By definition, project management is the process of planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives. While most systems integrators pay lip service to project management very few have the knowledge and discipline to effectively manage the details required for a successful project implementation. At DCT Solutions Group we believe very strongly that quality project management is essential to both our success and our customer's.

Methodology
Traditionally, project management includes four to five process groups, and a control system. Regardless of the methodology or terminology used, the same basic project management processes will be used.

Major process groups generally include:

• Initiation
• Planning or development
• Production or execution
• Monitoring and controlling
• Closing

Initiation

The initiation stage should include a plan that encompasses the following areas:

• Analyzing the business needs/requirements in measurable goals
• Reviewing of the current operations
• Financial analysis of the costs and benefits including a budget
• Stakeholder analysis, including users, and support personnel for the project
• Project charter including costs, tasks, deliverables, and schedule

Planning and design

Project planning generally consists of:

• Determining how to plan (e.g. by level of detail or rolling wave);
• Developing the scope statement;
• Selecting the planning team;
• Identifying deliverables and creating the work breakdown structure;
• Identifying the activities needed to complete those deliverables and networking the activities in their logical sequence;
• Estimating the resource requirements for the activities;
• Estimating time and cost for activities;
• Developing the schedule;
• Developing the budget;
• Risk planning;
• Gaining formal approval to begin work.

Executing

Executing consists of the processes used to complete the work defined in the project management plan to accomplish the project's requirements. Execution process involves coordinating people and resources, as well as integrating and performing the activities of the project in accordance with the project management plan. The deliverables are produced as outputs from the processes performed as defined in the project management plan.

Monitoring and controlling

Monitoring and Controlling includes:

• Consistency:
  punctuation or no punctuation
  Initial cap or lower case Measuring the ongoing project activities (where we are);
• Monitoring the project variables (cost, effort, scope, etc.) against the project management plan and the project performance baseline (where we should be);
• Identify corrective actions to address issues and risks properly (How can we get on track again);
• Influencing the factors that could circumvent integrated change control so only approved changes are implemented

Project Maintenance is an ongoing process, and it includes:

• Continuing support of end users
• Correction of errors
• Updates of the software over time

Closing

Closing includes the formal acceptance of the project and the ending thereof. Administrative activities include the archiving of the files and documenting lessons learned. This phase consists of:

• Project close: Finalize all activities across all of the process groups to formally close the project or a project phase
• Contract closure: Complete and settle each contract (including the resolution of any open items) and close each contract applicable to the project or project phase