Title: Executing Projects
Course: MAN 2582 Intro to Project Management > Section: Module 5

Introduction

The project execution phase is the delivery part of the project. Once all the planning activities have been completed and approved, the execution phase gets into the design and delivery activities required to make and implement the deliverables of the project.

The execution phase is typically the longest phase of the project management lifecycle. It includes physical construction of each of the deliverables that are to be presented to the sponsor or customer. It is during this phase that the project manager has to initiate the monitoring and controlling of the project. This includes project time management, cost management, change management, risk and issue management, procurement, personnel management, communication management and stakeholder management.

This is the phase of the project that demands the most of the project manager’s soft skills, or people skills. The project manager has to be adept in motivating people and developing diplomatic solutions to problems. The careful balance between project leader and project manager is usually demonstrated in the context of the people issues during the execution phase. The number one reason most project managers lose their job is lack of people skills.

The project execution phase is not only the longest in terms of time but also because it is typically the most expensive and the most visible. This phase consumes the vast majority of the resources allocated for the project.

Objectives

Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:

- List several processes and outputs of project execution
- Discuss what is involved in directing and managing project work as part of project integration management, including the importance of producing promised deliverables, implementing solutions to problems, evaluating work performance data, and requesting changes to a project
- Explain the importance of recommending corrective actions and updating project–related information as part of quality assurance
- Describe the executing processes performed as part of human resource management, summarize important concepts related to managing people, and explain what is involved in leveling resources, assigning staff, reviewing resource calendars, and assessing team performance
- Discuss important communications concepts, and describe the process of managing communications
- Describe the process of managing stakeholder engagement and how to create and use an issue log
- Explain the executing processes performed as part of procurement management, and describe what is involved in selecting sellers and preparing agreements or contract

Readings & Resources

An Introduction to Project Management, 4th Edition

- Chapter 6