What do aviation corporate giants Boeing, Virgin Atlantic Airlines and General Electric have in common besides engines and airplanes? As part of an effort to find environmentally friendly fuels for aviation, all three companies agreed to work together to find and test alternative fuels for aviation – with the first tests slated for next summer in Boeing 747 airplanes. A project of this magnitude involves a multitude of business disciplines, including project management.

Credit goes to Frederick Taylor, the father of scientific reasoning, and his associate Henry Gantt, mechanical engineer and industry advisor, for studying the order of operations in work during the 19th century. Taylor studied the most basic, mindless tasks and argued that even these could be “planned” for increased productivity.

Gantt focused on ship building processes and charted his findings by creating the Gantt and PERT charts. The Gantt Chart is a timeline chart that shows when each task begins, the time it takes to complete it, and which tasks occur simultaneously. The PERT (Project Evaluation and Review Technique) chart is a flowchart showing all the activities or tasks in the production phase of a project. In the 1920s, these findings achieved world-wide acclaim and accolades for innovation. Passing the test of time, today they remain fundamental in project management.

The Basics

Project management is no small task, but the beauty of it starts with the basics. The truth: project management is present in every activity we do. When tackling projects at home the bare basics are there; think about what needs to be done, give it some priority ranking on the ‘to do’ list, make a plan, gather the resources needed, work the plan and get it done, move on to the next project.

A project is an effort to create a unique product or service. Project management is typically recognized as a set of principles, practices and techniques that are utilized to lead project teams, control project schedule, project cost, and project risks to exceed customer or client expectations. Project management has a definite beginning and end. The business world is a much more complex environment in terms of resources, time, communication and scope. When facing large, complex projects, an organization might benefit from more formal, methodology-based project and program management or engaging a Project Management Professional (PMP).

Project Management Fundamentals

One of the leading sources of project management professionalism is The Project Management Institute (PMI). PMI has taken 44 project processes that describe activities throughout a project’s life cycle and organized them into nine knowledge areas: integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, communications, risk management, and procurement. These nine areas cross nearly every industry and represent five process groups – initiate, plan, execute, monitor and close – that are critical to any project.

Applying the Five Processes in Small Business

1. Initiate & Communicate: Start with a project charter that defines the commitment to the project. This is the first step in the communication process. Talk through assumptions, issues and challenges. Recognize the team synergy, creativity and performance, and that teams experience four very distinct stages: forming, storming, norming and performing.
2. Develop a good plan: This is a good time to ask the questions of who, what, why, when, where and how. Who will do what? What is the project? Why are we doing the project? When, will it be done? Where will we find the resources, and How will we measure and control the project? Spend the time needed to define the project, purpose and team. Identify the major stakeholders and secure their support.
3. Execute/Set goals/Take action: Keep the goals manageable. When talking about goals, remember the SMART acronym? Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Timely. Define the deliverables in specific terms. A project timeline is a critical component and can help a big project break into manageable pieces. Take action and stay focused.
4. Measure and check progress: Whether you use Microsoft Project, an Excel spreadsheet, a flipchart or wall chart with colored columns, keep your progress visible. Find a tracking tool that works for you and review your progress regularly.
5. Close: The close of a project provides a chance to assess, summarize and recognize where improvements are needed. It should be a learning opportunity and the gained knowledge considered critical to the next project’s success.

While project management can be a complex area of study, the concepts developed long ago, are still utilized today. Why would a small business want to engage in project management? The benefits of using project management techniques in your business, include:

• Increased clarity, focus and purpose
• Increased productivity, efficiency and workflow
• Increased synergy and creativity
• Improved communication – a culture of thinkers
• Reduced job or project expenses

Whether your business project is finding alternative fuel sources for the aviation industry or finding alternative resources for hiring and keeping talented employees, chances are there is some benefit to considering project management fundamentals.

Diane Gibson, founder and president of DMG Consultancy, Ltd., provides powerful and practical business consulting to organizations. She specializes in helping organizations diagnose, prioritize and improve business performance, and has over twenty years of business leadership and management experience. Diane is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at (509) 747-0449 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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