Project management is critical to the success of a project, particularly during these tough economic times, says business intelligence and information management services provider PBT group programme manager Andreas Bartsch. He says that project managers across industries have been placed under huge strain as many organisations are cutting back on project budgets. “Project budgets have been restricted and it has impacted negatively on the industry, as project managers are tasked with delivering a project in a shorter time, with less financial means,” he says.

Bartsch says that a project manager’s primary responsibility is to oversee and deliver a project from start to finish. He adds that the appropriate circumstances and project environment need to be created before the start of a project. “Before a project starts, there need to be an accepted busi- ness case, proper risk management and organisational readiness. Tangible benefits must be identified at the outset to continuously align to the realisation thereof,” he says.

He explains that too often many incorrect expectations are created by project owners, such as unrealistic delivery times and budgets, which result in a constant struggle against these constraints for the duration of the project. “Having the right expertise is crucial to any project and a critical success factor,” he says. He adds that many organisations are slowly realising that project and programme management are important mechanisms in executing business strategies.

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/project-success-will-suffer-if-the-right-foundation-is-not-laid-2010-05-28