Project management tools and technique Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Project management tools and technique - Thesis Example 2). Besides the differences in uniqueness and repeatability, project management is different from operations management in that it is revolutionary and is based on transient resources while the latter is evolutionary and based on stable resources (Select Knowledge 2001, p. 9). Literature Review Project Management Standards, Methodologies and Bodies of Knowledge Morris and Pinto (2007, p. 243) explain the reasons behind the interest in a global approach towards project management standards, qualifications and body of knowledge including international competitiveness, concern of possible fragmentation of the project management field and demands from multinational practitioners. Since project management is a field experiencing considerable growth, there is bound to be differences in the bodies of knowledge and standards arising from various perspectives. As a result, there is the need for the establishment of universal standards, methodologies and body of knowledge to guide the field. T he first body of knowledge under consideration is the PMBOK, established by the PMI (Project Management Institute) which took the earliest steps to professionalise project management. The PMBOK earlier on sought to codify the knowledge behind the field of project management but later realised it was quite a dynamic field and instead developed itself into good practice. The PMBOK Guide now serves as an accreditation tool for educational institutions and a test on it also serves as part of the qualifying process in the US Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. It is the most widely used body of knowledge in project management and has nine areas of knowledge on projects: management of integration, scope, quality, human resource,... The intention of this study is Project Management Standards, Methodologies and Bodies of Knowledge (PMBOK).The first body of knowledge under consideration is the PMBOK, established by the Project Management Institute which took the earliest steps to professionalise project management. The PMBOK earlier on sought to codify the knowledge behind the field of project management but later realised it was quite a dynamic field and instead developed itself into good practice. The PMBOK Guide now serves as an accreditation tool for educational institutions and a test on it also serves as part of the qualifying process in the US Project Management Professional certification. It is the most widely used body of knowledge in project management and has nine areas of knowledge on projects: management of integration, scope, quality, human resource, procurement, cost, time, communications and risk. The next body of knowledge is the APMBOK (Association of Project Management Body of Knowledge) which w as developed in the UK. It forms the basis of accreditation, qualification, research and publication in the UK. The areas covered in the APMBOK include management of context, planning of strategy, execution, techniques, business and commercial considerations and lastly governance and organisation of people and the profession. The British Standard BS6079-1: 2002 provides guidance on the planning and execution of projects and the use of techniques in project management. It is more standards-based and has been revised a number of time in the last seven years to ensure it accommodates the most recent technology and practices in project management.