![\"ProjectManager's](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Manufacturing-gantt-chart-light-mode-costs-exposed-cta-e1712005286389.jpg\")
<\/a>Project Management Basics, Fundamentals & Concepts<\/h2>\n
First, let\u2019s explore the most fundamental project management concepts, starting with the definition of a project, which allows us to understand what project management is and why it\u2019s so important for any type of organization. Then we\u2019ll move on to other fundamental definitions.<\/p>\n
1. What Is a Project?<\/h3>\n
A project is a sequence of tasks that lead toward a singular goal. Projects have boundaries, such as the time, people and resources needed to complete the project. These all depend on what results you want to achieve and when you want to achieve them.<\/p>\n
Those results are your outcome, which produces deliverables. They\u2019re anything that’s produced or provided because of the project. Deliverables can be both the result of the project itself, but also the results of the process of the project, such as the project plan<\/a>, reports or other documents. Projects are made up of deadlines. Each task and phase of the project has a due date, which means your project has a schedule.<\/p>\n Get your free<\/p>\n \n\tUse this free Project Plan Template to manage your projects better.<\/p>\n\tGet the Template<\/a>\n<\/div> \n\n <\/p>\n Budgets are also part of a project. You need money to pay for the resources to meet the demands of the project within the time allotted. Typical resources include the workforce, work supplies and equipment. A project budget<\/a> outlines these expenditures. Now that we\u2019ve determined what a project is, we can define project management as a discipline.<\/p>\n Project management is a discipline that consists in using project management methodologies, tools and techniques to manage the project life cycle, which is a set of stages that are common to every project. While there are several project management roles<\/a> within a project team, the project manager is usually in charge of overseeing the process of planning, executing and monitoring projects from start to finish.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s review four foundational project management concepts that shape the project management discipline: the project life cycle, the triple constraint of project management, the project management knowledge areas and some of the different project management methodologies you can use as a project manager.<\/p>\n Every business, non-profit or any other type of organization needs to execute projects, which makes project management important for any organization.<\/p>\n Effective project management<\/a> not only means that your team will deliver projects on time and under budget but also brings other organization-wide benefits such as increased productivity, reduced costs, better leadership and motivated employees.<\/p>\n In a nutshell, project management helps organizations become more efficient through planning and monitoring of tasks, goals and team performance.<\/p>\n A project manager is the person in charge of the project. That much is clear, but that might be too simple of an explanation. The project manager leads the project through every phase. That means they\u2019re responsible for first selling the project to stakeholders,<\/a> then planning and defining the scope of the project.<\/p>\n Project managers figure out all the tasks necessary to achieve the project goals, then they sequence those tasks into a schedule. Those tasks and schedules are then given the resources needed to achieve the project\u2019s objectives. That means assembling a team, getting the tools and supplies they need and securing a site and the necessary resources.<\/p>\n The project manager is also the person who creates the project budget to pay for those resources. They’re responsible for managing all the documentation and then archiving those documents at the end of the project. They also manage risk<\/a> and monitor project progress to make sure people are working unobstructed and within the schedule and budget.<\/p>\n So essentially, anything project-related is under the purview of the project manager. They are the leaders of the project and manage the teams that are executing the project plan. However, they\u2019re not the boss. The project manager has sold the idea of the project to a sponsor or stakeholder, and they report to them on the project\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n Therefore, a project manager<\/a> is a very well-organized person, one who is goal-oriented and passionate about the process. A project manager must work well under pressure, provide leadership and know how to motivate people to do their best. Beyond people skills, communication skills are paramount. And they must know the methods and techniques that help deliver projects successfully.<\/p>\n The project life cycle describes the five phases all projects go through. Here\u2019s a quick overview of each.<\/p>\n Regardless of the method you use to manage a project, understanding the triple constraint<\/a> is key. All projects are carried out with certain constraints. These are cost, time and scope. That is, projects must come in within budget, be delivered on time and meet the agreed-upon scope.<\/p>\n If you think of the triple constraint as a triangle<\/a>, then if you\u2019re managing the cost, time and scope, the triangle is quality. So, if you\u2019re managing the cost, time and scope of the project, then you\u2019re going to meet the customer\u2019s quality requirements.<\/p>\n But the triple constraint is more than that; it\u2019s like the ballast on a ship and keeps the project balanced no matter how rough the waters get. For example, if you need more money, then you\u2019re going to have to adjust the time or scope of the project. Accordingly, if you\u2019re short on time, then the budget<\/a> or scope will have to change.<\/p>\n If you keep the triple constraint in mind while managing your project, along with the project phases and management tools, then you have the means to make the necessary adjustments that can keep the project on track. It\u2019s the formula for success.<\/p>\n Project management knowledge areas<\/a> can be simply defined as categories that describe the different types of work that are done by project managers and team members to complete projects successfully. Project managers should be very knowledgeable in each of these 10 project management knowledge areas so they can guide teams through the project life cycle and make sure the triple constraint is well balanced.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in this topic, you can check out our project management knowledge areas blog for more information on these key principles of project management<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are many ways to structure a project\u2019s process, and project managers are experts in one or more of them. The most traditional is called waterfall, which follows a linear approach to managing a project, breaking down the project into a very structured sequence.<\/p>\n A different approach that is gaining popularity is called Agile<\/a>, which comes from software development. It’s a process that works in small phases or cycles called \u201csprints,\u201d and lends itself to small teams. Like its name, the process embraces change and is flexible and is continuously changing direction according to client feedback.<\/p>\n As you may have noticed, projects can be complicated. You plan, schedule and monitor to make sure all elements of the project are running smoothly. The more tools in hand, the more manageable the project and your tasks.\u00a0Project management software<\/a>\u00a0can contain all the tools needed to help project managers and team members with every aspect of their projects.<\/p>\n When project management software is cloud-based, data and collaboration can happen in real-time, which provides a more accurate picture of the project and helps in decision-making. Plus, project management software often contains many of the major tools for managing projects, like those discussed below.<\/p>\n Project dashboards<\/a> gather metrics from all parts of the project. Those numbers are then displayed in easy-to-read charts and graphs, giving a manager or a team member a live look at project progress and data. Dashboards can also assist in reporting. Running a project means reporting to the project\u2019s sponsors on the progress of the project. Graphs and charts can be filtered to deliver just the data you need for targeted reports.<\/p>\n Online Gantt charts<\/a> are great tools for planning because they display your task list graphically over a timeline. Each task has a deadline, which creates a line marking the start and finish of that task. Tasks can then be linked, if dependent.<\/p>\n Ideally, you can share the Gantt with your team and track their progress as they update their statuses. With some Gantt charts, the bar between the start and finish dates will fill in as the team works on their tasks, and if you need to change the schedule, you can simply drag and drop the bar to reflect the new due date.<\/p>\n There are task management tools<\/a> that allow you to create to-do lists for yourself and assign tasks to team members. These tasks can sometimes have notes, files, links and images attached that relate to the task, and team members can dialogue and collaborate at the task level. You can also automate email notifications to know when a task is completed and to remind people of impending deadlines.<\/p>\n In terms of managing the people working on the project, which can be a project by itself, there are timesheets<\/a>. These are online documents that make it easy for each employee to track and record their hours worked, and they can be filed to the manager when complete for sign-off.<\/p>\n When it comes to managing the workload, resource allocation tools<\/a> allow you to see at a glance if you\u2019ve allocated your resources properly across the project so that everyone is working and the workload is balanced. In some cases, you can run reports from your workload management software, too.<\/p>\n Project management software does the heavy lifting to allow managers to easily plan, schedule and track projects in a much faster and more efficient manner than traditional methods such as drafting project schedules by hand.<\/p>\n Project management software can be defined as a type of software that incorporates the project management tools<\/a> mentioned above, along with other features such as timesheets, real time team-collaboration or unlimited file storage, so that project managers and teams can keep track of projects in one central platform.<\/p>\n However, not all project management software works in the same way. There are many options on the market and while some are easy to use, they might not provide all the planning, scheduling<\/a> and tracking tools that you need.<\/p>\n Here are some important project management documents to keep in mind.<\/p>\n Several important project management certifications can increase your skills and credibility.<\/p>\n Finally, let\u2019s look into some of the key project management roles in this industry.<\/p>\n We offer dozens of free project management templates<\/a> to help you save time and streamline your projects. Here are some essential project management documents you can download for free.<\/p>\n A project plan is a document that explains everything about your project from how it\u2019s scheduled to how it’ll be executed and completed. This free project plan template will help you get started with your projects.<\/p>\n Every project needs resources such as people, materials and equipment. These resources cost money, so you\u2019ll need to estimate all your project costs to create a project budget. This free template is ideal for beginner project managers.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to create a project timeline that maps out how project work will be carried out, including start and end dates for all your tasks. This free project timeline template helps you do so.<\/p>\n ProjectManager<\/a> is online project management software that helps you manage every aspect of your projects. It’s equipped with all the project management tools any project manager would need, regardless of your expertise level. Project management software like ProjectManager is what makes managing a project manageable.<\/p>\n All the paperwork generated during the project initiation phase can be saved to ProjectManager. This way, you can collect everything in one place, making it easy to find what you need. Don\u2019t worry about uploading large files and images, ProjectManager has unlimited file storage.<\/p>\n When you plan your project, ProjectManager does the heavy lifting. An online Gantt chart<\/a> helps you schedule by mapping all your tasks across a project timeline. Now you can link dependencies, set milestones and even start assigning team members.<\/p>\n As teams execute their tasks, they can use ProjectManager’s tools to monitor and control their progress. Resource management features<\/a> make sure that no one team member is carrying the entire load and their workload is balanced. Plus, our real-time dashboard can track progress, cost, health and more.<\/p>\n Of course, there\u2019s more to project management than the information in this project management 101 article. It gets deep, and it\u2019s constantly evolving. However, there\u2019s one constant in the eye of the hurricane that’s managing a project: tools.\u00a0 ProjectManager is online project management software with real-time dashboards, online Gantt charts and features to manage workload, resources, schedules and every aspect of your project. See how it can help you succeed by taking this free 30-day trial today!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Project](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Project-Plan-Template-Word-image.png\")
\t<\/div>Project Plan Template<\/h3>\n
2. What Is Project Management?<\/h3>\n
Why Is Project Management Important?<\/h4>\n
3. What Is a Project Manager?<\/h3>\n
What Does a Project Manager Do?<\/h4>\n
![\"PM](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/PM-101-eBook-banner-ad.jpg\")
<\/a>\n4. Project Life Cycle<\/h3>\n
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5. The Triple Constraint<\/h3>\n
6. Project Management Knowledge Areas<\/h3>\n
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7. Project Management Methodologies<\/h3>\n
8. Project Management Tools<\/h3>\n
Dashboards<\/h4>\n
Gantt Charts<\/h4>\n
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<\/a>\nTask Management Tools<\/h4>\n
Timesheets and Workload Tools<\/h4>\n
9. What Is Project Management Software?<\/h3>\n
10. Key Project Management Documents<\/h3>\n
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11. Project Management Certifications<\/h3>\n
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12. Key Project Management Roles<\/h3>\n
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Project Management Templates<\/h2>\n
Project Plan Template<\/a><\/h3>\n
Project Budget Template<\/a><\/h3>\n
Project Timeline Template<\/a><\/h3>\n
How ProjectManager Helps Turn Project Management Basics Into Action<\/h2>\n
Store Documents<\/h3>\n
![\"ProjectManager's](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Files-Page_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg\")
<\/a>\nPlan & Schedule Work<\/h3>\n
![\"Gantt](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Gantt_Construction_Wide_Zoom-150_Assign-People.jpg\")
<\/a>\nMonitor Progress<\/h3>\n
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