What is Project Management?
More Specifically How Do We Fulfil the Project Brief and Reach the Project Goal?
A good project brief (which will include the why we are doing the project) will be a guide for all the project team members and be the starting point of communication with all stakeholders. This provides the purpose for the project and is the outline for which more detailed plans can be created.
The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model is a flow diagram for learning and for improvement of a product, service or a process. It works on a simple concept of planning the required changes (planning the who, what, where, when and how), making the changes (doing the planned activities), checking whether the implemented changes have the desired effect (checking or studying the activities are done correctly and on time), and acting upon the findings of any checks if plans need changing or corrective action is needed (acting).
Edwards Deming, the pioneer of the modern day plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle, advocated its use as a process improvement and quality management tool. However, it is used as a dynamic project management tool, ensuring projects achieve their desired goal. An example of usage and methods of use in a healthcare setting is provided by the UK, National Health Service (NHS). It guides you through a team approach to carrying out an Improvement Project.
Further reading and an example for the use of PDSA (PDCA) in a healthcare setting read Taylor MJ, McNicholas C, Nicolay C,et al Systematic review of the application of the plan–do–study–act method to improve quality in healthcare BMJ Quality & Safety 2014;23:290-298 here.
- This project management module takes you through the cycle of planning, doing, checking and acting for achieving your project goal.
- However, there are many more guiding techniques that could be used. Why not have a look at the link for a critique of project management methods.Â
A critique of project management practices can be found here.