Question

Individually identify what you consider to be the greatest achievements accomplished by mankind in the last five decades. Now share your list with three to five other students in the class, and come up with an expanded list. Review these accomplishments in terms of the definition of a project. What does your review suggest about the importance of project management?

Answer 1

Personally speaking, the greatest achievements of mankind in the past few decades are (including other student’s list)-

• Technological achievements- train, airlines, automobiles, computer and software etc
• Scientific achievements- vaccines, satellites, man on the moon, new drugs, laser operations etc
• Cultural and arts achievements- paintings such as Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, works of William Shakespeare
• Country- democratic and communism countries, Berlin Wall, Wall of China, 7 wonders of the world etc

Typically these are just some of the achievements as there is an exhaustive list of achievements of mankind in the past decade.

These achievements can be viewed as projects. For example, development of an innovative iPhone6s is a project. Project Management of these projects review are important because:

• Each achievement involves a strategic alignment as it ensures the expected outcome is delivered.
• Leadership skills are developed in each of the project
• Each project has a clear focus.
• Realistic project planning is possible for example –man on the moon
• Quality control is maintained at all times such as invention of new drugs
• Risk management is highly involved in project management such as people opposing a developing democratic country.
• Orderly process in all the activities of project management for example invention of the software and allied services
• Project management gives way for continous improvement in the processes