Datasheet

8
Chapter 1
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Establishing Project Management Fundamentals
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Defining project activities
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Developing a project schedule
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Determining resource needs, skills, and talents
Executing The Executing process is where the work of the project happens. The project man-
ager coordinates and directs project resources and oversees the completion of the project plan.
This process also ensures that future project work stays in alignment with the project goals.
Approved changes to the project plan are typically implemented here. Sometimes the changes
require a trip back through the Planning processes to adjust plans or schedules to keep the
project on track. The following list includes some of the accomplishments for this process group:

Forming and motivating the project team
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Directing and leading the project team
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Obtaining other project resources
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Communicating project information
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Conducting project status meetings
Monitoring and Controlling Monitoring and Controlling, as the name implies, is where the
work of the project is measured, verified, and accepted or where action is taken to correct work
that is not in line with the project plan. Performance measurements are taken and evaluated
during these processes to determine if variances exist between the work results and the project
plan. If variances are discovered, corrective action is taken to once again get the work of the
project in line with the plan. This might mean another pass through the Planning process group
to adjust project activities, resources, schedules, budgets, and so on. Here are some of the
accomplishments for this process group:

Measuring project performance against the plan

Taking corrective actions when needed to bring performance measures within limits

Evaluating the effectiveness of corrective action measures

Ensuring that the project progresses according to the plan

Reviewing and implementing change requests
In practice, the Executing and Monitoring and Controlling processes are often
combined and performed together—or very close together. As work results
are produced (Executing), they’re verified and accepted or adjustments are
made to correct the work and produce results in line with the plan (Monitoring
and Controlling). If you find it easier to combine these processes (as these
authors do), stay alert to changes and make certain not to skip the important
steps within either process group.
47178book.book Page 8 Wednesday, December 6, 2006 10:10 AM