima Said
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Summary
I. Project Management
1- Project definition
2- Project management and management
3- Project Stakeholders
3-1- Project Management
3.2- Project Manager - Project Director
3-3- Project Management
3-4- Subcontracting
4- Project Organization
4-1- The steering committee
4-2- Steering Committee
4-3- Project Management
4-4- Expert techniques / associated experts
5- The phases of the project
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2. The PLANNING
2-1 The breakdown into elementary activities
2-2 Taking into account constraints
2-3 Determination of duration and load
2-4 Operational Planning (Scheduling)
2-4-1 Deadline Planning
1. Scheduling using the CPM method
2. The PERT Method
3. The Gantt chart
2-4-2 Resource Planning
2-4-3 Network optimization and minimum direct cost of the project
2-4-4 The Quality Assurance Plan
3. The FOLLOW-UP
Individual Follow-up
3.2 The Global Monitoring of the Project
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Project Management
1-Definition of a project
That retained by the International Organization for Standardization according to the ISO 10006 standard
(version 2003) and taken over by AFNOR under standard X50-105 is stated as follows:
The project is a unique process that consists of a set of coordinated activities and
controlled, with start and end dates, undertaken to achieve a goal
in accordance with specific requirements, including constraints of deadlines, costs, and
resources.
In this first definition, the project is characterized by the intentional aspect of things and of
the objective to be achieved, which thus allows for a methodical structuring of a future reality.
The Francophone Association of Project Management (AFITEP) offers a definition of the project
as being:
A specific approach that allows for methodically and gradually structuring a
upcoming reality
Here, the project is defined as a specific approach both in method and in...
resources implemented. What we prioritize here is the way we will achieve the objective, as soon as
when it has been defined.
It is characterized therefore by:
¾ the satisfaction of a specific and particular need of a client for a committed price and
respected.
¾ a start and an end determined by the client. The project is temporary and autonomous in the
weather.
¾ its uniqueness. The product or service resulting from the project is unique and requires an organization.
specific, specially adapted and temporary. The project is unique.
¾ its degree of complexity.
¾ the mobilization of resources, means, and multidisciplinary skills on a
more or less long period;
¾ modifications in progress, which gives it its evolving character.
Approached from the perspective of its management, a project involves taking into account three
elements :
¾ A goal, which can be broken down in terms of quality, costs, and deadlines.
means, corresponding to resources (men, techniques, information, ...
money) and their own organization within the framework of the project;
¾ Conditions or constraints that generally limit the scope of what it is.
possible to do,
¾ The way in which these different elements will be taken into account and how their management will be handled
interactions will result in the quality of project management.
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The main objective of project management is to provide the project management with elements tor
make timely decisions that allow him to respect commitments made in terms
of quality, costs, and deadlines. It is therefore a primarily forecasting activity integrating
a global and long-term vision, technical, commercial and contractual of the project.
The interdependence of the three parameters quality-cost-time (figure 1) is the major challenge of
project management.
The term 'project management' incorporates the concept of project management to which it adds a
additional dimension regarding the definition of strategic objectives and policies of the
direction (it therefore integrates the Project Management).
The management of a project can be defined as the activities of management and direction.
carried out on a project aimed at ensuring the mastery of a triptych of objectives (figure 1).
Mastering the triptych means setting each of the triptych's objectives and ensuring that each
the objective is achieved throughout the project. It is also to verify the consistency of the triptych and
to strike a balance between the three dimensions.
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The idea of compromise is essential. In practice, it is often necessary to mediate between the
three dimensions. In some cases, the deadline is sacrificed for the sake of quality, in others it is
quality at the expense of costs.
3- Project stakeholders
3.1- Project Owner
It is the "natural person or legal entity who will own the work. She
ensure the payment of expenses related to the realization (AFNOR)
The project owner (sometimes referred to as project management, abbreviated as MOA) is the entity that carries the ...
need, defining the project's objective, its timeline, and the budget allocated to this project. The result
The expected outcome of the project is the realization of a product, called a work.
The project owner controls the basic idea of the project and represents the users in this capacity.
final recipients for whom the work is intended. Thus, the project owner is responsible for the expression
functional needs but does not necessarily have the technical skills related to implementation
of the work.
When the project owner lacks the necessary professional experience to manage the project, he
can call on a delegated project management (whose job is project management). We
talking about project management assistance (noted AMO). Delegated project management
(sometimes noted as MOAd) is responsible for interfacing between the project manager and the client.
of work in order to help the project owner clearly define their needs and verify with the
project manager if the objective is technically feasible. The delegated project ownership does not
does not substitute for the project management and therefore has no direct responsibility with the
project manager
Due to the obvious ambiguity of the term project manager, AFNOR recommends
that an alternative term such as 'project manager' is used preferentially for
designate the project manager of the 'project owner'. The terms 'user project manager' or
"Project managers" are also employed.
.
3.3- Project Management
It is the individual or legal entity that is intended, on behalf of the project owner
to design a work while ensuring overall responsibility for technical quality,
deadline and cost, to coordinate its execution and to propose its acceptance to the master
work.
The contractor (or project management, noted as MOE) is the entity selected by the client.
work to carry out the project, under the conditions of deadlines, quality, and cost set by this
last in accordance with a contract. The project management is therefore responsible for the choices
techniques inherent to the realization of the work in accordance with the requirements of mastery
of work. The project manager thus has the responsibility in the context of his mission to designate a
natural person responsible for the proper execution of the project (usually referred to as project management)
project), it concerns the project manager.
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3.4- Subcontracting
For the completion of certain project tasks, when it does not have the internal resources
necessary, the project manager can call on one or more external companies, we refer to
So subcontracting (and each company is called subcontractor or provider). Each
the subcontractor carries out a subset of the project directly with the project owner but does not
no direct responsibility with the project owner, even if they have a 'right of oversight'
on his way of working.
4- Project Organization
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Is tasked with ensuring the operational follow-up of the project. To do this, he monitors progress, ensures the
coordination, prepares the upcoming steps and instructs the decisions of the management committee. It meets 1
twice a month according to the project's needs.
At the launch of the project, a Steering Committee, made up of organizational leaders
the project management, is appointed to ensure monitoring. This temporary structure, put in
specifically placed for the project, aims to manage the project autonomously, that is to say
by distinguishing itself from the permanent hierarchy of society. The Steering Committee is however
responsible for reporting to the Board of Directors the issues encountered during the project
when a strategic level decision needs to be made during the project.
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Project management:
In order to be managed in a quality context, a project must follow different phases by the end
which control points must be defined. Each step results in a deliverable and
from a validation based on a specific document. This allows for controlling compliance of
deliverables to the definition of needs as well as ensuring alignment with cost objectives and
of deadline.
These validation steps, which are part of project management tasks, help to detect
the non-conformities as soon as possible and to adapt to the new constraints due to unforeseen events
initially planned. At each stage, it can be decided to stop the project if the project management
estimate that the objectives will not be met.
The term 'project life cycle' refers to the sequence of stages and validations over time.
between the emergence of the need and the delivery of the product. The "life cycle of the work"
corresponds to the steps and deliverables necessary for the completion of the work.
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The term Preliminary Project is generally used to refer to all the stages
necessary preparations for the launch of the project. It is therefore about precisely defining what it will be
the project in order to develop contractual documents allowing to engage the
project management and project ownership in the project launch. This phase therefore formalizes
the decision to start the project.
1-The opportunity study
This pre-project phase allows to study the project request and decide if the concept is
viable. This first step aims to validate users' requests regarding the
general objectives of the organization.
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It involves defining the scope of the project (also referred to as context), particularly in
define the end users (we are talking about targeting or profiling). At this stage of the project, it is therefore
useful to involve users in the overall reflection.
2- Feasibility study
The feasibility study aims to analyze the economic, organizational, and technical feasibility of
project.
Needs analysis: based on the summary analysis of the needs, it is appropriate to conduct a
rough estimation of the investment and operating cost of the project (in terms of
human and material resources), anticipated deadlines and any potential return on investment.
Based on these estimates, the Steering Committee may consider continuing the project and the
if necessary, plan a methodological organization for it. The feasibility study leads to
to develop several scenarios ("case studies"). Each scenario studied allows for the evaluation of
risks weighing on the project and must be accompanied by a projected balance sheet presenting the cost and the
advantages of the scenario. This step results in a deliverable, the feasibility study, submitted to
Steering Committee to ensure that each scenario is studied.
The needs analysis carried out in the preliminary project report focuses solely on the processes.
major aspects of the project. It is necessary to conduct a more in-depth study of the needs so that the
the project owner and the project manager can agree on a contractual document, it
this is the preliminary study, also called 'general design'. It is essential during
the preliminary study to ensure that the needs are expressed solely in a functional manner
and not in terms of solutions. The functional analysis of needs thus allows to identify the
necessary features of the work.
Functional analysis leads to the development of a document that functionally defines the
need (regardless of any technical solution). This document is called a notebook
functional charges (commonly abbreviated as CdCf) or design file.
The specifications allow the project owner to express their needs clearly.
functional, as well as to clarify the constraints imposed on project management.
The technical study is the phase of adapting the design to the chosen technical architecture.
The deliverable of the technical study is the Special Technical Specifications (CCTP) or specifications book.
detailed charges. The detailed technical study may possibly be accompanied by the
creation of a mockup or prototype allowing user representatives to verify
that the chosen solution meets their expectations.
3. The Follow-up
4. The Steering
1- ANALYZE
This study phase is part of project scheduling; it is the segmentation.
It is about asking a number of questions concerning the progress of the project:
What to do? Product hierarchy → PBS
How to do it? Task hierarchy → WBS
Who? Organization→OBS
With what to do? Resources→RBS
How much? Estimate of expenses→CBS
Risk assessment
Budget preparation
The APPROACH
¾ Segmentation is developed by the Project Manager, but it results from a collaborative effort.
consultation between all involved teams (it indeed involves the organization of
project)
¾ The segmentation must be formally approved by the stakeholders responsible for management.
of the project. A single and unique PBS and WBS are adopted throughout the duration of the project. Some
supplements can be provided, but no major modification should alter
the basic framework (main levels of decomposition)
¾ Beyond 200 tasks, it is suggested to group tasks into batches of
work. A division by trade (according to, for example, the functions 'mechanics',
"electricity", "cabling"...), can be considered instead of a strictly oriented cut.
product
¾ Segmentation (PBS and WBS) is the foundation of configuration management and
document management
1.1 PBS "Product Breakdown Structure" (Project decomposition into product)
Also called product tree, it must be a coherent decomposition and
organized around the project's objective, it is the exact expression of everything that must be accomplished for
to reach the end of the project. It is the breakdown of the project into a tree structure of products.
The PBS (figure 4) is a description, element by element, of the products that make up the
system without forgetting the specific tools required for the implementation.
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1.2 WBS "Work Breakdown Structure" (Decomposition of the product into Tasks)
The WBS (figure 5) must be constructed from the produced organizational chart. It lists the
activities (tasks) necessary for the completion of each product.
Also called "task flowchart (TF)", it is defined as the breakdown
exhaustive and organized overview of the entire project, analyzing the tasks and the necessary resources
to create a finished product (system, service...) in accordance with the expression of an expectation to
satisfy.
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1/ Structuration
The analysis of the demand from a project owner must simultaneously allow for:
¾ define a first core of industrial organization;
¾ optimize the goals in terms of performance, costs, and deadlines that it imposes on the
diverse participants,
The task organization chart aims to:
¾ break down the project into identified tasks;
¾ define the scheduling of tasks, their interfaces and key events;
¾ Establish and assign the work lots
¾ track the progress and verify the satisfactory completion of all the tasks of
project.
The task organization chart provides participants with the opportunity:
¾ to identify the responsibilities for carrying out the work
¾ to gradually identify and organize all the work to be done,
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2/ Communication
The task organization chart is a true tool for cohesive communication within the organization.
specific to the project. It indeed provides a common structure for exchanging information
all nature :
¾ structure of the exchange network through the specific organization of the project and by
the identification of responsibilities,
¾ structure of the information itself by exchange standards and indicators
retained.
3/ Management
In terms of quality management, the task organizational chart proves that a preparation has been
carried out in a manner that organizes the project and masters its various aspects:
¾ identification of needs, logic of project implementation and monitoring,
¾ control of performance,
¾ mastery of costs and deadlines
¾ information management, etc.
In terms of cost and time management, the task organization chart allows for the assignment of
each activity a cost and duration forecast that can serve as a basis for the development of a
offer (supplies, prices, deadlines) and specify the tracking requirements. It also allows
to identify the relationships of dependence between tasks and work packages to establish
the scheduling of tasks which, once optimized, will determine the overall duration of
project and position the project plan in relation to the key events imposed.
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Relationships between tasks are oriented relationships because one task cannot be undertaken without
the completion of other preliminary tasks. These relationships are the basis of PERT networks and
Gantt charts that allow for scheduling the project's tasks.
2- The PLANNING
Planning is one of the last phases before the launch. It must lead to
the development of an action plan integrating most of the known constraints, likely
influencing the course of the project. This assumes the implementation of the following actions:
¾ Break down the work lots into activities;
¾ Identify the constraints and the links between the tasks;
¾ Evaluate the durations and resources;
¾ Establish the planning (operational planning or scheduling).
Concept
By planning, one obtains a view of the project that is both comprehensive (from start to finish) and detailed.
(list of activities to be carried out with their precise sequence, distribution of the load of
resources or allocated means). Planning allows the project to be broken down into sub-
simpler ensembles (phases, batches, macro tasks...) until determining and organizing the activities
elementary; the level of detail must be sufficient for the task to be understood. On
for this sequence of tasks, it is helpful to set visible markers: control points "milestones", which
indicating an expected event (the approval of the general management on the investment by
example) or the provision of a supply (the reception of the plans made by the office
of studies...)
The plan is a simulation tool that allows for proposing different scenarios to the decision-maker and a
decision support by justifying the requests for necessary resources to achieve the objective. In
the life of the project, the first plan, once approved, becomes the reference on which the manager
Project place, at regular intervals, the progress of the work done and the projections on the work
what remains to be done.
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¾ Disjunctive constraints
Disjunctive constraints impose the non-simultaneous execution of two tasks. One will find
such constraints in the case of using a single resource. We will categorize this class
constraints of simultaneous execution prohibitions related, for example, to reasons of
security (electric protection¼) or lack of space to execute multiple tasks simultaneously
tasks in one place.
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The duration is the interval of time that elapses between an event starting the action and a
end of the action.
The charge is the number of work units necessary to perform an action. It can
to be expressed as the time of occupancy of the resource.
In general, duration and load are linked by a third element: the rate of
mobilization (effort or intensity). This rate corresponds to:
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The projects to which it applies are generally those for which the managers have a
sufficient knowledge of the work to be carried out and are therefore able to make an estimate of
cost at the same time as the duration of each activity.
By linking the concept of cost to that of time, the CPM method allows for the creation of the schedule of
achievement corresponding to the minimum total cost of a project.
Once a series of scheduling calculations is completed, we obtain for each of the activities
identified during structural planning, as well as for each of the events
identified during operational planning, the following results:
Often presented in a long table, where each activity occupies a line. These results
allow to establish a schedule of activities, particularly through the Gantt chart.
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When deadlines are set and the focus is on meeting those deadlines, we determine the
resources necessary to complete the specified work within the set time (allocation of
resources for each task), afterwards we sum up all the resources in
highlighting the total need for all tasks taking place at the same time.
If we consider all the resources of the project, there may still be peaks of
irreducible charges (figure 7). To reduce them, one can either increase the workforce by hiring
additional, either proceed with renting equipment or resort to subcontracting
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For projects where the managers have sufficient knowledge of the activities to be carried out, this
allows them to make a cost estimate at the same time as the duration of each
activity, they can define the cost of accelerating each activity per unit of time saved
(figure 9).
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.
The determination of the project execution plan leads to the definition of the critical path and the
maximum duration of the project. It is usually considered in the calculations that all activities are
performed at their normal duration. They then cost the normal price, and the total represents the cost
direct minimum of the project. Any acceleration of an activity therefore increases this cost. Also, for
saving time, we can seek to accelerate the activities whose cost of time saved is
the weakest on the critical path. The reduction must necessarily relate to a task.
Critique should be done in a gradual and iterative manner because the time gain is not linear.
In doing so, we obtain a new plan, shorter in length, whose direct cost is higher than the
previous, but whose increase is minimal. Of course, new paths are emerging
critiques, and the reduction must take place on a task common to all critical paths.
The process continues and produces new plans until the project has been reduced to its
shorter duration and at the minimum associated cost. This does not mean that all activities have been
accelerated, because in this case the direct cost of the project would be maximum.
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Quality Assurance
The use of the PAQ should enable the achievement of the following objectives:
• Establish a common reference for all members of the project team. It will allow
to ensure good consistency and uniformity in working methods.
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• Ensure the quality of the project products through the controls planned for each.
activity.
• Ensure the traceability of the quality of the work performed.
It is important that the quality assurance plan addresses the following aspects:
The activities of the project quality assurance manager take place throughout the project. They
are of two types:
¾ Quality assurance activities: which allow to define the principles as early as possible
qualities of the project and to anticipate potential problems, these activities are important to
start of the project
¾ Quality control activities: who regularly verify that the procedures are
comprises and correctly applied as well as the deliverables of each activity if they are
in compliance with the required standards. In case of non-compliance, it proposes actions.
corrective or preventive actions, he is then responsible for monitoring the progress of these
recommendations.
3- The FOLLOW-UP
• of resource consumption,
• from the estimate of the project's end,
• the measurement of the gaps between what was planned and what was achieved,
• and finally maintain a dashboard.
The detailed planning will serve as a reference to monitor the progress of the work.
progress, for a project manager, is being able to answer any question about:
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• the origin of the discrepancies, whether it is a cause having effects on several tasks, by
for example, the unavailability of a machine, or a temporary issue related to a task or to
a person
To inform the project management and to make steering decisions, the project manager has
need to manage a set of information that we call the project information system.
This includes:
• a dashboard
• generally complemented by a logbook, a journal where daily entries are recorded
events, incidents or special facts of the project.
The dashboard thus contains two levels:
• Individual monitoring, which allows for the detection of potential difficulties for an interventionist or
on a task;
• The project monitoring, which serves as the basis for a periodic progress update with the client.
work.
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Calendar progress It is the relationship between the time that has already passed since
the start of the task and the total duration reassessed.
Progress report on the task It is about asking the person in charge of the task
studied the necessary time to finish the "
still to be done.
It is based on the task list, which are assigned individually. The description of each
task includes an identifier - each task is uniquely identified - and the elements having
used for evaluating its workload (method, units of work, standard weight, ratio...).
• the initial charge: it is the one used for the detailed planning estimation.
This value must always be maintained. Changing it would deprive the company of a
possibility of learning;
• The assigned charge: it is the customization of the initial charge based on
the experience and the skill of the one who will carry it out. It can be higher or
lower than the initial charge. This value represents the contract between the project manager and
the concerned actor. It is generally not visible to the project owner. It must be
used with caution;
• The updated charge: underway during the project, but still before the
If the task has not started, new elements may lead to revising the estimate.
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initial. For example, the technical study revealed unforeseen difficulties and one
it is now known that the programming workload has likely been underestimated by
20%. We do not modify the initial charge, but we negotiate with the project owner a
updating. The value of the updated charge is then taken into account for a new
planning.
The dashboard feeding for individual tracking is done through several reports:
¾ The activity report, also called progress report, drafted
periodically, generally at the end of the week, by each participant assigned to the project.
¾ The monthly summary allows for closer monitoring. For each task, it includes
every week of the month:
9The time spent (T);
9The rest to be done (R);
9The progress (A), calculated as a difference between the last two
remaining evaluations to be done:
Progress
Progressatatthe
the end ofperiod
end of periodn =nwork
= work remaining
remaining at theat
endthe
of end of(n-1)
period period (n-1)
- work - work remaining in
remaining
end
in of period n
short
of period n
¾ The monthly individual report provides each Participant with a snapshot of their
performance.
The project manager needs to periodically have an overview of the project's status. It is
On this summary, the project manager, who is the contractual responsible for the project, will provide an update with the
project owner.
This is what is called the project progress chart. In general, the mesh is wider than
for individual tracking: we no longer think in terms of tasks, but in terms of batches of tasks
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The creation of a cost reference necessarily relies on the scheduling that has been adopted.
for the project and on the estimates of resource consumption by the different tasks to
executed, valued conventionally (using standard costs) or at market costs
(call for tenders, etc.).
The objective of cost monitoring is to control expenses during the implementation of
project, and this by highlighting as quickly as possible the deviations that occur on
the financial plan to allow for rapid response, mainly on the remaining tasks.
The reference framework is a cumulative schedule of forecasted charges. Once that
precise programming of the execution of each task and the estimation of its cost are established, it
we will be able to build this schedule.
At the launch of the project, we have a reference framework (figure11), which describes the evolution of the
consumption of the initial budget from the project start date (t d) to the end of the project
scheduled for the date (t f,). In general, a contingency provision managed by is added to it.
project director and intended to face hazards and accidents.
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Before addressing project cost control, it should be added that on a date(td<t<tf) during
the execution of the project, the evolution of demand, and a number of events may
lead to deviations in the objectives and/or means implemented by the project manager
is required to officially review, and thus revise the project budget.
This revision, as of the current date, modifies the framework with which the project stakeholders...
work
• At the originally established project end date (t f), it is replaced by the revised date (t f, r) that one
considered at the current date, as a technically realistic objective
• the initial budget is replaced by the current budget which incorporates the modification decisions
interventions to take into account the difficulties or opportunities encountered;
• the information available as of the current date may lead to an estimate of
project cost, called re-estimated forecast cost at the date t, which is higher (or,
less frequently, lower) than that of the budget to date.
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During the project, as of the current date, a set of tasks has been completed in full or in part.
completed part, which logically translates to an incurred cost (or actual cost of labor)
Effectuated CRTE) corresponding to the actual cost of the work carried out to the date and charged to the
project.
On the other hand, if we had worked in compliance with the budget to date, the work that
should have been carried out by the current date would normally have resulted in bearing a cost
Budget of the Expected Work or CBTP (developed as a reference)
The difference observed at the date between what is planned (CBTP) and what is achieved
(CRTE) originates from:
The fact that on the date certain tasks are:
• ahead (completed earlier than planned or carried out with a percentage of progress
higher than that initially planned for this date
• or delayed (not yet started or completed with a percentage of progress
lower than that initially planned for this date);
A price effect, that is to say discrepancies in the values of consumed factors that are
attributable to:
The chosen principle consists of comparing what is planned (budgeted cost of the work
planned or CBTP) and what is realized (incurred cost or CRTE) to a third quantity
corresponding to a theoretical value of work performed that must be:
• comparable to the incurred cost, as it adopts the same assumption of advancement of the
planning (same tasks completed or in progress),
• and comparable to the incurred budget, because it adopts the same assumption of values of
resources consumed (total absence of cost overrun for completed or ongoing tasks
course).
This theoretical value of work performed, which is called the budgeted cost of work.
obtained all
simply by valuing the tasks performed by their projected costs defined in the budget
to date.
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Planning deviation
The comparison of the budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) to the budgeted cost of work planned
(CBTP) concerns budget consumption valued at the same usage costs.
resources. The difference between these two quantities therefore corresponds only to a difference
the planning, hence its name planning deviation.
Schedule variance = Budgeted Cost of Work Performed - Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled.
¾ If the budgeted cost of the work performed is greater than the budgeted cost of the work planned (variance
the positive planning), the project achievements are ahead of schedule, and
this in a ‘global’ way (i.e., it is appropriate to analyze the planning in detail
to determine whether a critical task has not fallen behind schedule, because this synthetic indicator
does not allow it to be detected)
¾ If the budgeted cost of work performed is less than the budgeted cost of work planned (variance
the negative planning), the project's achievements are "generally" behind schedule compared to
to the forecasts.
The planning gap is an indicator expressed in value. Its sign indicates whether we are in
forward or late, but it's hard to assess its importance.
The complementary use of a relative value indicator allows for better appreciation.
the importance of diagnosed delay or advance. This indicator is obtained by dividing the gap
budget incurred planning (CBTP)
Productivity Gap
The actual cost of work performed (ACWP) and the budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) have in
common the same hypothesis of progress of the work. These quantities should therefore be
identical if, for each task completed or ongoing, the actual cost matched the planned cost.
The reality is different, and a cost gap is observed defined as:
Cost Variance = Budgeted Cost of Work Performed - Actual Cost of Work Performed
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¾ if the budgeted cost of work performed is less than the actual cost of work performed (variance of
negative cost), we are faced with additional expenses that will need to be offset by
subsequent savings or, failing that, by an increase in budget; we are therefore in
presence of a risk of budget overruns;
¾ if the budgeted cost of work performed is greater than the actual cost of work performed (variance
at a positive cost), the project's achievements cost less than expected, which increases
the chances of staying within the initial budget envelope.
This information must be put into perspective by analyzing the scheduling gap. For example, a
Budget overruns may stem from the desire to achieve a positive planning variance.
(hence, for example, a greater use of overtime) another scenario, a
budgetary economy can be linked to the use of less expensive and less
performant, which will have caused a delay in the schedule.
The table below summarizes the planning and productivity (cost) variances:
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4- The PILOTING
The management begins as soon as the project is launched according to the timeline of activities described in a plan.
initial. The more this reference is structured, understandable, and adapted to the project, the better the management of
the project is facilitated.
Leading a project means being active and even responsive. It is, of course, identifying the deviations in
grasping what has been accomplished, but also having a view of the future by estimating the 'remaining to be done'
Managing a project allows one to be, at every moment, capable of integrating the changes inherent to everything
project. The earlier a drift is identified, the better we can remedy it.
Based on the monitoring data, we will be able to: make decisions, drive the project, control the
derivatives, manage resources and choose scenarios. Some steering actions are internal to
project, the decision is made by the project manager, others are under a steering committee of
project.
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The steering process must be defined, known, and accepted by all stakeholders before the project
be launched. The main means of communication are site visits, meetings,
reports, dashboards.
The phases of project execution are necessarily accompanied by the creation of documents.
At each stage, these latter constitute the informational support of the project. They are the source of
creation of information, it must be appropriately processed and communicated in order to
reliably use it for decision-making in the management activities.
This therefore requires the creation of an information system as a tool for project management.
1- Definition
The expression information system is used in a varied and abusive manner. These definitions
preceded by a reflection on the notions of system and information present a great
diversity. It can be noted that it involves human, organizational, technical, and structured means.
to capture, store, process, and communicate information of various types necessary for a
company or to an organization for the achievement of its objectives.
Excluding certain human or organizational dimensions, the reduction of the system
Information in its strictly computer aspect is often used to describe the whole of
equipment and software used. Placed between the control system and the operating system,
The information system participates in both the monitoring and management of operational information.
and decision-making.
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Once entered, the information must be stored in a durable and stable manner.
Once memorized, we can apply a series of operations to the information that consist of:
¾ Consult the information: search for it, select it...
¾ Organizing information: sorting, merging, partitioning...
¾ Update the information: modify them
¾ Produce new information: calculated information, totals, etc.
d) Disseminate information :
Broadcasting consists of making available to those in need, at the moment they need it.
need, in a usable form, all the information that will allow them to ensure
their activities.
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of work) up to the top of the hierarchy (project manager). This cycle is reversed for the
dissemination of information.
Project meetings are also an important part of the project information system.
The following table summarizes the purpose of the meetings and their area of application.
Domains
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It encompasses the processes necessary to ensure the writing, in due time and quality desired,
collection, dissemination, archiving and final processing of project information. It establishes the
links between people, ideas, and information that are essential to success. Figure 14,
represents the set of main processes as follows:
¾ Communication planning
¾ Information dissemination
¾ Progress reports
¾ Administrative closure
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Communication technology:
These are the technologies or methods used for the transfer of information. They can
vary short conversations to large meetings, from simple written documents to
planning or databases.
The constraints:
These are factors that limit the choices of the project management team. For example, if
parts of the project must be subcontracted, greater attention will be paid to
processing of contractual information.
• Tools and methods
The information needs of the various stakeholders must be analyzed to have a
logical and correct vision. This analysis must take into account methods and technologies.
adapted to the project and meeting information needs.
• Output
The communication management plan is a document that presents:
9A structure for collecting and organizing detailing the methods used for
gather and preserve various types of information. The procedures must specify the
collection and dissemination of updates and corrections made to documents.
9A dissemination structure specifying the recipients of the information, and the methods
used to disseminate various types of information. This structure must be compatible
with responsibilities and hierarchical relationship.
9A description of the information to be disseminated, specifying the format, content, degree of
detail and the conventions to be used.
9The release calendars that specify when each type of information is
issued.
9A method for updating and redefining the management plan of the
communication during the progress of the project.
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Communication skills:
They are used during the exchange of information. The sender must provide information.
Claire, unambiguously, and completely so that the recipient can receive it correctly and
confirm that he understood it well. The receiver must ensure that he receives the entirety of
the information and that he understands it correctly.
System for the provision and dissemination of information:
Information can be shared by team members through file systems.
manuals, electronic databases, project management software, as well as
may be communicated using a set of methods including project meetings,
distribution of written documents, email...
• Output
Project data recorded:
They may include correspondence, memos, reports, and documents that describe the
project. The information must be kept in an organized manner.
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Progress reports:
They classify and summarize the collected information and present all the analysis results.
progress reports generally take the form of Gantt charts, of curve in
And analysis tables of discrepancies.
Modification requests:
The project progress analysis often generates change requests, these are
handled in accordance with change control processes.
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• Inputs
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jean-Paul Bourgeois, "Project Management", Techniques de l’ingénieur publishing
the industrial company.
Morley Chantal, 2001, "Management of an information system project - principles,
technique, implementation and tools -emeEdition, DUNOD, Paris.
Dictionary of Project Management, AFNOR/AFITEP, 2emeEdition, 1993.
Giard Vincent
Hougron Thierry, 2001, "Project Management", DUNOD Publishing, Paris.
Javel Georges
Sandrine Fernez-Walch, 2000, 'Management of New Projects', Edition
AFNOR, Paris.
Marc Destors and Marie-Christine Noblanc, 2001, "Project Management with"
Microsoft Project, Microsoft Press Edition, France.
Christian Cazaubonet Gino Gramacia, 1997, 'Technical Project Management'
methods and tools", Edition Ellipses, Paris.
"Management Manual, Volume 2", AUPELF-UREF Edition, 1999, Montreal.
Didier Sébilo and Christophe Vertighem, 1998, "From Quality to Assurance"
Quality Accompanying the approach", AFNOR Edition, Paris.
Marie-Hélène Delmond, Yves Petit, Jean-Michel Gautier, 2003, "Management
Information systems, DUNOD Edition, Paris.
Project Management Institute, 1996, 'Project Management Body Of Knowledge'
PMI communication, USA.
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